by R. L. Morrison

In Hosea 5:10, the prophet spoke of the princes of Judah, comparing them to those who moved the landmarks. This referred to the marks, possibly mounds of stone which marked the boundary of fields. These marks could be easily moved under cover of darkness to increase the size of the field at the expense of a neighbor, whose land was thus stolen. When discovered, there was an outcry of anger, confusion, and probably at times, bloodshed. When Hosea used this to illustrate the condition of Israel and Judah he did not refer to that which marked off a field but rather how these people had changed and walked away from the commandments of God.

Previously, he had accused them of spiritual adultery; that is, they had turned from the worship of God to idolatry. This charge was made against all the people, the priest, the nation of Israel, and the house of the king. God said, "I know Ephraim and Israel is not hid from me" (Hosea 5:3).

If God should write a letter to the church today (of course, he will not, for all things pertaining to life and godliness have already been revealed), I fear that many congregations, with their elders, members and preachers, would stand condemned for the same reason Hosea condemned Israel: moving the landmarks. To make it plain and easily understood, they are disregarding the commandments of God and following the doctrines and commandments of men. If you doubt this, then read on.

God gave commandment regarding the woman's place in worship. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (1 Tim. 2:9-12). This is what Paul (directed by the Holy Spirit) revealed about a woman's place in worship. The passing of centuries of time and the "new attitude" of today does not change what the Holy Spirit said about it.

However, congregations are changing the landmarks, these commandments of God. Women now teach public classes, serve at the Lord's table, lead in prayer, and preach. This, they say, is the liberated woman. Such a one is not liberated, but in transgression. She stands condemned before God. Not only the woman, but also the elders and preachers who condone such practices. This is NOT just a recent occurrence. It began quite a number of years ago and is rapidly becoming more widely spread. I remember some thirty or more years ago a neighboring congregation invited a preacher and his wife to conduct a meeting for them. She occupied the pulpit for the first hour of the evening service that was supposed to be for women only, but the public was invited and I was told by a member there that men attended that service. He also said that she did a much better job in the pulpit than her husband. However, the truth of the whole matter is: she sinned. The elders and the preacher were also guilty, since they encouraged and condoned what took place.

I recently read some things a woman wrote on this topic. I do not remember exactly what she had to say, but the idea, if I understood it (and I think I did), was that until women are given the privilege of taking an active, leading part in public worship, the congregation cannot acceptably worship God.

Just what more than this would be necessary to "move the landmarks"? I can hear the objections already! You want to put women down, you try to make a door mat out of them. This, I emphatically deny! I had absolutely nothing to do with writing 1 Tim. 2:9-12. But I do have the responsibility of teaching and preaching it as it was written, and making the application of it to those who will hear or read.

Another area (one of many) in which the landmarks are being removed is the New Testament pattern of the work of the church. A college professor wrote: I find nothing in the New Testament that teaches we are to restore the church to its original work and worship. This may not be the exact words, but it is the idea. One should be able to see the error of his thinking without having to go to college.

In Luke 8:11, Jesus is recorded as saying: "The seed is the word of God." And even a college professor should know that a seed produces after its own kind, if it produces anything at all. The word of God, preached on the Pentecost of Acts 2, produced the New Testament church. The same word of God, the gospel, when preached today, will produce the same result: the New Testament church. Jesus commanded this gospel to be preached to all nations (Matthew 28:19). Surely this command is to be followed today, even though Jesus knew the apostles were men and subject to death. But the gospel was to be "preached even unto the end of the world." To this Paul added: "And the things thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2).

So the preaching of the pure, unadulterated gospel will produce a church after the New Testament order. And the gospel is the ONLY thing the Lord commanded anyone to preach.

Certainly the churches in the first century had problems, just as churches of today have problems. But the problems then and now were and are the result of "moving the landmarks", not the result of abiding in the truth of the fully revealed Word. Surely, most everyone who believes the Bible to be the divinely inspired word of God can "see" this. It ought to be apparent, even to college professors.

The work or responsibilities of the church as revealed in the New Testament have been and are yet being rejected, that is, the landmarks are being moved. Many congregations say they serve the whole man, or something that suggests the same idea. This means not only spiritually, but physically and materially as well. To do so requires "family life centers", fellowship halls, homes for the aged as well as the young, missionary societies, churches catering to the homosexuals, etc. The man doesn't live who can prove by the Bible that the work of the church involves the "fun, food, and frolic" provided in the family life centers and fellowship halls erected for that purpose. It just simply cannot be done without moving the "landmarks"; and when that is done it becomes the work of men, not of God. Then there are some who go to the other extreme, teaching (I suppose they believe it) that the church is unauthorized by scripture, that it is of Satan. These also remove the "landmarks", and the end of this heresy will be no different from that of others who deny the pattern of the New Testament replacing it with the doctrines and commandments of men.

And then there is the idea that "any immersion in Jesus' name" is scriptural baptism and obtains for the immersed the forgiveness of sin. It is true that scriptural baptism is in the name or by the authority of Jesus Christ. But there are conditions that must first be met. The gospel must be taught or preached. He who is taught must believe the gospel, repent of his sins, confess his faith, and only then is he a fit subject for baptism. The result of such baptism is being added to the church purchased by the blood of Christ. This does not mean he is added to some denomination or is allowed to join the church of his choice. He has been added to the church of God's choice, the church that is the body of Christ. He must recognize there is but one body (1 Cor. 12:20), and that Christ is the head of that body (Eph. 5:23). The church can ONLY abide in Christ or be the body of Christ by remaining within the "landmarks." To move them means to depart from Christ, and to depart from Christ means to become an apostate body in which is no salvation.

These things do not meet with the approval of many. But then "book, chapter and verse" preaching is passé in so far as the majority is concerned today. But when that kind of preaching was done, people were converted, the churches were strengthened, and error was exposed for what it is. That kind of preaching is almost a thing of the past. The absences of scripture is pronounced in much of the preaching heard in Churches of Christ today. Many sermons heard there could be preached in almost any denomination in town. Most of the preaching today does not have the "old Jerusalem ring" to it. It has lost its distinctive character. I have heard a number of preachers say in the last few years, "I do not preach like I used to". When asked, "Why not?", the reply might be (if one gets a reply), "Well, people have changed. Times are not like they used to be". But what really changed? Sinners, sin, the gospel, the need for preaching the gospel? I think not. The gospel is yet God's only power to save the sinner. The apostles and others in the first century preached the word without showing partiality, and without fear of the consequences. The desire to obtain the favor and popularity of men seems to be replacing the book, chapter and verse preaching of the past. Are the landmarks being moved or have they already been moved?

Some one has said, "As goes the pulpit, so goes the church." Undoubtedly there is some truth in this statement. One of the reasons for this is because those who fill the pews are not interested enough to "try what they hear by the Word". Or perhaps they are unable to distinguish between truth and error. Or perhaps they just accept what they hear and "get on with their life".

Under such circumstances it is easy to remove the landmarks, either with intent to do so or in ignorance. But, however it is done, the result is always the same. A departure from the word of God always results in an apostasy. This results in the loss of the souls of all involved.

It seems that with those who "depart from that which is written", there is no stopping place. This, of course, has been suggested by many people long ago. But it is yet truth. Those who seek to "denominationalize" the New Testament church have advanced what is called a "new hermeneutics". This simply means another way to interpret the Scriptures. They have cast aside the method used for years: that the Bible teaches by direct command, by approved apostolic example, and by necessary inference, and now call the New Testament a love letter. They say it has no set law or ruler for man. This leads to the idea that each one can determine for himself what is required of him.

We find no fault with the "love letter" suggestion. Almost all know John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." It is doubtful that men can begin to comprehend the love of God. God, the Father, who is eternal (which we also cannot conceive), gave his Son, who is also Deity, to become a man and suffer the rejection of men, which ended with His death on the cross. These things, and all others revealed in the New Testament, plainly declare it to be a "love letter".

But this does not mean it has no commandment or instruction to mankind. Hear John (Rev. 22:14): "Blessed are they that DO his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Again, Jesus said: "Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it" (Luke 11:28). "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil ..." (Rom. 2:8-9). No man can make his own law and be acceptable to God.

There are a number of other evidences of "removed landmarks" in the New Testament church today. But now listen to Paul: "Though He were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:8-9).

The nation of Israel was rejected by God because they refused to obey the law He gave them. God has also given a system of law to spiritual Israel, the New Testament church. Why should one think God will not reject spiritual Israel for the same reason He rejected fleshly Israel: a refusal to follow or abide in His law?

In Romans 15:4, Paul wrote: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning ..." If we reject this warning we can only learn by experience. And, too late, we will learn that he who removes the "landmarks" does so at the cost of the eternal loss of his soul.

Where are your landmarks?