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Distressed, But Not Despondent

Ours is certainly the age of change, and no one in the kingdom who is alert can say that most changes are for the better. Almost daily, through the communications means we have in this modern time, news comes to us that is distressing. The nation is imperiled, and not nearly so much from another national power as from a malignancy within – a malignancy made up of immoral and non-spiritual influences. We are distressed when we recognize how our foundations, which were most certainly religious, are being eaten away. We recall the promised doom to nations that forget God (Psalm 9:17).

But our concerns go beyond just distress about what is happening to us as a nation. Nothing happens to a nation as an entity separate from the people making up the nation. Because of influence and relationships, evil influences within a nation have a way of entering in among the saints of God, making untold difficulties for us. As we’ve observed events in the kingdom over the last few years, there is certainly enough to cause us to be distressed:

(1) The entrance in of liberalism. We once pointed this out as being characteristic of some denominational groups, but it is clear that so many of our own brethren, in a movement led by our own preachers and elders, have caused us to veer off the straight and narrow.

(2) The loss of a sense of New Testament pattern. The cry once was, “Let us return to the Old Paths,” and “let us always be mindful of the New Testament pattern for the church.” The work of the Restoration Movement was honored because of that very emphasis: return to the Pattern. Now, the idea of “pattern” is often ridiculed, by our own people!

(3) The destruction of our homes. It is not just a problem within the nation, but the church is faced with a crisis with two hurtful points: (a) We are losing so many of our young people, and (b) We are losing Christian homes, in that many homes that are formed are now either unscriptural or very definitely such that God’s will is not honored there. Neither the nation nor the kingdom can have strength if we throw away the home.

(4) The absence of any discipline in the kingdom. The matter of discipline is as much a mark of the New Testament church as any other, but we have stressed many points to the near total neglect of this one. Fellowship is not stressed and valued, and thus mention of discipline disturbs no one. One is not very much moved by the idea of the loss of that which he cares nothing about anyway!

(5) The feeling that the church is just another denomination. Many in the kingdom who will not express it thus nevertheless act as if the Lord’s body is a denomination. Some do not have the commitment that is found in those of the denominations. We have picked up denominational terminology, aped denominational tactics, studied denominational methods, and let our preachers and teachers imbibe and teach denominational theology, while we sit and sing, “I love thy kingdom, Lord!”

Now, does anyone question that we have reason to be distressed? But just here we’d like to suggest that we can be distressed, upset, dismayed, perplexed and speechless for a time, but that is not the same as being despondent! There is no excuse for the child of God to give up hope. Hope is in Christ (Colossians 1:27), and I think I remember reading that God’s side is going to win in this struggle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan. We may have to pass through some lean times, and the burdens may become very great, but I want to be on that winning side!

The answer, to be sure, is not that the saints of God walk away from the problems. Satan would like nothing better than to see us do that. He’d be pleased if every elder resigned, and if every man contemplating such service would immediately forget that work permanently. Satan would know inexpressible joy if every preacher decided that insurance, automobiles and cemetery plots were the areas of utmost fulfillment and security. To allow ourselves to become despondent would be a mark of waning faith. To decide that all is hopeless is to say that God and the Christ have lost, and that there is no good end ever to be realized.

We’d like a quick solution, naturally. All would like, as with the snap of a finger, to see healing completed. We’d like to see liberalism and denominationalism completely removed from among the saints. Where men have formed loyalty parties within the kingdom, we’d like to see it ended, right now, and to see fellowship and agreement among all. But it is neither realistic nor scriptural to expect healing over a day’s time, just as the problems of every sort didn’t begin in a day’s time.

Don’t think that we’ve written all of this without having a solution in mind. The call is still to “Preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2), and the challenge is to KEEP ON KEEPING ON! Let us stress New Testament truth firmly as we just as firmly rebuke all liberal and sectarian influences! Let us stand against all sin, and let us withhold fellowship from all who promote error. Just as carefully should we refuse to allow ourselves to be drawn into some party wherein lines have been drawn that do not warrant a break in fellowship.

Distressed? Yes, with good reason. Despondent? Never, and never can we be as long as we are faithful to God!

CHRISTIAN WORKER, April, 1989