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 Bro.
Turner:
Our
church does things I know are wrong, but most of the members accept
them. I have tried to believe everything is all right, but I know it is
not. How long may I continue to take part in and support these errors?
LW.
Reply:
I
will be frank— and space forces me to be abrupt— please understand.
You do not need answers as much as you need STRENGTH. The basic problem
here concerns your attitude toward God, and response to your conscience.
Today
thousands are captives —-prisoners of their own spiritual wellness —
lacking the courage and the strength to act upon convictions. And such
weakness is more than a handicap: it is sinful. Fear, that prevents our
doing what we know we should do, can condemn our souls. (Rev. 21:8 Jas.
4:17)
Paul
wrote, “Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he
alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth
not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Rom. 14:22-f)
In this passage “faith” is subjective and refers to the individual’s
conscience. How can one be true to God, who has not the strength to be
true to himself?
It
is understandable, and commendable, that one should exercise patience
toward those in error — while in an effort to correct the error.
But even this does not excuse our own participation in error. Deliberate
sin is presumptuous (See Num. 15:27-f) and God has never, in this or any
other age, tolerated such high-handed. disrespect
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for divine authority.
I’ll
say it plainly, but— believe me— with all the love of my heart; you
will go to hell if you continue to support and encourage something you
know to be wrong.
Bro. Turner:
Since
God authorizes a church to have elders, if members disobey the elders
(who are scripturally qualified have they not disobeyed God? PM
Reply:
The
voice of the elders is NOT the voice of God—under any circumstance.
The voice of the Apostles was the voice of God ONLY as God spoke thru
them by inspiration. (Matt. 16:19; Jn. 15:26-f; 1 Cor. 2:13)
The
question assumes that God has authorized elders to speak for Him. This
is not the case. Some common direction and. guidance is necessary for
collective action, and it is God’s plan that men with certain
qualifications (1 Tim. 3:) serve in this capacity (1 Pet. 5:2) but
their judgement could be wrong — even unscriptural. (See Acts
20:29-f).
In
matters of judgement, obedience to elders assures uniformity of action—
a thing to be desired. But the question of RIGHT and TRUTH must be
settled by a higher court — that of Almighty God. Our allegiance is
first and always to God; and His will is revealed in the Bible, not in
elders, however noble their intentions.
(Reprint, Vol. 1, No. 10)
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