“Change Agents” in the Church Agent: Causative substance, something that causes an effect

“Preach Christ, not baptism or the church” is the cry and feeling of those who are self-designated as “change agents” in the church, and their sympathizers. This comes from those who don’t want the church or gospel preachers to be militant and have grown soft and apologetic for the truth. It sounds noble – “Preach The Man, Not The Plan.”

“How does any man who claims to be a preacher of the gospel go about preaching baptism or the church without preaching Christ?” Dick Blackford “Preach Christ, Not Baptism or the Church,” Guardian of Truth, XXXVIII:21, Nov. 3, 1994, p. 1

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

False Implications of “Preach the Man, not the Plan” That we can preach Christ without preaching baptism, Acts 8:35-36; Rom. 6:3 That we can preach Christ without preaching His church, Matt. 16:16-18; Eph. 1:20-23; Acts 8:4-5, 12

How can we preach the blood of Jesus… But not what it purchased? The church, Acts 20:28 But not how to be washed by it? Baptism, Rom. 6:3; Acts 22:16

How can we preach the Savior (Acts 4:12) … But not who he saves? The church, Eph. 5:23 But not what saves? Baptism, Acts 4:12; 1 Pet. 3:21

How can we preach the Bridegroom… But not his bride? The church, Eph. 5:31-32 But not how to enter relation? Baptism, Gal. 3:27

How can we preach the Captain of our salvation… But not those he leads? Heb. 2:10 The Church, Eph. 1:22-23

How can we preach forgiveness of sins… But not how sins are removed? Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3; Col. 2:12-13

How can we preach the Head… But not the body? The Church, Col. 1:18

How can we preach the Head… But not how to enter the body? 1 Cor. 12:13

How can we preach the Father & Son… But not the family? The Church, 1 Tim. 3:15 But not how to be born into the family? Baptism, John 3:5

BAPTISM Blood Saves Into Christ Remission of sins Into one body Born again THE CHURCH Purchased The Saved Bride of Christ Follow Christ Body of Christ Family of God

Minimize Christ When… Minimize His church, Gal. 1:13; Acts 9:4 Minimize water baptism, Acts 8:4- 5, 12; 10:47-48

The Call for Change… “The Spirit of God is still moving and acting in the church today and we must be more open to it. The result will be exhilarating changes in the worship and mission of the church. It has been a mistake to emphasize ‘the old paths’ because we need to be open to change.

The Call for Change… “The church has got to change. If it doesn’t change, my kids are not going to stay with it. I’m probably not going to stay with it… Mine was the last generation that would tolerate indoctrination.” -Rubel Shelly “The Church In The 90’s: The Challenge Of Change” Behold The Pattern, Goebel Music,

Bible Answer: “It has been a mistake to emphasize ‘the old paths’ because we need to be open to change. The church has got to change.” Old paths established by God, Jer. 6:16-17 Forsake them is to forsake God, Jer. 18:15-17

Bible Answer: What will you change? (Gal. 1:6-10) Entrance? (Acts 2:47) Behavior? (1 Tim. 3:15) Worship? (Jno. 4:23-24) Work/organization? (Acts 14:22-23)

The Call for Change… “It is a ‘mistaken assumption’ that we should ‘restore the church of the 1st century.’ The model we are to pattern after is Christ, not the New Testament church. Those are two different models.” -Rubel Shelly “The Church In The 90’s: The Challenge Of Change” Behold The Pattern, Goebel Music,

“Which church do you want to restore? Jerusalem, with its lack of evangelistic zeal? Or restore Corinth with its open fornication and, and drunkenness in church services around communion time? What about Colossae with its heresy? What about Ephesus? What about Laodicea, that church that says, ‘We’ve go it’? And he said you’re dead as a hammer and don’t know it. They said, ‘We don’t need anything’ and He said, ‘You need everything.’” (Ibid., 296)

Bible Answer: Restoration is a Bible concept To set in order according to the divine pattern Restore: return, refresh, repair; to set in order God restored Israel & Judah, Jer. 30:17 (1-3), 9 Messiah’s work of restoration, Isa. 49: 5-6; Acts 3:21; Heb. 9:10

Bible Answer: Restore & keep the “pattern of sound words” as our abiding standard, 2 Tim. 1:13 (2 Ths. 2:15; 2 Tim. 3:14) Set in order what is lacking based upon the design of truth, Titus 1:5 Cf. Jerusalem, Corinth, Colossae, Ephesus, Laodicea & today

The Call for Change… “The pictures of the church recorded in the New Testament are ‘only flawed attempts’ to follow Christ.” -Rubel Shelly “The Church In The 90’s: The Challenge Of Change” Behold The Pattern, Goebel Music,

Bible Answer: Accept & demand the adequacy of the unflawed pattern, 2 Tim. 3:16-17 Learn & apply the pattern: what does the NT pattern bind & require of us; what do its statements, examples & implications actually teach? (2 Tim. 2:15)

Bible Answer: Flawed attempts or worthy examples? Both are in NT: Sardis, Rev. 3:1-3 ; Philadelphia, 3:7-11 Follow worthy examples, 1 Cor. 4:16-17 None of the failures of NT churches lessen the authority of the divine standard of truth they were following, Jno. 8:31-32; 2 Jno. 9

Message of the Cross 1 Cor. 1:18-25 Preaching Christ must not change Jude 3 How to be saved, Mk. 16:15-16 How to live in his kingdom, Acts 2:47; 1 Ths. 1:9-10 Form of doctrine that frees us, Rom. 6:17-18 Love Jesus by obeying Him, Jno. 14:15