CURRENT CHALLENGES TO BROTHERHOOD PEACE
Edwin S. Jones

Among us, in certain circles, the rallying cry for the church has apparently become, "the show must go on." The first displays of this entertainment emphasis are generally most evident in worship services. The show time infatuation, however, is not limited to worship. The spirit of our age has often largely become the spirit of many congregations. Peace among us has, therefore, been profoundly disturbed by an emotion-controlled agenda that moves increasingly further from a biblical orientation.
In the worship arena, current challenges find expression in such things as praise teams, flirting with or actually embracing instrumental accompaniment, "special" singing productions that depart from congregational singing, and drama. It would seem that in these and similar challenges, production values rule while biblical substance is lost. Audio and visual special effects become the focal point; diligent study of the Scriptures is rejected, reduced to an obligatory filler. Such things as this should not be allowed to rob us of a worship that is in both spirit and truth (John 4:24).
Worship is not to be replaced by entertainment. The glitz and glamour that so characterizes our present culture is not the model of the church. Scripture is far from unclear when it gives simple yet powerful pattern of congregational singing (Ephesians 5:19), practical prayers (1 Timothy 2:1-8), sound preaching (2 Timothy 4:1-2), purposeful giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), and introspective, thankful communion (1 Corinthians 11:23-28) as the way of Christ in worship.
Avenues of worship are not, however, the only place the brethren are being troubled. The role of men in worship leadership is also frequently resulting in an overthrow of peace in the body. Praise teams allow women to share leadership of the song service. Women are, at times, now present up front at the Lord's table. While on most such occasions they do not lead in prayer, their presence has blurred distinctions between male and female roles in public worship. Classes composed of both men and women are being taught by women. In some places, the pulpit has found itself occupied by women doing what could only be called preaching. Such practices lead one to wonder how 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:24 are interpreted by some among us?
As if these practices were not alarming enough, the very viability of the Restoration Principle is also under attack. We are told in mocking fashion that the idea of restoring the church of the first century is unenlightened and unsupported by Scripture. "Which church would we choose to restore?" is the foolish question posed to apparently uninformed audiences to evoke laughter over an absurdity no one actually believes. The Restoration Principle is about restoring the mature church Jesus built in the first century and not at all about replicating any particular earthly congregation. A restoration mentality is, in fact, demanded because the church cannot have an authorized existence apart from following her builder, Jesus (Matthew 16:18; 28:20; Colossians 3:17; Matthew 7:21-23). If the Bible isn't the place to go to learn what Jesus build when He built the church, just where are we to go? And, if there is no pattern for the church, how can the church have an identity at all?
Hand in hand with unsettling trends that reject the concept of restoration is a growing desire to fellowship with denominations. Clearly, spending time with denominational people is required if we are to create opportunities to teach the way of the Lord more perfectly. Such needful associations do not mean, however, that we are to conduct ourselves as though all is well-all is not well! Denominationalism is wrong (1 Corinthians 1:10; John 17:21-23).
If we promote religious divisions when God wants unity, we are not sharing with god, but with Satan.-6612 Beaver Ridge Road, Knoxville, TN 37931-3411
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