I was approached recently by a denominational preacher asking me to join the local ministerial alliance. For those who don't know, the ministerial alliance is a group of preachers, "pastors," "reverends," etc in town who gather regularly and plan occasional joint efforts to reach lost souls. The offer and subsequent encounter raised some interesting questions for me and I had to search my Bible to find God's will on the matter. I would like to share with you why I declined to join.

I did NOT decline because I don't like to talk with or eat with other preachers. I always welcome a conversation on spiritual things with both Christians and non-Christians. And we all like to eat.

I did NOT decline because I'm anxious to take a stand on something. Although some may look forward to any chance to make themselves martyrs on just any issue, I'm not interested in taking a stand that is not biblical or necessary.

I did NOT decline because our church forbids it. Although this is what many of the preachers in the alliance think, there are no "church of Christ rules". We in this congregation look only to the Bible for our rules, and we do not have "brotherhood-wide rules" as denominations do.

First, I declined to join because joining would mean having fellowship with error. In his request, the preacher I spoke with wanted me to "come have fellowship with the other ministers." Although I believe he misunderstood fellowship as simply eating and drinking, the fact that I would be in an "alliance" with men I know to teach things not found in the Bible would signify my approval of their beliefs and teachings. Here is what God says on the matter: "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God…If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds"(2 John 9-11). I must be careful not to allow my involvement in such a group result in my sharing in their wrong teaching and having fellowship with error. Further God tells us to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them"(Eph 5:11). God calls us to be very careful when we extend our spiritual fellowship-meaning our spiritual approval(Gal 2:9)-so that we do not become involved in supporting error. I felt-and still feel-that to join such an alliance would be to involve myself in the error others teach.

Further, joining the alliance would mean endorsing the divisions of denominationalism. I always attempt to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and not the "commandments of men"(Mt 15:9). Yet denominations were begun by men-be they John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Wesley or Joseph Smith. So as denominations follow these different men, they cannot be united, for no two men are alike. Just as the Corinthian church members began to say "I am of Paul" and "I am of Apollos,"(1 Cor 1:12) so denominationalists today say "I am of Calvin" or "I am of Wesley." This is a sad situation for them, yet how much sadder if I too pretended that those divisions were non-existent! How sad if someone continued to follow a man instead of Christ because I chose to join an alliance with him-telling him he was OK! Denominational divisions are not from God. Paul said, "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment"(1 Cor 1:10, emphasis mine). If God wants us to be united, how can I pretend it's OK for us to be divided?

Finally, I declined because true unity is based on truth. The basic idea behind the ministerial alliance and all organizations which encourage unity between denominations is that if we just don't bring up our differences, we can be united. So if I would keep quiet about the unscriptural things many are teaching, we could all get along and have "unity" and "fellowship." Scripture teaches us that true unity comes from being united in believing and doing what God says-from walking in truth. We are to be "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"(Eph 4:3) and to keep "speaking the truth in love" to build up the body "till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God"(Eph 4:15, 13). The constants in these passages-Spirit, truth, knowledge-are the basis for our unity rather than pretense. If we were to all believe and accept the Bible as the only authority for what we do in religious matters, we would be truly united. Remember, that's what Jesus prayed for (John 17:20-21) and it's what He wants today.

Let's be careful lest we have fellowship with error. Let's always be willing to talk to people about the Bible-no matter who they are. Let's stand united on God's Word.___Jacob Hudgins