I sometimes receive inquires from my brethren seeking information about the “soundness” of certain preaching brethren among us. It usually happens when a church is looking to support a preacher in their local work, and when they have a number of applicants for that position. The local brethren will therefore call around to other brethren whom they know, and have confidence in, to see what they might know about the “soundness” of these individuals.

It is my persuasion that most preachers among us will fall into one of three basic categories or “kinds” of preachers. We are not talking about abilities to preach or about their motivation to do the work, we are simply talking about their “soundness” in the faith. We are talking about their faithfulness in “proclaiming the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).

It is my observation that one of these categories will simply include men who stand firm for the Truth, and who faithfully believe and boldly proclaim the doctrine of Christ. Everyone can readily know where these men stand on any doctrinal issue, because they have written about and openly preached the Truth on those matters over and over again! And they have clearly demonstrated that they are striving to “practice what they preach.” With this group, it is rather easy to recommend them to the brethren who are inquiring about their soundness.

A second group will be those men who teach, fellowship, uphold, and encourage some kind of false doctrine or sinful practice. They “openly” let it be known that they believe, teach, and fellowship that which is contrary to the “sound doctrine”! They readily fulfill the warnings of 2 John 9-11 to “receive” and “give greeting” (bid Godspeed) to those who “bringeth not this teaching”! They may call themselves faithful brethren, but it is most evident that they are those who no longer “endure the sound doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:3)! It is not difficult to recognize them, and not difficult to let brethren know that they are not worthy of fellowship, and certainly not to be considered for any preaching situation.

The third group will also be those men who encourage, uphold, and fellowship those who believe and teach various false doctrines and/or those who engage in the practices which are sinful. When it comes to brethren, they are those who never hear, see, or speak of hardly anything relating to evil! They simply will not write or teach their convictions about these false doctrines or sinful practices which trouble God’s people today! They gladly smile and “pretend” that everything is wonderful. And if you were to press them about their convictions regarding these doctrines and practices, they may even tell you that they are contrary to “sound doctrine,” but what THEY DO NOT TELL YOU is that they are NOT willing to openly condemn such teaching and practices and that they will fellowship them even when they believe that they are sinful! They accept the heresy of the “unity in diversity” doctrine which says that God permits you to “receive” those who teach and practice doctrinal error and engage in sinful practices! You and I should certainly know that such attitudes and conduct is nothing more or less than rank hypocrisy! I am persuaded that this group of preachers are far more dangerous than the second group above who openly teach and defend these false doctrines and sinful practices. This last group lives “undercover” and do their damage quietly. Those in this third group are willing to allow the leaven of sin and error to exist among them without saying a word! No, you can’t find a sermon anywhere that they have preached on these teachings and practices and you will never find one word that they have ever written about them! I am persuaded that these brethren do not follow “sound doctrine” and they are extremely dangerous to the cause of the Lord! Their attitude of “don’t see, don’t hear, and don’t speak” about these sinful doctrines and practices will eventually lead both them and those who follow them into eternal destruction! And this hypocritical attitude is happening in the very midst of the Lord’s church! But for how long they can even be called the Lord’s church may be a very questionable matter! With some, it seems that the “candlestick” may already be “long gone”. No, we could NEVER recommend such as these to preach anywhere!

My brethren, if you are among those who are being “duped” by some of our “preaching” brethren, you had better wake up quickly and get yourself “set for the defense of the gospel”! Anyone who will not “openly” oppose false teaching and sinful practice is an enemy of the cause of Christ. (Phil. 3:18-19). A lot of folks need to stop wasting their time and endangering their souls by listening to those who will not make a distinction between Truth and error and who are really just “pretending” to be gospel preachers. If you, like them, are unwilling to OPENLY stand against sin and false teaching, then you will also suffer the condemnation to be eternally lost. What are we going to have to say to get brethren to have the courage to think and study for themselves instead of being blindly led down this path?

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Editor’s Note: The concerns addressed in the preceding article by brother Reed are not a figment of his imagination. They are real! I know of several preachers who are like this. In November of 2007 I made the following request of a preaching brother: “Could you please send me any of YOUR material, such as articles, PowerPoint sermons, sermon outlines or tapes of your study on the subject of “marriage, divorce and remarriage?” You can send any material to the email address or PO Box below. I look forward to receiving your material.”

This preacher answered my request as follows: “Brother McClure, in regard to your request for my material, the answer is No. I pray your work is doing well.”

Another preaching brother was asked the following questions: Do you believe God’s law on marriage is universal? In other words, does it apply to believers and unbelievers? Do you believe one put away for the cause of fornication may scripturally remarry? Do you believe repentance demands that those who are in an unscriptural marriage separate? Do you believe 1 Corinthians 7:15 constitutes authority for one who is deserted by an unbeliever to remarry?

He answered in part as follows: “I don’t know whether to envy or pity those who are so sure of themselves on this subject...I don’t want to appear rude, but I won’t be answering your specific questions.”

Dear reader, I am made to wonder why these preachers would not “give an answer”? Remember, the apostle Peter wrote, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15). The word “answer” in this passage is translated “defense” in the NKJV, and means that Christians are not to hold ourselves ready to make apologies for our beliefs as if they are wrong; but we are commanded to be ready to give reasons for regarding what we believe and teach as being the truth. This necessitates that, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles (utterances) of God…” (1 Pet. 4:11). Simply, give a scriptural answer from God’s word; book, chapter and verse!

Brethren, what kind of answers would the elders and/or preacher where you regularly work and worship give to the questions asked above of two preachers in California? Would you expect a scriptural answer from them? Would you demand that they give a scriptural answer? Would you give a scriptural answer if these questions were posed to you? If not, why not?

Remember the admonition of the apostle John found in Revelation 21:8, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Perhaps the reason that some will not give an answer is because they are “cowardly.” Please note those John includes with the “cowardly” and their reward. Condemnation with very unsavory company! Wouldn’t you agree? - tgm