Voice Of The Valley Volume 2 Issue 1 January 1996

Editorial: The Need For This Issue On Institutionalism & Liberalism by Rick Christian

Indeed it is a pleasure to provide this special issue on institutionalism for your reading and study. Much effort has been made to again consider those things which sadly have divided brethren in years gone by and we continue to witness even today. A division which took place 60 or so years ago, from brethren of a more liberal disposition with regard to Bible authority. Those who took greater liberties with Gods authority than they should have, thus, resulting in division area by area, city by city, congregation by congregation. In the congregation with which I labor as evangelist, primarily the membership is made up of those who left congregations which began to break Gods law in its work. I am not a stranger to this for even my family and myself left a congregation which was involved in activities we now have come to identify as 'liberal' or 'institutional'. Still though friends there are some which have come on the scene who were not around at the time of the immediate division. Either they weren't born or if they had been, weren't old enough to be a part to what was going on. They have found themselves growing up in a circumstance not of their own making, an existing reality which they have no share in, congregations of Gods people divided from one another, not having fellowship with one another. Yes, some have made an effort to study into history but a good many don't know about the division. They must be taught. 2 Timothy 2:2-"And the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also." Titus 2:1-6-"Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. That the aged men be......the aged women likewise, that they be.........That they may teach the young women.....Young men likewise exhort..." As sad as division is, sometimes it must come. In I Corinthians 11:18,19; Paul indicates that division must come. Why? Because people won't always walk by "that which is written.” In I John 2:19 John helps us to understand that all aren't of the mind to follow what God would have us to do! (cf. I John 2:3). 2 Corinthians 4:13-"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken: we also believe, and therefore speak." Friends, we must believe what is written and therefore speak! Some are not, thus, division comes. These things must be taught. The institutional congregation here in Ravenswood tries to convince folks that when they leave the building they are causing division. Is that what causes division friends? No sir. Error causes division and we cannot be a party to it. Friends, we can never forget where we stand! Of Old in Judges 2, Israel, the very people of God, stopped being appreciative of the work that God had done through Moses, Joshua and through her other leaders in teaching her the commandments of the Lord. It doesn't take long for anyone to espouse error and begin to follow it. Gods people constantly stand only one generation away from apostasy from Gods order! (Judges 2:10-"And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers : and there arose another generation after them, which know not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.") Each generation must be taught all of the truth all over again! I Corinthians 15:2-"....ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you....." No one inherits the religion of Christ, they obey it by submitting to the gospel. The older generation must teach the younger generation. The older must not lose the determination to stand on the precepts of God even if it means losing friendship with those whom we may not fellowship. They must teach the young that the people of God will not prosper when they forsake the Lord! (Judges 2:12-14). It scares me to death when I hear some members grumble about lessons on issues being taught, who show little or no interest in such lessons and who leave the impression that since they have been taught once there is no need to teach them again. This same member is the one who reminds his son or daughter time and time again which pedal is the brake and which is the gas! Friends, let's not forget where we stand and who we are. Let's be zealous teachers of the whole counsel of God. Let's stand with the pioneers who rightly said of old...."We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent.!"