by R. L. Morrison

"The church of Christ identifies itself as the only true church. It does not recognize those outside its membership as Christians and refuses fellowship and co-operation with other Christian bodies."

"The church of Christ holds to a Pharisaic "Biblical literalism" that blinds its members to their mission in today's world and makes it impossible for them to meet modern problems in an effective way. The Bible becomes a blueprint with exact details for all work and procedures. Nothing can be done and no procedure used for which the 'blueprint' does not give example or command. Such literalism not only stymies the activity of the church, but leads to endless and futile quarrels about insignificant details and methods. The non-instrumental aspect of worship is one such result, but hundreds just as unimportant and irrelevant to the worlds needs could be listed."

Possibly 30 years ago a copy of the above text was sent to me. I do not remember its source. But I suspect that the attitudes expressed in what I call "an indictment" are far more widely spread today. I also believe that there are many "used to be brethren" who have now "joined hands" with those who made the charge. But the New Testament teaches the same thing today it taught almost 2000 years ago. No man, or organization made by man has the power to change it.

Some of these charges are NOT denied! Any honest person who is not blinded by "denominational doctrine" and who studies the New Testament should recognize there is only one true church. If you have read Matt. 16:18, you should remember that Jesus said, "I will build my church." You can easily understand that he used the singular word, not the plural when he made the statement. In 1 Cor. 12:12-14, Paul wrote: "For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been made to drink into one Spirit." Then in verse 20, "But now are they many members, yet but one body." If there is any doubt about the identity of the body, turn to Eph. 1:22-23: "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." Now, Eph. 4:4-6: "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Since the body is the church and the church is the body, the New Testament teaches there is one and ONLY ONE. There are no more "churches" than there are God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit. IF those who are so critical of the church of Christ will explain these scriptures and make them teach MANY churches, we would like to examine their explanation. However, I don't expect to receive one!

The church of Christ can and does fulfill its God given mission in today's world. This mission was given by the Holy Spirit to the apostles, who were to pass it on to faithful men, who were to teach others also (2 Tim. 2:2). The same gospel the apostles taught in the first century is being taught today. This gospel does not include many things the denominational world teaches today. The apostles did NOT require the church to undertake the responsibility of providing fun and food for its members or anyone else. Nor was the church taught to undertake the responsibility of providing food, shelter, or clothing for the world. Yet, there are many today who seem to think this is the primary work of the church. How anyone today can believe the church is to do what the Federal Government of the United States cannot do is difficult to understand. But the person (or persons) who wrote this indictment apparently place that responsibility on the church.

The next charge: "The Bible becomes a blueprint with exact details for all work and procedures." This makes one wonder just how much of the New Testament these writers have read, or how much of it they believe. But he is right! We have no objection to giving a 'thus saith the Lord" for what we believe and practice! It is said of the early church in Jerusalem, "They continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine" (Acts 2:42). The apostle's doctrine was what they taught. When Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia, he rebuked them (1:6-7): "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." He went on to tell them that not even an angel from heaven could preach any gospel other than that he had declared unto them. He warned them that they who preached another gospel would be accursed. If this was true then (and it was), then the same thing is true today.

The world's greatest need today is to hear the gospel of Christ as it was preached by the apostles. It was and yet is the power of God unto salvation for mankind. When people hear, believe and obey it, they are translated out of the kingdom of darkness (sin) into the kingdom of the Son of God, which is the New Testament church (Col. 1:12-15). This gospel, when men obey it, has an everlasting effect. What greater good can a man do to another than to teach him the gospel, which is God's power to save him? (Rom. 1:16). This is the great work that God has placed on the church. It can and does meet the problems of men and sin, in an effective way. Its results are eternal. And there is no other way revealed to escape the consequences of sin. The New Testament church today is not "blinded by Biblical literalism" when it preaches the gospel as man's greatest need, but rather it is obeying God!

Yes, the New Testament DOES set forth the details for all work and HOW it is to be done. To take from or add to that which the apostles revealed is to reject God. To believe that man has the power or authority to change the word to suit himself, to add to it, or subtract from it, results in the wrath of God being poured out upon those who do so. Jude said that it was needful for him to write to those Christians. He exhorted them to earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered unto the saints. This of course refers to what the apostles taught and preached. Jude then warned them that false teachers would creep in and teach error, and the result of their doing so. The Lord will execute judgment on ALL who do so. In 2 Peter, chapters 2 and 3, Peter tells the result of teaching and following false doctrine and denying the word.

The writer of the indictment then speaks of "endless and futile quarrels about insignificant details and methods." I am not aware of futile quarrels and insignificant details. Nor am I aware of any details to be considered insignificant. We do not refer to what God has revealed as insignificant! But then we do not follow the "wisdom" and judgments of men! We insist upon a "thus saith the Lord."

In worship, the church of Christ follows New Testament teaching. This includes: prayer, singing, the Lord's supper, laying by in store (giving), studying or preaching (not necessarily in this order). I am aware that many churches add to these acts of worship, and some omit from them. But the church of Christ does not involve itself in endless and futile quarrels about it. Churches of Christ just DO what the apostles taught.

The writer then says: "The non-instrumental aspect of worship is one such result of this literalism." Here is the thing the writer "really" objects to. He talks about the world's needs and the inability of the church to meet them. Apparently he believes that the instrument of music in worship would help the needs of the world! I do not understand how the use of a mechanical instrument of any kind in worship would help the needs of the world! However, we shall examine some things the apostles taught. Paul wrote: "That ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written" (1 Cor. 4:6). Until someone can produce a passage of scripture which authorizes the instrument in worship, the use of it "goes beyond that which is written". The way some people talk, and considering the number of instruments they use, one would almost think every page in the Bible authorizes its use. But here is the truth of the matter: There is absolutely no passage of scripture in the New Testament that refers to, commands or even mentions the use of a mechanical instrument of music in worship! Those who promote the use of such, and chastise those who do not, undoubtedly know this is true. Yet they continually teach that it is scriptural, and that God authorized their use. A few years ago, one such group who use the instrument and chastise those who do not taught this extensively. They claimed to be making so much progress in their teaching that by the year 2000, there would be no opposition to the instrument, and all would be using them. They were only "whistling in the dark". But when all the arguments have been made, the New Testament will still read the same as it does today.

Here are the scriptures that authorize singing (vocal music): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Col. 3:16). "Speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19). "Saying, I will declare thy name unto thy brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praises unto thee" (Heb. 2:12). These three passages of scripture teach VOCAL music, singing in the worship of the New Testament church. There is no point in looking elsewhere for scripture to contradict these, for the scripture DOES NOT contradict itself.

But someone will say the New Testament does not say NOT to use instruments. Please consider this carefully. The New Testament teaches the use of unleavened bread and the fruit of the (grape) vine on the Lord's table. It does not say you cannot use water and regular bread nor grape soda and Saltine crackers. Why not? In telling us what to use, the Lord prohibits the use of anything else. When He told Noah to build an ark of "gopher wood", he forbade the use of any other kind of wood! So it is with the Lord's command for music. There are only two kinds: vocal and mechanical. The Lord chose vocal! To add the instrument is to go beyond that which is written. The result is eternal disaster.

The church of Christ does NOT consider the kind of MUSIC used in worship to be unimportant or irrelevant. God commanded vocal music. Vocal music alone is used in the worship of God on the first day of the week. Of course, many sincere people have never heard the use of the instrument questioned. They have never heard a sermon or a class taught on the subject. They go along with what is commonly used, and many never question the use of instruments. In fact, I have met some people who attend a certain denominational service because of the music. They seemed to be unconcerned about the worship of God, but just go the hear the music. These people, and many more, know very little about the Bible and what God requires of them. The day of judgment will be a day of surprise and everlasting sorrow. When they learn what God expected of them and realize they did not obey , and that the result is eternal separation from God and all righteousness, it will be a sad, heartbreaking occasion.

To refer again to the "indictment", I do not know what he referred to when he mentioned the "hundreds" of things he says fall into this category. My opinion is that he was "over zealous", and allowed his imagination to override his judgment. Show the scriptures and we will be happy to study with you!

Now I want to call your attention to a dictionary definition of the word "indictment": "A charge, accusation, specifically a formal written accusation, charging one or more persons with the commission of a crime, presented by the grand jury to the court, when the jury has found, after examining the prosecutor's statement of the charge, that there is a valid case." (Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language, College Edition).

The charges against the church of Christ have been made. They have NOT been proved and hopefully will never be brought before a grand jury and a trial in a civil court. However, these charges, and the man or men who make them will be judged in the last day when ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account for the things done in this life. We now DENY, and will then be denying that the church of Christ is guilty of the charges men make against it. Those who make them will be required to answer for themselves in the final judgment day!

Brethren, let's strengthen ourselves, and continue to firmly stand for a "thus saith the Lord" in ALL we teach and practice.

How will you stand in the Judgment? Will you be elated, or heartbroken???