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 One
way to have a “sound” church is to teach sound doctrine. Plan a well
—rounded teaching program that is positive — that covers Old and New
Testaments — “in depth” studies and kindergarten topical studies
on faith and baptism, heaven and hell, the church and honesty, brotherly
love and the sting of rebuke. It is all there in God’s word, and we
can not have soundness without proper food. Take the initiative on
subject matter rather than a steady diet of reaction to what
someone else said or did.
Regarding
reaction, be alert to social changes which may (and probably will)
affect brethren. Get to the bottom of matters avoiding surface jabs at
isolated cases of abuse. Be fair with the opposition. Maintain an “open
pulpit” so that the search for revealed truth is never stifled.
(There is no obligation to hear every man’s opinion — judgement here
must be based on the extent to which a “contrary” teaching
contributes to or distracts from an objective consideration of God’s
word as final truth.)
This
way to have a sound church challenges each individual member. It “disturbs”
brethren, keeps them studying — and they must either learn to respect
and deal objectively with one another, or they will break into warring
camps. Christ must be the unifying factor here, or there is no
unity. (Read carefully, Phil. l:27-2:l-f.)
Another
way (?) to have a “sound” church is to convince a few elders or
leader that certain “positions” on current “issues” are “right”
and that “taking a stand” here is equivalent to “soundness” in
all parts. (Liberals who follow this course may make a “token”
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contribution to some institution.) One of the
convinced elders may order a few tracts from his party’s most
popular publisher — a sort of “status symbol” for the tract
rack.
But
perhaps the most important of all, in order to “soundness”, is
to get a preacher whose name is associated with the reputation you
wish to establish. Obviously a church that is sound according to our
“first way” will desire a preacher who teaches accordingly; but
we refer here to the erroneous concept that the members are “sound”
because the preacher presents a hard line. This “second way” to
soundness builds its name on party loyalty rather than on
individual understanding and conviction. A hard driving preacher,
backed by a few determined leaders, may whip a congregation into
line so that none dare buck the establishment.
Brethren,
I write in all seriousness; I have known both “liberal” and “conservative”
(by invitation) churches, that were little more than sectarian
bodies, whipped into line, loyal to a “party” rather than to
Christ. These are the churches that want no fair discussion of “issues;”
that do their fighting with name-calling and threats. They are
strong as horse-radish on the surface, and soft as mush at the
individual’s heart, where the real “soundness” must be
measured.
Few
if any churches will have 100% mature well-taught memberships. But
we must improve on “party loyalty” or “soundness” becomes
“sounding brass.”
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