do not want to be known for

What We Do NOT Want to be Known For

Part 1

In all of our endeavors to properly train our children, we must not overlook or fail to instruct in great detail regarding the Lord’s church. Simply because we may be thoroughly grounded in the truth, does not necessarily mean that our children are! We must not take for granted that they are absorbing everything taught in the classroom and from the pulpit. Because of close contact with relatives and friends who are either not members of the Lord’s church, or if they are, they may be very liberal, our children will come in contact with a large array of doctrinal beliefs. While it may not be "politically correct" in many circles, it is, nevertheless, necessary to teach our children what we (the Lord’s church) do NOT want to known for!

The American Standard 1901 translation of the Bible renders Ephesians 5:15-16 as follows: "Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil." How we walk or conduct ourselves either brings glory or shame upon the cause of Christ! None of us live without exerting some kind of influence. This is not only true of every Christian, but congregations of the Lord’s church as well. The direction the elders set for the congregation is known far and wide. As the influence of an individual Christian can either bring glory or shame upon the cause of Christ so can a congregation! Look at the seven churches of Asia as an example of what we are discussing. It is, therefore, very important that we do not send uncertain sounds to the local congregation as well as the brotherhood as to the direction we are taking.

While there are many things we do want to be known for there are also many things we do not want to be known for. One of the things the elders and preacher at Curry Street do NOT want to be known for is that of embracing the liberal agenda! Now that may mean different things to different people but lest there be any misunderstanding let me enumerate.

1. We do not want to be known as a congregation that promotes the unscriptural agenda of "unity-in-diversity". "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Cor. 1:10).

2. We do not want to be known as congregation that accepts unscriptural divorces and remarriages. "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." (Mt. 19:9)

3. We do not want to be known as a congregation that is always nit-picking one another, fighting and fussing. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:31-32).

4. We do not want to be known as a congregation that adheres to the philosophy that one does not have to understand that baptism is for the remission of sins to be scriptural. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).

5. We do not want to be known as a congregation that views instrumental music in worship as a non-salvation issue. "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." (Eph. 5:19). "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy. God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Rev. 22:18-19).

6. We do not want to be known as a congregation that promotes fellowship with the denominational world. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Eph. 5:11).

7. We do not want to be known as a congregation that refuses to discipline children of God that live ungodly lives. "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2 Thess. 3:6).

8. We do not want to be known as a congregation that has a preacher that refuses to preach the truth. "Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:2). "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:26-27).

9. We do not want to be known as a congregation that is uncaring about the orphans. "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).

10. We do not want to be known as a congregation that shelters false teachers. "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them" (Romans 16:17).

11. We do not want to be known as a congregation that refuses to defend the faith. "...exhort you that ye should earnestly content for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).

12. We do not want to be known as a congregation that refuses to submit to the elders. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls..." (Heb. 13:17).

13. We do not want to be known as a congregation that uses amusements to draw crowds. "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Cor. 1:21).

Yes, instruct our children a congregation is known not only for what it does, but also for that which it refuses to do. May our heart’s desire be that of pleasing our heavenly Father so that heaven will be ours.

–Ivie Powell