The Ohio Bible Fellowship Visitor

On October 31, 1517, a young German monk named Martin Luther nailed ninety-five theses (public statements for debate) on the Catholic church door in Wittenberg, Germany.

His action, prompted by biblical conviction, ignited the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century. The Reformation was a biblically-driven movement among God’s people. Realizing the Church of Rome had forsaken the essential truths of Christianity, the Reformers separated from this corrupt church and returned to the Bible alone as their sole authority for doctrine. This return to the Bible led to the glorious rediscovery of justification: sinners can gain a righteous standing before God by faith alone in Christ alone.

Yet 490 years later, many professing Christians—even many Lutherans—believe that Martin Luther’s insistence on doctrinal purity over visible unity was a significant mistake. But was it?

Continue reading ‘Was the Protestant Reformation a Mistake?’

“Earnestly contend for the faith.” This statement from Jude 3 has long been the battle cry of fundamentalist Christians, those who are willing to do “battle royal” in defense of biblical doctrine. Fundamentalists have rightly appealed to Jude as an example of a faithful defender of the faith. He willingly entered the fray for the sake of the truth, and he called on his readers (including us!) to join him.

However, Jude’s epistle is not merely a call to arms, though it certainly is that. Jude provides us with a philosophy of ministry that includes—but is not limited to—defending the faith. Indeed, his epistle gives us a look at his own heart. Though we know comparatively little about this half brother of Christ, I admire him and relate to him. If we are willing to learn, Jude can teach us much regarding the role of the believer in a wicked world. In particular, he shows us what it means to love the gospel.

Continue reading ‘Gospel-Driven Separation’

During recess in elementary school a favorite activity of ours was a good, vigorous game of soccer. What made it vigorous, of course, was the lack of referees! This also made for an interesting and regularly occurring phenomenon: players that would, during the course of the game, defect to the other side! This definitely made the game more interesting, as one team would soon outnumber the other.The defection of loved ones, friends, and church members to Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Lutheranism has seemed to increase in recent years. The most recent, high-profile defection from evangelical ranks to Catholicism is Francis Beckwith, former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, a professional society of Bible scholars, teachers, and pastors. Additionally, much of evangelicalism has come to view adherents of these religious “traditions” as brothers and sisters in Christ.

What motivates professing believers to leave for these religious groups? Why is this a growing trend? Should those who now identify with Catholic, Orthodox, or possibly even Lutheran churches still be viewed as Christians? Is there anything fundamental churches can do about it?

Continue reading ‘Forsaking the Faith’

For over a century Christians have wrangled over the issue of ecclesiastical separation, debating whether it is biblical, helpful, or even needed. We frequently hear “Why can’t we just get along? After all, we’re all really on the same team, right?” Questions like these have a ring of spirituality and can influence pastors, Christians, churches, and Christian organizations. Is ecclesiastical separation biblical? If so, why do so many reject it?

Continue reading ‘Ecclesiastical Separation’

A charge often leveled at separatists is that they are divisive. They split groups, leave churches, separate from organizations, and go off and form their own “splinter groups.” Aren’t Christians supposed to love one another? Shouldn’t they all be united? Didn’t Jesus pray that all those who believed in him would be as one?

Continue reading ‘Are Separatists Divisive?’

During the business sessions of the Ohio Bible Fellowship’s quarterly meetings resolutions are read, considered, and acted upon by the Fellowship’s members and delegates. These resolutions are published in the Visitor, and depending on the particular subject matter, sometimes they are also read and addressed during church services. You may have wondered what exactly is a resolution, why the OBF considers and adopts them, or how they are composed and considered.
A resolution is simply a formal motion in written form. Through these formal, written motions, the OBF sets forth and conveys its opinion and position regarding important and significant issues. Resolutions are also written to influence others with regard to the particular subject being addressed. The basis by which the particular subject of a resolution is evaluated is the OBF’s constitution and commitment to militant, separatist fundamentalism.

Continue reading ‘The Ohio Bible Fellowship and Resolutions’

This past summer my wife and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary. Each anniversary is a special occasion for us to celebrate another year together as a married couple. When a couple reaches their golden or 50th wedding anniversary, that’s something really special.
This month another anniversary will be celebrated, but of a different sort—for 50 years the magazine Christianity Today has been published. During this time it has served as the “voice” of new evangelicalism, opening a window into its soul. Anniversaries are supposed to be special times of celebration, but this one really provides nothing for Christ’s church to be happy about.

Continue reading ‘Happy Anniversary?’

Have you ever heard someone complain about “those fundamentalists” who were too strident, militant,and radical, when it came to fighting for the fundamentals of the faith? I have. Early in my ministry preparation it made me wonder, “What was it that made men fight the way they did?”

As I studied the movement called fundamentalism, I learned that the zeal of these individuals, churches, and Christian organizations was due to their belief in and commitment to the truth of the Word of God. They were willing to sacrifice all they had, often losing friends, pulpits, and pensions, because of their strident belief in the Bible.

But what caused the fracas that demanded so much of Bible-believing Christians? In a word, apostasy. We must know and understand what apostasy is, where it comes from, and how to successfully defend against it in order to faithfully serve the Lord today.

Continue reading ‘Apostasy’

The famous historian, Arnold Toynbee, predicted that the governments of the world would unite either by force or federation, but that the unity could not succeed without a universal religion. Christianity. he said, should be purged of its “sinful state of mind,” namely its exclusivism. The political/economic framework of world government would need to be supported by the unified spiritual dimension of humankind.[1]

Continue reading ‘The Historical Jesus Versus the Biblical Christ’

The Cleveland Plain Dealer for June 26, 2005 carried a three-column picture of Evangelist Billy Graham preaching at what we assume will be his final crusade in New York City. His appearance in the picture, and the list of ailments given in the paper, bear out that probability. As I looked at that picture and read about its setting I thought that his ministry was truly a story from New York to New York in forty-eight years. The world in general, and new evangelicals in particular, would consider that course as a triumphal
march through the world’s major cities. To the fundamentalist that march has been a tragedy in modern church history.

Continue reading ‘From New York to New York’