I
believe Christians may "depart from the faith," "fall away from grace,"
even "deny the Lord that bought them" (1
Tim. 4:1; Gal. 5:4; 2 Pet. 2:1) for the scriptures clearly teach
this. Our Baptist friends err when they apply
1 Jn. 2:19a to "all"
(note 19b) who fully backslide.
But
"we" err in thinking that all who are baptized, and are "faithful" in
their home-town, are truly converted to Christ.
It is a
common cry in California, Arizona---and I suspect in the northeastern
industrial areas---that many "faithful Christians" from Tennessee,
Oklahoma or Texas, come there to work, and "never darken the church
doors." Friends write that they were "faithful to the church" back home.
And
that is it---exactly. They were indeed "faithful to the church"
(apparently) but were not faithful to
the Lord. Many "grew up in the church" without really knowing, in
a direct and personal way, the truth. They may have been drilled in "the
right answers" concerning baptism, the Lord's Supper, instrumental
music, etc., yet never have committed themselves to honest Bible
study--never have given themselves whole-heartedly to Christ.
"Back
home" their parents---and later, their friends---expected them to "be
faithful" (meaning, attend the "services") and they did so. But away
from home, separated from home-town pressures to conform, their lack of
genuine ties to Christ is apparent. It was not "worldly California" that
drew them away---although I offer no rose to materialism in California
or Tennessee. They simply were
not bound by the love of God in the first place.
Much of
our lament about the young people who "quit the church" is equally
misdirected. "Area-wide" socials, "church skating parties" and other
"fellowship hall" activities do not bind the youth to Christ. They
actually increase the rate of apostasy when these young people leave
home and are thrown into an environment that calls for spiritual
strength. We have fed hungry souls with hamburgers. We have deprived
them of training for the church-world, light-darkness battles they must
meet in an adult life.
Is "churchanity"
responsible for much of the weak spiritual fiber seen in those who go
astray? I believe it is---and have, for twenty years or more, been
preaching the evils of "party line" religion. But God forbid that I
should deny the existence of the divinely authorized local church, or
the organized functions of its members. Sectarianism arises among God's
people--- whether they call themselves "church" or "group"---when they
regard themselves as the standard for "soundness." "No church" may be as
much a party line as any "church-of-Christer" ever preached.
The
church doesn't need another saviour; we (the church distributively)
simply need to be faithful to the Saviour we have. By this example, and
by objective, non-sectarian appraisal of our practices in the light of
the word of God, we may be able to teach the next generation to turn to
the Lord, and cleave to
Him. (Acts 11:20f)
Other Articles by Robert Turner
A
Man Called David
How
Men Act When They Repent
Intellectual Arrogance