No Need of Salvation? - A Sampling of Websites Among churches of Christ

There was a time when nearly every Christian could share the gospel plan of salvation with anyone who would listen,  Not only that, numerous persons in every congregation were "at the ready" to study the Bible with anyone, anywhere, anytime.  Sadly, times may have changed.  For the last twenty years or so most every congregation has posted and maintained a website.  The website is a snapshot of one individual congregation of the churches of Christ (Romans 16.16) and is a reflection of the spiritual health and teaching found there.  

The other day, I viewed three websites of prominent "churches of Christ" (1) in three cities (2) that openly espouse Calvinist / Baptist error on the subject of salvation.  All three state without

equivocation that salvation comes to one without and prior to baptism.(3)  In other words, baptism is simply an "outward sign of an inward grace."  Disturbed, I began to wonder, "Just how prominent is this sectarian error among us?"  "How can we know?"  I needed a sample, a sample that everyone would agree that it was not random on my part.  Where would I find such an objective sample? I decided to list every congregation mentioned in the current issue of the Christian Chronicle for any reason.  Though my count may be off somewhat, I found 42 congregations mentioned by name.  I proceeded to look up the 42 congregations and discover for myself what kind of salvational message each one had on their respective websites.  I then grouped the 42 into 5 separate categories based upon what I discovered.  Here they are:

1. NO - No website
2. N/A - No salvational message of any kind
3. AMB - A salvational message written in ambiguous language that contains some Bible and some Calvinism.  These salvational messages seem to want to have in both ways, "Calvin and Christ"
4. BIB - A salvational message consistent with what the New Testament teaches.
5. BAP - A salvational message clearly Calvinist and clearly anti-biblical.

The results are not encouraging.  Of those 42 congregations:

• 11 congregations have a clearly articulated and biblical salvational message clearly stating that "baptism is for the remission of sins."  This is where the "good news" ends.
• 11 congregations have no websites whatsoever.
• 9 congregations have no salvational message of any kind.  In other words these 9 websites do not answer the question of the ages; "What must I do to be saved?"
• 9 congregations have a salvational message that contains "some Bible" and some "Calvinism."
• 2 congregations have a clearly articulated Baptist / Calvinist salvational message in clear contradiction with Scripture.

Here are the chilling conclusions:

• In this sample, only about 26% of all the congregations mentioned by name in the current (August, 2018) edition of the Christian Chronicle have communicated the gospel message on their websites.
• An equal amount of about 26% of the 42 congregations mentioned have no kind of website at all!
• Another approx. 21% of the 42 congregations mentioned have no salvational message whatsoever!
• Disturbingly, yet another approx. 21% of the mentioned congregations have an ambiguous salvational message, mixing Christ and Calvin.
• At least honestly, an approx. 5% of mentioned congregations openly admit their Baptist / Calvin error by publishing it on their website in a "salvational message."

What does this say about churches of Christ in America?  Can God be pleased when 75% of these "mentioned congregations" either have no website at all, have no salvational message at all, have mixed "Christ and Calvin" in a synchronistic Yahweh / Baal kind of way, or have apostated completely from the Truth by teaching the "doctrines of men?"

Simply, these say that each and every eldership must monitor and revamp their website to biblically answer the question of the ages; "What must I do to be saved?"  Each and every eldership must purge it's website of all Calvinist teaching.  Each and every congregation must make sure that no elder, no deacon, no preacher, no Bible school teacher, or anyone else openly articulates Calvinistic error.  God help us!

NOTES:

(1)  Though their salvational statements are consistent with the teachings of the Baptist Church and other "evangelical" sectarian bodies, these congregations continue to promote themselves as what they once were but are no longer.... "churches of Christ." 

(2) These 3 are: The Providence Road "church of Christ" in Charlotte, NC, the Williamsburg "church of Christ" in Williamsburg, VA, and the Madison "church of Christ" in Madison (Nashville), TN.  

(3) Here are the specific links to which I refer:

a. http://prcoc.org/new/new-life - "If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and      Savior, then your are ready to be baptized,  Just like a bride and groom show others their love for one another by a wedding ceremony, your baptism is your opportunity to show others that you trust in Christ and are now walking with Him,,, It is a pronouncement of belief.  It is like preaching a visual sermon.  It is a public way of saying to everyone that you have decided to give your life to Jesus Christ... Baptism doesn't make you a believer it shows that your already believe.  The Bible teaches that faith in Christ is the source of our salvation.  Baptism is the biblical response to saving faith.  It is the visible symbol of the commitment you make in your heart....Does water baptism save me?  No.  Scripture is abundantly clear that only Jesus saves (Acts 4.12).  Faith in His actions is the heart of our salvation.  The work of salvation is a finished work by Christ on the cross (Hebrews 9.23 - 28; 10.10 - 14).  Baptism has no redemptive powers of it's own.  There is nothing special about the water in the river, pond or baptistery."

b. https://www.williamsburgcoc.org/baptism  - A very similar statement to Providence Road's appears on the Williamsburg website as you can see by the link.

c. http://www.madisonchurchtn.org/what-we-believe/- "SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH - We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins.  (Ephesians 2.8 - 9; Hebrews 9.12, 22; Romans 5.11).  WATER BAPTISM - We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill the command of Christ. (Matthew 28.19; Acts 2.37 - 39; 19.1 - 6).

NOTE: Public Domain Image of John Calvin Courtesy of Wikipedia.  "Church of Christ" photograph courtesy of the Archdale church of Christ, Charlotte, NC.

More Blessed than the Apostles? - In One Way...YES!

Audio and Outline of a Sermon Rendered 3 June 2018, Morning Service, Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 by Russell H McCullough:

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/sounds-from-sunday-morning-5

Text: Luke 1.26 - 33; John 20.24 – 31
Thesis: We are more blessed than the apostles because we have only HEARD the testimony, never seeing it.
Introduction – Why does no one doubt the veracity of the existence of any other historical figure OTHER than Christ Jesus? 
• Who ever heard; “I would believe in the existence of Julius Caesar if only I could have seen him.”
• Who ever heard; “I would believe in the existence of Abraham Lincoln if only if I could have seen him.”
• Who ever heard: “I would believe in the existence of the law of gravity if only I can see it.”
• Today, people have more faith in the words of Charles Darwin than they do in the words of Jesus Christ!
• NO ONE here today has ever seen any of these mentioned.
1. We know of these and believe in their existence because of the testimony of the spoken word of 3rd parties.
a. People simply believe some 3rd parties and dismiss others.

I – Luke’s Testimony – Do you believe in angels?

a. Hearing is believing
b. Admiral Cochrane
• “Besides 9/11, the only other attack by an outside force on Washington, D.C. was in 1814 when Adm. George Cockburn of the British Royal Navy, literally walked into the White House, at Pres. James Madison’s dinner, drank his wine, and then sat fire to the place.”  DID YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU HEARD OR NOT?

II – Luke’s Testimony – Do you believe in the virgin pregnancy?

a. Hearing is believing
b. Edwin Booth
• “Months before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert fell from a train platform in Jersey City.  The hand that pulled him to safety belonged to Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth (Lincoln’s killer).”  DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU HEARD OR NOT?

III – Luke’s Testimony – Do you believe in the eternal reign?

a. Hearing is believing
b. The Polish impostor
• “After a Polish impostor who claimed the throne of Russia was found out, he was executed, burned and had his ashes shot out of a cannon back toward Poland.”  DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU JUST HEARD OR NOT?

CONCLUSION:  People believe what they want to believe without evidence and reject what they want to reject regardless of evidence!

 “The Gospel Call” – Acts 2.38 -

NOTE: Illustrations courtesy of “WTF Fun Facts”

Believing Prayer

In the very biblical mode of prayer where we approach our Holy God, here is a prayer that emulates just how Christ taught us to pray.  It is thankful, hopeful, content, joyful, doctrinal and edifying to all!

http://believingprayer.com/you-are-god/

Ephesians 2.11 - 12 - "From No Hope, to Near, to Reconciliation!"

LISTEN! to the synopsis of this lesson on "SoundCloud!"

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/ephesians-211-22-lesson-6-31-january-2018-acoc-teacher-russ-m-ccullough

Ephesians

Paul’s Greatest Church Planting Success

 31 January 2018

Archdale church of Christ – Russ McCullough

Lesson #6 – Ephesians 2.11 – 22

1.     What is the “therefore” there for?

2.     The Gentiles were in the past called what?

3.     Who were they called that by?

4.     What 3 key words describe the previous conditions of the Gentiles?

a.      S______________   (Without) (Lit. “A___ a S__________”) (Romans 3.21;  3.28;  4.6) 

b.     A______________ (Aliens) (Lit. “E___________, to be a non-P________________.”)  (The word is used only one other time in Hebrews 11.4)

c.      S______________ (Strangers)  (Lit. “F_____________, without a S______________ in”)  (I Timothy 5.10;  Hebrews 11.13;  13.2)

5.     What hope did the Gentiles have prior to Christ?

6.     How does Paul describe the current condition of the Gentile now in Christ Jesus?

7.     Just what was it that brought us “near?”

8.     What is the purpose of this blood?  (Matthew 26.28)

9.     How is this purpose applied?  (Acts 2.38)

10. For He Himself (Christ) is our what?

11. In this context, “peace” is best understood as the “Messiah’s Peace” or the W___________ of our S_______________  (Romans 2.10;  3.17;  5.1)

12. What metaphor does Paul use to describe the new status of the Gentile Christian?

13. Christ did this by abolishing what?

14. What plan did God have to bring about this peace, this “Messiah’s salvation?”

15. How did God plan to kill the former hostility between the parties?

16. “Reconcile” means to “B____________ back a former state of H______________.”

17. How was this message of reconciliation communicated?

18. Who are the “far off” and the “near?”

19. How is this concept often stated in the New Testament?

20. Vs. 18 describes what great doctrine?

21. What is the new description of the Gentile Christian?

22. In the New Testament, “household” is a synonym for what?

23. What is the foundation of the church of Christ?

24. That foundation rests upon what?

25. How is this foundation stated in Acts 2.42?

26. Upon what does the entire structure grow upon?

27. Who is the assembler of this structure?

28. What is the numerous building material of this structure?

29. Who will live in this structure?         

ANSWER GRID

1.     “Not of your own doing, it is a gift of God…”

2.     The un-circumcision

3.     The circumcised

4.     Separated – “At a space”

Alienated – “Estranged, participants”

Strangers – “Foreigner, without a share in”

5.     None

6.     Near

7.     The blood of Christ

8.     The remission or forgiveness of sins

9.     In water baptism

10. Peace

11. The way of our salvation

12. The dividing wall / fence at the Temple that separated the Gentiles from the Court of the Women with death to any who trespassed it.

13. The Law of Commandments and Ordinances

14. By creating in Himself one new man in the place of two.

15. He would reconcile them.

16. Bring, Harmony

17. Peaching

18. The Gentiles and the Jews

19. “To the Jew first and also to the Greek”

20. The Trinity

21. “Fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”

22. The family

23. The apostles and prophets

24. The chief cornerstone, Jesus Chris

25. The Apostles Doctrine

26. Christ, the chief cornerstone

27. The Holy Spirit

28. Individual Christians

29. God Himself!

Ezekiel 35 - Will We Choose Disaster Like Edom?

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/ezekiel-35-30-august-2017-voice-170830

Abounding Grace - An Exposition of Romans 5.18 - 21

When judgement shows up, grace has already been there. - Orpheus Haywood

"What Will Owner of the Vineyard Do?"

“What Will the Owner of the Vineyard Do?”

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date:  23 April 2017

Text: Mark 12.1 – 12; Psalm 80.8 - 19

Thesis: The Owner of the Vineyard will return and destroy the evil tenants and give the vineyard to others

1           Introduction – What is involved in establishing and maintaining a vineyard?

A.    Purchasing the land

B.   A Vinedresser is hired

C.    Other workers are hired

D.   Plowing out the rocks

E.    Building a secure wall

F.    Building a tower to guard the vineyard

G.   Terraces are built on any steep hills

H.   A winepress must be built

I.       A permanent cover crop must be planted

J.     Vines are planted at approx. 1,555 per acre in mid-April by hand, one by one

K.   The trellis system is constructed

L.    The irrigation system is installed

M.In the first year, the vines are allowed to grow freely so as to establish a strong root system

N.  In February of the 2^nd year all the vines are pruned back to only 2 buds per branch

O.  In February of the 3^rd year the vines are all pruned back again

P.    In May of the 3^rd year and again after harvest in October of that year, fertilizer is applied

Q.  In July-August of the 3^rd year are cut back radically to remove up to 50% of the young crop

R.   The third year is the last year that slow growing vines are trained and spared

S.    Ongoing in every year during the months of March, April, and May constant care is taken to protect against frost.

T.    Ongoing in every year constant care is taken to discover and eradicate pests.

WHAT WILL THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD DO?

U.   If unsuccessful in the October Harvest of year 3, all unsuccessful vines are uprooted and destroyed after the very first useable crop is gathered

2          The Owner of the Vineyard Went Into Another Country

A.   12.1

1)     Planted

2)    Fenced

3)   Dug a pit for winepress

4)   Built tower

5)   Leased to tennets

3          The Owner Sends a Servant to the Vineyard for Fruit

A.   12.2 – 3

1)     Took him and beat him

2)    Sent him away empty handed

4         The Owner Sends a Second Servant to the Vineyard for Fruit

A.   12.4

1)     Struck him on the head

2)   Treated him shamefully

5.  The Owner Sends Yet a Third Servant PLUS Many Other Servants to the Vineyard for Fruit

          A. 12.5

                   1) The 3^rd servant they killed

                   2) Some others they beat

                   3) Some others they killed

6.  Finally, the Owner Sends His Beloved Son to the Vineyard for Fruit,

          A. 12.6 – 8

1) The owner said; “He is my son, they will respect Him.”

2) The tenants said however; “He’s the heir!  Let’s kill him

    and take his inheritance for ourselves!”

3)   They took him, killed him, and threw him out of the

 vineyard.

7. WHAT WILL THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD DO?

          A. 12.8 - 9

1) “He will come and destroy the tenants and give the

       vineyard to others.”

8.  The Answer in Scripture

          A. 12.10 – 11

                   1) The greatest shock in history!

5          CONCLUSION: The servants are the prophets and the beloved Son is the Christ. 

6         The Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context: Israel has continually rejected God and His Will.  They have killed the prophets and they have killed the Christ.  Rejecting Christ is tantamount to murder.

A. Knowing far more about God’s will than they did, most are still rejecting God and His Son Jesus Christ.

7          The Challenge of the Text for Christians Today

A.    All we are servants in the Vineyard of God.  He will someday return.  Will we repent or perish?  Will we hear and obey or will we refuse to hear and kill the messenger?  WHAT WILL THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD DO?  God is on His way back to his vineyard and he will arrive at any moment!

8         “The Gospel Call”

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.

He Began to Speak to Them in Parables - Part 1

“He Began to Speak to Them in Parables”

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

 

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date:  2 April 2017

Text: Mark 12.1 - 12

Thesis:  In order to rightly divide the Scriptures we must understand how language is used in Scripture.

1           Introduction

A.   Keys are required to open doors.  Language and its use is the key to understanding.

B.   The NT uses Metaphors, Similes, Parables, Epigrams, but not Allegory to communicate God’s Will.  We are going to examine each.

1.      Metaphor – A metaphor is the comparison of two factual things that are essentially unalike in order to make a point – Luke 13.32

a.    IN ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED IN SCRIPTURE.

2.     Simile – A simile is a more overtly stated metaphor to underline, as it were, the meaning.  A simile is likely to us words such as “like” or “as” – Isaiah 53.6

a.    IN ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED IN SCRIPTURE.

3.    Parable – A parable is an extended simile or metaphor that is characterized by a setting, an account, and an application.  Many times, such as in Mark 12.9, a parable asks questions of the audience – Mark 12.1.  Sometimes the questions are rhetorical, providing the obvious answer.

a.    IN ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED IN SCRIPTURE.

4.    Epigram – “…any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed.” – Dictionary.com  -  “Epigram is a clever and witty statement expressed in just a few lines, pointing out foibles and truths of mankind.” – Literarydevises.net – Luke 6.42

a.    IN ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED IN SCRIPTURE.

5.    Allegory

a.    An allegory is a “½ true metaphor” as it has real things doing or saying things not found in reality, in other words, a fable – Judges 9.7 – 15

1)     This is the only true allegory in the entire Bible.  What Paul calls an “allegory” in Galatians 4 turns out to be a metaphor for the true meaning of the contrast is revealed by the Holy Spirit at the end of the context.

b.    An allegory is also the drawing of factual conclusions with no supporting evidence as taught by the so-called “church father,” Origen in the 3^rd century.  Origen “spiritualized” or “assigned meanings by imagination” to the Scriptures drawing downright stupid conclusions.  His interpretation of the Prodigal Son in Luke 10?

1)Adam is the victim

2)Jerusalem is heaven

3)   Jericho is the world

4)   The Robbers are the devil and his demons

5)   The Priest is the law

6)   The Levite is the prophets

7)   The Good Samaritan is Christ

8)   The Beast is the Body of Christ

9)   The Inn is the church

10)           The 2 denarri coin is the Father and

11)  The Son Promise to come back is the Second Coming of Christ.

c.     The “Allegorical Jump”

1)     “Well, that’s not a heaven and hell issue.”

2)    “We know that babies are baptized in the New Testament because the “entire household” of both Cornelius and the Philippian Jailer were baptized.”

3)   “The Bible never says we can’t __________”

2          The Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context:

A.   If we ignore how language is used in the Scriptures, we will not have “ears to hear.”

B.   Peter refers to the misunderstanding of the language of Scripture, either done ignorantly or on purpose, as “twisting.” – II Peter 3.15 - 16

3          The Challenge of the Text for Christians Today

A.   At the heart of every error lies a misunderstanding of how language is used in the Bible.

B.   IN ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED IN THE SCRIPTURES.

C.    “Why?”

D.   Luke 12.9 – “What will the owner of the vineyard do?”

4         “The Gospel Call”

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.