Is It a Matter of Choice? was preached in 1984 by my uncle, although it was likely written by my grandmother, who often typed or drafted his sermons during this period. This sermon was delivered shortly after the death of my grandfather, while the minister’s study was still located in my grandmother’s house. My uncle’s later sermons show a shift in tone after he established his own study, so it is possible that some of the emphases or errors in this sermon reflect my grandmother’s influence rather than my uncle’s personal theology.

My grandmother, born in the 1920s, was deeply rooted in the Churches of Christ and adhered closely to their original teachings, which have often been diluted in many modern congregations. At the time, our congregation would today be considered non-institutional, though we were largely unaware of that term and relatively isolated from other congregations.

The sermon emphasizes obedience to the New Testament pattern, anti-creedal sentiment, and is hyper-legalistic. I find the use of Galatians 1:8 to justify their position particularly heartbreaking. Meaning they believed that all other churches not obeying the New Testament Pattern were teaching that other Gospel. Salvation by Faith Alone was the false gospel.

However, Paul was speaking to Galatians to address concerns of Jewish Christians teaching Gentile Christians they must also be circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law to be saved. They did not deny Jesus but added conditions to salvation, a perversion (Galatians 1:7). The warning was towards those adding conditions to salvation

Apologetics often use Galatians to combat the teachings of churches of Christ. Unfortunately, the churches of Christ turn the verse around to define themselves as having the true gospel. Churches of Christ often interpret Galatians 1:8 in the opposite direction, using it to argue that salvation by faith alone, apart from obedience to baptism and the New Testament pattern, is the other gospel.

Their founder Alexander Campbell, being a lawyer himself, quite clearly taught them to follow the law.  “Into every kingdom, human or divine, there is a legal door of admission” (Campbell, 1839, pg. 167). The gospel was not The Good News, rather the Gospel was God’s gracious plan of salvation. His favor revealed in terms that man can obey. Grace provided the gospel, obedience receives it. Churches of Christ cannot separate grace from obedience because to them grace is useless and faith dead without works of obedience. If they do not understand the Gospel that Paul is defending, how would they understand they are the ones perverting it?

Resources

Campbell, A. (1839). The Christian System (2nd ed.). Bethany, VA: Forrester & Campbell.