PRAISING AND FELLOWSHIPPING THE WICKED

James E. Farley
(Seek The Old Paths, August 2003)

“They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them” (Prov. 28:4).

We are commanded to ““...have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them”” (Eph. 5:11). However, more and more we are seeing members of the churches of Christ fellowshipping, encouraging, and even praising those in the denominations. If darkness is the opposite of light, and the light we have to guide us in this dark world of error and sin is the verbally inspired Word of God (Psalm 119:104-105), then denominationalism is the darkest form of darkness. Denominationalism is absolutely contrary to the Word of God (the light) and is certainly darkness (John 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10-13).

I must admit that it is staggering to me when I hear about congregations inviting a denominational preacher to speak on a program. It amazes me to hear about “our schools” having “specialists” from among the denominational ranks come in to teach on special workshops. “Oh,” they will say, “We’re not endorsing their error, but these men (and women) have something to say, and their expertise will be helpful to those we are training in these fields (i.e. youth ministry, etc.).” These want to “associate” with the denominationalists and use them in their programs, while saying “We are not fellowshipping them, we are not endorsing their error, but we can still use them to the glory of God.”

There was a king of Judah named Amaziah, who, when he came to the throne of Judah, determined that he would go to war against the Edomites. He surveyed and inventoried his men of war and found that he had “...three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield” (2 Chron. 25:1-5). However, Amaziah seemed to think this was not enough, so . . . we learn of Amaziah hiring mercenaries from Israel for “an hundred talents of silver. But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the Lord is not with Israel, to wit, with the children of Ephraim” (2 Chron. 25:7). Why was it that God was not with Israel? It was because of “the sin of Jeroboam” who “caused Israel to sin.” Over and over again, from 1 Kings chapter twelve forward in the Old Testament, we read of “the sin of Jeroboam” (cf. 1 Kings 13:34; 14:16; 15:30, 34; 16:2; 2 Kings 3:3; 9:9; 10:29,31). Essentially, what Jeroboam did was to set up a manmade denomination with manmade headquarters, manmade worship, manmade priesthood, etc. This was (and is) contrary to God’’s law, and it separated (and still separates) people from God.

Amaziah, in 2 Chronicles 25, could have reasoned like some of our people today by saying something like, “Well Lord, I am not condoning Israel’s error, I am not really fellowshipping them, I just want to use them to whip the Edomites, after all Lord, they do have certain skills and talents that can be used to your glory.” But God’s man straightforwardly told the king, “let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the Lord is not with Israel.” This has to be our attitude toward the manmade religions of today. Denominations have come from men planting different “seeds” and producing “plants” which God has not planted (Luke 8:11; Matt. 15:13).
When Amaziah obeyed the Word from God and sent the men out of Israel home, they were greatly angered, and on their way home they destroyed some of Judah’s cities and took much spoil (2 Chron. 25:10,13). Let us not be surprised when those among the sectarian groups (even those who were once with us like the “Christian Church”) become angered when we tell them we cannot use them because God is not with them. Our brethren would do well to study the book of Nehemiah again with these things in mind (Neh. 2:20; 6:1-4; 13:1-9).

Proverbs 28:4 is correct. The further from God’s law men get, the better the wicked look, but when faithful ones will abide in God’s Will, they cannot help but to contend with those who oppose it (Jude 3; Phil. 1:17). Those who are living according to the doctrine of Christ must never give those who are not, any indication that we are having any kind of fellowship with them (2 John 9-11). We must “try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1), warn them and attempt to correct them, but if they will not repent, they must be marked and avoided (Rom. 16:17). We must have “no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11). (Edited for space)

Family Bulletin Board

Remember those who have chronic illnesses: Delsie Bishop, Reva Brewer, Ella Brumitt, Eloise Deaton, Jamie Farmer, Francis Ferren, Elizabeth Fowler,  Savannah Green, Lola Mae Hamlett, Louise Hunt, and Edith Lechenet

POTLUCK next week! Please plan to stay and share the meal with us. Then stay for the service at 2:00 pm. Following that. we will label the mail-outs for November.

SERVING in November:
Potluck help - Angie Moxley & Sandy Wiley
Communion ware and baptismal garment care -
Danielle Adams and girls
Ushers - Mike Pethe & Darren Flagel