Benjamin Franklin, a preacher among churches of Christ who died in 1878, once preached a sermon on "The Infallibly Safe Course." It appears in Z.T. Sweeny's collection of sermons called  "The New Testament Church " published in (1930).

    Mr. Franklin  observed that in the major areas of religious controversy there is a course of action that is infallibly safe; a choice most all agree is acceptable and cannot be wrong.  Since we have but one life to live, and since so much is at stake, he says we should follow the way most all agree will lead  to heaven. Franklin applied this principle to such matters as faith in God, baptism, that is, immersion, and human creeds, among other things.

    This message is at the very heart of a plea to restore the religion of Christ as it is revealed in the Bible, specifically the New Testament (James 1:25). We believe the New Testament's instruction and approved practice on all essential matters. Christ said He would send the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles "into all truth" (John 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). He told them to teach what He had commanded them (Matthew 28:20). The apostles, and others under inspiration, delivered God's will for the gospel age. What they commanded and the practices they approved, then, must be acceptable and cannot be wrong. Paul wrote "those things, which  you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you" (Philippians 4:9).  He also taught that "if a man or an angel taught anything other than that which the apostles taught in the first century and that which those folks had received, he would be accursed before God" (Galatians 1:6-11). John would add that those "who abide not in the teachings of Christ, have not God" (2 John 9-10).

    So if we change what the apostles taught and practiced? Such changes are dangerous because they lack God's approval and because God gave many warnings against leaving "the truth." With our souls hanging in the balance, why risk something different than what the scriptures authorize? See (John 12:48; Matthew 15:8-9).

    Suppose, for example, you could choose between two medicines. Everyone agrees one works with no side effects. The best medical authority is behind it. But you also have pills "someone" says will do just as well, but it lacks the same authority and may have side effects. Would you reject the certain medicine for the risky one?

Here are a few applications of the "infallibly safe course" approach to some current issues.

    The Scriptures teach believers in Christ to "repent and be baptized for forgiveness of sins" (Acts 2:38), penitent believers to be baptized to "wash away" their sins (Acts 22:16), and people arose from baptism to "walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4). While one may wish God would accept believers who have never been baptized for forgiveness of sins, He gives no promise that He will. Why, then, take such a risk? Why not teach and practice the infallibly safe way --baptism "for forgiveness of sins"?  There are no cases where infants were baptized by the apostles or any of the early evangelist.  Faith, repentance, confession with the mouth were all pre-requisites to scriptural baptism under apostolic preaching and practice. Children are innocent and safe they have never been lost and so need not to be saved (Ezekiel 18:20; James 1:13-15; Matthew 18:1-4; 19:14). Sin is an act of disobedience which cannot be passed on to another, sin is "transgression of law" (1 John 3:4).

    The same reasoning applies to immersion. No one doubts that baptism by immersion was the universal and authorized practice in the early church and for a long time thereafter. The very meaning of the Greek word translated as baptism means to immerse. Since baptism is a verb denoting the action of immersion, one can hardly be baptized by sprinkling, that is another verb denoting a different action altogether. Human wisdom says sprinkling may be acceptable, but with no Scriptural justification. When souls are at stake, why take the risk? All agree that immersion is the infallibly safe course. See (Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:26-39).

    Vocal music was clearly the practice of the church while under apostolic authority. Both the New Testament and church history make this certain. Since we know that unaccompanied singing in worship by Christians pleases God, and in addition, it is obvious that instruments are leading many churches toward an unscriptural "entertainment atmosphere" in worship. Why leave the infallibly safe way of unaccompanied singing to God? See (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 14:15). There are nine passages in the new testament mentioning music and they all specify "singing" "speaking" "teaching" without exception. The fact is, when God specifies something that rules out everything but that which is specified; Thus singing rules out playing for then you have an addition kind of music see?

    This principle can also be applied to many other issues. We are on biblically safe ground, for example, to observe the Lord's supper each first day of the week, to have qualified elders in each congregation, to have men conduct the worship and to have a freewill offering. We are also infallibly safe to regard the church as the body of Christ to which God adds all the saved and which should not be divided into factions. To view the church as a body divided into denominations is to leave the infallibly safe course. See (Acts 20:6-7; Philippians 1:1-2; Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:1- 4; Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy chapter three)  for qualifications as well as Titus chapter one. Women aren't allowed to "teach...over the man" 1 Timothy 2:11-12. The tithe was for the Jew no dollar amount is set for Christians to give but it is to be willingly cheerfully and as one has prospered (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians chapters eight and nine.

    We wouldn't substitute a risky medicine for a safe one. Surely on matters of eternal destiny, we should follow the safe way. Even those who offer something different agree there is an infallibly safe course one could follow. Let's stay with the safe way and boldly proclaim it.

    Everything that we Christians, members of the body of Christ, hold as matters of "the faith" once delivered (Jude 3), our religious neighbors all admit is Biblical and perfectly alright to believe and practice. They just think that they may take liberties and involve themselves in things about which the Lord said absolutely nothing. It is dangerous to invade the thundering silence of God's word (Jeremiah 10:23; 1 Peter 4:11; Hebrews 7:14).

     Edited, with a lot of material added to an article from Stafford North by Kenneth E. Thomas, evangelist with the Pekin church of Christ 1451 Valle Vista Blvd. Pekin, Illinois 61554. If you desire further study after reading this, call us or email us. See the opening Web Page for all addresses and telephone numbers to reach us. We offer FREE home Bible studies by appointment. Ken