Be Not Many Masters
by Robert F. Turner
Plain Talk, March 1972
Every now and then, a preacher (usually young or inexperienced) gets the idea that he has discovered something new and wonderful in his nonsectarian, undenominational concept of the church or that salvation is a gift of God through Jesus Christ rather than the product of legalized obedience. He startles the brethren (and makes them antagonistic) by announcing that he will tell them something they have never heard before — or that is very different from what they believe and practice — and all who question his exaggerated statements are sectarian or do not understand him.
There are party members and legalists among this generation's brethren, just as there have been in the past—and just as there will be in the new movement today’s iconoclast will form. But many have been pushed into such concepts by preachers' careless arguments and could be rescued by loving, tender care and sound teaching. Of course, that is work, and it does not satisfy the pride of the iconoclast nor produce a revolution.
More than thirty years ago, I conducted my first protracted meeting and preached God’s People, The Church. No claim is made for originality. Bros. Srygley, Hardeman, Brigance, and others taught me that one’s allegiance must be to the Lord, not to a party, and my private Bible study confirmed this.
I have called out empty chairs during tent meetings, painted blocks on TV programs, and chalked marks on a thousand boards (more or less), and in every case, Christ was the Savior, His gospel the call, and His church consisted of those who obeyed His call, being submissive to His will.
Our brethren believe in salvation by the grace of God. If they have an imperfect grasp of its significance — if their concepts are shallow and immature — all the more reason why the subject should be carefully studied and presented. But start with common ground. Take a statement often made and accepted, and dig into it. Help brethren to expand, grow in knowledge, and mature in understanding.
It is bad enough when a preacher discovers a truth (which his more experienced brethren have known and preached for years) and allows his pride to cause friction. It is much worse when his new-found truths are actually Calvinistic errors concerning the Holy Spirit, imputation of righteousness, faith only, etc., which were debating issues when he was in diapers but which he now absorbs from sectarian commentaries.
We cannot learn much from one who does not know enough to teach us what he does know, and he thinks of increasing his own stature by repeated reference to our lack of knowledge (James 3:1ff).
