However one feels about the present condition of New Testament assemblies in North America, most would agree that there are sweeping changes afoot. What are some of the influences that affect the present climate?
1. “Intellectual Mobility”
As never before, ideas from the broad “marketplace” of Christendom are infiltrating assembly thinking. “Christian” radio, television, literature, and music flows freely into the homes and minds of assembly believers. There was a day when we were largely isolated from such influences. Some would suggest that this exposure is a good thing. But is it? There is no question that we may profit from many Christians from a variety of backgrounds. But the end times are marked by men among us “speaking perverse (truth with a twist) things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:30). Young believers especially should be protected from damaging influences. Paul warns, “Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but…by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Rom. 16:17-18).
The assembly is especially suited for this with a built-in safeguard: “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge” (1 Cor. 14:29). There should be godly men in each assembly who will be able to discern not only error but also unprofitable ministry and move to rectify this.
2. A Growing Ignorance of the Bible
In spite of a burgeoning of books, tapes, videos, retreats, etc., there is a rising Bible illiteracy among assemblies in general. To get a feel for this, look at the list on Chart 2. How many of these doctrines have been well covered in your assembly in the last year? In the last decade? In your lifetime? When I was a child, our assembly had a minimum 2-week gospel campaign each year (Soteriology 101), a 2-week ministry series, a weekly ministry meeting, and Sunday School–through the Bible in 5 years. The Young People’s was a 45-minute Bible study each week. In addition, we were at conferences on Easter and Thanksgiving weekends. The only way to learn the Book is to keep at it.
3. Family Altars on the Endangered List
I have travelled widely in North America and stayed in the finest Christian homes, yet I rarely see the family gathered around the Word, praying or singing together. Here is a wise saying: “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut. 6:7). This sounds like an immersion course to me! And if this was under law, what a privilege to share the riches of His grace with loved ones.
4. Increasing Secularization
We must recognize the difference between separation and isolation. However, separation is rarely mentioned today. Infiltration is the emphasis of Evangelicalism. Mothers, who once stood as guardians of the home, are often AWOL. Fathers are pressured by employers to protect their jobs by trading their lives for it. Job fulfillment is now a valid goal for Christians. Homes are filled with the sights and sounds of Egypt–“rock music” instead of Christian songs, questionable videos and TV programs, etc. How much time, money, and effort goes into this world and that world by comparison? Don’t kid yourself. Where your treasure is, your heart is sure to be. This is especially discerned in the paucity of true worship and the effort to pre-plan it.
As the world’s standards drop, the Christians’ standards drop too–a respectable distance above, you understand. But after a while, the Christian’s standards are below where the world’s were just a short time ago. It is a slow but steady erosion.
5. The Missing Generation
The first postwar generation (now 50-60 years of age) is almost non-existent in assemblies in North America. Of the few that remain, most have not applied themselves to the Word and are not ready to take serious responsibility in local churches. They should now be taking up the baton for the next leg of the race. Whatever the reasons, we must face the challenge. Older men must be willing to run on–faint, yet pursuing–until the next generation can carry on. It is hard for older men to keep at it, especially standing for the truth in the face of mounting opposition, but it must be done! It will be hard to entrust the assembly (their life!) into the hands of young men they remember in diapers. It will also require a tremendous effort for these young men to take such a heavy burden at a time when they are finishing an education, raising a family, establishing a career, and grappling with serious Bible study–but it must be done! And done, starting soon.
6. Retreating Evangelistic Zeal
Isn’t it tragic that people on their way to heaven have little concern over people on their way to hell? In many assemblies, gospel outreach is pathetic. At one end of the spectrum, some proclaim the message, but with no sinners present. At the other end, some use an array of methods to entice a crowd, and forget the message. Thankfully, in some quarters there is a resurgence in evangelism. But much ground has been lost; there is no time to waste.
7. A Lack of Discernment Among Overseers
Spiritual discernment is spoken of as a gift (1 Cor. 12:10), one that must be exercised. But Hebrews 5:12-14 suggests that all believers have the possibility of improving their ability to discern by habitually being exercised by the meat of the Word. I take “meat” to mean the taking in of the truth without someone else having done the work (as with milk). May God give us more leaders who know how to study the Word for themselves, how to make decisions with it as the final authority, and how to teach the Lord’s people by practice and precept. We need to order in some midnight oil!
8. Increasing Fragmentation
We cannot help but grieve over the polarization between assemblies and fragmentation (plethora of Bible versions, hymnody, and special interest divisions by age, target audiences selected by demographic studies, etc.) within them. Because of the practiced autonomy of such local churches, it is unlikely that a “split” can occur (unless a group of assemblies band together in some confederacy–which is being advocated by some). But apart from one exclusive-minded group that rejoined Exclusivism in 1892, there has been tension, but no “national” division. May it long be so.
However, on a local level, tensions will obviously increase when nearby churches take divergent views on what many consider key issues. “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” Some say: Agree to disagree. But is it possible for those who believe the suggested alternative is a flagrant violation of the Word of God? Theoretically, fellowship is based on life in Christ, but practically, fellowship means to share what we have in common. One cannot continue “in fellowship” with a local church when constantly grieved by what is being practiced.
9. A Loss of Assembly Distinctives
Often when I ask young people these days what the characteristics of a New Testament assembly are, I get answers like these: We don’t have a pastor–or minister. We don’t have a name. We don’t have a headquarters. We don’t let our women do much…
So it goes. But are these answers true? A true New Testament church does have a Senior Pastor–Christ, the Chief Shepherd; we do have other pastors (in plurality as the Scripture teaches) in our elders. We do have a name; we meet in the name of the Lord Jesus. This is not our exclusive right; it is for all who will take the teaching of 1 Corinthians 1:11-13 seriously. We have a headquarters too–our risen Head is in heaven. He is not a figurehead; He is to be the functioning Head, and two heads are not better than one!
And what about the ministry of women? Is it we who have given her the sphere of her ministry? The conclusion of 1 Corinthians 11-14 makes it clear that these are “the commandment of the Lord” (14:37). Is this sphere demeaning? It is the same position in reference to the man as Christ took in relation to God (1 Cor. 11:3). Is it restrictive? The woman’s ministry is as high as heaven; there is no restriction on her ministry to the heart of God as a holy priest. And her ministry encompasses the whole world; as a royal priest, there is no restriction on her witness. The only limitation is that in keeping with divine order she is not to represent the assembly to God or God to the assembly. But she certainly is not to be silent in her heart–what God hears!
Every generation must rediscover the truth for itself. My generation had everything given to them, but you cannot be given the truth: “Buy the truth, and sell it not” (Prov. 23:23). It’s a buyer’s market!