Arrogant "HUMILITY"
By
Jackie M. Stearsman

We are being saturated with comments coming from many quarters that call for serious reflection on the nature of the churches of Christ and personal accountability. The Lord makes us aware of those who are less than what they should be in their religious pursuits.

Our religious attitudes and actions should cause serious reflection–they must be done with more than the desire to be seen by men. Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven (Matt. 6:1 NKJV).

The Lord used the following items to impress this upon us: giving (Matt. 6:2-4), our prayers (Matt. 6:5-15), and fasting (Matt. 6:16-18).

There are those who criticize us for not keeping the traditions of men in our worship (when we refuse to worship in an unauthorized manner), and we, like the Lord, would have them know that they transgress the law of God by their traditions.

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Matt. 15:1-9 KJV).

If we desire God’s approval, we cannot participate in that which the Lord does not authorize.

(1) We must have the authority of Christ for our every attitude and action.

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col. 3:17).

(2) We know that what one church is to practice all churches are to practice.

For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church (1 Cor. 4:17).

(3) We know that if we go beyond the teachings of Christ we lose the privileged fellowship of our Lord.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds (2 John 9-11).

Those who seek to persuade us to violate our conscience and God’s will do so in a variety of ways. The following examples are suggestive:

“Professional Confessors”

In the past several years, we have had an eldership to confess the sin of division for some who may have caused division in other congregations. (Crossroads Elders, Spiritual Growth Workshop, July 28, 1990) We have had preachers publically confess for errors done by “their” brethren years ago for causing division. J. E. Choate, “What Came Out of Jubilee ‘97?” bible-infonet.org/ff/articles, states: “We do not need to apologize for our faith and love for the church. Let Rubel Shelly and Victor Knowles confess their own sins, not for the life of David Lipscomb.”

“Professional Proclaimers”

Recently, we have been treated with a gathering where preachers promoted division under the banner of “unity.” They publicly proclaimed their acceptance of division, and shed tears over their present state of division (The Christian Chronicle, August 2006).

Questions: Will the proclaimers remove the cause of the division? Will the tears over division unite those who refuse to compromise? If not, why all the publicity over grown men shedding tears and swapping Bibles?

“University Promoters”

Colleges among some are seemingly eager to take the lead on promoting division under the theme of unity. Those who wish to serve God will guard against the promoters from these institutions (Chronicle).

Affirmation

It should be understood that an eldership or preacher has no authority to confess sins for the dead or living. Could the “professional confessors” be baptized for the dead? Could they repent for the unrepentant soul? Could they believe for the unbelieving?

THINK: For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise (2 Cor. 10:12 NKJV). For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends (2 Cor. 10:18). Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

The Bible states: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 KJV).

I cannot confess for you, and you cannot confess for me. If I have sinned against you, it will do me no good to confess this to another. I alone must make it right with you (Matt. 5:23-26; 18:15-20; James 5:16).

Any institutions, elderships, or preachers arrogantly assuming that their confession of wrong for others LOUDLY PROCLAIM that either they are not informed in the teaching of the Bible, or they do not care what the Bible teaches in such matters.

Sin and wrong doing are individual matters. We refuse to transgress the laws of our God for the traditions of men–we care not what denomination of men or movement of men it may be, or in what country that movement or denomination had its origin.

No amount of public “tears” and exchange of family Bibles will unite truth loving people in error.
Will not informed brethren who know and love the truth consider such public displays for what they are–ceremonies to be seen by men?

If we were to participate in such displays of error, would we not be playing the hypocrite and manifesting an arrogant humility?

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Florida School of Preaching
32nd Annual Lectureship
Do You Understand The God Of The Bible
January 15-18, 2007

Click here to view 2007 Lectureship Schedule