False Teachers and Faithful Brethren Can Have Fellowship?

We are living in an age of a divided brotherhood. That division has not yet been declared openly, but it is there and most preachers know it is there. The Christian colleges and universities know about this division and are now wrestling with the problem each and every day.

Some are honest and do not know which way is right and which way is wrong. Others take the liberal position and are fully aware of it. Some know the right way but do not have the courage to follow it. There are many that seem to want to straddle the fence. It is my judgment that there are a few that are willing to stand up and speak out.

A thing that has been of great concern to a number of us is that of false teachers being used on various lectureships. Some that I have great confidence in have and are using known false teachers. Another thing that has demanded our attention is that some "sound brethren" have appeared on lectureship programs with many unfaithful brethren—many that teach false doctrine and hold denominational positions.

I have talked to and written to several brethren about this matter. I have cited "mark them that cause divisions" (Rom. 16:17). I have appealed to Ephesians 5:11 which tells us to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." I have asked many brethren about II John 9-11 which tells us not to encourage false teachers in any way, shape, form, or fashion.

Unanimously brethren have told me that they do not agree with everyone on any lectureship. So they have told me that if we refuse to appear on a lectureship because we differ with someone on the program, we will never appear on a program anywhere at any time. This is but to say that Romans 16:17, Ephesians 5:11, II John 9-11, and passages like these have no relevancy whatsoever. They are totally meaningless and have no place in Holy Writ today. I cannot believe this for one minute. Either they have meaning for us today or God did not know what He was talking about. I believe they apply to us today and they do have meaning for us and the problems we face in the body of Christ.

I believe we have overlooked a very important step when it comes to false teachers in the church and our dealing with them. I contend that we have various responsibilities to these brethren. And what would these various responsibilities be? We have the God-given responsibility to restore our erring brother (Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20). We have the responsibility to teach our erring brother (Rom. 15:1-3; Titus 1:9-11). We have the responsibility to rebuke our erring brother (II Tim. 4:1-3). We have responsibility to meet and settle issues with our erring brother (Acts 15:1-31). The Bible teaches us to teach an erring brother and let him correct his wrong, then fellowship him. The Bible does not teach us to fellowship an erring brother in the church and then teach him after which he may repent. This is the old "cart-before-the-horse" situation.

Now, if we would do what God demands us to do with reference to our erring brother, then the problem with being on lectureships with them would settle itself. It is much easier to say, "I don't know, you don't know, nobody knows." So, since we do not know, we can fellowship anyone and everyone on these programs. If this is so, brethren, then we might as well forget the entire Bible.

Confrontation is sometimes difficult, but it is a must if we would be faithful to Christ (Jude 3). Anymore, number seems to be the guiding light among brethren. If a brother is on the Tennessee Bible College Lectureship and we find out he is not sound in the faith, then we will talk with that brother about the issue. If he repents, well and good. If he refuses to repent, then he will not be on the program. Now, brethren, it is just that simple.

If a brother will not listen when we teach him God's truth on doctrinal points, then we must not have fellowship with him (Rom. 16:17-18, Eph. 5:11, II John 9-11, II Thess. 3:6, I Cor. 5:1-11). Would we have problems about a drunkard being on a lectureship? Would we use a known fornicator on a lectureship? Would we use a man living in adultery on a lectureship? Would we use a known homosexual on a lectureship? All of us can answer these moral questions with a quick, No. But we must remember that all moral questions are doctrinal questions. Why do we find it hard to answer no on false doctrinal questions and easy to say no to moral issues? Yet they equal the same thing. Surely, brethren, we are not thinking right.

If a brother does not make a test of fellowship of his personal views about optional matters, then we will have no trouble. We are to have no fellowship with those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine of Christ (Rom. 16:17). In this passage the key words are "divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine of Christ." If a brother does not teach that which causes men to disobey the doctrine of Christ, then we can have fellowship. If we must withdraw fellowship, we are to admonish him as a brother (II Thess. 3:14-15).

The word "admonish" is a very interesting word. The Greek word is nouthesia. It means to put in mind, according to Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words. So, we are to continue to remind our unfaithful (not in fellowship) brother that we love him and wish he would come back to God and be a good Christian. We should let him know that we seek this more than anything in the world. As long as he refuses our admonition, we, then, must refuse him (Titus 3:10).

There are many lectureships across this land that are overseen and dominated by false teachers and preachers, and most preachers know this. Certainly the Christian colleges and universities know this, even though some of them are liberal. I cannot mention all of them in a brief treatise like this. I am unable to give documentation here, even though I have it, because space will not permit. If you need documentation for what you read in this tract, then you may order a booklet I am publishing titled: Wake Up Brethren, Wake Up.

One of the most liberal lectureships among us today is the Soul Winning Workshop in Tulsa, Oklahoma. But the one I want to especially deal with in this tract is The Nashville Jubilee conducted each year in Nashville, Tennessee. I shall mention several liberal, unsound preachers that have appeared on this program.

Some of these liberal teachers are: Joe Beam, Rubel Shelly, Steve Flatt, Wayne Kilpatrick, Buddy Bell, Gayle Napier, Phillip Morrison, Bill Long, Max Lucado, Jim Woodruff, Randy Mayeux, Mike Cope, Bob Hendren, Walt Leaver, and a number of others that could be cited from Jubilee advertising, but space will not permit.

Now, mentioned on the program with these above-mentioned men that have departed from the gospel Christ are some who claim to be faithful gospel preachers. They are: Prentice Meador, Carl Brecheen, Mac Lynn, Carl McKelvey, Paul Faulkner, Harold Hazelip, Alan Bryan, Eddie Miller, LaGard Smith, Jerrie Barber, Gary Bradley, Willard Collins, Jim Bill McInteer, Jack Evans, and G.P. Holt. If these brethren are faithful gospel preachers, what are they doing on a liberally dominated and controlled lectureship acquiescing with them? The Bible teaches faithful Christians not to fellowship but to rebuke them (Eph. 5:11).

The church of Christ has always had trusting brethren. This is good in one way but bad in another. The brethren have trusted too long in some that have already departed from the faith. They have trusted some preachers that want to get along with both sides and not take a stand. Using the words of the Bible: "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him" (I Kings 18:21). The Lord's cause is too great for any of us to forsake it. My prayer and call to one and all is that we all bow to the authority of Jesus Christ and follow Him; and let all things be done in Christian love.
—Malcolm L. Hill