There have always been those (even in the body of Christ), who are "ashamed of the gospel of Christ" and of those who preach it without compromise.  Paul spoke of some who were not "ashamed of my chains." Paul himself affirmed that he was "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17).

   In writing to young Timothy, Paul admonished him, saying, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, not of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God"...For the which cause I also suffer for these things: Nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Spirit which dwelleth  in us.  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phylgellus and Hermongenes. The Lord have mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain." (2 Timothy 1:8,12-16). 

    The apostle Paul and his companions in gospel preaching often created riots and much uproar as they went about preaching the gospel (Acts 17:1-6). For a listing of many of the problems Paul encountered for preaching Christ, read (2 Corinthians 11:23-33).  It was said of the apostles, "they  have turned the world upside down and have come here intending to bring this man's blood on us" ( Acts 17:6; Acts  5:28). When Christ chose and sent His apostles out even on the "Limited Commission," to preach only  to their countrymen, the Jews, He warned them of the ill treatment they could expect to receive (Matthew 10:5-40).  Paul wrote to Timothy, "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Ionium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all who would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall become worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them, And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 3:10-15).  Paul's very first attempts to preach the gospel and the church he had once tried to destroy led to the occasion of which we read earlier when he had to be sneaked out of Damascus at night being let down in a basket over the wall. See (Acts 9:18-24).

    I have actually had some brethren who apologized to their friends for some of my "hard hitting sermons" over the years.  I have had brethren walk out on me during my presentation of some doctrinal teaching with which they were in disagreement to show their disapproval, and to try and influence others to "do something about that preacher, because they didn't like what I was preaching nor the way I was preaching it!"  Back in the 50's and 60's when the church support of "human institutions" and "benevolent societies" along with the"sponsoring elderships" battles were being fought and debated more than they are now, that kind of conduct wasn't uncommon for the liberals. Too, I have lost part of my audience when preaching against a Christian's involvement in Free Masonry for its false religious teachings offering heaven without Christ or His church as well as the oath one must swear in a ritual when one claims to "come from darkness seeking light through Masonry."

    Today, often when a gospel preacher hangs a chart  or preaches a sermon  on "How To Identify The One True Church," and precedes to identify it from Old Testament prophesies and New Testament application of said prophecies, informing the audience that there is "Only One True Church" and all others, (human denominations) are "plants not  planted by the heavenly Father destined to being rooted up" come the judgement, and has the gall to teach that when folks bind human traditions in religion or change in any way the ancient gospel plan to save alien sinners, they are worshipping in vain  (Matthew 15:8-13; Galatians 1:6-9), some members of the body of Christ are very embarrassed. Some are simply mortified!

    This should be a good place to insert a thought about the fate of the "cowardly" as stated by the angel of our Lord. "But the cowardly (fearful kjv), unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8 nkjv).  See the company one who is "cowardly" or "ashamed" of the truth is keeping in this verse?  Let me make it clear that I believe the truth must be "spoken in love" (Eph. 4:15), but that it must be spoken let us never forget, for only the unadulterated truth has the capacity to make people free of sin and error (John 8:31-32). Not only must we believe the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, we must obey the same from the heart to be added to the Lord's body of the redeemed (1 Peter 1:22-25; Romans 6:16-18; Matthew 7:13-21; Hebrews 5:9; James 1:18-25; 2:14-26; Acts 2:36-38,40,41,47).

    Gospel preachers used to know what they believed and why. They used to be able to take you to the inspired record and "speaking as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11),  convince numbers of others. Nowadays, some who call themselves Christians and gospel preachers, aren't sure they can know they are right and certainly don't wish to be so dogmatic as to teach that one must believe and practice what they teach on any number of subjects two of which we have already noticed:

1. The One True Church and its Identity: 2. The doctrine of Christ  that men must believe to be saved (that body of truth-Jude 3; 2 John 9-11). 3. How to know beyond doubt what is the true biblical morality as it applies to a. Abortion. b. Marriage Divorce & Remarriage. c. Modesty. d. Sinful Habits  e. Homosexuality. f. The organization and function of churches of Christ. The list could be lengthened of course but you get the point.  Following are some remarks relative to these three headings I wish to consider:

    It seems to me that once just about every member of the church of Christ realized that the church was in God's mind from eternity and that when it became a reality  this showed the wisdom of  God as to how He intended to keep His promise to bless the whole world through the "seed of Abraham," Jesus Christ (Genesis 12:1-4; Galatians 3:16; Ephesians 3:8-11). They knew that the Lord added only the obedient to this church and that this was hundreds of years before Roman Catholicism and many more hundreds of years before Protestantism was ever heard of (Acts 2:22- 38,40-41,47). They knew that Christ was the founder (Matthew 16:13-19). They knew that the price paid for this church was His shed blood (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:23). They knew that He is the "Savior of the body" (Ephesians 5:23), and that this body being the church this means that outside of this relationship there is no salvation (Ephesians 1:3; 2:13-16; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21). They knew that there was only "one body" which is the church (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:1-6). All knowledgeable members knew that the terms for church membership where identical to citizenship in Christ's kingdom and that they are one and the same relationship (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5; Matthew 16:18-18). They knew that since Paul and others knew they were "in the kingdom" of Christ as members of His church, that the kingdom was not some future entity yet to be established (Colossians 1:13-14; Hebrews 12:22-28). After all, if the kingdom hasn't come then there is no one who has been "born  again" as yet, for as we have seen one is born into the kingdom. Too, if the kingdom hasn't come and is something different from the New Testament church  then no one should be observing the Lord's Supper awaiting Christ's return since Christ placed it "in the kingdom" (Matthew 26:26-29).  How to observe this memorial was written to a congregation of the New Testament order  at Corinth (1 Corinthians 11:23-34).

    Some calling themselves "gospel preachers" who work with local churches of Christ have gotten so "soft" that they  can't even know for sure that they have the truth on any number of subjects. They  refer to the fact that we have all been wrong from time to time on some point then ask, "how do you know you aren't mistaken on some things believing as you do right now?"  Well, the promises of God are sufficient for me. Jesus said "if any one wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on my own authority" (John 7:17). The apostle Paul spoke of the revelation that had been given to him and said, "..when you read you may understand.." (Ephesians 3:4). Even the statement of Jesus in (John 8:31-32) is a promise. "If you continue in My word, you are My  disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  We have cases of God's providence making a way for "honest truth seekers," men such as the Ethiopian treasurer and Cornelius were put in contact with someone to tell them what they must do to please the Lord (Acts 8:26-39; Acts 10:1- 6; 11:14).  We are told if someone brings a "different doctrine" than the body of truth given by divine inspiration we aren't to accept such teaching in passages such as (Galatians 1:6-11; 2 John 9-11), indicating that we are able to determine what is and what isn't the truth of the will of Christ. See also (Matthew 7:15; 1 John 4:1).

    When I was a young man you could hardly find a man calling himself a "gospel preacher" who taught anything other than that marriage was for one man and one woman for life, with but "one exception" adultery, freeing only the innocent party to remarry (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:1-9). Nowadays this is being labeled the "traditional" view and is being equated to Roman Catholicism by several brethren who claim to be "gospel preachers." Adultery has even been redefined by these brethren and isn't considered  the sexual act, only "covenant breaking" and both parties who have broken their covenant can repent and remarry with Christ's approval so "they" are saying.  Just because the morals of society are changing so drastically so that what used to be considered wrong by the majority isn't any longer, doesn't change in the least what the word of Christ teaches on these matters. Sex outside of marriage is still fornication. Any sexual immorality including homosexuality is a sin that has the potential to damn the souls of those so involved. Lying, stealing, cheating, and anything else mentioned in the various list of immoral acts that are soul damning,  do not change with the times (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 19-20; Galatians 5:16-21; Colossians 3:1-12). Paul says that those who "sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption" and admonishes us not to be deceived about such actions (Galatians 6:7- 8).

    Concerning the organization and the mission of churches of Christ there can be no doubt. Local churches were independent of one another, each with its own organization consisting of elders, deacons, and saints (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-16; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:17,298-32; Hebrews 13:7,17). Therefore there is no organization larger, smaller, nor other than the local congregation in Christ's New Testament pattern.  What did they support as their work out of the local treasury? Since the apostles were "guided into all truth" (John 16:13), and since they continued in the apostle's doctrine (Acts 2:42; Acts 15:24), when one reads the "sum total" of what local congregations of the New Testament order engaged in with apostolic approval, one will know what they are authorized to engage in today. This forms the "New Testament Pattern" according to Paul' s statement in (Philippians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 11:1).  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to read and discern everything they supported as a function of the collective or the local congregation.  Why in the last few years are we hearing so many uncertain sounds about what is and what isn't a "sound congregation" of the New Testament order?  Everyone used to be able to determine this by observing and or asking a few pertinent questions. Today if one questions the activities in which a sister congregation is engaged and ask them "to give a reason for the hope that is within them" (1 Peter 3:15), one is accused of violating their autonomy!

     Local congregations provided a place for the membership to engage in "collective worship activities" and came together for such in keeping with what they had been commanded (Acts 20:6-7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 2:42). They supported the preaching of the gospel both locally and in other areas (1 Corinthians 9:1-14; 2 Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:14-16). In this way the membership was edified (1 Thessalonians 5:11-16). We also learn that they saw to the physical needs of indigent members (1 Timothy 5:4, 5, 8, 16). A clear distinction was made between an individual Christian's responsibilities and that which fell a responsibility of the collective and the two were not to be intertwined. Recreation and secular activities were a home thing and not to involve the church as such (1 Corinthians 11:22; 1 Timothy 5:16).

    False teachers were to be "marked and avoided" according to the apostle's teachings (Romans 16:17-18; 2 Timothy 4:1-7; 1 John 4:1). Nowadays we are told that one cannot be "identified as a false teacher" just because what he teaches is "soul damning error."  We are told that "false" identifies his character and not his doctrine (1 Peter 2:1-2). While it is true that often character flaws accompany those who teach soul damning doctrine, it isn't always true; nor is that all there is to identifying one as a "false teacher." What he teaches is as much a part of his being a false teaches as is his character you see. While it may be true that not every time one teachers a point of doctrine that is error he should be branded and identified as a "false teacher" nonetheless, we cannot accept his error regardless of how "honest and sincere" the one may be who teaches said error.  Jesus said, "if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the pit" (Matthew 15:14). There is absolutely no indication that this person in error of whom Jesus spoke had a bad character. Too, a man with the proper character will readily drop any false conclusion to which he had come in his ignorance when confronted with the truth on such a matter and will change immediately. When an honest person is confronted with truth he will change and accept it otherwise he is no longer honest.

    The kind of preaching I was raised on in my home state of Kentucky was the clarion call of the old Jerusalem gospel leaving nothing to the imagination of the hearers but rather informing them in graphic language that could not be misunderstood. Did everyone accept and obey the gospel and become a member of the church of Christ under such preaching? Why no, not even the Master teacher nor His apostles could accomplish that without overruling man's free will.  The gospel message is so designed by the creator as to only appeal to the "honest and good hearted" folks. That was true in the first century and it is still true today (Matthew 13:8, 22). Often when asked about a certain person if we believe they are honest there are some whom we would say we certainly do, only to learn when we try to teach them the gospel of Christ as inspiration reveals it in the New Testament, they reject it out of hand! Sadly we learn that we had misjudged that person. They were not honest after all.  This has happened to me repeatedly.  Then the opposite has also happened. I have taken folks to Acts chapter two and had them read Peter's sermon along with me then asked them what were these folks taught?  What did they believe?  What were they commanded to do? To which church were they added? What name do you suppose they wore? The result being, some have requested baptism for the remission of sins at my hands and some after midnight. You see the answers to those questions I pose can only be answered truthfully in the following manner. 1. That they were sinners for whom Christ died was buried, raised and exalted as Lord and Christ. 2. They believed on Jesus as the resurrected Messiah. 3.  They were commanded to "repent and be immersed in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." 4. They were added to Christ's church. 5. They were Christians. At least they "joined" no denomination, and they did not take the name "Catholic" for the Catholic church and none of the Protestant churches existed at this point in history, only the church that Jesus bled and died for (Matthew 16:13-19; Ephesians 5:25).  I have had folks say in answer to my question they became members of  "God's church." I say you are exactly right (Acts 20:28). Of course we are speaking of God the Son.

    I remember a debate that took place in Central Florida between my friend and fellow gospel preacher now deceased, A.C. Grider and the president of the Land Mark Baptist College in Lakeland, Florida who wears the title Dr. Albert Garner. I never heard a man more soundly defeated in debate than was Dr. Garner.  In the course of this discussion A.C. Grider (who was converted to Christ from the Baptist) pleaded with the Baptist in the audience to "get out of the Baptist church before it is too late! Quit following the teachings of such men as Mr. Garner or you will end up in hell as sure as I'm standing here before you tonight!"  As they discussed the "once saved always saved" position A.C. Grider soundly defeated every argument made by Mr. Garner and then showed what the consequences would be if you good folks begin to practice what Mr. Garner is advocating. He said now I know that you are good people and you don't live like that,  but if folks did begin to practice what Mr. Garner is advocating we would have to lock up our wives and daughters."  A.C. read from Sam Morris' booklet "Do A Christian's Sins Damn His Soul" where this Baptist preacher said, "The way a Christian lives has nothing whatsoever to do with the salvation of his soul." He mentioned a bunch of good things then said they would not make one's soul any safer and then a bunch of terrible sins from "idolatry to murder" and said they would not place his soul in any danger.  A. C. Grider usually baptized several folks into Christ as a result of his debates over the years.  Today, many brethren would not have such a great man in their pulpit I am sorry to have to say.

    I guess that shouldn't surprise us too much when we consider that the kind of teaching Jesus did is no longer welcomed in some pulpits of the land, and certainly not the kind of preaching done by the apostles and evangelist whose sermons are recorded in the New Testament, for they identified error and condemned the propagator of it in language too clear to misunderstand. Why Paul even "withstood Peter to the face before them all at Antioch" (Galatians 2:11-21).  When I use such examples of those who "contended for the faith" (Jude 3), I am often reminded "yes, but you are not an apostle." I am well aware of that fact of course, but when Paul wrote "The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--these do, and the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:9), I take heart that such actions on my part are pleasing to the Lord.

    The above illustration is among brethren in Christ, even apostles, but what about dealing with those who are "out of Christ" how did they handle them? One of the clearest examples I can think of has to do with a man who was interfering with Paul's attempts to convert another to Christ. Paul did not take kindly to such interference. I have had Protestant preachers do much the same to those whom I was trying to convert to Christ, they often "seek to turn them away from the faith." How am I supposed to deal with them? Can I go wrong if I follow Paul's example?  Of course you understand I make no claims of apostolic authority nor of being able to perform miracles in connection with my work, but the example set by the apostle Paul surely can't be wrong to follow. The event of which I shall now write happened on Cyprus.

   "And when they (Paul, Barnabas, and John) had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul of the country, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. He called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the word of God.  But Elymus the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.  Then Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, "0 full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?"  The apostle Paul then used his miracle working powers to strike this man blind. The results were, "Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord" (Acts 13:6-12).

    It is my belief that multitudes have yet to learn just how important the truth really is to the saving of precious souls!  We all need to learn the lessons Jesus taught about "considering the cost" of discipleship! It may well cost out jobs, our friends, our family, or our lives when the conflict between truth and error arises and decisions must be made. Earlier we referred to Jesus' statements about this in Matthew ten. See again (Matthew 10:34-38). A parallel account using graphic language in His attempts to cause men to "consider what the cost of discipleship may be" is  recorded in (Luke 14:25-35). My New King James New Testament has a heading above this context which reads, "Leaving All to Follow Christ."

    "And there went great multitudes with Him. And He turned and said to them. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:25-27). We know from the parallel account in Matthew ten what Jesus us saying and demanding for one to be a true disciple is that we put Him first, love Him more than each of these, including our own life. Read the entire context to see that He is attempting to get us to see that there are costs to true discipleship and we should consider them before yielding our lives to Him.  If we aren't willing to take all of the consequences that may arise, we should not become one of His disciples.

    Paul would later write that he had indeed given up everything that men usually hold as dear in order to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. He wasn't complaining about it at all, he considered what he gained in return to be well worth what it had cost him. He spoke of his former religion and his advancement in the same. He spoke of how zealous he had been for the religion of his fathers and then said, "But what things were gain to me, these I counted loss for Christ.  But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:7-11).

    Modern day disciples of Jesus will stop serving him for such trivial reasons as "no one spoke to me at services today." Or someone whom they attempted to tell the gospel story and to whom they attempted to identify the new testament church "said some unkind things about the church of Christ." "Why, I was called a Campbellite and accused of thinking we were the only ones going to heaven."  Just imagine if we were called on to face the kind of persecution first century disciples did! Have you read "Fox's Book of Martyrs?"  It would do every member of the body of Christ good to learn what some have faced & sacrificed for "the faith," and then we can more readily "examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith.." (2 Corinthians 13:5). I Desire To Be Effective In Preaching Christ

    Having given my life to "preaching Christ"some  forty  three  years ago,  I desire to be as effective in my work as is humanly possible and I look to the great providence of God to assist  in realizing this. Actually if I am to be effective and reach precious souls for the cause of Christ, I must never compromise the truth that makes men free.

    This will require that I never deviate from the "gospel plan of salvation" as given by Christ to His apostles found in (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:45- 49). Men must  be pointed to the cases of conversion found in the Acts of the apostles as they carried out Christ's "Worldwide Commission." Any other plan will not make folks converts to Christ and members of His blood bought church. Other plans make folks something other than "Christians" and members of human denominations rather than members of Christ's church for which He died as we noted earlier are all destined to be "rooted up" when the judgment day arrives (Matthew 7:13-21; Matthew 15:13). Some Cases of Conversion

Jews on Pentecost-Acts 2:22-38,40-41,47 Some Samaritans-Acts 8:12 Simeon a Sorcerer-Acts 8:13 A Queen's Treasurer-Acts 8:26-39 Saul A Former Pharisee-Acts 9:1-6; 22:16 A Gentile Officer-Acts 10:1-4; 47-48; 11:14 Lydia a Seller of Purple-Acts 16:14-15 A Heathen Jailer at Philippi-Acts 16:25-34

   That which all of these cases of conversion to Christ have in common is they required  1. The gospel being taught. 2. Belief in the gospel and in Jesus as the Christ. 3. Repentance of past sin and error. 4. Confession of Jesus as the Christ. 5. Immersion into Christ and into the one body, His blood bought church.

    The doctrine of "salvation by faith alone" and the idea of one "joining the church of their choice" are ideas unknown to New Testament religion and are perversions of the Lord's way.

    Those who "obey the gospel" in order to be "added to the church" by our Lord must then make sure to identify with a faithful local congregation of the New Testament order and work and worship under the oversight of elders (Acts 14:23; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-5; Acts 20:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-21; Philippians 1:1-2). Then one must worship as directed by the authority of Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17). Worshipping "in spirit and in truth" as  that is the will of God (John 4:23- 24). This will require that members:

1. Meet on the Lord's day for weekly communion (Acts 20:6-7).

2. Meet for collective worship in Song (Eph.5:19; Col. 3:16).

3. Meet for collective prayers let by a man (1 Cor. 14:16; Acts 12:5).

4. Meet for making weekly free will contribution (1 Cor. 16:1-2).

5. Meet to study the word of Christ (1 Tim. 3:15; Acts 20:7).

    Godly living is required of all who hope to inherit eternal life after awhile. Most of our religion is lived outside of the meeting house were we meet to engage in collective activities. When in the home or at play or on the job, we are to "let our lights shine" and gloryify our Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16). We are to be about "kingdom business" daily as citizens thereof (Matthew 6:19-33). We are to present our bodies as "living sacrifices" to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2). We are to "seek those things which are above and have our affections centered there" (Colossians 3:1- 6). As citizens of two kingdoms, one temporal and one spiritual, we must submit to the ruling authorities insofar as they do not conflict with my faithful service to Jesus (Romans 13:1-4). If a conflict does arise we must do as did the apostles when told not to teach or preach in the name of Jesus any more by the authorities. Peter said, "we must obey God rather than man" (Acts 5:29). We are not to fall in love with this world (1 John 2:15-17), for we are only pilgrims and strangers. This world is not our home, we are just passing through on our way to that eternal city being prepared by Christ for those who love and serve Him (John 14:1-6; 1 Peter 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 4:6- 8).  Are you ready for the heaveny habitat? If we may be of help just get in touch with us; we stand always ready  to assist you in obeying the Lord and being saved by His grace (Acts 26:27-29).  Call 1 (309) 347-5645 or 347-3582