Hohenwald.Letter.Winter

WINTERFEST 2004 Are you sure you want your youth attending winterfest 2004?

The principal speaker at the 2004 Winterfest is Jeff Walling. JEFF WALLING of Providence Road Church of Christ, Charlotte, NC, in "Youth Program Winterfest" states the following: WiNTERFEST: "hot-bed of apostasy and digression that any spiritually wise parent would be sure to keep from influencing their children." JEFF WALLING, a PROMINENT CHANGE AGENT, and ... WINTERFEST SPEAKER is one whose sarcastic attacks against the Lord's church are well documented. Walling was a regular speaker on the now DEFUNCT Jubilee. In "JEFF WALLING AND THE INSTRUMENT"--he is saying to the YOUNG PEOPLE in the churches of Christ, INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC in WORSHIP are just a MATTER OF OPINION . . . has been making this argument for years . . . is doing the same today in youth rallies and lecture series." He does the same thing at Winterfest.

In January, 1999, brother Jon Gary Williams of LaVergne, TN (near Nashville) documented how Walling had spoken at the 1998 Jubilee and "belittled the Lord's church. Often having the audience in laughter." Williams continued, "He had a woman give a public testimony which turned into a sermon -- in clear violation of 1 Corinthians 14:34 and 1 Timothy 2:12-15. He cleverly promoted the direct operation of the Holy Spirit" (See Bulletin Briefs, January 1999). The Winterfest Group is not the church or any part of the church. It is a commercial corporation that is in business to sell compromise in the form of religion to our young people. Elders have the obligation to stop those who "subvert whole households teaching things which they ought not for the sake of dishonest gain" (Titus 1 :11).

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU FOLLOW.... There are thousands of Churches undergoing hostile takeovers and being changed into a venue of "Holy Entertainment" by the "community church, purpose driven change" movement. When elders and preachers continue to subvert an existing Church by secrecy and deceit against the principles of it's founders and members ...WE HAVE A PROBLEM!" The leaders of many Churches of Christ are "subverting whole households, dividing families, leading many (especially youth) towards the gates of hell while making statements like "I don't care what people think, I don't care what the Bible says, I don't need scripture for what I as an elder or preacher promote. Don't you dare question me"

FELLOWSHIP vs DlSFELLOWSHIP... Can we disfellowship denominational churches? No, because we have never fellowshipped them. Can we disfellowship other Churches of Christ? Yes, definitely yes. Hear the apostle John, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son" (2 John 9). The doctrine of Christ is the boundary line, or circumference, within which our fellowship is with God and Christ. He who abides within this circle enjoys fellowship. He that transgresseth and goes beyond the teaching of Christ does not have that fellowship. Verses 10 and 11 reveal what should happen when false teachers come along. "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. " Truth and false doctrine have no fellowship with each other

We can have no fellowship with the denominations because: 1) they exist without divine authority, 2) we are to have no fellowship with those who are not in the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9-11), 3) they are against the prayer of Jesus (John 17), all the teaching of God's Word, and 4) they are corrupt in teaching, including worship, work, organization, name, plan of salvation, and ilfestyle.

Does God disfellowship individual churches of Christ? Yes! Revelation 2 and 3 threaten such action if repentance was not forthcoming. To the church at Ephesus: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Rev. 2:5). The basic teaching of the seven letters to the churches was, if repentance were not forthcoming, their lampstand would be removed. This represented that God would sever His affiliation with them and they would no longer be considered a faithful church of Christ. God gave them a chance to straighten up, we should do likewise and encourage a church that is on the road to apostasy, to come back to the truth.

Brethren, let us not overlook 2 John 11 concerning fellowship wtih apostates. "For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. " When a local congregation has gone off into apostasy, we can have no fellowship with them. Romans 16:17 also gives us authority to mark those who have departed from the faith. "Now I beseech you brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. " One who causes division must be marked, whoever he is or wherever he is located. "Them" might be five or five hundred persons who may be marked. If not, why not? Whenever an eldership sees the need to withdraw from another congregation, they are simply protecting the congregation which they shepherd from hearing false doctnne, (cf. Acts 20:28).

The Bible is clear about whom we can and cannot have fellowship with. Paul said, "And have no fellowship with the unfruifful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Eph 5:11). Can a congregation have unfruitful works of darkness? Of course they can. If they can, then we can withdraw our fellowship from them! Anyone who teaches and/or practices things contrary to the truth, must have fellowship withdrawn from them, whether as an individual or collectively as a congregation Jesus as speakin to the seven churches of Asia. He told them "the - church," collectively, that unless they repented He would remove their candiestick? Everyone understands that He was speaking to the church as a whole. He was simply telling them that unless they were willing to repent, He was going to exercise discipline against them. That is, He would withhold His fellowship from them because they were refusing to follow after His will. We must remember that the only reason that two congregations can have fellowship with each other in the first place, is because they both have fellowship with God (1 John 1:3-10). However, when one congregation begins teaching things which are against the will of God, then they forfeit their fellowship with God and thus we cannot have fellowship with them either. How can we do something that God will not do?

The same principles which teach that an individual can withdraw fellowship from another individual also teaches that one congregation can withdraw fellowship from another congregation. Remember John's words, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11).

Hence, whenever an eldership sees the need to withdraw from another congregation, they are simply protecting the congregation which they shepherd from hearing false doctrine, (cf. Acts 20:28).

DO MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN... Hohenwald Church of Christ bulletin, Jan. 11, 2004,

BruceMcintyre, "Miracles happen every day." Not so say the scriptures.

The Bible warns about false miracles: Acts 8:9-13; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Matthew 24:24;

Throughout the Bible, whenever a work of God had fulfilled its purpose, it ceased.

Consider some exampies: 121 Creation of the world - Genesis chaps 1,2 (note 2:1,2 ).

Universal flood - Genesis chaps. 6-9 (note 9:8-17). Sacrifice of a son - Genesis chap. 22.

Animal sacrifices - Hebrews 10:1 -18 Circumcision - 1 Corin 7:18-20; Galatians 5:2-8; etc. Virgin birth - Matthew 1:18,20; Luke 1:35 Earthly life and death of Jesus - Hebrews 9:26,28; 10:10; 7:26,27; etc. Resurrection of Jesus - Romans 1:4

The Bible Teaches That Miracles Would Cease When Their Purpose Was Fulfilled.

1 Corinthians 13:8-11 - A prophecy that spiritual gifts would cease.

Why and when would spiritual gifts cease? - 13:8-10 The gifts would cease because they were "in part' (w 9,10) - in some sense they were incomplete and imperfect. They would cease "when that which is peffect is come" (v10). Note: "That which is perfect" is contrasted to "that which is in part" (spiritual gifts). "That which is perfect" in some sense completes or perfects that which is incomplete or imperfect about spiritual gifts. If we can determine in what sense spiritual gifts were "in part," then we will understand when and why they would cease.

Since "that which is perfect (complete)" is contrasted to "that which is in part", we conclude "that which is perfect" must refer to the complete revelation of all truth. When the revelation had been completely delivered, spiritual gifts would have accomplished their purpose and would no longer be needed, so they would cease.

When did this occur? Near the end of the lifetime of the original apostles, as we have seen! Remember the gifts were needed because people did not have the written word. In fact the gifts were needed to give men the written word. When the scriptures were complete, direct revelation was no longer needed, so it ceased. The spiritual gifts are temporary- they cease "when that which is perfect" is come (vlO). But faith, hope, and love are abiding compared to the gifts. Spiritual gifts must cease before Jesus' second coming. The only reasonable time that could happen is when the scriptures were compieted. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, which everyone agrees says the miracles will cease someday.

Is anyone attempting to limit God's power? It is a question, not of God's power. but of God's will To validate a religious practice on the grounds that God can do what he wants to is to disregard Gods will and inspired, written plan of worship and salvaton.

There are many things God has the power to do, but He chooses not to do them, because it is not in accord with His will. Most preachers and leaders who believe that miracies still happen also believe and teach that baptism is needed but not necessary as the bible declares. They also believe and teach many other things contrary to the teachings of God's word

The miraculous powers were essential to reveal the word of God, record it in the Scriptures, and confirm it to be God's will. We need to respect and appreciate that message. However, when the message was completed, the gifts were no longer needed, so they ceased. To believe otherwise is to misunderstand God's will and show a lack of respect for Scripture. Many false doctrines have been believed and practiced as a result.

BEWARE: The teachings, books, lectures by men such as Rubel Shelly, Mec Lucado, Steve Flatt, Jeff Walling' Lynn Anderson, Rick Warren, Bruce Mcintyre' Russ Adcox, their disciples, others of like mind and like purpose of completely destroying the Church of Christ.

BEWARE: Preachers and elders diminish the importance of the traditional teachings and practices of the Church where you ttend.

BEWARE: Preachers and eiders who want to change sound bible teachings to make your congregation are just another denomination.'

BEWARE: Preachers and elders who diminish the importance of Baptism with statements like, "we believe in baptism," and "penitent believers NEED to be baptized". No where in these statements is there any reference to an abundance of scriptures that declare the NECESSITY of baptism for salvation. The NIV bible (the corrupt bible for change agents) is the prop for these statements.

BEWARE: : Preachers and elders who preach, teach and promote denominational, spiritual and worship fellowship. If you are uncomfortable, spiritually, with your churcn's downward directopm you should consider making a move. To remain, participate, and contribute to an apostate church places you in a very dangerous condition. Don't let your soul be lost due to apostate leaders and preachers. Transportation will be supplied if requested.

Mommas Don't Let Your Boys Grow Up to Become Cowgirls!

Click to see the response to this letter and dialog which is not permitted in church. I am flattered that they thought that I was smart enough to discuss the right of one congregation to disfellowship another. The entire congregation is guilty by continuing to endorse and supprt false teachers. Some of the elders do not agree but are trapped in the HEGELIAN Concensus process.

See the Grimes' letter to the elders and Bruce McIntyre which accuses them of false teachings: the loss of probably 100 members who tell the same story confirms this letter.

This is the END-RESULT of what Rubel Shelly is calling Whole Life Discipleship as a spinoff of the old Crossroads or Boston movement. The same theme is Shepherding by Promise keepers and PUSHED by Lynn Anderson. Max Lucado has also hired a Discipling Minister for Oak Hills.

Rubel Shelly 2.8.04 Comparing joyless worship to being Pharisees who made life miserable. All untrue. This is the Hegeling or Hitlerian Dialectic to make you DESPISE your old church and friends.

LEWIS COUNTY CHURCH NEWS