Today we find that in many congregations the pure gospel is lacking. This condition exist because some congregations that were faithful 50 years ago have since gone through changes that have placed them in a situation with the Lord where Jesus might say – “You have left your first love” or “I have a few things against you” (cf. Rev. 2:4; 2:14).
The forces of evil never rest; the truths that were defended in the 30s through the 80s are still truth. Yet; many church members today have changed their views about marriage-divorce-and-remarriage, about the function of the congregation with its resources, about the work of the church in evangelism (i.e. some today are advocating that institutions other than the local congregation may set up brotherhood projects that have been assigned to the church alone); these departures violate the clear instruction via the Holy Scriptures that teach the congregation is God’s missionary society; nothing else is authorized by God as an agency to spread the gospel. Indeed, the individual Christian also has responsibilities to spread the gospel as is clearly taught by the Holy Scriptures,
cf. Acts 8:1-4 – 1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 as for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. KJV
2 Timothy 2:2 – And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. KJV
Brethren; friends; I am concerned about the changes that are being introduced into some churches and the direction of some of the good brethren who in the past were staunch advocates of COMMAND, APOSTOLIC EXAMPLE, and NECESSARY INFERENCE. Some of the faithful men of the past, if possible, would arise to condemn these changes; good men that we can recall by name.
What does the future hold? Perhaps we can know what the future holds by looking at the church and what has happened in the past 110 years. There have been continued departures by those determined to make changes in the Bible method of doing things in the congregation. Indeed, some have allowed the grand schemes of TV evangelist, and on-the-march brethren who are dissatisfied with the ancient truths to pursue error without taking a stand. May God bless each one of us to see the hand-writing on the wall for the future generations and cry out before another major division in the Body of Christ takes place!