Waldron Mission Fund

 

Under the oversight of the elders of the Crossville church of Christ, PO Box 211, Crossville, TN 38557

YOUNG WOMEN’S TRAINING CAMP

Ashville, AL   —  June 15-20

 

Sister Teah McWhorter directs this camp for Christian girls.  It is proving to be an effective tool for grounding young women in greater service for the Master.  For an application or more information you may contact her  on line at  mtmcvb@chulavistabooks.com or write to her at P.O. Box 88, Ashville, AL  35953

YOUNG MEN’S TRAINING CAMP

Ashville, AL  —  July 15-20

 

This camp is directed by brother Mark McWhorter and is held in the meeting house of the Ashville Church of Christ.  Other teachers include Jimmie Hill, Mark Teske, Kevin Skelton, Chris Clevenger and Tim Hayes.  This is more than just a summer camp; the young brothers are truly trained for greater service in the kingdom.  For more information and an application email Mark McWhorter:  mtmcvb@chulavistabooks.com, or write to him at P.O. Box 88, Ashville, AL  35953.

YOUNG MEN’S PREACHER TRAINING CAMP

Grove City, OH  —  July 6-13

 

Here is another great training program for young men in the church.  It is conducted by the Alkire Road church.  Teachers include Trevor Major, David Stephens, Ben Tredway and Mark Bass.  For more information  and an application you may contact Mark by email at mebass1957@aol.com or write to him at 2781 Alkire Rd, Grove City, OH  43123

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN WORSHIP

H. Leo Boles

 

On June 29, 2006 Jeff Walling of the Providence Road church of Christ, Charlotte, NC spoke in Louisville, KY before the North American Convention of the Christian Church.  In his speech brother Walling boldly urged the audience to work for unity between Christian Churches and the churches of Christ.  This he did in spite of the fact that the Christian Church still clings to the use of organs, pianos and other mechanical instruments with sacred music (psalms, hymns and spiritual songs—Eph. 5:19).  These churches went out from us (I Jno. 2:19) well over one hundred years ago because they loved such instruments more than they loved unity.  On May 3, 1939 the Christian Church held a unity meeting in Indianapolis, IN.  H. Leo Boles, a  gospel preacher from Nashville, TN  was invited to speak.  His speech which was printed in the Gospel Advocate and the Christian Standard has become a classic in the endeavor to have true unity between the churches of Christ and the Christian Church.  Below we have taken an excerpt from that speech.  For a full copy (a 60 page tract) write to Garland Elkins, 7350 Crowther Cove, Memphis, TN  38119.  One copy for $1.50 post paid or 100 copies for $83.00 post paid.

                 “The use of the instrument of music in the worship must either be put in the class of things authorized by the New Testament, or its use must be classed in the realm of opinion or expediency; there is no other alternative.  O.E. Payne and others affirmed that the use of the instrument was included in the New Testament use of ‘psallo.’  J.B. Briney and the Christian Standard at one time endorsed Payne’s position.   If the instrument is in the New Testament meaning of ‘psallo,’ then the New Testament commands the use of instrumental music when we engage in the worship of God; and when we do not play the instrument in worship, we are in rebellion against God; for example, God commands whatever is in the New Testament meaning of ‘baptizo.’

                 “We have no alternative in either case except to do what is in the words ‘psallo’ and ‘baptizo’ or be in rebellion against God.  There is no other conclusion, and there is no escape from this conclusion.    If the position of the advocates of the use of instrumental music in worship is correct, then every church that does not play instrumental music in its worship is in rebellion against God.

                 “The other alternative that many took, and still advocate, is to place the organ in the ‘area of silence’ or in the field of expediency.  But if there is no stronger reason for using the instrument than the opinions and judgments of men, it is sinful to force the use of the instrument in worshiping upon God’s people.  God’s children, to be loyal to His word, must oppose the use of the instrument in the worship. 

                 “Those who use the organ in worship make it ‘a test of fellowship.’ They sustain the attitude that if you do not submit to the use of the instrument in worship, then you can have no fellowship with us.  A denial of making it ‘a test of fellowship’ does not change the logic of the situation;  neither does the charge that those who oppose the use of the instrument in worship are disturbers of the peace and unity of God’s people make it true; the charge is not a proof of the fact.  Those who oppose the use of the instrument in worship are walking by faith in opposing it, but those who introduce it are making it ‘the test of fellowship.’

                 “Brethren, put away the organ and you will be where the pioneers first stood when the unity of God’s people was enjoyed.  The churches of Christ are standing now on this item just where the pioneers stood before its introduction in 1859; there was unity then on this point and there can be unity now at this point when the organ is pushed aside….I know the attitude of thousands of members of the body of Christ; they all love unity and are loyal to Christ; the gospel preachers occupy the same attitude today toward it that J.W. McGarvey declared as his conviction at one time, and will oppose it as did he. 

                                                 “In the Millennial Harbinger, 1868, pp. 213-19, J.W. McGarvey replied to ‘Brother Hayden on Expediency and Progress,’ and said, with respect to societies, instrumental music in the worship, and other things: ‘Our work is to check them and turn them back from their course; not to outstrip them in running after organs and compromises.  The loudest call that comes from heaven to the men of this generation is for warfare  — stern, relentless, merciless, exterminating warfare — against everything not expressly or by necessary implication authorized in the New testament.  Such is my unwavering conviction; and my only regret is that I cannot fight this fight as it should be fought.’

                 “This language of McGarvey expresses …(i)t is the duty of every Christian to stand firmly and loyally for the New Testament scriptures, and to wage a ‘stern, relentless, merciless, exterminating’ warfare on anything and anybody that opposes the teachings of the New Testament on the purity of worship.  Again, brethren, there may be a few in the churches of Christ that are inclined to compromise and surrender here for the sake of unity, but this is not the case with the many preachers and the multitudes of members in the churches of Christ.  No zeal for unity should blind us to the truths of the New Testament, or cause us to waver from the basic principles of New Testament worship.  Surely it now begins to dawn upon some of you the only grounds of unity with the churches of Christ.

                  “Brethren, the churches of Christ occupy the same ground now in opposing all denominations that our fathers occupied.  You know where you left the churches of Christ, hence, you know where to find them; come back and unity is the inevitable result.  There will be no compromise or surrender on this point….”

 

 From: brad@focuspress.org  To: randy.lowry@lipscomb.edu

David Lipscomb Brand of Unity

An Open Letter From Brad Harrub

Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008          

 

“Greetings;

                 “As many of you know, I get asked almost every weekend about our ‘Christian’ schools by anxious parents who are about to send their children off to college.  They want to know which ones are still faithfully teaching the Truth.  My standard response lately has been: ‘I’m not sure of any that are not compromising in some areas, and as such, it is vitally important to make sure your children have a strong foundation for their faith beforehand.  I would select a school that is strong in the area they want to major in and alert them that they will be surrounded by wolves.’

                                                 “Want an example of wolves in sheep’s clothing?  Randy Lowry, president of Lipscomb was heralded as the guest preacher for a ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’ at  2nd Presbyterian Church in Nashville last week.  Read the announcement here: http://outandaboutnewspaper.com/article.php?id=2265.  And if the announcement itself were not enough the news clip appeared in ‘Tennessee’s Best GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender) Source for News.’ 

                 “Here’s another account from The Tennessean: http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbs.dll/article?ID=/20090119/NEWS06801190336.  The announcement says, ‘Dr. Randy Lowry, president of Lipscomb University, will preach, and a choir of singers from all the sponsoring congregations will offer special music.’

                 “I wanted to make sure I got my facts straight in this instance.  So I made two calls:  (1) Randy Lowry’s office; and (2) 2nd Presbyterian church.  ‘Jennifer’ in Randy’s office verified that he did in fact preach there.  And the secretary at 2nd Presbyterian verified it as well, (going so far as to emailing me a copy of the program).  He and those ‘special choirs’ joined hands and prayed for Christian unity.

                                                 “Friends, I feel strongly that we should strive for Christian unity.  But these people Randy fellowshipped with are NOT NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS!  Do we need to teach the lost?  DEFINITELY!  I try hard to do this every week! One of the reasons we started ‘THINK’ magazine was to evangelize the lost.           Like it or not, his position as president puts Lowry in the spotlight.  He is the highest representative for that school.  And as such, his actions speak loudly for the entire university.   Isn’t it time we either take our schools back or write them off completely (and financially!).  Please contact the board members today and ask them to bring things back to the Old Paths!”

Brad Harrub, is co-editor with Jim Palmer of THINK MAGAZINE, Focus Press, Inc., 1600 Westgate Circle, Suite 125, Brentwood, TN  37027-9946.  Phone 615-324-5870, email: mail@focuspress.org. 

 

THINK MAGAZINE is a powerful tool to deal with atheism, evolution, humanism and other anti-Christ philosophies.  It is a monthly publication of 38 pages, printed in color on quality paper;  very suitable for display on your coffee table.  It should be in your home and that of your grown children and/or grandchildren.  A one-year gift certificate costs only $30.00.

THE LAMB/THE LION

Jim E. Waldron

 

 

This is question #48 of the 576 questions found in the commentary on Revelation:  The Lamb/The Lion. 

 

 

How were the Christians at Ephesus to HEAR the Holy Spirit? 

 

 

                

With their ears (See Rev. 2:7), that is through the word, which John was recording for them and for us.  Often the denominational clergy in their conventions will declare, "the Holy Spirit is moving in this great meeting."  Yet, the outcome from such “conventions” proves to be the pooling of spiritual ignorance from unregenerate hearts.  Once I saw Jimmy Swaggart on television claim that God had laid a message on his heart.  God did no such thing.  It was, as Jeremiah would say, “after the imagination of his own heart” (Jeremiah 23:17).

 

                 The Holy Spirit speaks through His word (I Timothy 4: 1).  How sad it is that even some in the church claim a literal and actual indwelling of the Holy Spirit that gives them direct strength in “nudges,” while others claim “non-informational help.”  Whatever that is!  This text (Rev. 2:7) as the others like it (2:11; 2:17; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22; 13:9) help us to remember that the Holy Spirit is a person and that He communicates with words (cf., I Corinthians 2:13).  His revealed truth, which makes us free (John 8:32) and complete, furnishes us unto every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17), so that there is no ambiguity about serving Christ or bearing the fruits of the Spirit. 

 

                 One does not have to strain his brain to find out if the Holy Spirit has put some “non-informational” aid into it.  The recorded message is of such a nature that through the knowledge and promises therein we can “be partakers of the divine nature” (II Peter 1:3-4).  Those who claim direct aid from the Spirit do not know if that help comes by feeling, tasting, seeing, hearing, smelling or extra sensory perception (ESP).  They seem to envision it as a gas, dust, fog or mist that one sucks through the nose into the brain (mind or spirit) to obtain what is said to be “supernatural,” “non–miraculous,” “non-informational,” “direct” help from the Holy Spirit.

 

                 Most brethren who claim they have the direct aid of the Holy Ghost to help them are not bold enough (yet) to claim any signs or wonders.  Pentecostals, and those of the so-called Holiness sects who have more audacity, have attempted to be more consistent in their claims.  For at least the last 125 years or so, they have been proclaiming this direct aid of the Holy Ghost doctrine and along with their claim they have at least tried to perform “signs,” but alas they have only been able to perform fake “signs and lying wonders” (cf., II Thessalonians. 2:9). 

 

For a free copy of The Lion/The Lamb write to:

Waldron Missions

P.O. Box 123, Dunlap, TN  37327

Bulletin Brief