Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
October 17, 1957
NUMBER 24, PAGE 3a

Can The True Church Survive?

A. H. Porterfield, Hammond, Indiana

That we are living in a world of confusion, restlessness, and uneasiness; in a world of greed, selfishness and domination; in a world of unbelief, skepticism, and atheism, no informed person can doubt for a moment. And that all those things, and more too, have made their way into the church of our dear Lord no one can successfully deny. The tide of modernism is rising high and fast among God's people, and hundreds of brethren are drifting with the tide. It seems to be to them the way of least resistance — the most popular course to pursue, and if it is the easiest and most popular, the Lord is under obligation to accept it — they think.

Brethren "who were once enlightened, — and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come," have fallen away — so far away in fact that their unbelieving and skeptical hearts may never again be touched by the gospel of Christ. In their blatant hypocrisy, they may pretend to be preachers and teachers of the true gospel of Christ, and thus deceive the hearts of the simple. It is being done; but it always has been and I suppose always will be, that is, so long as the church composed of human beings has its existence here on earth. What else are we to expect? It is easy to see that such brethren have no regard for the word of God; it is even offensive unto them.

Now, to those of you who have been raising the question: Can the church, in the midst of all the above mentioned confusion and corruption, continue to exist in its ancient purity and simplicity? Let us raise this question — it may help you. Has there ever been a time in the history of the church when such conditions did not exist?

From the time of its inception the church of our Lord has suffered more deadly blows, more serious punishment, more misrepresentations, more destructive "isms" and "schisms" than any institution on earth. "Grievous wolves enter in among" the flock, "not sparing the flock." Men from within the flock arise, "speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them." The doctrines and commandments of men — extreme theories, opinions of men have been infused into that precious body; wickedness, worldliness, ungodliness of every brand conceivable have made their way into that blood-bought institution. Yet the church is still here in its original form, wide awake to its duties and responsibilities to him who gave to us that soul-saving institution. Thanks be to God who gave it.

But why has the church survived all such wickedness and corruption? And why will it continue to do so? The answer is so simple and easy that it is shocking to think the whole world has not found it. In first place, it did not originate with man; it originated in the mind of God for man. Man was doomed to eternal ruin without it. God's eternal purpose was to try to reach and save him, but not against man's own will. Let it be remembered that man cannot defeat that purpose, no matter what he may do or say. As an individual he may lose his soul, but he has only defeated himself, not God's purpose.

In second place God gave to us the immovable, unshakable kingdom or church (Heb. 12:28). Men have used every ounce of skill and power at their command trying to destroy it, but it is still here as God gave it. It always will be. That cannot be said for any other institution on earth. "Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up," (Matt. 15:13). You may plant them in an effort to defeat God's purpose, but he will just as surely uproot them as you plant them.

Thirdly, the word — the rule of action — that is to govern and guide the church of our Lord was also given by the same God who gave us the church, and it is just as indestructible as the church of which it is the rule of action. "Heaven and earth SHALL PASS AWAY, but MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY," (Matt. 24:35). Men believed and preached that word when first it was given. Men are still preaching the same word. While they may be few, somebody will continue to preach and teach the word. Just as long as men preach and teach the word of God as revealed by the Holy Spirit, and as long as people continue to hear, believe and obey it, just that long will the church exist as God gave it.