The Left and the Right
By jimmy | December 22, 2008
The Left and the Right - by Jimmy Allen - Searcy, Arkansas
I have been a Christian 55 years. Never during that period have I seen our people as polarized as they are now. In my judgment, there are those on the left and the right that need to rethink their positions in light of the Bible and move back toward the center. Some on the left will no longer use me for revivals because I am too conservative. Some on the right will not have me for a gospel meeting because I am too liberal.
The Left
In the following material, I give illustrations that tell something about the left wing of the Restoration Movement. Dr. Jerry Jones, a dear friend and brother, was speaking of these people when he said, “Jim, the church has moved off and left you.” Recently after a Bible class in my home congregation on a Wednesday night, I said to one of my brothers, “Surely, I have the right to quote Acts 2:38 to a person and tell him he must repent and be baptized to receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.” His response was, “That is just your interpretation. You are trying to play God. Hello, God!” I put my arm around him and said it was about the most sarcastic remark made to me by a fellow Christian. I have known the man more than 50 years.
We are also being told that there is a vast difference between gospel and doctrine. Everyone must accept and obey the gospel to be a child of God; however, if we attempt to bind anything on another in addition to initial belief in Jesus, repentance of sins, and immersion in the name of Christ, we are preaching another gospel. This is done so that no distinction will be made between ourselves and brothers who use instrumental music in worship. However, the point made is far broader in application than just instrumental music. To preach another gospel is to be condemned (Gal. 1:6-9). If I attempt to prove that elders and deacons are to be leaders in the local church, that communion is to be taken only on the first day of the week, that the church can go into apostasy (2 Thess. 2:1-12), and the danger of false teachers (2 Jno. 7-11, 1 Tim. 4:1-2), I am guilty of dividing the church and preaching another gospel. Accordingly, the way to have unity is to recognize that all the born-again compose the church and to work and worship with every single one regardless of any practice beyond baptism.
Pattern is another area of concern. I was talking to a well-known preacher of ours who emphasized the importance of baptism. When he finished, I asked him about pattern. He told me there was no pattern. I asked if what he had just said about baptism was or was not pattern. I then added if there is no pattern, there is nothing to be bound on those whom we teach. Of course, Matt. 28:18-20 indicates there is something to be taught beyond baptism. Obeying God’s commands, which certainly express our love for him (Jno. 15:10; 14:15; Jude 21), surely involves pattern in becoming and remaining loyal to him. When another disciple told me there is no pattern, I said there must be one if anything is to be bound on another. I then attempted to explain that the argument is not about pattern but about the size of the pattern. The larger the pattern, the smaller the fellowship. The smaller the pattern, the larger the fellowship but there is pattern morally and religiously that people must follow.
Another saint takes the view that Melchizedek was a pagan or idolatrous priest. This deals me trouble because of the deference Abraham showed to him and also the fact that Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7:14-17). This same man also holds that Job was not a historical character. I pointed out that Noah, Daniel, and Job are actually tied together four times in Ezekiel (14:14, 16, 17, 20). If Job was non-existent, perhaps the same is also true of Noah and Daniel. Suppose I were to say that Larimore, Brewer and Tracy (meaning Dick) were righteous enough to save no one but themselves. Would you not consider all three as real people? Furthermore, James urged brethren to look to Job as an example of patience (Jas. 5:10-11). I asked if he was simply accommodating Jewish ignorance. If Job is not a historical character, would it not follow that all the others mentioned in Job would also be imaginary persons?
Back to the question of instrumental music in Christian worship. I can assure you that if we were to have a vote among our students as to whether instrumental music in worship (i.e. when we sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs - Eph. 5:19) is authorized, those who believe it is not would be out-voted by at least three to one. This does not mean the majority would introduce it in their local churches but it does mean they have no Biblical opposition to its use. Last year, I taught a class of 19 who were studying to be preachers (the one exception was a girl in the class). I asked if the instrument in Christian worship was authorized. One did not vote. Of the other 18, the vote was 9 “yes” and 9 “no.” The people in our school do not generally hold these views because of our faculty but due to a failure to be taught at home and in the local churches. My career, outside the classroom, has been built on revivals. It appears that the majority of our churches are no longer having them. Why is this the case? One is that the local membership will no longer support them. However, I think the winds from the left have also blown so hard that a large number of our brothers no longer believe that people must obey Acts 2:38 and Mark 16:16 to move from the unsaved to saved or from the world to the church. We are turned in on ourselves. Special seminars, youth rallies, drama presentations, and the building of family life centers are more important than evangelistic outreach. Have you ever seen a time in the last half-century when our own brothers and sisters ran from preaching as they are now doing? If there are no gospel meetings, no personal work, and no conviction concerning those things that make us Biblically unique, our huge loss of membership will continue unabated. How much time do we have in the USA?
The Right
We all know that from the right has come the views that the Holy Spirit dwells in us only in the form of the word, that only a couple of translations can be safely used for study, and that all the born-again are meeting behind “Church of Christ” signs.
However, I recently saw something new that caught my attention. It says, “waving of arms, and clapping of hands are salvation issues” (Owen Olbricht, “Unique for Christ,” April, 2005). According to 1 Tim. 2:8, men can lift holy hands in prayer. Is it damning if those hands are waved or moved? When does the unauthorized activity begin? Dr. George Benson, former president of Harding College, always lifted at least one hand when he led public prayer or baptized. As I recall, he also moved his uplifted hand when baptizing. Some of the finest song-leaders I have ever had were masters in hand movements. For many years, I have led church groups in applause after one was raised from the waters of baptism. About 18 months ago, I spoke one night on the Faulkner University lectureship. Prior to my presentation, a young Bible major in that school presented a five-minute talk. When he finished, I stood and said, “Let’s show our appreciation to the young man who has spoken to us.” I then led the audience in applause. Later, I received a letter from a brother who said I was like Jeroboam who had caused Israel to sin. He made clear that I had sinned and every person in the audience who clapped their hands had also sinned. It is my opinion, that neither of the two brothers mentioned above have seen the enthusiasm exhibited by black brothers and sisters in some of their assemblies.
The early church continued steadfastly in prayers (Acts 2:42). One can pray with his hands held straight up, down at his sides, folded on his chest or on his brow. He can also pray standing, sitting, kneeling, or lying down. Which of these is a salvation issue?
In my thinking, there are some core truths concerning the New Testament church that must be upheld if we plan to maintain our identity. They are the role of women, the gospel plan of salvation, acappella singing, the weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper, leadership of elders and deacons, and the autonomy of the local church. In these areas, we cannot compromise. If we do, in my judgment, we might as well close our doors and practice full fledged denominationalism.
Dr. Jimmy Allen taught in the Bible Department at Harding University
in Searcy, Arkansas for fifty years before his retirement in 2008.
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