It’s a longer one today.

From a sermon in 1987:

[quoting from Christian Chronicle article]We do feel a responsibility to let the brotherhood know, however, that we consider this to be a dangerous movement within the body of Christ, because it robs people of their
freedom in Christ, turns Christian leadership into an authoritarian power structure, and divides the body of Christ almost everywhere it appears. In the words of the apostle, Paul,’let us be watchful.'”

Gang, don’t kid yourself about what that article means. That is a line. Definitive and
sharp. And you know the answer to the question “why the line?”. Let me tell you
something. It is basically doctrinal.

and this:

I want to lay some things on out here
that I believe that a mature audience can handle in good stead. For a long time in the
churches of Christ — and those that were raised in it appreciate that background and that
heritage and you need to — have been taught dare we say, the 5 Point Plan of
Salvation. Hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. And though I believe
in that, because I believe in the Word of God, I believe an essential element has
not been emphasized in the area of repentance. In fact, it was the primary area
that Jesus emphasized about this baptism. In Matthew 28:19, when Jesus
appeared to the 11 on the Mount before He ascended, he said, “go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing THEM…” There “they” are! “…baptizing THEM in
the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching THEM to obey
my Father’s commands.” I really believe, sisters, we need to get it on straight.
Who is a candidate for baptism? It is the individual who IS a disciple.
You say, “well, brother, that’s not been taught through the years so often in
the churches of Christ.” What’s the book say?
You say, “well, brother, we didn’t use that terminology back in the early
days of Crossroads.” What’s the book say?
I think we need to certainly appreciate our heritage without question and
our roots in the Lord’s church, the churches of Christ. But I think we also need to
appreciate our roots in the Crossroads church. But, you’ve got to understand that
we’re in a process of restoration. The Holy Spirit is working and it’s not that new
truths are being revealed, but the old truths are becoming clear. There’s a
difference.
Jesus said, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing THEM.” A lot of people in
the “church of Christ”, they say, “well, we can’t get along with you folks because your
methodology is different.” That’s the words. Listen, I am seeing that it’s a lot more than
methodology that’s different. There has become an innate doctrinal difference. But they
don’t recognize it because it looks like a methodology. Our working with people in baptism
and counting the costs they think is a methodology. I think not. It’s a scriptural
imperative. If it is a scriptural imperative, then it is not a humanistic methodology, it is a
command that we must obey.

From an article this morning:

Here I addressed concerning reports we have been given by many who have recently visited Portland that in our worldwide fellowship a “different Jesus,” a “different gospel” with a “different spirit” is being preached by some individuals masquerading as “servants of God.” They preach “Jesus did not command each generation to go to all nations,” yet Jesus commanded the eleven faithful to go to all nations. (Matthew 28:19-20) They teach discipling is not in the Bible or is optional, yet Jesus teaches that each disciple must “make disciples” by teaching obedience to His commands. Some teach there should be no overseeing evangelists to tie churches together as a brotherhood. They believe each church is autonomous, and not the responsibility of anyone outside their local congregation. In contrast in the New Testament, Paul sent Timothy to Corinth without an interview or discussion with the Corinthian leaders (1 Corinthians 4:15-17); Paul sent Titus to all the churches of Crete to “straighten out” issues; and Paul received financial support from other congregations to plant and minister to weaker churches, such as Corinth. (2 Corinthians 11:8) For there to be a brotherhood, there must be “fathers of faith” that unify us through relationships.

And this was preached on Sunday:

And what Paul’s saying right here is perplexing to the worldly minded, to one whose faith has not yet grasped the desperateness of the hour in our brotherhood.

I believe, there have to be differences amongst us to show which churches have God’s approval. We read earlier in Chapter 3 a church that has God’s approval, God is going to make it grow. There’s going to be baptisms. If a church doesn’t have any baptisms, you know they do not have the approval of God, because it is God that makes it grow. If a church does not teach the plan of salvation, that you have to have faith and repent, become a disciple and be baptized for the remission of sin, if they’re fuzzy on it, there’s going to be a division there and rightfully so, to show which ones of us have God’s approval.

There are churches that try to sound noble, oh we’re not saying that discipling shouldn’t happen, but it’s optional in our church. My bible tells me, it’s not optional, it’s the command of God. It’s the way to win a city to Christ, it’s the way to win the world to Christ. It’s the same thing as if we say, hey you know, tell you what, as far as being pure with your girlfriend, it’s optional. NO IT’S NOT OPTIONAL. The word of God says we must be absolutely pure. The word of God says we MUST make disciples. And so, yes, there will be division between us and other churches