The Fruits Of Premillennialism
Jesus gave an unfailing rule for judging false teachers. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:15, 16, 20.) We may apply this rule to those teachers among the churches of Christ who advocate the theory of premillennialism. The fruits of the theory may be seen in the lives and teaching of its advocates. "By their fruits ye shall know them." A teacher is condemned or vindicated by the fruits of his teaching. No sincere advocate of any cause should object to being thus judged.
The line of cleavage between those who advocate the premillennial theory and those who do not has been tightly drawn. There is very little fellowship between the two groups, and the gulf or separation is ever widening. In view of this cleavage it is interesting to note certain tendencies in doctrine within the premillennial group. These trends are tending to widen differences between "us" and "them". I predict that in time the fruits of these tendencies will be an even greater barrier to fellowship than has premillennialism itself. From a study of the writing of prominent premillennial preachers the fruits of premillennialism can be gleaned. What one sees is not good. There is a definite departure from "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
In "The Evangelist," June 1949, a mimeographed monthly published by Frank M. Mullins of Dallas, Texas, we find the following statement on page 5: "It is evident from the Bible-definition and use of the terms 'grace' and `works' it is impossible for salvation to be based on both. In the light of Bible truth, salvation is either by grace or it is by works. It cannot be a mixture of the two principles. (Rom. 11:16.)" A Lutheran who believes that salvation is "by grace only through faith" could not have made a better statement of his doctrine than this. I affirm that Mullins' statement is an open and undeniable avowal of the protestant position of salvation by grace alone. It is the major premise in their system of doctrinal logic by which baptism and any other act of obedience is ruled out of the plan of salvation. Since when did James 2:24 cease to be a part of "the Bible definition and use of the terms 'grace' and 'works'?" James says, "Ye see then that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." Can a man be saved without faith? Certainly not! Well, faith is a "work of God" (John 6:29.) Deny it!
Ashdodish Language
Words are the symbols of ideas. A public teacher should be careful to select the correct words to express his thoughts. There is always a danger in using questionable forms of expression, especially those used by the denominational world which represent ideas alien to the New Testament. Paul warned, "Sound speech that cannot be condemned;" (Titus 2:6.) From the same issue of The Evangelist as quoted above we read on page 14, "Fifteen were baptized, several came to be just Christians. . . . and at Turkey Creek this means what it should. The Holy Spirit was manifestly working throughout the meeting. . . . The last night eleven responded. . . . wonderful were the answers to prayer and glorious victory which the Lord wrought." It is evident that those who "came to be just Christians" were not among the fifteen who were baptized. Now we are ignorant of what it means "to be just Christians" at "Turkey Creek," but we always thought that "to be just Christians" in the New Testament requires baptism. Maybe its different at "Turkey Creek." The next statement that "The Holy Spirit was manifestly working throughout the meeting" is more the jargon of "holy-rollerism" than the "sound speech" of the New Testament. Truly "they went out from us."
We now present the quotations without comment. Their evident tenor betrays the extent of departure of our erstwhile brethren. "Regardless of your present affiliation, if you are born again, you will enjoy the fellowship, and will find at Mount Auburn that old time Christian love and fellowship, and be recognized as a child of God on the basis of your faith in and love for our Lord Jesus Christ." (The Evangelist, September 1948, page 5.) "If you are born again, you will find a warm Christian welcome awaits you in this church, we do not recognize or refuse to recognize a child of God on the basis of his local church affiliation, but upon the ground of relationship to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. . .If you are saved, washed in the blood, in fellowship with the Lord, then you may be assured full fellowship in this congregation of God's people. If you are a Christian you will immediately feel at home with this church. . . .We do not claim to be the only Christians but Christians only." (Ibid., page 8.) Is there any need for comment?