It has always been true that some brethren are not satisfied with New
Testament teaching (Acts 15:1, 5; Rom. 16:17; Gal. 1:6-9, et al). Nowadays,
these brethren call themselves ³change agents.² Change agents do not agree
among themselves on all points, but usually wish to change the role of women
in worship, the name we wear, the emphasis of preaching, the place of
baptism for remission of sins, music in worship and the work of the Holy
Spirit.
Change agents face three options as to how they will handle their
dissatisfaction with the church. (1) They can stay and work within a
congregation. Many do so. In some congregations gradual changes are ignored
until it is too late to turn the tide. The time comes when sound brethren
see no choice but to leave. (2) They can leave. This was the option of
choice years ago. It used to be that when certain brethren became
dissatisfied with the truth they would leave the church and unite with a
denomination suitable to their views. The apostate writers of Voices of
Concern (1966) became disgruntled and left the church. (3) The popular
option these days is for change agents to pull away from other congregations
and style themselves a ³community church,² with a generic identity
(³Family,² ³Bible,² ³Grace²) claiming a loose affiliation with the ³Church
of Christ.² The founders of these churches prefer to conceal their
connection with churches of Christ from the community they wish to influence
(See inside article).

CrossWalk ­ A CHANGE AGENT CHURCH IN LITTLE ROCK
Dennis Gulledge

A church whose goal is to change the Lord¹s church has begun in Little
Rock. The CrossWalk Family of God officially opened on September 8, 2002.
The beginning of this change agent church was announced to us in a recent
letter from the CrossWalk ministers to our elders. There was also a recent
article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette announcing, ³CrossWalk updates
first century church.²
CrossWalk is another group of change agents who have pulled away from
other congregations in order to form a church of their own liking. As is
characteristic of the community church movement today, they ³want to model
the Gospel of the first century, not necessarily the cultural look of the
first century.² Of the CrossWalk group it is fair to say that, ³They went
out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would
no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made
manifest that they were not all of us² (1 Jn. 2:19).
Some of the unscriptural distinctives of CrossWalk are of interest here:
[1] They claim to be ³born out of a long heritage in the Church of Christ.²
Presumably they mean a modern ³Church of Christ² only as old as the 19th
century ­ not the churches of Christ of the New Testament (Rom. 16:16). [2]
Their worship style is ³contemporary² with a ³worship leader² and ³praise
team.² This typically involves an emotional display of hand clapping, arm
waving, foot stomping and shouting in an ³upbeat² style of worship. It is
their ³attempt to connect with current culture² rather than New Testament
authority. [3] They feel that ³it¹s important to pay attention to the
first-century church, but we don¹t think that the modern church has to do
everything like the first-century church.² That is, in their lip service to
the New Testament they don¹t find a pattern in it for the church (1 Cor.
16:1). They ³partake of the Lord¹s supper every week.² They don¹t say if
this is on the first day of the week exclusively (Acts 20:7). If they see a
pattern in the Lord¹s supper they ignore it in their singing. They say ³We
love acappella music and will maintain that on Sunday morning,² but ³we may
use instruments at other assemblies.² If there is authority for singing in
worship, (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), would it not also apply to ³other
assemblies²? If it does, where then is the Scriptural authority for the
instruments, soloists and choral groups they say they will use (Col. 3:17)?
[4] Evangelistically they intend to reach the ³unbelievers and unchurched
individuals in the greater Little Rock area.² These would include all that
do not believe their ³key theme of the gospel² [³core gospel,² ala Bill
Love, ACU] (ie., the deity of Jesus Christ), and those not members of any
denomination. To them denominational people are the ³churched² and already
in fellowship. If their core gospel does not include the whole gospel they
do not have the gospel at all (Gal. 1:6-9). They wish to ³maintain a loving
relationship with other Churches of Christ,² but such as they are to be
taken note of and avoided (Rom. 16:17).

VOLUME 39 NUMBER 39 SEPTEMBER 30,
2002

OUR SICK

Ella Johnson has some health problems and requests prayers of the church.
Also, please remember Larry May, Kellie Golden¹s father, in your prayers.
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THANK YOU

We would like to thank our Christian family for the prayers, calls, and
flowers. Your show of love has helped us through this trying time. Nora &
Richard Allen, Colette & Michael Wilson, Colleen & Doug Parker.
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ANNUAL MID-ARK LECTURES

The van will leave at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 12th, to go to Camp
Couchdale for the Mid-Ark Lectures hosted by the Malvern Church of Christ.
Lunch will be served. We will return about 5:00 p.m.
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HISPANIC WORK UPDATE

There were three new people at the classes this past Sunday. A grandmother,
her daughter and granddaughter came as a result of our ad in the El Latino.
Special thanks to Robert Overbey, Jim Mauldin and Gary Poole for their work
on the phone line, electrical outlets and shelving in my office. Wayne
Brewer
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SERMONS FOR OCTOBER 6

Morning
What Is Sin? (1 John 3:4-6)
Evening
The Strengths & Weaknesses Of Elijah
(1 Kings 18:19-39; 19:3-8)
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RESPONSE

To be restored on September 29th:
Ricky King
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SEARCH
Week of October 6
WHAT ON EARTH AM I DOING HERE?
An e-mail a few days ago said, ³Please pray for me that I may know what I am
supposed to be doing on this place called earth.² We prayed for this person
in our SEARCH staff morning devotionals and decided we would try to help
with a program on the subject of the meaning and purpose of life. It may
help others, too.
EVENTS OF INTEREST

October 8.........All Comers Class
October 12.......Mid-Ark Lectures
October15........All Comers Class
October 20.......Teen Sing
October 20.......Ladies Tea

OUR RECORD SEPTEMBER 29, 2002

A.M. WORSHIP 226
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 178
P.M. WORSHIP 147
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 132

CONTRIBUTION 5480
BUDGET 5570
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MEN TO SERVE
October 6, 2002

Robert Overbey Darrell Orick
Doug Parker Harold Pigue
Gary Poole Blake Poole
Mike Moore Nathan Moore

Evening Dale Morris
Scott Perry
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WEDNESDAY SONG DIRECTOR

October 9 Dale Morris
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USHERS FOR OCTOBER

Morning Gary Poole
Evening Doug Parker
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GREETERS FOR OCTOBER

Lou Sullivan & Judy Morris
Shawn & Alicia Wallace
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ELDER CHAIRMAN

October Roger Horton
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