We never cease to be amazed at what is going on in our world. Public life, private life, public schools and the religious world, are all going through shocking changes. Those people who are getting their guidance from the Bible, are bound to be shocked and amazed at what is going on. For further evidence read the following stories.

Invasive and intrusive genital exams in public schools. Last year The Christian Alert Network (TCAN), along with a number of other like minded organizations, alerted you to the fact that 59, 12-year-old Pennsylvania girls were forced, by local public school officials, to endure "invasive and intrusive" vaginal exams, against their will and without parental permission. The educrats denied the story. "Impossible," they said. "Misinformation," they cried. "Isolated case," they admitted.
Last year it was discovered that in a public school in Aiken South Carolina forced 317 "kindergarten" students to submit to invasive and intrusive genital exams. The program was almost over before the principal, bothered by the process, brought the exam to parental attention. A permission slip was buried in a pile of papers that parents were given on registration day. According to one Aiken resident, parents "were told to hurry and just sign the papers so the teacher could proceed with the registration." These exams are mandated under Chapter I of the federal Medicaid provisions. Such programs give the schools legal authority to place children in the "at-risk" category. To do so increases the schools' intake of federal funds. That makes it legal for the schools to do about anything they want with your child.

This year, the Moms' and Dads' of the little children who must attend the public schools in South Carolina want to STOP this kind of child sex abuse by public officials BEFORE it happens. Rev. "Curt" Tomlin, Major USA Ret., President TCAN Inc.

NEW YORK (AP) --Four girls beat their sixth-grade teacher for refusing to turn on "The Jerry Springer Show" on a classroom television, leaving the teacher with bruises to her face, neck, back and leg.

Aishah Ahmad, 44, said the girls, ages 11 to 12, spat at, punched, slapped and kicked her -- much like the talk show host's volatile guests. The students, whose names were not released, started the melee on Wednesday in their Public School 12 classroom in Brooklyn's Brownsville section. About 11 a.m., demanded that Ahmad turn on the show so they could watch the day's topic: "Bisexual Relationships Hurt Married Couples."

Ahmad refused to switch on the classroom television, which is used for watching educational programs. Three 12-year-olds and one 11-year-old - pounced on Ahmad while the rest of the class watched. She fended off the attack and regained control of the class.

Ahmad was treated for bruises to her face, neck, back and leg at Parkway Hospital, near her home in Queens. She reported the incident to police on Thursday and is considering legal action. She declined to elaborate on the attack or her plans.

"I'm in a lot of pain,"' Ahmad told the New York Post. "How would you like it if people you have been caring about attacked you for a TV program that has no educational value?"

"I don't ever want to go back to that kind of environment again," she told the Post and the Daily News. Police said today that no charges had been filed. New York Board of Education officials said Friday that the girls had been suspended.

Springer himself has been under attack lately for reports that his popular show features coached guests, staged fights and subject matter too violent and sleazy for children.

A second heading to the one above, says: "Jerry Falwell Now Open to Charismatics." The article comes from the Charisma magazine, the choice magazine for the Charismatic movement. The article was written by a Stephen Strang, who had gone to Falwell's school on a visit. He was elated at what he found: Falwell had hired a friend of Strang's as a producer of Falwell's TV program, a man who had been with Pat Robertson at CBN and had produced a film on the Toronto Blessing. Strang wondered why this fellow with such a charismatic background was working for Falwell.
Then he learned that Falwell had recently preached for the Rock Church, a far-out Charismatic group in Virginia Beach, VA. He further learned that Integrity Music (another type of shallow music that originated with the Charismatic movement) was going to record a live "praise and worship" album at Liberty University. It all seemed incongruous, said Strang: "Integrity Music and the Old Time Gospel Hour?"

Then when Falwell was questioned about this, he told Strang, "Years ago I would not have allowed this type of music in the school." What happened, Jerry, may I ask? Strang goes on to say, Liberty is not only co-sponsoring Integrity's live recording, it is working with Integrity to establish an institute that will train "a new generation of worship leaders at Lynchburg." Strang admits that he went to Liberty to "try to build some bridges between Charismatics and non-Charismatics." He must have found his task quite easy at Liberty. He closes his article with, "A revival is breaking out today that can't be contained in any one church." No, no sin-killing, devil-routing, Holy Ghost revival is breaking out. What we are seeing is a revival of compromise and ecumenism. Copied from a forum by Chuck Bonner

"In a city in North Africa, a powerful emir--a Muslin political and religious leader--watched as officials executed his 15-year-old son--at his express orders! Hasan was only 15 years old when he died a martyr's death for publicly professing his faith in Jesus Christ. He died as his father watched--and his mother sobbed uncontrollable, pleading for his life. Yet Hasan had counted the cost of following Christ, and was ready to be martyred for his faith. According to Islam's law of apostasy, anyone who leaves the faith must be killed. In fact, Muslims are taught that if you kill such a person, you yourself are assured of entering paradise--and your victim as well. Hasan knew all this. Yet one day Hasan heard about the Man named Jesus Christ, and his life was changed forever. A Christian worker passing out Gospel booklets in the city had witnessed to Hasan, and the Holy Spirit had touched the young boy's heart. Hasan knew he faced certain death, all the more so because of his father's position. As the son of a Muslim emir, he was expected to be a model citizen and devout Muslim. Nevertheless, with the truth of the Gospel burning deep within him, he courageously announced to his entire family that he had asked Jesus into his heart and had become a follower of Christ. Hasan's father was enraged. He commanded his son to renounce Jesus, under penalty of death. Hasan was brought before a council of elders and a crowd of witnesses to give his reply. To everyone's shock, Hasan once again confirmed his belief in Christ and stood ready to die for his faith. A Christian worker reported: 'Hasan was brought out before the crowd, members of the emirate council and his father, and slaughtered like a sheep. He was beheaded in the presence of all those in the emir's palace.' Now Hasan is in the presence of the Lord, destined to receive a martyr's crown. The Christian worker who led Hasan to Christ is now on the 'most wanted list' and will be killed if found. Hasan's story is heartbreaking. Yet it illustrates the sacrifice that all Christian workers and new Believers face not only in the Muslim world but throughout the nations of the 10/40 Window. Please pray for both these workers and the new Believers." (The 10/40 Window Reporter, Spring 1998) From Current Trends & Updates (Hereafter CT&U)

"The Pensacola News Journal for Mar. 1, 1998, pp. 1E & 6E contained two feature articles on the Audio Adrenaline band which disclosed extensive information concerning the band's background, theological views and religious associations. The feature reports were probably published in the Pensacola paper due to the fact that (a) the band was appearing at the Pensacola First Assembly of God on Mar. 3 and (b) because two members of the AA are members of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, an SBC church in Pensacola, FL. [One of the FD editor's former college roommates pastored this church for about 25 years!] In case our readers missed it, the same rock group that performed at the BBF Temple Baptist Church in (Detroit) MI was giving a concert 2 ½ weeks later on Mar. 3 at a charismatic tongues speaking church in Pensacola!" This brings up an interesting question: If it's acceptable for a musical group to sing/play [entertain in the right word!] in both a tongues speaking charismatic church and an independent Baptist church, isn't it also acceptable for an individual to preach in those same pulpits? (The Fundamentalist Digest, May/June 98) CT&U

(Text: 2 Samuel 12:1-13.) This section of scripture openly reveals the sin of adultery and murder of one of Israel's national leaders, King David. The Bible record in both the Old Testament and New Testament abound with illustrations known as allegories or parables. Our Lord's simple stories in parable form were for the purpose of teaching a spiritual truth that might not otherwise penetrate the heart of the listener. Teaching by parables was one of the primary methods Jesus used not only to teach His disciples but others as well throughout His ministry. Such teachings persist today as believers ponder the points illustrated by our Lord's teachings.

However, as in the case of King David, it often takes the obvious announcement, "Thou art the man!" to send the message home to the heart. Far too often when sin is not called by its "surname" it is not owned as a family product. Too often the blame is placed on others. The parable in the text under consideration is from the Lord Jehovah through Nathan the prophet to David the King. The parable was sent to the king to point out his multi headed sin; lust, adultery, murder, cover-up. The well-known account in the previous chap ter lays bare an action of King David that should never have happened. Indeed it might never have happened if David had:

1) Been in the battle with the troops (11:1). It was the Lord's battle and he should have been leading. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Tim. 2:3,4).

2) If he had not lingered in lusting (11:2). It was and is the old scheme of Satan that caused Lot to linger in Sodom and his wife to turn for a last look at her loss. "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Tim. 2:22).

3) Instead of fleeing he pursued lust's fulfillment (11:3,4). "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof" (Rom. 13:14).

The end result could not be disguised (11:5). Moses' word to Israel in Numbers 32:34 is repeatedly taught in principle and practice: "...behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out." If David had only counted the cost of sin this might never have happened. The child of this unholy act died in the latter part of chapter twelve. How deceitful sin really is! Let every person claim the earnest exhortation of (Heb 3:13): "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
In this parable we see an unannounced visitor. He has come to David's house, knocked on his door and David entertained him. Oh, if only he had been fighting the Lord's battle on that fateful day. Be warned!! (1 Pet. 5:8,9) "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."
Note this visitor's effect upon King David:

Satan can blur the most enlighten vision. It was Satan that filled the heart of Ananias and Saphirra to lie to the Holy Spirit concerning their property price in (Acts 5:1-10). The loss was as great for this two early church members as it was for the king of Israel. Achan was caught in the same trap of the devil's deceitfulness in Joshua chapter seven. His problem, too, was a lustful look at the forbidden. A "goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight" was too much to linger and lust after for the weak resistance of the flesh. Satan has always been in the business of blurring the vision of humanity toward the divine will of God (Gen. 3:1-5). The god of this world is still inflicting spiritual blindness wherever and whenever he can (II Cor. 4:4).

Satan can balloon the least possession of another. "...one little ewe lamb" (11:3) looked more enticing than David's great flock. What dreadful selfishness this traveler can implant in a heart that is deceitful and desperately wicked. Verse four reveals that David spared of his own and took from another. This parable enraged King David until he heard the foreboding words, "Thou art the man." How this traveler delights when selfishness doesn't spare the feelings of others or warn of the impending danger of sinful acts. Remember the admonition of Paul to the Galatians: "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:14-16). How this traveler must laugh with glee when his plan begins to gel.

Note another thing this unannounced visitor caused:

He was the king! David had other wives but this "one little ewe lamb" belonged to Uriah the Hittite. Bethsheba was Uriah's pride and joy. Her very name contains an oath or promise within it. But the aim of this "wayfaring traveler" who relentlessly seeks others to destroy made the king's "lust to seem legal." Let every believer be on guard and in full armor lest even our spiritual assets become liabilities when misused.

The visitor utilized the king's power. David should have been leading his troops in battle. Could it be that David deemed this encounter with the enemies of Israel too insignificant for his talent? There are no struggles for the truth that are not worthy of the effort it takes to fight the battle. Apathy has for many centuries been one of Satan's strongest tools. Pride, abundance of idleness, and the fullness of bread became the downfall of Sodom. It led to a haughtiness and an abomination before the Lord that resulted in their being taken away (Ezek. 16:49,50). America beware!

The preliminary of David's sin was looking, lingering, and lusting (2 Sam. 11:2). The progress of his sin was making inquiry of that for which he lusted (v. 3a). The proceeding of sin takes action to fulfill lust (v. 4a) "...sent, and took,..." The practice of sin brings anguish of heart (2 Sam. 11:4,5).

This brings us to another corrupt attitude caused by this unannounced visitor:

David sent for her husband. Even as Achan attempted to cover his accursed act by burying the sin-covered items from Jericho in his tent, David began a scheme to cover up his sin of adultery. What an honorable man he found Uriah to be. Every effort of David to entice Uriah to spend the night with his wife, Bethsheba, failed because of his allegiance to service. He was more honorable than the king in every respect. What this unannounced traveler accomplished should sober the mind and heart of every child of God. This man, David, known as one after God's own heart (Acts 13:22) could not be stopped by Goliath and his brothers, neither by the hateful motives of King Saul, yet an unannounced visitor toppled him from his lofty position to a place in the dust on his face seeking God's mercy. The "cover-up that seemed correct" continued.

David sent Uriah into the fiercest battle (2 Sam. 11:14-21). There can be no doubt from the content of the letter sent to Joab by the hand of Uriah what King David's intentions were. What a horrible visitor was being entertained by David in his heart. He must now go to greater lengths to cover up his sin since Uriah did not cooperate by going down to his wife when he had opportunity. What a sad, deceived condition the depraved heart falls into when it believes in its own ability to hide sin. Suppose the first stage of the cover-up had been successful in David's estimation. The God of heaven who has never found out one single event in our lives would surely have known. Paul declared this truth in the letter to the Hebrews: "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Heb. 4:13).

Uriah was indeed sent into the forefront of the hottest battle and as Joab and his follower withdrew, Uriah and others fell in death.

Note further deceitfulness of this unannounced visitor:

Among others Uriah died. Uriah's death was pointless in purpose. His life was not sacrificed for the welfare of countrymen. Nor was it given that those who followed might storm the walls of the city as so many before him. His death was the result of an idle body, a lustful look, a designed plan, and a pleasure that demanded fulfillment. None of which were Uriah's deficiencies. What a demand Satan requires when he invades our house and he is allowed to decide the menu.

Cover-up for sin always involves others. Imagine being in Joab's embarrassing position. His commander in chief had issued an order that must be obeyed. David brought Joab into the cover-up scheme hatched in the mind of the unannounced visitor who should never have been invited in. Ananias and Saphirra entangled each another in their scheme. Achan's plan ballooned to the extent that his sons and daughters and all that he owned were stoned and burned in the valley of Achor (Josh. 7:24,25).

The sad fact is that many innocent lives are in jeopardy because of schemes that originate in the mind of Satan, generate in the heart of man, and culminate to the destruction of lives.

Notice also the deception of the unannounced visitor:

Very soon after Joab made his report to David about the death of Uriah, David began to soothe the guilt of Joab and the pain of Bethsheba. Although family members of the other sacrificed soldiers who died with Uriah suffered pain, David now feels his plan has been profitable and his actions seem acceptable. However, someone else has been observing without intervention up to this point. "But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD" must be answered (2 Sam. 11:27). David, who at one time had been the sweet psalmist of Israel is approaching a time when he has no song to sing. The one who had in the past soothed the evil spirit of King Saul with sweet music from his harp has no string to strum. Though the days assigned for Bethsheba's mourning have past and she has become David's wife the days of heartache have hardly embarked. The product of David's sin has come to the time of deliverance. It is a son and David as all kings could likely visualize him on the throne in his stead one day. Though David acknowledged his sin before God in genuine repentance the consequence of his sin was yet to be revealed. The son he loved from the woman he looked at, lusted after, and longed for would be taken from him and his wife. Just how old this nameless child was when he became ill unto death, we are not told. The record does reveal the terrible heartache that sin brought upon this family. Not only this, the enemies of the Lord had occasion to blaspheme the purpose of God (2 Sam. 12:14). The divine purpose of God is sure to suffer when His children allow the stalker of lives to invade their home and make improper demands. What awful consequences await those who fall into the Satanic trap of deceit. The wily works of Satan are designed to lead into lust, harm the innocent, kill the young, and to deceive those involved in the battle. He has endless plans to bring the will of God and the performance of His children to ill repute. America, awaken!

Conclusion: Beware of this uninvited traveler; be sober, be vigilant, because our adversary is still in the business of making his way into our dwellings and increasing his demand upon our lives. Make sure the one knocking at your door is the Savior and not Satan. The devil has a way of justifying our taking jurisdiction of our own lives and making provision for the flesh. Remember those born from above are not their own but are purchased with the blood of Christ (I Cor. 6:19,20). Let us not give place to the devil for one instant (Eph. 4:27). He will take up residence in any life that will make a place for him to abide. He will make demands that will sap spirituality and make it seem acceptable. He has the ability to make "Carnality To Seem Christian;" "Silliness To Seem Spiritual;" "Modest Dress To Seem A Minor Detail;" "Faithfulness To Seem Foolish;" and "Church Discipline To Seem Criminally Dogmatic." On and on this line of thought can go in describing what deception the accuser of the brethren can bring into the lives of believers. Religious organizations, local churches, and personal lives have all been attacked by the influences of this unannounced visitor that came to dine with King David on his house top that fateful evening.

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Rom. 6:11-14)

(Editors Note: The following copyrighted article is being reprinted by special permission of Baptist Press News, August 26, 1998 [SBC News]. Their web address is: www.baptistpress.org/ You can see that some Southern Baptist leaders are not Clinton supporters. ELB)

WASHINGTON (BP)--The church of which President Clinton is a member has enabled him to "claim to be a Southern Baptist" while continuing his "public display of serial sin" because it has not practiced biblical discipline, seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. says.

Mohler, of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., cited the accountability of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., in an Aug. 24 commentary piece he wrote for Religion News Service. Mohler's monthly column for RNS commented on Clinton's Aug. 17 admission of an improper relationship with a White House intern and of misleading others about it, as well as commenting on the public and Christian responses to the president.

As a Southern Baptist, Mohler said he feels a "peculiar responsibility for this moral disaster."
"How can President Clinton claim to be a Southern Baptist and persist in this public display of serial sin? Only because the congregation which holds his membership has failed to exercise any semblance of church discipline," Mohler wrote. "Southern Baptists will be watching the Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock to see if it musters the courage to make clear its own convictions."
In an Aug. 26 interview with Baptist Press, Mohler said, "It is scandalous that the witness of Southern Baptists has been so compromised by the open and flagrant sin of one who boldly claims to be a Southern Baptist. The world has every right to ask the Southern Baptist Convention and Immanuel Baptist Church what we really believe about sexual morality and sin.

"Bill Clinton's repeated pattern of sexual sin is something the nation can no longer ignore. How can the church in which he holds membership ignore what even the secular world considers scandalous?
"I sympathize with Immanuel Baptist Church in the fact that this issue is excruciatingly public for that congregation, but I pray that Immanuel Baptist Church will demonstrate to the world and the Southern Baptist Convention what it means to take the Scriptures seriously in the practice of church discipline," Mohler said.

Clinton, whose admission was understood to acknowledge sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky, which he had denied when allegations were reported in January, has been a member of Immanuel since July 1980, according to church records. While he attended Immanuel regularly and often sang in the choir during his years as governor of Arkansas, Clinton and his wife, Hillary, a Methodist, have normally attended Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington since he became president in 1993.

Immanuel has not practiced public discipline, including the removal of members from the church, in recent decades, two staff members told Baptist Press Aug. 26. The church has not exercised public discipline or private excommunication in the 13 years he has been on the staff, associate pastor David Napier said. When there has been a moral transgression, the church has handled it as a private matter between "a minister and the individual," Napier said.

Rex Horne, Immanuel's senior pastor the last eight years, has not divulged what he has said to Clinton about admitted or alleged sexual sins, Napier said. Horne has said in the past he has told Clinton of his disagreement with him over some moral issues, such as abortion.

Horne has declined to grant interviews with reporters since Clinton's admission, a church staff member said. Horne issued a written statement Aug. 25:

"The recent admission of immoral conduct by the president is grievous. His actions are indefensible and inexcusable. They are not, however, unforgivable. I pray the president will find the grace of God which comes upon confession of sin and the peace which comes from a restored relationship with our Lord."

In his RNS column, Mohler said Clinton's nationally televised, five-minute speech lacked contrition, honesty and an apology. In his Aug. 22 weekly column for Little Rock's daily newspaper, Horne said the future will demonstrate whether the president was sincere.

"Our country faces a crisis," Horne wrote in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. "Now, I'm well aware that there are people who will never be satisfied by anything the president says or does. I also know that there are people who -- no matter what the president does, whether it's right or wrong -- would defend him and say that it doesn't matter. "Well, things do matter and our lives and choices matter. Our character matters. Was the president sincere? God knows and the days ahead will reveal it. People of faith need to be full of both grace and truth. Better still (--) to be full of the one who is grace and truth."

While Clinton has remained a member of Immanuel, accounts by and about several women alleged to have had adulterous relationships with him or to have been approached for sex by him were reported by the news media beginning with the 1992 presidential campaign. Clinton has acknowledged at least one such allegation, according to news reports. After denying during the '92 campaign allegations by Gennifer Flowers she had a 12-year relationship with Clinton, the president said during a deposition in the Paula Jones case he had a single sexual encounter with Flowers. That testimony occurred only weeks before the allegations about Lewinsky were reported. Jones had sued Clinton for sexual harassment, but her case has since been thrown out of court and is under appeal.

David Maraniss, a Washington Post reporter who has written a biography of Clinton, wrote in a Jan. 25 analysis for The Post a few days after the Lewinsky allegations surfaced: "It is undeniable that Clinton has had an active extramarital sex life since he married his wife in 1975 -- Clinton himself has admitted as much, and friends have privately confirmed it."

Immanuel is not alone among Southern Baptist and other evangelical churches in failing to exercise discipline. Since the Civil War there has been a notable decline in the number of Baptist churches practicing discipline, said Gregory Wills, associate professor of church history at Southern Seminary and author of the 1997 book, "Democratic Religion: Freedom, Authority and Church Discipline in the Baptist South, 1785-1900."

"Some of our churches practice an occasional form of church discipline," Wills said of the current situation in the SBC. That discipline "very rarely entails a loss of church membership," he said.
The SBC's LifeWay Christian Resources (formerly the Sunday School Board) does not record which churches exercise discipline on its annual church profile, a staff member said.

"The lack of church discipline among our churches is scandalous," said Mohler, who wrote a chapter on the subject in a recently released book, "The Compromised Church." As a matter of fact, discipline has been recognized for centuries as one of the essential marks for the true church. Our congregations have abdicated the clear New Testament responsibility to maintain the purity of the church and moral witness."

In his chapter, Mohler points to such passages as Matthew 18:15-17, where Jesus gives the steps for confronting and disciplining a Christian practicing sin, and 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, where Paul admonishes the church to remove a professing believer who will not repent of his sin.

"The purpose of church discipline is to be restorative where possible," Mohler told Baptist Press. "The goal is not retribution. The failure of a congregation to exercise church discipline is a failure suffered by the one who needs moral correction, as well as the church which must protect its moral integrity."

He does not expect his "call for church discipline to be popular," Mohler said.

Some Southern Baptists, including some state paper editors, criticized as an infringement on church autonomy an attempt at the 1998 annual meeting to adopt an amendment encouraging Immanuel to "prayer fully consider disciplinary action" toward Clinton. The amendment failed, but messengers passed a resolution rebuking Clinton for issuing an executive order adding "sexual orientation," which includes homosexuality, to the list of categories protected in the federal civilian workplace.
The suggestion that his call for Immanuel to discipline Clinton violates local church autonomy "ignores the fact that I have no power to force Immanuel Baptist Church to take any action, nor does the Southern Baptist Convention have any power to force the congregation to exercise church discipline," Mohler said. "But it is by no means improper to call upon this church to exercise this most basic responsibility.

"Southern Baptists at the end of the 20th century have a very odd understanding of local church autonomy. Records of associational minutes and other Baptist documents demonstrate that Baptist bodies did openly encourage (in the past) church es to exercise discipline in cases of public sin.
"Unfortunately, the church has grown accustomed to a level of worldliness and seems to have lost all courage in church discipline," Mohler said. "A culture of personal autonomy has infected not only the society but our congregations."

It is not the first time Clinton and Immanuel have been the subjects of contention among Southern Baptists. At the SBC's 1993 annual meeting in Houston, the first after Clinton became president, the SBC adopted a resolution distancing itself from his support for abortion and homosexual rights. At the same convention, an attempt was made to prevent Immanuel's 10 messengers from being seated because of Clinton's position on homosexuality. The credentials committee unanimously voted to seat the messengers, contending Immanuel showed no evidence of supporting Clinton's stance.

Immanuel, with more than 4,500 members, is one of the largest churches in the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. It consistently has been the leader in the state in total gifts to the Cooperative Program, the SBC's giving plan. Last year, Immanuel gave more than $450,000 to CP to rank first in the state, an ABSC staff member said.

Mohler's column came as an increasing number of editorial writers, public officials and religious leaders called for Clinton to resign. Richard Land, president of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, David Gushee, ethics professor at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., and Wayne Ward, retired theology professor at Southern Seminary and a personal friend of the Clintons, have said the president should resign.

(Editor's Note by ELB: Paige Patterson, President of the Southern Baptist Convention has now called upon President Clinton to resign. Patterson is also President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. Observer-Times, Fayetteville, N.C.)

There are many today who do not really understand the position and work of Independent Baptists. Some believe that all Baptist churches are the same and believe and practice the same thing. Others have the mistaken idea that an Independent Baptist church is a fairly recent new invention of man when in reality Independent Baptist churches have existed since the days of Christ and the apostles.
There are some people who look upon Independent Baptists with a sense of suspicion, doubt, or distrust, disbelieving the fact that a church can function and do the Lord's work without the benefit of being affiliated with some kind of a man-made, organized fellowship or association. For hundreds of years Baptist churches fulfilled the Great Commission with each church being its own missionary agency, sending forth and supporting its own missionaries, without the help of an outside religious organization or mission board.

It is a historical fact that organized, man-made fellowships, associations, and conventions are all of recent origin and are in contradiction to what was taught and practiced in the New Testament. Independent Baptists believe that a definite, specific plan has been revealed in the Scriptures of how the work of God is to be carried out by His churches. To depart from, change, or try to improve this divine and perfect plan is to not only deliberately disobey God, but also to rob Him the glory that is due unto His name.

Unfortunately the word "independent" has been grossly abused and misused by many Baptist churches today. The definition for the word "independent" is fairly simple: not subordinate or subject to; not dependent upon; not subject to the control or influence of something; not connected or related to another group.

Since the meaning of the word "independent" has been distorted by some Baptist churches, another word is now being used in connection with it -- "unaffiliated" which means: not a member of; not connected to or associated and united with.

A truly Independent Baptist church is not associated with any man-made association, convention, or organized fellowship. Any Baptist church that joins up with some man-made group or organization has not only departed from New Testament teaching, but has surrendered its independence and authority that belongs only in the church.

A careful and close study of the New Testament clearly teaches that each church in the New Testament was an independent church in which the governing power rested entirely with the people, i.e. the members of each local church. Each congregation was entirely separate from and independent from all other congregations. True independent Baptists teach that a scriptural, New Testament church is a congregation of saved, scripturally baptized believers who are entirely in subjection to and dependent upon the Lord to do His will and work according to His Word.
Each particular and individual church is absolutely independent in the exercise of all its rights and privileges as a church and is under no one's authority but Christ's. A key point to understand is that the liberty which the independence of churches exercises is limited only by what is revealed and taught in the Scriptures. To say a church is independent does not mean it is free to do anything it pleases but it is free to do exactly what God has commanded in His Word.

The course of action pursued by the church at Antioch in Acts 15 reveals that the early New Testament churches were independent in principle as well as in practice.

There were certain Jews who had come from Jerusalem to Antioch teaching a false gospel which instructed a person must keep the Old Testament law in order to be saved. Being challenged by these Judaizers with their false doctrine, the church at Antioch thought Paul and Barnabas should consult with the apostles and elders in the church at Jerusalem about this matter. Keep in mind that Paul and Barnabas were sent under the direction and authority of their church and when they finally arrived at their destination, they met with the whole church.

After a full discussion of the matter, the church at Jerusalem decided to send a delegation of men back to Antioch with a letter explaining that they had nothing to do with sending those Judaizers preaching a false gospel. Notice in verses 22, 25, and 28 that it was the church's decision to do this.

What we have here is an example of one independent church seeking and receiving the advice and counsel from another independent church. The church at Jerusalem had no authority or jurisdiction over the church at Antioch (and visa versa). Even when the church at Jerusalem heard of reports about how God was saving people from among the Gentiles, their reaction was: "we trouble not them" (v.19).

What is clearly seen here is that the apostles regarded and treated the churches as independent bodies, having the right of self-government, without subjection to any other authority. These men reported and answered to only the churches as independent bodies, not to a convention, association, or organized fellowship.

The truth is, one will not find in the New Testament any higher authority than that of the local church. Its decision, when scripturally reached and enforced, is the final word. When dealing with the matter of disciplining of church members, Jesus said: "tell it unto the church" (Matthew 18:17).

The Scriptures make it clear that the main, fundamental purpose of a church is to preach the precious gospel of Christ to everyone (Mark 16:15) and everywhere (Acts 1:8).

True independent Baptists accept the fact that since the only organization established and sanctioned in the New Testament is the local church, that it must be the organization that God intended to carry out His work. We do not believe that any other organization or institution except the church is necessary to carry out the plan of God in giving the gospel to the entire world. The church is God's way -- anything else is of man.

For over 1900 years the Lord's true churches have strived to follow and fulfill the biblical plan and pattern for world evangelism as given by the Founder and Head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ. Some, however, believe that the plan of Jesus Christ to reach the world through His church is not enough and even deficient. Therefore they have invented their own man-made mission board system to do the work that Christ gave to His church. What many fail to realize is that there are no other institutions more capable of carrying out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) than the Lord's churches.

Since the Bible is to be our only rule of faith and practice, then it must be the source from which we derive our plan for doing the Lord's work. It was the practice of churches of the New Testament to send out missionaries by and through the local church because they recognized the fact and believed that Christ gave the authority and responsibility for reaching the world only to the church.
The church at Antioch in Acts 13 set the New Testament example and proved that God's churches are able and qualified for fulfilling the command of our Lord. In this passage we find the only agency God ever commissioned in sending out the missionary -- the New Testament church. If the church is the only one with the responsibility to send out the missionary, then why have some Baptist churches given the sending of missionaries over to agencies outside the church?

There is not one mention or suggestion that can be found in the Bible where New Testament mission work is to be carried out by any other organization besides or in addition to the local church. Mission boards take the God-given responsibilities from the church and place them in man-made organizations.

In Acts 13 we not only find divine instructions but also the divine pattern. The New Testament model of God-called and church-sent missionaries provides an excellent example of missions to be practiced and followed by all churches. According to this passage, the Lord's church is the only agency approved and authorized by God to do mission work. Paul and Barnabas were sent by the church, as directed by the Holy Spirit, without the aid or support of a mission board, convention, association, fellowship, or any other man-made organization. These two men were sent by the church under their authority and approval and sent by the Spirit under His instruction and direction.
If other groups and agencies are established to carry on the work of the Lord, then God is robbed of His glory because the Scripture says: "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Eph.3:21)

While admitting that the church is the only divinely authorized body on earth, some will try to argue that the church has the right and power to redelegate that authority to another body. When Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Mt.28:18), He revealed that He was the only one who had all authority. When Jesus said, "Go ye therefore..." (Mt.28:19), He revealed He was the only one who had the right and authority to say and do whatever He wanted concerning His church.

According to the Great Commission, only the New Testament church has the authority and command of God to evangelize lost sinners, baptize the saved, and stabilize the saints. The authority which Jesus gave to the church was His authority and it cannot be scripturally redelegated, reassigned, or transferred to someone else. The church does not have the right to make up its own rules and regulations. If it were scriptural for a church to redelegate the authority to another organization to send out missionaries, then it would be just as scriptural to redelegate that authority to another to baptize, to administer the Lord's supper, to exercise discipline, etc. The Bible does not teach or condone such action. There is no scriptural justifi cation for the formulation of mission boards.

One of the main differences between Baptist churches that use mission boards as opposed to true Independent Baptist churches that do not, is not so much the message that is preached but the methods that are practiced. It makes a difference not only what we believe but also how we put into practice what we believe.

Many churches have used the worn-out, worldly, and vain argument, "the end justifies the means." Many say it doesn't matter how you do it just as long as you get the job done. Such line of reasoning is unscriptural and rest upon shaky ground.

For example: When God had a plan for what kind of offerings were acceptable unto Him, it made a difference for Cain whether or not he followed that plan (Gen.4). God gave Noah a specific plan for building the ark and he was expected to follow it (Gen.6). It made a difference when Israel did not follow God's plan to possess all of Canaan (Num.13). God gave detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle (Ex.25-27) and the Temple (1 Kings 6-7). It made a difference whether these blueprints were followed or not.

The point is: Christ established His church to carry out God's plan for this age and it does make a difference whether we follow His divine and perfect plan or substitute it for another one that is man-made.

As someone once wrote: "It is His work. He has very definite and clear plans as to how He wants His work done. He will not bless it unless it is done His way. When we give up our plans and accept His plans and let Him be the Potter and we the clay, His work, His way, His Word will always succeed."

Baptist churches have no excuse for not knowing how to do mission work. Mission boards have no commission or orders from Christ. The Lord Jesus is not responsible for their existence and they are not responsible for the carrying out of the Great Commission which He gave centuries before they came into being. Jesus Christ gave His commission to the church, to a Baptist church since everyone present was a Baptist. The Lord's commission forever settles the question what a church exists for by clearly defining its mission and purpose.

An Independent Baptist believes that the only organization given in the New Testament is the local church. Independent Baptists believe that God has given the church as the means of accomplishing His purpose and plan in this age. An Indepen-dent Baptist church, therefore, does not affiliate or identify itself with any organized convention, association, or fellowship. An Independent Baptist church sends forth its missionaries by the authority of the church and not through an unscriptural mission board. Such missionaries are supported directly by the churches.

An Independent Baptist church cooperates with other Independent Baptist churches of like faith and practice in mission work but does so on a voluntary basis, without any unscriptural organization binding the churches together. An Independent Baptist church has to rely upon God and give Him all the glory. An Independent Baptist church is not dictated to nor influenced by any head or headquarters except Jesus Christ. True Independent Baptists love the church that Jesus loved and will not have this love and loyalty switched to some man-made organization.

While churches in the New Testament were independent, they were not isolated. The New Testament teaches that each individual, local, independent church could cooperate with other churches in the Lord's work and this was done without any unscriptural, man-made organization.
There are examples after examples where churches in the New Testament cooperated together in the preaching of the gospel in mission work. The churches in the New Testament were not cut off from one another.

New Testament churches worked together to support missionaries and help out other churches who were in financial need (Acts 11:29-30; Romans 15:25-26; 1 Cor.16:1; 2 Cor.8:1-4). There is even an example in the New Testament where two churches were told to share and exchange Scripture writings with one another (Col. 4:16). The point is, churches can help each other and cooperate in the Lord's work, without organizing into an unscriptural body of officers and agencies directing the work. Fellowship and cooperation are not necessarily accomplished by organization.
Independence does not mean isolationism. Baptist churches may scripturally cooperate in certain areas with other Baptist churches of like faith and order, provided such cooperation does not violate the sovereignty, independence, autonomy of each church. Independent Baptist churches can strive to work together with one another so long as they are in agreement with their mission, with their message, and with their method. (See Amos 3:3).

I believe the basis of cooperation and fellowship between churches in the New Testament, without the urging of any outside organization, was doctrinal unity. These New Testament churches were identified by what they believe in, not by what they belonged to. These first churches were united in doctrine and maintained their identity by their baptism.

These churches also stood united in all their missionary activity and evangelism. This was achieved without a mission board, committee, or association. The missionaries were ordained in the local church, approved by the local church, sent forth by the local church, and financially supported by the local church. All of this was accomplished without any missionary organization other than the local churches. God's way and method worked then and it still does today.

Jesus Christ left only one organization upon this earth to do the work of the Lord. All other organizations are impostors, usurpers, and false representatives of the Lord. One can search the New Testament from beginning to end and the local church is the only organization found to be authorized to fulfill the Great Commission. No conventions, associations, organized fellowships, mission boards, etc. are to be found. It should be the simplest thing in the world to understand that the local church is God's method of getting the job done. The Lord's true churches are to be free and independent from entangling alliances and unscriptural, overlording religious organizations. Any church that does its mission work through a mission board is not an Independent Baptist church in principle or practice.

The only organization Christ Himself established was the local church -- all other organizations are man-made. True Baptists have always recognized this. The local church is God's way and glorifies God -- mission boards is man's way and glorifies man.

The following mail came over the Internet as a result of our Web Page. This is just a few of the many responses that we get. Of course not all of them are favorable, but we are hearing from people all over the world who do appreciate what we stand for.

Greetings from Norway. Dear friends in Christ! I am a Norwegian Baptist pastor and editor of a independent Baptist newspaper. I've got your address on Internet and wonder if it is possible to get a free sample copy of your paper Plains Baptist Challenger. Ulf Magne Lovdahl, Norway

Dear Pastor Bynum, Just a note to tell you how I feel about your church standing firm for our Lord Jesus Christ. My first Pastor, and myself have followed your ministry for many years and have been blessed by your faithful stand for God's word. I use the Internet to read the Plains Baptist Challenger and have used some of your tracts for witnessing. Just wanted to give you a note of encouragement so that we Christians can keep edifying each other till our Lord comes. Our church, Calvary Baptist Church in Tinley Park IL, is working hard to reach souls in our community. It is a struggle today with so many people not interested in the Lord and living for themselves. God bless you in Lubbock also. Serving Him now, Fred Kuypers, Illinois

Brother Bynum, Sir, I already receive your paper and enjoy it very much. Especially your stands on standards and the local church. I Praise the Lord for your stand and I may make it over to Bro. Love's in Cincinnati to hear you later this year. Richard C. Mick

Hallo: I recently read 2 articles in your site on Long hair for Jesus Women wearing men's clothes. I am an international student here in this country and I am not able to express my grief and shock at the way Christian women have short hair and dress very less and scantily. The pastor in the church which attend does not even care for these, and it is (disgusting) to see him kiss on women's cheek and lips.. Where is the code God gave for man and woman. Are they are not different, although they are equal. Thanks for sharing my thoughts, which, I prayerfully think are biblical. We have to get the word out, as much as possible into the church.. How can I help? Vijay

Bro. Bynum: I just read your tract on the tongues movement and I wanted you to know I appreciate your approach to the subject. Too many tracts on this type of subject start with a "I'm right and your wrong and if you don't agree with me to bad" approach. Those that need it most won't read more that 2 or 3 lines and than throw it away. I have a sister-in-law caught up in this and our talking with her has been to no avail. We are sending her this tract. Pray with us that it
might bear fruit to His glory. Thanks. God Bless and Remember Jesus Saves, Ronald McTaggart

Good Reading: I was much impressed with the article sickening sin of sodomy. I am not a Baptist but I pray to god daily for guidance in my life. I was completely in agreement with the article. I wonder why more people don't speak out about sins? A lot of people could be saved if the heard the other side of the story, Thanks.

Brother Bynum, I thought I would take a minute and let you know how much the Plains Baptist Challenger blesses my heart with all the information it contains. Thank you for taking a strong King James Bible stand. There aren't many doing that in this day and hour. Also, Jerry Falwell is not the only so called "independent, fundamental" Baptist preacher who hob nobs with the SBC. The pastor of the largest so called "independent, fundamental Baptist" church, in Alaska, Dr. Jerry Prevo, regularly uses Bailey Smith, David Ring, and other SBC preachers and evangelists, and he hangs pretty close to Falwell. He recently had Franklin Graham for his Sunday services and he supported the last Billy Graham crusade in Anchorage. So you see, the lower 48 hasnothing on Alaska in the return to apostasy. May the Lord continue to bless your ministry and we will pray for you as the Lord reminds us. In Christ, Bill Penland

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