A gracEmail subscriber from Florida asks, "Am I violating Scripture when I invite cultic door-to-door evangelists into my home to discuss the Bible, hoping I can teach them about Christ? Second John 10 says we are not to receive into our house anyone who comes bringing a non-Christian message." * * * The Apostle John reminds his readers of the original Christian message which centers on Jesus himself (2 John 6). Then as now, some who claimed to represent Jesus denied fundamental elements of the apostolic testimony. John focuses here on some whom scholars refer to as "Gnostics," who denied … [Read more...]
THE JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
A gracEmail subscriber wants to know more about the so-called "Jehovah's Witnesses" who go door-to-door evangelizing, and whether he should regard them as Christians. * * * The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is an American-born, now international, apocalyptic religious movement founded about 1884 by Charles Taze Russell. Since 1931, its members have called themselves "Jehovah's Witnesses" based on Isaiah 43:10-12. These people are usually very high-principled morally and are extremely zealous for their faith. They teach that Jesus set up his invisible heavenly kingdom in 1914, which he … [Read more...]
MIRACLES, MORMONS & PROPHETS
A brother who is sure that God does not perform miracles today writes that people in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claim to heal the sick and speak in tongues, as do Pentecostals. "How can you condemn the Mormons," he asks, "if they are sincere? If you think prophecy has not ceased, how can you say the Book of Mormon is not from God and ought not be added to the Bible?" * * * First of all, no one needs to "condemn" the Mormons or anyone else for claiming spiritual gifts or miracles. It is not our job to condemn, but to witness to the truth we know and to point others to … [Read more...]
RELIGIOUS TITLES
A gracEmail reader writes, "I am trying to learn to be more tolerant of other Christians. One area that gives me difficulty is the use by many groups of the terms 'Reverend' or 'Father' for the clergy. Is this not in conflict with Jesus' teachings?" * * * You refer, of course, to Matthew 23:8-10, where Jesus instructs his followers not to be called "Rabbi" (teacher or master), "father" or "leader" -- terms which in the ultimate sense belong only to Jesus himself or to the Father in heaven. This instruction comes in a larger context rebuking the pride and self-glorification of the Scribes and … [Read more...]
PASTORS, ELDERS & PREACHERS – 2
A gracEmail reader writes, "Why do Churches of Christ not call their preachers 'pastor'? We're about the only Christian group which doesn't use that term. I occasionally hear it applied to elders, but I've not seen them do much real pastoring." * * * A "pastor" is a spiritual "shepherd." In the Bible, spiritual shepherding basically means leading (by example) and feeding (by teaching). We see general descriptions of such persons in 1 Tim. 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9 and Titus 2:2-5. Because most preachers of any maturity fit these descriptions, one wonders why they ought not be designated and … [Read more...]
PASTORS, ELDERS & PREACHERS – 1
A gracEmail reader writes, "Why do Churches of Christ not call their preachers 'pastor'? We're about the only Christian group which doesn't use that term. I occasionally hear it applied to elders, but I've not seen them do much real pastoring." * * * Churches of Christ have traditionally taught that the positions of "pastors" and "elders" are the same in the New Testament. Because their preachers have not usually been elders, these churches have refrained from calling the preacher "pastor." Interestingly, in the early days of the Stone-Campbell "restoration movement," churches usually did … [Read more...]
LEADING OR LORDING
A gracEmail subscriber in the Southwest has a church leader who forbids single Christians of opposite sex ever to ride together unaccompanied in a car, claiming Hebrews 13:17 as his authority to issue such commands. And an Indiana subscriber, who decided to leave a church he considers legalistic for one which more clearly preaches the gospel, received a letter from his former church elders claiming life-long spiritual jurisdiction over his soul and threatening him with excommunication if he violates their authority. Both readers ask my opinion. * * * The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews … [Read more...]
ELDER SELECTION & TENURE
An Alabama brother asks whether church elders serve for life or for a lesser term. "What if a candidate insists on binding his opinions on others? Can that disqualify him, or must there be a moral reason? Can one objector prevent a candidate's appointment? How can an unqualified elder be removed?" * * * The man who is self-willed, hungry for power, demanding and harsh is not the proper person to serve in the capacity of shepherd (pastor), overseer (bishop) or elder. Those are "moral" issues -- as certainly as lying, stealing or adultery. How much agreement must there be in appointing them? … [Read more...]
AUTHORITY OF ELDERS
A Church of Christ brother asks about the role and powers of congregational elders. "Do elders have any authority, or does it belong to the church as a whole? Can they force submission in matters of opinion?" * * * The New Testament portrays an "elder" (the Greek word is presbyteros, from which come our English words "presbyter," "presbyterian" and "priest") as a mature Christian who, because of personal experience with the Lord, is respected and acknowledged as an encourager, teacher, leader, admonisher, and model for other brothers and sisters in a local congregation (1 Pet. 5:1-5; Acts … [Read more...]
A WELL-SUITED SHEPHERD
A gracEmail subscriber who serves as a spiritual shepherd in his church asks whether the passage 1Timothy 3:4-5 means that he should step down from that role because his teen-age child has, for three years, had a bad attitude and has acted out in disruptive and inappropriate ways. The child's parents have lovingly dealt with the situation as best they knew, and are now about to administer tough love in the form of treatment at a faith-based residential facility. * * * I salute you for your conscientious concern. Let me answer by saying that the best and most mature literal shepherd is not … [Read more...]
