UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH Part Two - by Elder Bob Dickerson - (Continued from The Gospel Appeal) - March 1997 Last month we observed that our Lord told His Apostles that they would carry His gospel to the "uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8), and they did just that (Mk. l6:20). But we also noted that the Apostles were not left to choose on their own where they would go and preach, but were limited by the leadership and direction of the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6-10). As they went forth in fulfilling this instruction, they left a pattern for the spread of the gospel - a pattern that has been followed by the true servants of Christ over the ages of time. It is a pattern of faith, dedication, and love for the little children of God and the gospel - the good news of a finished salvation. The Book of Acts records instance after instance where the Apostle Paul (and others) went forth to new territories with the gospel. They went by faith in God and in the promises of God, as Abraham of old, who "went out, not knowing whither he went" (Heb.11:8). I do not find where the Apostle Paul raised large sums of money to finance his travels, but he went as led by the Spirit of God, trusting in the God of Heaven to open the way and to supply his needs (Acts 13:1-4). When he entered a community and found those who rejoiced in the gospel he preached, he stayed with them and taught them through the preaching of the gospel until they were established in the faith; then when the Spirit led him to go elsewhere, he would journey to that place and repeat the process. He lived as the people of that country lived, ate what they ate (Acts l6:34; 27:34-36; I Cor. 8:4-8; 10:25), and identified with them and their needs (I Cor. 9:19-23). He did not seek to gain from them financially (II Cor. 12:14; Acts 20:33), but labored with his own hands to make a living (Acts 18:3; I Cor. 4:12), that the gospel might be proclaimed without charge (I Cor. 9:18). Read it, brethren, in the pages of your Bible, for that is the pattern God has set. And that pattern has been repeated again and again by the true servants of God over the centuries. Men did not send them - men did not finance them - but God opened the way and provided their needs. God's hand is not short that He cannot save (Isa. 50:2). When He gets ready to send a preacher to a foreign land, do you really think He will have to wait upon men to collect funds in order to accomplish His purpose? When it pleased God to send the message of His truth to the great city of Nineveh, God used a whale to provide the transportation for Jonah. (In fact, as you read the Book of Jonah, you might notice that the only money mentioned in the whole book is what Jonah spent in his foolish effort to run away from God and from God's work.) When it pleased God to send the Apostle Paul to the city of Rome, God, in His marvelous providence, so arranged it that the Roman government provided his transportation! (Acts 27th and 28th chapters). Paul remained in Ephesus for three years (Acts 20:31), in Corinth for a year and a half (Acts 19:11), in Rome for two years (Acts 28:30), etc.; and this gave him opportunity to properly judge those who responded to the gospel call before trying to constitute them as a church, and to properly judge the gifts among them before ordaining them. He did not boast of the number of converts he had made or of the numbers he baptized (I Cor. 1:14-17), but rather declared that it was his job to preach the gospel (I Cor. 9:16) and that God must give the increase (I Cor. 3:6). It is our purpose now to examine the modern mission system introduced among us by Eureka Church of Tifton, Ga., and their pastor, Elder L. Jeff Harris. If it meets the standards of the pattern God has set, then it would be worthy of support by all Old Baptists everywhere. If it fails to meet that standard, then it should be condemned. None of us have any right to add to or take from the scriptures (Rev. 22:18). When I received the letter from Eureka Church addressed to "all Elders, Deacons and members of the old line Primitive Baptist Faith and order" asking for any documented evidence of error in their mission program, my first thought was "don't they have a Bible?". Brethren, I do not mean to be flippant by relaying such a thought, for this is a serious matter, and many innocent children of God have already been hurt by it both in the Philippines and in the United States. My heart goes out to those who have lost their church home both here and abroad. But seriously, all they need is the Bible - simply to compare what has been done in this mission program with the pattern God has set in His word. As far as the "documented departures" they requested, I have a file of such over an inch thick, and others have much more. But it is not necessary to list all of these infractions, as the evidence is already there from those who engaged in this work. Those gathered around the fire in Jerusalem the night our Lord was betrayed (Luke. 22:55) told the Apostle Peter that "thy speech bewrayeth thee" (Mt. 26:73), and it seems to me the speech (and writings) of those connected with this movement are sufficient (when compared with the Bible) to betray them. Most of what I shall mention comes from the very books published by Elder Harris telling (boasting) of his mission work: Under the Mango Tree, Under the Filipino Sun, and Under the Shadow of the Almighty. This modern mission system begins with a flawed concept, and continues with a blatant disregard for the word of God, thus culminating in a myriad of errors. I do not suppose that one could go to a foreign country, even under the best of conditions, led and blessed by the Spirit of God, and not encounter great differences and perplexing problems. Even here in America, where the gospel church has been blessed to prosper for hundreds of years, there are problems and differences that arise from time to time. However, had the scriptural pattern been followed, I would estimate that over 90% of the problems that have arisen with the Philippine mission movement would not have occurred. I ask one simple question as we consider what has been done in this movement; where in the Bible do you find these things? The movement begins with a flawed concept, a false claim. We are told again and again that these preachers were answering "a Macedonian call" (Under the Shadow of the Almighty, page 8). But the Macedonian call of the Bible (Acts 16:9-12) came in a vision from God; not in a letter addressed to someone else. The Macedonian call specified a particular place to go, and the Apostle Paul immediately responded by going to that place (Philippi in Macedonia) and remaining there (Acts 16:10-40). The Elder who has accompanied Elder Harris on all except his initial journey has stated publicly that as soon as he heard Elder Jeff Harris had gone to the Philippines, that he called Elder Harris' house to tell him that the next trip he made there or "anywhere else" that he wanted to go with him. So much for the direction of the Holy Spirit! So much for the "Macedonian call"! If this letter addressed to someone else was truly a "Macedonian call" to the Philippines, then I ask a simple question of the preachers who claim such, why are you still here in the United States? If this were a true Macedonian call directed to you, then you should be over there. Hear the Apostle Paul: "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19). Where in the Bible do you find a pattern for hasty baptisms, ordinations and constitution of churches? I have used strong language when I said that this effort was characterized by a blatant disregard for the Word of God, but that is the only way I know to describe what took place. On the first trip Elder Harris (and another elder) made to the Philippines, in less than a week's time they had baptized 44 people and ordained 7 preachers. Brother preacher, would you go into a part of the USA to a people that you knew nothing of their moral standards or doctrinal beliefs, and in a week's time feel free to ordain men as Primitive Baptist preachers? Much less to a foreign land and a foreign language where you had to preach through an interpreter! God's Word is a thorough furnisher "unto all good works" (II Tim. 3:17), and is quite specific that those who are ordained must not be a "novice" (I Tim. 3:6), and that we are to lay hands suddenly on no man" (II Tim. 5:22). As soon as they returned from this trip and began to tell of what they had done, there was a great outcry from all sections of the country over this disregard of God's holy word. Rather than to be admonished by the Word, the participants and supporters of this work claimed that all was justified because the cause was so important. Then articles began to appear in various publications and some men began to preach that the instruction to "lay hands suddenly on no man" did not refer to ordaining preachers, but had some other kind of meaning! In other words, if the Bible doesn't fit what we want to do, then we will interpret it to suit ourselves; and it's all right to do whatever we deem necessary, as the end justifies the means. Sadly, time has proven that the seven men ordained on that day should not have been ordained - but if the instructions in the scriptures had been followed to begin with, this costly mistake could have been avoided. .....................................(Continued in Part 3) ....... Bob Dickerson 3/97 |