We believe you should investigate the church of Christ, because of its opposition to innovations in religion. Many
people do not understand why we approve of innovations in material matters, but oppose them in divine matters.
Perhaps it will be easier to see the difference, if we understand what the word "innovation" means. According to the
Webster Dictionary an innovation is "something newly introduced; new method, custom, device, etc.; a change in the
way of doing things." There are two kinds of innovations: 1) Those involving man's arrangements; and 2) Those
involving divine arrangements.
With the first, we have no objections, but with the second we do. Many innovations have been introduced into our
way of life during the past few years. Our mode of travel, work, recreation, and business have all changed, and
usually for the better. The great industrial revolution has affected practically every living human being and every
thing. Religion is no exception. Man has added his touch to things divine. This should not be, and this is where the
trouble arises. The following scriptures will help us understand why we shouldn't change the divine pattern. Jer: 6:
16, "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But thy said, We will not walk therein." Today we have much the same
situation. We need the "old way," but man with all his modernism and innovations says, "We will not walk in it." "It is
too old fashioned." Note again Isa. 55 :8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts." Again we can see the folly of trying to inject human devices into divine schemes.
Because man does not think and act like God, it is impossible for him to know what God wants and doesn't want
without going to the Bible. Provo 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the
ways of death." Many times man will say, "I don't see anything wrong with this," or, "Why would it be wrong to do it
this way?" These statements show that "the way," whatever it IS, seems right. But this does not make it right.
A good example of what we are talking about is recorded in 1 Sam. 15:1-22. The gist of the incident goes like this:
Saul was commanded to go over to the land of Amalek and to utterly destroy the people, and all that they
possessed. After reaching the land, Saul, instead of doing exactly as told, spared the best of the flocks and oxen,
and even the king. Behind his actions was a noble purpose, at least it would appear that way to many people. For
he intended to offer these animals as a sacrifice to God. Now man could reason that this was wise planning; that it
showed a good and sincere heart. But let us not forget that God commanded this man to do something, and
regardless of the motives behind his actions he still has failed to do what God commanded. Will he be held
responsible? Let us see: "And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, 1 have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the
way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed,
to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat
of rams." 1 Sam. 15:20-22. We can see from this that we are not to change in any way the commandments of God.
The Church is a Divine Institution
In Matt. 16:18 we hear Jesus as he says, "And 1 say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The church is divine because Jesus, the Son of
God, built it. Notice again in Eph. 1:20-23, "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set
him at his own right hand in heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and
every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his
feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in
all."
From this it may be seen that Christ is the head of the church. This is further testimony to the fact that it is a
divine institution. Since the church is a divine institution, man is prohibited from adding to, or taking away from, or
changing any feature of the divine standard. Thus the church must use only divine names and teach only approved
doctrine. We are forbidden from changing its worship or altering its ordinances.
We Do Not Need Changes in the Divine Plan
The idea that we need innovations today in order for the church to be successful is totally un founded. The plan
of God is adapted to the needs of all men in every age. It has worked under the most trying circumstances and
proven successful. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to envision a situ ation where the pJain simple Bible way
has not been tried and come forth triumphant. Why should we think, then, that we need a new gospel, or creed, or
ordinances, or other forms of organizations? What is the matter with the old tried and true? Every now and then, I
hear the cry, "We need a new approach." May I ask what for? The old Bible approach will do more good than all the
man-made modern schemes put together. May God help us to capture the tenor of the following verses, "Then said
Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of
myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not
left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." Jo. 8:28-29.
The Results of Innovations
Innovations bring about a gradual change. So gradual, in fact, that it seems harmless at the time. But soon with
the passing of time and over a long period of years one can see the harmful results. Take a look at some of the
religious organizations in the world today. Compare their present status with that of twenty-five years ago. You will
then be able to see the tremendous effect innovations have had on them. Every change of a feature in the New
Testament church affects the structure as it was designed by God. A continuation of such would lead eventually to
its complete destruction. The Jews furnish us a good example in Mark 7:7-9, "Howbeit in vain do they worship me,
teaching for doctrine the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of
men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye
reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."
The early Christians made the same mistake. They established customs, appointed seasons, and changed the
government of the church. The eventual result was the Dark Ages. However, this did not happen overnight. It was a
gradual thing. Finally at the end of this long period of apostasy such men as Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone,
and others came crying, "Back to the Bible!" And with the help of God they began an historic journey back to
spiritual Jerusalem. Today, however, the trend again is away from that which is written. Innovations are rife on every
hand. They must be opposed and rejected, if we hope to please the living God.
The Dangers of Innovations
Innovations are dangerous. They cause a loss of respect for God and reverence for His word. People think if they
can change one feature of the divine plan they can change another. This process continues until all respect for the
Bible is lost, and men change it at will. Innovations also increase human authority, and decrease divine authority.
They place a premium on what man says, and what God says is pushed to the background. Innovations also cause
divisions. They divide brethren who for years worked together. They cause father to turn against son, and vice-
versa. Congregations that for years worked in peace are disrupted because man's devices are injected into them.
Heaven only knows all the woe, heartache, tears, and harm done by these human innovations in the past few
centuries.
Law of Limitation
The law is expressed in the following passages: 2 Tim. 3:16-17, I Pet 4:11, and Gal. 1:6-9. The gist of this
teaching is simply that we must accept all scripture as being given by inspiration of God. That we must speak only as
the oracles of God, and that even though an angel from heaven teach another gospel we must reject it. No wonder
the Bible opposes innovation in matters divine. We close with the words of the poet who said:
“Where is the church, O savior, where?”
I heard the cry, and then I heard:
“Here is my church, where men still dare to take me at my word.”
