Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 19
October 19, 1967
NUMBER 24, PAGE 7b-8

Cracked Cisterns Muddy Waters

Glenn L.Wallace

(Originally Published In Firm Foundation)

We are drinking muddy water from "broken cisterns" in some places today (Jer. 2:13). If some one does not lift a mighty voice of opposition, we as a people who have long been committed to the New Testament Way are going to die of spiritual thirst.

We have long depended upon "our colleges" as the source of supply for our preachers. We have in the past, and in many cases today, been greatly benefitted by the tremendous contributions that Christian schools have made to our preacher supply. Most of us as preachers owe a debt of great magnitude to schools and colleges. The men who set the example in self sacrifice and above all in dedication to the "faith once delivered;" these men will always be remembered with grateful hearts. The list of these sacrificial servants is long. It would include such men as N. B. Hardeman, J. P. Sewell, H. Leo Boles, Batsell Baxter, Sr., David Lipscomb, J. N. Armstrong and others. Our generation owes much to these men.

The tragedy we now face is this: these men would hardly recognize the voice that we are hearing today if they were to return to walk the halls of the schools where they once taught. It is that bad. There is an uncertain sound; there is a denominational ring: there is sectarian teaching: all coming from the sources of much of our preacher supply.

Young men are not being trained to convert people from denominational bodies. They are being filled with the same doctrines that flow from Oral Roberts, the Assembly of God or even worse the doubts and fears of atheistic centers of higher education. There are some exceptions (they could be named) where the wells are not drying up.

No stream can rise higher than its source. Our preachers will be just what we train them to be. If we tell them that it is silly to quote the Bible, they will not use the Bible. If we tell them that "Paul was sent to Mars hill because he was scholarly and best fitted to meet the philosophers of Athens; that Peter was a good preacher for the back-woods" then they will preach it. They will in reality be denying inspiration.

We are turning out some sectarian preachers. Many people recognize it but do not know what to do. This new breed speaks a "new language." They have a "message" but their vocabulary is void of Bible. They call for "re-baptize" and "remodel" and their voice has no certain sound. They are taught to "crusade for Christ," "Campaign for Christ," "Witness for Christ," and "testify for Jesus." They enter a community and people do not know whether Oral Roberts has hit the town or if Billy Graham has pitched his tent for battle with "sin, sex and Satan." When they leave most are even more in doubt. Some of our theologians say, "don't tell who you are. You might scare them." In other words, just slip the halter on when they are not looking.

We are openly following the pattern of Billy Graham and Oral Roberts and some unashamedly proclaim the same language of these men. We tone down our preaching, we play down the Church, we compromise the Truth and we make it clear that we are Christians — but not the only ones-- "they are in all denominations. " We "eliminate the negative;" we do not even "accentuate the positive" but we do "mess with Mr. In-between."

Why do we hear more and more "testimonials" and "experiences"? Why do we hear less and less Scripture?

Maybe it all started when we decided that we must keep up with "the Jones' religiously." Our neighbors no longer have a "brother preacher" or even a "reverend" as their pastor. They have a doctor. We are "big boys and girls now" so why not one for us? We left our "cracker box" buildings across the tracks and it is now time we take our Bible-centered convictions to the dump grounds. For the last 15 years or more we have been sending; even demanding, that our most brilliant minds go to the most ungodly sources for information in theology and philosophy. We "will learn how to meet them"--this excuse is getting a little weak. More than 50% of those we send return to us openly denying the faith of the Bible (Jude 3). Some stay with us and are slowly eating away at the foundations. Others just plain walk out and join up with the denominations (Voices of Concern). Thank God for the day when the fifth column among us will have the courage to "go from us" since they are really not of us.

We are telling our youth that there are "no scholars in the restoration movement." We even refuse these men as reference sources for graduate study. "Christianity Today" ranks high on the list of acceptable reading material. The Gospel Advocate and the Firm Foundation are both shallow, void of scholarship and representative of the "right wing radicals."

We urge these young men to harmonize the Bible with Science. (?) They are told that: a. The flood of Noah was only a local wash out; b. God used a long system of evolution to bring man to his present upright condition; c. We can have the direct leadership of the Holy Spirit and He will give an 'inner light' in hours of trouble.

We are openly recommending and using denominational sources for our door-to-door campaigns. A book published by the Assembly of God, Springfield, Mo. , is not only copied, and used but is recommended in whole as a study book for weak Christians.

A brief check of instructions from "How to Win Souls for Christ" which is being given wide publicity and is used by churches of Christ, will be a shock to Bible believing people.

It reads: "when we try to convince men on many scriptures we are fighting an uphill battle. How much better to get them to surrender their wills and then teach them what his will is." If that is not pushing the sinner in the back door of ignorance, tell me what it means. The book also urges: "put the emphasis upon Christ rather than the church, a system of doctrines, the steps in obeying the Good news, or even the Bible." Here is your man but no plan or direction.

We are told that we should seek "the leadership of the Holy Spirit." He will tell us what to say. He will tell us where to go. He will tell us how to pick a wife. He will move us with the right crowd in a Harlem street fight. Why even the Bible cannot do this. Attention Bible teachers who believe this direct operation in our colleges--who told these men these things?

The above mentioned book, only one of several like it, advocates "witnessing for "Christ;" "personal work and cottage meetings sound complicated and difficult." Holy Roller services of "chain prayers," "testimonials on how God has healed and helped" and telling how good "we feel"--this is advocated and is practiced. The book tells us that we can "witness even as the apostles."

The "witness" is told to "depend upon the Holy Spirit" and never mention the church. We wonder how we can have Christ, the head, without the church, the body (Col. 1:18). The book of instructions on personal work does not mention this subject. It seems to me that the authors have depended upon "the Holy Spirit" and have not taken time to read even the Bible.

If we do not stop turning out sectarian preachers, "Holy Spirit filled" and compromising teachers, we will have to turn to more reliable sources to get our water. The Bible departments should take a closer look. Some of the cisterns are obviously cracked.

--2850 Harvard Dr., Visalia, Calif.