Influence is a powerful affair.

Every person both influences and is influenced by others in varying degrees. Jesus stressed the importance of godly influence when he compared his disciples to salt (Matt. v:xiii).

Paul also warned of the ability of bad influence when he noted that "evil companionships corrupt good morals" (ane Cor. 15:33 ASV). The Greek word for "companionships" is homilia having to practise with association. Here it denotes "bad company" (Arndt and Gingrich, 568). Nosotros tend to behave like those we run with.

The Influence of the Primitive Church building

Information technology is remarkable that the church of Jesus Christ equally such was constituted in the initial centuries of its existence was a trunk of tremendous influence. It revolutionized the antique world. The Lord hinted of this in his prophetic parable of the leaven (Matt. thirteen:33).

Historians take noted that as a consequence of Christianity, many evils of the ancient world were abolished or at least curtailed (east.g., crucifixion, the brutal gladiatorial games, slavery, the abuse of women, infanticide, etc.).

Fifty-fifty skeptics take conceded the point. British philosopher Bertrand Russell conceded that the influence of Christianity "remains the inspiration of much that is most hopeful in our somber earth" (Russell, 137).

It is not without significance, however, that when the church building was exerting such a wonderful impact, information technology was existence persecuted bitterly. Then, a strange thing happened.

In A.D. 313, Constantine issued his famous "Edict of Toleration," which brought an stop to Christian persecution. Unfortunately, it as well accelerated an era of spiritual decline. Christianity even became a state religion. Ultimately, the church was "baptized" in an atmosphere that can just be described equally worldliness. For an interesting survey of this period, see chapter IX "The Imperial Church" in Hurlbut'due south The Story of the Christian Church.

Cracking and devastating changes were wrought that finally resulted in an egregious, fully-organized betrayment the balance of which abides to this day.

Our More Recent History

The concept of restoring pristine Christianity was revolutionary, both in Europe and in America. Courageous pioneers sought a return to the original blueprint of Christ'south organized religion. The idea caught on, and the cause of the "ancient order" spread like a prairie burn down across the frontier in the waning days of the nineteenth century.

In the belatedly 1800s, students of the one-time Nashville Bible School (later named after David Lipscomb) baptized some v,000 souls in a 5-yr flow. In the early portion of the terminal century, the Lord's church was one of the fastest growing religious bodies in America.

A typical instance of the influence of the church was seen in the Tabernacle Meetings conducted past Northward. B. Hardeman in the early on 1920s. When the kickoff meeting was held in March-April of 1922, the old Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee was "packed and jammed" with 6,000 to 8,000 people. An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 were turned abroad (Hardeman'due south Tabernacle Sermons, eleven).

And there was no compromise of doctrine in Hardeman'due south sermons! Those were glorious days for the kingdom of Christ.

But in the early decades of the previous century, something else was happening. A move known as "modernism" was evolving. It reflected an inclination to reject the concept of propositional truth based on divine authority.

Men like Presbyterian clergyman Harry E. Fosdick (1878-1969) argued that the Bible had adult forth evolutionary lines. They rejected the supernatural elements of Scripture.

This credo became pervasive in both Catholicism and mainline Protestantism. A major component of the restoration heritage (the Disciples of Christ) was too influenced past this heresy.

More than recently modernism has been succeeded by a philosophy known as "Postmodernism" This dogma, more than dangerous fifty-fifty than modernism, is a mid-to-late 20th-century theory that contends there is no such thing as real knowledge—at least in the objective sense. Rather, truth is subjectively adamant by each individual.

Ane writer says that Postmodernism reflects a "rebellion confronting all aspects of the modernistic culture that had prevailed in the W since the late 19th century" (Dever, 30). Postmodernism has impacted the religious community at large in a devastating mode, and the churches of Christ have been significantly influenced past this credo as well.

For an excellent treatment of postmodernism as it relates to the church building, see Phil Sanders' Afloat: Postmodernism in the Church.

The Trendy Church

Over the past several decades there has developed a growing mentality that the church building is an outdated organism. Somehow, we have lost touch with the "millennial" generation. It is, therefore, imperative (they say) that we update the chuch model. Nosotros must brand it more trendy.

This idea is rooted in a cultural phenomenon that may be figuratively described as "societal osmosis." Ecology influences silently and slowly move from one realm to some other. The trends of secular club to a significant degree have seeped into the religious fabric of our civilisation.

At that place is no better example of this than the current endorsement of homosexual unions in some of the celebrated Protestant sects, and increasingly and so inside the churches of Christ. That which in one case was an abomination is now fashionable.

Further, the contaminated elements of "Christendom" in differing degrees ultimately trickle into the church. Not a few citizens of Christ's kingdom are like the State of israel of Samuel's 24-hour interval. They lust to be like the nations [churches] circular about (i Sam. 8:5).

Consider briefly some of the major changes that accept been appreciable in the church over the past several decades.

A New Call for Denominational Blending

Though a few radical "voices of business" (due east.g., Carl Ketcherside and Leroy Garrett) were beingness raised a half-century ago, scarcely anyone would accept dreamed that high-powered people in some of our major schools would be calling now for an ecumenical blending with denominationalists in the swaddling days of the new millennium.

And yet, voices as "sectarian" every bit anything imaginable are at present frequent and unrestrained inside our midst. No longer is J. D. Tant's quip, "Brethren, nosotros are drifting," apropos. Many are rushing with a total head of steam towards a "Casey Jones" disaster.

Subjective Faith

We are progressively departing from a dependence on the New Testament as the authoritative source of didactics in religion and ethics towards a subjective-style, become-in-touch-with-your-feelings philosophy.

Many congregations no longer have substantial Bible classes where the Word of God is explored securely and taught powerfully, with a solid application made to Christian living. Rather, we have "sharing" sessions wherein nosotros "testify" of exciting events we've experienced in the work-place.

Fifty-fifty some of our Bible form literature (non a little of which has been transported from denominational publishing concerns) is filled with people-centered scenarios. "What would you do if you were in Johnny's place?" The biblical accent is paper thin.

At the aforementioned time, a "new hermeneutic" has evolved past which the authority of apostolic case is questioned, the concept of necessary inference is ridiculed, the matter of the silence of the Scriptures is affirmed to exist a pure fabrication.

Incredibly, some even abet that the event of authority is in the final assay irrelevant!

Feminism in the Church building

The influence of society's feminists is existence felt in the church. As denominational groups ordain female "priests" and "clergy," congregations of the Lord'due south people from Connecticut to California are also opting for an expanded role for women.

Church building after church building is announcing that Christian ladies will be progressively employed in leadership roles. The New Testament subordination of women is viewed as a cultural oddity of the first century with little, if whatever, awarding for today.

Once again, some of our institutions of higher education are leading the manner in this digression.

Erosion of Marriage

When Hollywood blazed the trail in serial "wedlock," many wondered if small-boondocks America could be far backside. Information technology wasn't. Now, the same pattern is seen running rampant in the church.

"Single again" groups are in vogue. Experts in "union enrichment" skills are in smashing need, while the seminar directors generally are conscientious to throw a wide loop that avoids confrontation with the biblical law of divorce and remarriage.

Every sort of quirky notion imaginable, the design of which is to "sanctify" cheating liaisons, has surfaced in recent years. While we must take sincere compassion for those who are victims of divorce, the compromise of biblical truth is non a solution for these heartaches.

Gimmick-based Evangelism

Just as the world of denominationalism has been gimmick-driven in recent years, then our people have non been far behind. We have explored every mechanism under the sunday for attracting the public's attention.

We have offered a variety of classes (somewhat coordinating to a community higher) and a host of public services within our neighborhoods in hopes of enticing the baby-boomers, Generation-10, and now Millennials. All the while, nosotros largely accept ignored the very thing responsible for our greatest success — the wonderful and simple proclamation of the gospel.

While some labor under the illusion that the modern globe no longer wants the message of a dusty volume twenty centuries old, actually, only the reverse is true. Many are starving for spiritual truth. Rich Bible education presented by instructors who are excited about the treasures of scripture is attracting the attending of a whole new generation of lost people.

"Contemporary" Worship

The denominational world has niggling interest in the teaching of the New Attestation in terms of a divinely-authorized worship format. Will-worship (Col. 2:23) for the about part has been the order of the day.

With roots that reach deep into paganism, Catholicism has been steeped in pageantry for centuries. Early Protestantism attempted a remedy. Calvin, Wesley, Spurgeon, and other notable Protestant scholars, for example, expressed strong views against the use of instrumental music in Christian worship.

Ferguson has noted that the expression A cappella (which refers to purely vocal music) literally means "in the style of the church building." His exhaustive enquiry led to this conclusion:

The classical form of church music is unaccompanied song. To abstain from the use of the instrument is not a peculiar aberration of 'a borderland American sect"; this was easily, until comparatively recent times, the majority tradition of Christian history (Ferguson, 83).

Less than l years removed from Ferguson'due south comment, it is not at all uncommon to hear prominent brethren arguing that instrumental music is a non-issue that certainly ought non to be treated as a test of Christian fellowship.

"At that place should be room in the Christian fellowship for those who differ on ... whether instrumental music is used in worship" (Osburn, 90).

It is almost certain that conditions are developing amongst churches of Christ that eventually will accommodate large-calibration innovations in congregational worship.

Even now, a number of sizable churches following the lead of denominational groups (Veith, four-5) are staggering their services, providing a "traditional" worship format for the older generation (dare we say, "fogies"?). Then as well a jazzed up service is arranged for those who are more contemporary.

Also, it is a sad commentary on our attitude toward the hours of sacred worship that our dress has degenerated to the exceedingly casual, non to mention sloppy. In a contempo gospel meeting, a song leader was adorned in a tee-shirt and jeans. Sandals and shorts are observable not infrequently in some places. Neckties are becoming rarer at the Lord'southward table.

What has happened to our sense of reverence for the solemnity of the occasion? What impression do we convey to visitors from the community? Contrast the decorum of the "Jehovah's Witnesses," as they go on from door-to-door, impeccably dressed, with the bedraggled advent of some Christians in the worship assemblies.

Decision

In his letter to the saints in Rome, Paul instructed the brethren to "be not fashioned according to the world" (Rom. 12:ii). The present imperative form of the verb means, "end being fashioned [conformed — KJV]!" The principle involved in this admonition is wide in its awarding. Barclay attempts to catch the spirit of it.

"Don't effort to friction match your life to all the fashions of this world; don't be like the chameleon which takes its color from its environs; don't become with the world; don't let the world decide what you are going to be like" (170).

Let united states summon the backbone to make the advisable applications, yielding to truth and common sense, rather than to the fickle trends of an unspiritual society.