This article will present three of the major flaws in Campbellite teachings on salvation set forth by modern-day Church of Christ writers, illustrating unscriptural positions which they hold. The letters “SS” will be used to abbreviate reference to THE SPIRITUAL SWORD magazine from which many of the quotations will be taken. “CC” refers to “Church of Christ.”
1. Campbellites of THE SPIRITUAL SWORD cult teach that members of the CC are the only people who are saved.
“The Bible teaches that there are no Christians who are not members of the church of Christ”-Thomas Warren, SS 4/85, p. 6.
“The Bible teaches that every one who enters a denomination sins in so doing and that those who remain in a denomination until death will be lost”-Warren, SS 4/85, page 10.
“’There are sincere, knowledgeable, devout Christians scattered among all the various denominations.’ I kindly, but confidently, deny his affirmation”-Garland Elkins, SS 10/85, page 28.
“There are no Christians who are not members of the church of Christ”-Warren, SS 10/83, page 1.
“Parents MUST teach their children that the ONLY Christians are found in the church of Christ”-Bill Jackson, SS 10/84.
The BIBLE teaches that the SAVED are those who believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour [John 3:16-18, 36, 5:24, 6:47, Acts 16:31, etc.]. Ideally, members of the church should be saved, yet there is the possibility that some become members of the church without having been saved. Church membership adds nothing to salvation, as the work of salvation is by Christ, not by the good works of the sinner.
2. Campbellites deny the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation.
“Thus we see that the eunuch did not need an angel or the Holy Spirit for salvation, but he did need Philip’s message for salvation”-J. H. Parker, SS 4/76, page 10.
“We can further note that the very efforts of the angel and the Holy Spirit in bringing Philip to the eunuch show that such divine agents are to have no direct role in the salvation of a man, rather that a man is to be converted by his hearing another preach the Gospel to him”-J. H. Parker (op. cit.).
The BIBLE teaches that a man is BORN OF [Greek: “EK” (out of)] God. In every instance where the SOURCE of the new birth is mentioned, the language is EK HIM, EK THE SPIRIT, EK GOD. It is therefore essential that the Holy Spirit work in conjunction with the Gospel, or the Word, as ADDITIONAL to the preaching. Campbellites deny such a work of the Holy Spirit, holding that there is nothing more than the Word in bringing about the new birth.
In effect, they deny the very essence of regeneration, which is to be “born from above” (John 3:3). This error leads to their denial of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, as taught by evangelical Christianity, and the denial of the security of the believer. They postulate everything upon man’s “obedience” to the letter of the Word, denying an accompanying work of the Holy Spirit. They represent evangelical Christianity as teaching the work of the Spirit “separate from” and “apart from” the Word, when in reality we teach the position as set forth by Paul:
“For our gospel came not unto you IN WORD ONLY, but also in power, and in THE HOLY GHOST . . .”-I Thess. 1:5.
“Lydia . . . whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul”-Acts 16:14.
If there is no additional work, or influence, of the Holy Spirit, then this last verse, which says the Lord “opened her heart,” is superfluous. Obviously, while the WORD is the means of communicating that which is to be believed, the additional unseen work of the Holy Spirit is necessary for being “born from above.” Paul referred to his preaching as being “in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (I Cor. 2:4). Is this not why, as so many have observed, Campbellite preaching is so dead, so staccato, and relies so heavily upon human “logic” and “legalism?” The only explanation of this barren spirituality is the absence of the Holy Spirit. This likewise explains their lack of a proper understanding of the Word of God (I Cor. 2:14).
Any time any one in the Campbellite movement somehow comes to accept the Bible teaching on the Holy Spirit’s work, the person immediately comes under suspicion of heresy. This was one of the primary issues which was discussed at the special meeting which was held in Memphis in 1973, one of the “peak” events which marked a “split” in the ranks of those associated with the support of THE HERALD OF TRUTH radio program out of the Highland Church of Christ, Abilene, Texas.
3. Campbellites deny that any one is truly saved in this life.
Walter Scott (1796-1861), who claimed to have “restored the ancient gospel,” taught that one is not “born of the Spirit” until the resurrection of the body (THE GOSPEL RESTORED, page 558: “No Christian is yet born of the Spirit; this event is the resurrection . . . still in the future”).
Mr. M. H. Tucker says that “We have eternal life in prospect . . . eternal life follows the judgment; it is received in the world to come”-SS 4/77, page 19.
Tom Warren says, “No one goes into eternal life (as a present possession) when he is baptized,” but “he only comes into hope of eternal life at the time he is baptized,” “if he lives the faithful Christian life (I John 1:7), he will receive the eternal life which the Lord has promised (I John 2:25)”-SS 4/77, pages 30, 31.
The prayer of Garland Elkins indicates that they do not believe they are really saved: “Forgive us our sins and save us in Heaven”-MEMPHIS MEETING, II, page 27.
Consequently, when they speak of being “saved” during this life, they simply mean you have been saved from “past and alien sins.” They do not mean that you are saved forever, have eternal life, and shall not come into condemnation; you could “sin so as to lose salvation.”
Bill Jackson says there are “many elements making up a faithful Christian life and man is saved by all of these”-CHRISTIAN WORKER, 7/88, page 2.
Since they deny the work of the Holy Spirit in the new birth, and deny the indwelling of the Holy Spirit except by the Word, and teach that good works are a “part” of salvation, it is only natural that they do not believe they are actually saved in this life. To them, salvation is the “reward” that comes at the end of this life. If you have “obeyed” their “5-step plan,” been a member of their church, worshipped according to their “5 acts of worship” teaching, obeyed the elders who “rule the church,” and “do all that is right to best of your ability,” if your works “favorably correspond” to the truth, then you “shall be saved” (SS 4/77, pages 8, 9, and SS 1/76, page 26).
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