When we give endorsement to error or to those who teach and uphold error, we are just as guilty in the sight of God as are those who are doing the teaching. This is made clear by the following passage of scripture: "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11). Language could not be more plain. Paul wrote, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Rom. 16:17). Again he wrote, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). Our Lord warned, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matt. 7:15). In view of this last passage, what would you think of shepherds who invite wolves to come in among their flock to feed the sheep? The job of the shepherd is to protect the flock from all dangers, especially from wolves who would destroy them. Surely no shepherd would be so naive as to invite wolves in, but to the contrary, he will do all within his power to protect his sheep from the wolves. Rest assured that wolves are destructive to the health and welfare of sheep.
        With the above thoughts in mind, what about shepherds of the flock of our Lord, elders if you please, who invite false teachers (wolves in sheep's clothing) to come in among their flock to feed them? Such is happening all over America, and such has happened in Murray, Kentucky. A couple of years ago the University congregation in Murray invited Randy Harris in to preach for them, and the Glendale Road congregatoin where John Dale preaches turned out their services on Sunday night to go and have fellowship with them in this endeavor. If this is not bidding them God's speed, what would it take?
        Randy Harris is known to be a false teacher. He and Rubel Shelly wrote a book, The Second Incarnation, which is filled with error from the first to the last. I spoke out against this event when it occurred in Murray. Far too often, warnings fall on deaf ears -- but we must continue to warn none-the-less. We must continue to "mark those" who teach false doctrine, and we must mark those who encourage these false teachers in their endeavors. It gives me no joy to inform the brethren at Green Plain (where I preach) of such things, or those who read these words in Seek The Old Paths, but I feel an obligation to do so. Paul did not shun "...to declare...all the counsel of God" and he warned, "for I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:27, 29). Earlier Paul stated, "And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you..." (v.20). I am convinced that Paul said what was needed when it was needed, and so must we.
        Most of you who read these lines know of the effect that the Nashville Jubilee has had on the body of Christ in the past ten years. It was started for the purpose of either destroying the church of our Lord or else making it what some of the "Change Agents" want it to be. One of the promoters of Jubilee has been the Antioch congregation (in Nashville) where Walt Leaver was the preacher until he moved to another congregation in the Nashville area. Walt was not only a promoter of Jubilee, but one of its speakers. In recent months, Walt Leaver was with the Glendale Road congregation for a meeting. It is not as though the brethren there did not know who he was, because they had the information concerning him ahead of time.
        In 1990, Walt Leaver spoke one night in a revival at the Donelson Presbyterian Church. Rest assured that he was not there to teach them the truth. He preached on the crucifixion of Christ and described it in minute detail -- never one time telling them what one must do to be saved. I have talked with some who were present and they said that some women elders were present in the pulpit with him and when the instrument started playing and the people started singing, Walt sung right along with them. I am convinced that Glendale Road had him because of who he is and what he stands for.
        Just to give you an indication of where Walt Leaver stands, let me give you the following information. In an interview in 1994 with Tyler Young, he stated he was not clear enough on what the Bible teaches to say that one who taught that women could preach in the public assembly with men present would be a false teacher; that one who divorced for some reason other than fornication and remarried would not have to get out of that marriage to become a Christian; that he could not say that people in denominationalism are lost; that he could not back up with scripture to say that it would be a sin for someone to worship with instrumental music, and could not say that they would be lost for doing so; and when asked if someone had been sprinkled rather than being immersed for baptism, would they be lost, he said, "I'm not going to say I know he would be lost." This is just a sampling of what he believes. Yet, knowing these things, the Glendale Road eldership had him come and preach in a meeting for them.
        Also, a few months back, the University congregation in Murray had Joe Beam scheduled for a meeting with them. As far as I am concerned, there is not a more confirmed false teacher alive today than Joe Beam -- especially among those who claim to be members of the Lord's church. Joe would fit in with any denomination in the world, and especially among those who believe in the miraculous. I have three tapes of lessons he preached on the Holy Spirit at Jubilee 1996. I have never heard more error than he presented at that time. Not only did he speak of miracles that others had experienced, but he talked about the fact that he was given the ability to know when a person was lying when he was in a counseling session with a husband and wife. He definitely believes the Holy Spirit leads separate and apart from the word of God.
        These are some samplings of the kind of men that the aforementioned congregations are having in for their meetings. If this is not an endorsement of error, what would it take? Elders are going to have to answer one day for such actions, and so will members who back them in such endeavors.
        Brethren, it is time we wake up and speak out against such. We will be guilty if we don't. Let us pray that our wayward brethren will return to the truth before it is too late.