Progressives—Non-Progressives
By
Shelby G. Floyd
In regards to the Constitution of the
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
Historically, its application has been based upon the case law hammered out for over two hundred years. If it is not sufficient for today’s world, the founding fathers included the amendment process. In my view the Constitution should be understood in the fair meaning of the words as they were used when it was signed into law. Therefore, in regards to the Constitution I am Non-Progressive.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
In the same way and by the same principle I am
Non-Progressive in regards to the Constitution of the
THE ANTICHRISTS
Near the end of the first century false teachers came along teaching that Christ did not come in the flesh and that he was not the divine son of God. They were called Anti-Christs. Jesus was both the Son of God and the son of man—deity and human (Romans 1:3-4). These propositions were well founded on irrefutable evidence both internal and external. John the apostle wrote several letters near the end of the century to warn the church not to be deceived by these false prophets (2 John 7-8). John was very specific in how the members of the church should deal with these wolves in sheep’s clothing:
2 John 9-11
Anyone who runs ahead
and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever
continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to
you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or
welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
NIV, 2010
PROGRESSIVES IN DOCTRINE
The words “runs ahead” translate the Greek [proagon--proagwn], and is defined to mean “to proceed, go forward: in a bad sense, to go further than is right or proper” Thayer, page 537. This simply means that to be Progressive is to go forward, to advance or take the lead in order to transgress the limits of true doctrine. Therefore, we should in this case be Non-Progressive. The Progressives who transgress or “run ahead” of the doctrine delivered unto us by Christ and the apostles “do not have God,” which means they have no fellowship with him. If Progressives are determined to “run ahead” beyond the doctrine of Christ, we cannot give them encouragement and welcome them into our homes and churches, for to do so would be to “share in their wicked work!”
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IS A PROGRESSIVE INNOVATION
False teachers usually seek to change the worship in order
to bring in other false teachings. This has been the norm since Jeroboam
changed the time, place, sacrifice and priests in the Jewish worship. Both in
the past and today some are calling for a change of the music of the worship
from singing to worship accompanied with instruments of music. In the Adult Gospel Quarterly,
“Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he
that a bideth in the
teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.” It is of interest to note that the phrase “goeth onward,” here, is translated from a Greek term from
which we derive our English words, progress,
progressive, progression. Thus, the passage, literally construed, runs,
“Whosoever becomes progressive and abides not in the teaching of Christ, has
not God.” When division arose in the churches of Christ over the use of
instrumental music in worship (no such practice existed in the churches before
1859), those who used it styled themselves “progressives.” and they stigmatized
those who adhered to the original mode of worship (singing God’s praise
unaccompanied, Eph.
That sums up the truth on this subject briefly and succinctly.
DO NOT GO BEYOND WHAT IS WRITTEN!
In regards to the Constitution of the