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Are you Traditional?

Are you Traditional?. We should never be afraid to distinguish between human traditions and the will of God. Are you Traditional?. We should never be afraid to distinguish between human traditions and the will of God.

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Are you Traditional?

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  1. Are you Traditional? • We should never be afraid to distinguish between human traditions and the will of God.

  2. Are you Traditional? • We should never be afraid to distinguish between human traditions and the will of God. • We are hearing more and more about how churches have become “traditional” and how we need to leave “the traditional position.”

  3. Are you Traditional? • We should never be afraid to distinguish between human traditions and the will of God. • We are hearing more and more about how churches have become “traditional” and how we need to leave “the traditional position.” • The call to leave human traditions is a Biblical call. (Mt 15:8-9, 1 Pt 1:18-19)

  4. Are you Traditional? • Matthew 15:8-9 (NKJV) - ‘Thesepeopledraw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me withtheir lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teachingas doctrines the commandments of men.’”

  5. Are you Traditional? • 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV) - knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

  6. Are you Traditional? • When people label things as human tradition without a willingness to open the Bible and test their assertion then a new human tradition is in the making.

  7. Are you Traditional? • When people label things as human tradition without a willingness to open the Bible and test their assertion then a new human tradition is in the making. • Several years ago I was challenged to look at the Bible alone and take a stand to simply be a Christian.

  8. Are you Traditional? • When people label things as human tradition without a willingness to open the Bible and test their assertion then a new human tradition is in the making. • Several years ago I was challenged to look at the Bible alone and take a stand to simply be a Christian. • This stand was motivated out of a faith in Jesus Christ. (1 John 5:1-3)

  9. Are you Traditional? • 1 John 5:1-3 (NKJV) - Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

  10. Are you Traditional? • The study of God’s word became one of searching and making changes in my life. I was not afraid to give up past practices.

  11. Why I left Denominationalism • Love for my Lord demanded that I surrender things that divide. (Jn 17:20-23)

  12. Why I left Denominationalism • John 17:20-23 (NKJV) - “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:

  13. Why I left Denominationalism • 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

  14. Why I left Denominationalism • I was raised in a religious body that had good sincere people in it.

  15. Why I left Denominationalism • I was raised in a religious body that had good sincere people in it. • Why does division exist? What can I possibly do as a single individual?

  16. Why I left Denominationalism • One of my first challenges came as I examined the Lord’s Supper. (Mt 26:26-28)

  17. Why I left Denominationalism • Matthew 26:26-28 (NKJV) - And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

  18. Why I left Denominationalism • In the Baptist church I never remember partaking of it.

  19. Why I left Denominationalism • In the Baptist church I never remember partaking of it. • Driving home from Samford University I heard a radio sermon on the subject. The early church met on the first day of the week! (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:1-2)

  20. Why I left Denominationalism • Acts 20:7 (NKJV) - Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

  21. Why I left Denominationalism • 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (NASB) - Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

  22. Why I left Denominationalism • I tried to imperfectly practice what I had learned.

  23. Why I left Denominationalism • I tried to imperfectly practice what I had learned. • While attending the University of Alabama I heard a basic presentation on how Jesus directed men to be saved. (Mk 16:15-16)

  24. Why I left Denominationalism • Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV) - And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

  25. Why I left Denominationalism • It was important not to base your conclusion on just one verse. What did Peter preach? (Acts 2:38)

  26. Why I left Denominationalism • Acts 2:38 (NKJV) - Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

  27. Why I left Denominationalism • As I examined all the verses on this subject, I found that whenever baptism and salvation (forgiveness of sins) are mentioned together that baptism always is placed before salvation. (1 Pt 3:20-21)

  28. Why I left Denominationalism • 1 Peter 3:20-21 (NKJV) - who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

  29. Why I left Denominationalism • After studying and asking further questions I decided to be baptized into Christ and take a stand to be just a Christian. (Acts 19:1-5)

  30. Why I left Denominationalism • Acts 19:1-5 (NKJV) - And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

  31. Why I left Denominationalism • 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

  32. Why I left Denominationalism • Was I right in doing that?

  33. Many churches are giving up that stand • I came to realize that the call to be undenominational was not taken seriously.

  34. Many churches are giving up that stand • I came to realize that the call to be undenominational was not taken seriously. • After leaving the Baptist church I tried to apply what I learned to all differences! (2 Tim 3:16-17)

  35. Many churches are giving up that stand • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) - All Scripture isgiven by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

  36. Many churches are giving up that stand • I tried to take all the verses on a given subject and stay within whatever that teaches. (Col 3:17, 2 Jn 9)

  37. Many churches are giving up that stand • Colossians 3:17 (NKJV) - And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

  38. Many churches are giving up that stand • 2 John 9 (NKJV) - Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

  39. Many churches are giving up that stand • I was shocked to find that brethren were fearful of such a study. Many became angry because I simply asked to study over an open Bible.

  40. Many churches are giving up that stand • I was shocked to find that brethren were fearful of such a study. Many became angry because I simply asked to study over an open Bible. • The most difficult decision I ever made spiritually was to leave that church.

  41. Many churches are giving up that stand • 25 years later I was shocked to hear that the University church of Christ in Tuscaloosa invited Tony Campolo to be a keynote speaker. (See Article)

  42. Many churches are giving up that stand • I was stunned to hear the preachers there were making the very arguments that I had heard from the Baptist church.

  43. Many churches are giving up that stand • I was stunned to hear the preachers there were making the very arguments that I had heard from the Baptist church. • Even today members from the Baptist church are welcomed into their membership with no challenges to their baptism.

  44. Many churches are giving up that stand • I asked in 1996 “Should I have left the Baptist church?” to an ACU discussion list. NO ONE thought that I should have and many ridiculed me for doing so.

  45. Many churches are giving up that stand • Are we not far behind?

  46. Many churches are giving up that stand • Here is a recent e-mail from a brother:

  47. Many churches are giving up that stand • Here is a recent e-mail from a brother: • I sorted through my collection of papers and found your series on “Institutionalism--Then and Now An Overview”, which you preached at the Lacey’s Spring congregation several years ago.  I did this after hearing some sermons this past week.  My questions are as follows: 

  48. Many churches are giving up that stand • 1.) How do bad personal experiences influence a preacher to make steps toward a wider fellowship?

  49. Many churches are giving up that stand • 1.) How do bad personal experiences influence a preacher to make steps toward a wider fellowship? • 2.)  What book would someone have read if they really thought the true practice of the 1st century Lord’s Supper was a common meal that was shared during the service?

  50. Many churches are giving up that stand • 3.)  Should someone think a false teacher is only a person who has insincere motives in their teaching?

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