November 2007
Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John
8:32). When one knows the Truth, the forbidden changes of the "Change Agents" and their
condemning errors becomes evident. Mature Christians are able to see the departures from the
Word of God (2 John 1:9-11). But the younger, immature, novices, or beginning students
of the Word, are often deceived by what Paul called the "sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Ephesians 4:14). Those who call
themselves "Change Agents" are today leading congregations away from the faith, and "the
hope of the Gospel" (Colossians 1:23). The anchor for the soul the moorings of Truth
are being ignored by them to the extent that some are even establishing their own "Community
Churches" which are unknown in the New Testament. These "grievous wolves" (Acts 20:28-32;
Matthew 7:15) seek to "draw away disciples after them" and away from the Lord and
His church in which salvation is found (Acts 4:12; Ephesians 1:3; 5:23). What are some
of the changes on their agenda?
- They abandon the plea for unity based in the New Testament (John 17:20-21; 1
Corinthians 1:10).
- They change the plan of worship revealed in the New Testament (John 4:24),
into "a celebration" with clapping, lifting of hands, swaying, and other such actions to appeal
to the emotions instead of the Bible heart.
- They extend fellowship to denominations without seeking to correct their errors
(Ephesians 5:11).
- They advocate unscriptural concepts of the "direct" operation of the Holy Spirit,
separate from and in addition to the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- They press for following a "New Hermeneutic" or new interpretation of the Bible
in order to follow their own pernicious ways.
- They teach that the lost are saved by grace alone, and that men are not to obey
the Lord in the Heavenly works given for those "created in Christ Jesus unto good works"
(Mark 16:15-16; Ephesians 2:8-10).
- They approve and accept those living in adultery, who are divorced and remarried
for reasons other than "fornication" or "death" (Matthew 19:8-9; Romans 7:1-4).
- They accept those into their fellowship who have not been baptized "for the
remission" of past sins (Acts 2:38-41).
- They advocate performances in worship, in preaching, "praise teams," and dramatic
plays instead of pleasing God in preaching, and congregational singing, (1Corinthians 1:18,
21; Ephesians 5:18-19).
- They ignore the teaching of the Bible by using women instead of men in places of
leadership in the church (1 Timothy 2:8-15).
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