Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent. " {Romans 16:17,18}

Liddell and Scott's Greek English Lexicon define the word "mark" (skopio) as "a lookout place, a mountain-peak,... metaph. the height or highest point of anything, a watchtower, a lookout, watch, to keep watch" (735).

The Holy Spirit delivered a command, through the apostle Paul, for all Christians to stand in the lookout places and upon the mountain peaks and be watchmen against any and all who walk "contrary to the doctrine ye learned." (Romans 16:17) The command to watch reminds us of Isaiah's statement in 62:6, "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day nor night."

Ironically, as Christians today endeavor to execute the Lord's warn-and-watch instructions, given through the apostle Paul, voices from the universal church are protesting. They're using the term watchdog in a derogatory fashion to undermine the work of many faithful brethren. Those who use this term fear that these watchdogs have organized for the purpose of ruining the reputations of certain brethren. This, however, is not the case. In this article, we will first examine, in light of Romans 16:17-18, the command to watch. Then we will address the question of whether or not an organization of watchdogs has been formed. I consider it an honor to have been asked to write concerning this subject, and I gladly accept brother Greer's invitation to do so. I pray that truth will prevail and error will be exposed.

The "simple" {Romans 16:18b}
The word "innocent" (ASV) or "simple" (KJV) sets the tone for our study. "Simple" is defined as "fearing no evil from others, distrusting no one" (Thayer 21), "unsuspecting" (AG 28). When a brother, such as Ed Harrell, teaches that Romans 14 includes matters of doctrine (Cf. sixteen articles in CM, February 1989 -May 1990), he has nothing to fear from the "simple." To the simple, there is no conceivable way any brother in Christ would lead them astray; therefore they see no need for warning. True sects are thus formed in the local and universal church of Jesus Christ. The division is between those who uphold the hands of the false teachers among us, and those (labeled watchdogs) who fulfill the command to watch. The unsuspecting brother views watching as a personal attack, rather than a fulfilling of the Law of Jesus Christ.

Proper parallels can be drawn from a recent (01-10-02) article in a Wichita Falls Texas newspaper. The title of the article was "Enron could haunt Bush Administration." The article painted a picture of Democrat watchdogs who search for information that will damage President Bush's reputation. "Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., who leads one of the inquiries, promises "a search for the truth, not a witch hunt." But some Republicans, including White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, used just that term, "witch hunt," to describe the widening investigation." The article went on to state "the Justice Department, Labor Department, and the Securities and Exchange Commission are opening criminal investigations." Coincidently, this parallels what is happening among church members who label, as watchdogs, brethren who lawfully investigate false teaching.

Let us have the same resolve, "a search for truth, not a witch hunt," as Senator Lieberman stated. Brethren need to return to God's Law and be willing to follow it, even if it means losing a close friend or family member. The reason for such action is love for men's souls. Love then is to be the motivating factor (Cf. 1 Corinthians 13).

I am unaware of any organization, on either side. Yet, two sides surely exist. Joshua and his family chose the side on which they would stand. "If it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah." (Joshua 24: 15) Every Christian today must choose whether to follow Jesus or to align with the false teachers of our day. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth." (Matthew 12:30)

The autonomy plea:
The unsuspecting brethren who put their own ideas before God's Law tell us that church autonomy is being violated by those who warn, watch, mark, and turn away from erring brethren who are members of different local churches. Can we not see that, by making such statements, we fuel the fires of our denominational friends, who claim that we are a cult? When Christians say they don't want outsiders (members of other local churches) interfering with the local work, they truly toss out the examples set by the apostles.

The truth is not bound by autonomy (2 Timothy 2:9). Matters of judgment in each local church's work are to be left to those individual churches. However, when error is preached or taught in a local church, that error becomes a stumbling block, not only to the members of that local church, but to the universal church. Such hazards are to be marked and exposed. Watching Christians, in the lookout places and upon the mountain peaks, are informed and ready to act because they love the pure gospel and are unwilling to support its contamination.

Consider the following scriptures that clearly define the self-governing (autonomy) aspect of each local church and its work. That work includes:

1. Edifying its members (Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Timothy. 3:16-17; Hebrews 10:24-25).
2. Evangelizing the lost (Acts 13:1-5; Philippians 4:15; 1 Timothy 3:14-15).
3. Offering benevolent care to the needy saints (Acts 4:32; 6:1; 11:29; Romans 15:25-26; I Corinthians 16:1ff; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 1 Timothy 5).

A local, autonomous church is to exert its energies to carry out the above duties. These duties are performed, at the local level, by churches organized only at the local level. Each church is to have its own elders, deacons, and saints (Philippians1:1). God's Word does not authorize organization at a universal level.

Communication occurred in the early church, just as it does today. Such conversations included whether or not any given church was faithful. Paul told the Roman brethren, "I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world." (Romans 1:8)

Again, "your obedience is come abroad unto all men." (Romans 16:19) In this verse, Paul "saluted" the churches because of their faithfulness. The "saluting" identified the faithful churches so that brethren would be encouraged by them, and it prevented violation of the laws against fellowshipping false brethren (2 John 9-11).

Paul wrote the Corinthians: "the churches of Asia salute you." (1 Corinthians 16:19) The early church communicated on a universal level and was united in its love for the truth. False teachers, regardless where they worshipped, were identified, exposed, and marked. When the Apostle Paul warned the brethren about false teachers (2 Timothy 2:16-18; Titus 1:12-13, etc.); he did not violate church autonomy.

The "simple" however use their various ipse dixit theologies to arrive at a new gospel that says we are not to warn, mark, and turn away from our brothers who err. In his letter to the Galatian church, Paul mentioned something similar: "though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema." (Galatians 1:7) Dear reader, universal unity on the doctrine of Jesus Christ does not make an organization; it fulfills Jesus' prayer in John 17 and Paul's command (1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:3; Philippians 1:27).

The gossip plea:
The "simple" tell us that universal church communication violates autonomy. They opine that such communication is mere gossip and damages the church. Many brethren today are standing on the wrong side and defending the wrong ideas. Diversionary tactics are used to move the focus away from the real issue. False teachers are more loved than the gospel! Let us all, with the psalmist, proclaim "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that observe thy precepts." (Psalms 119:63)

Did Jesus gossip when he warned publicly against the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:29-33)? Did Paul gossip when he said that Epaphras "declared unto us your (Colossians) love in the Spirit" (Colossians 1:8)? Did Paul gossip when he said that the obedience of the Roman Christians had "come abroad unto all men" (Romans16:19)? Was Paul being divisive and violating church autonomy by telling the three churches in Rome (16:5, 14, and 15) to mark and avoid those who refuse to hold to the teachings of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:17-18)? The answer is an emphatic no! Paul told the Corinthian brethren that the things of which he wrote were "the commandment of God." (1 Corinthians 14:37) Let's focus on the false teachers and their evil work and stop quibbling about gossip.

A call to take a stand:
At a time when humanism is making inroads into the body of Christ, the call to take a stand rings loud and clear in the ears of the faithful. Paul said, "Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil..." (Ephesians 6:10-11) In the early church, Satan's fiery darts came in the form of false teachers, and the same thing is true today (1 Peter 5:8). Brethren who militantly stand against error, no matter where it is found, will be labeled, to name just a few, "unloving, unchristian, violators of church autonomy, legalist, antis, gossips, and watchdogs." Ahab pointed his finger at Elijah and called him the "troubler of Israel." (1 Kings 18:17) Let us respond to those who accuse us of being troublers in the same way that Elijah responded to Ahab, "It is not I but you who are the troubler of Israel." (1 Kings 18:18) Keep watching, keep warning, and keep the real issues ever in the faces of the false teachers.

Do not allow the diversionary tactics, accusations, and name-calling to thwart your God-authorized duty to watch and warn. Souls are at stake! Let us endure with joy the name-calling and any accompanying suffering. As Paul told Timothy, "suffer hardship ..... as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:3)

Are there "Secret Watchdog Organizations" that attempt to control the brotherhood?
Such organizations exist only in the minds of the "simple." I know of no such organization; and Brother Dennis Scroggins told me he knows of no such organization. I asked Brother Tom Roberts if he knew of such an organization. He stated, "I have never heard of such, except in the accusations of some who object to watchmen. I am certainly not a member of such an organization. I don't know anyone who is. I believe it is a false accusation by some who try to smear the reputations of faithful preachers. If I knew of any such watchdog organization, that was trying to run the brotherhood, I would be just as opposed to it as I would to any other group that tried to control the brotherhood."

I asked Brother Larry Ray Hafley if he had ever heard of a watchdog organization. His lengthy reply, I believe, would be profitable for all to read:

Brethren, let us put away "simple" thinking. Romans 16:17-18 infers that we are to be "suspecting." Why else would Paul write to the Corinthians, "watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13) Our souls and the souls of our local and universal brethren are at stake. Let us exercise love and watchfulness for each other. Let us stand on the spiritual mountaintops and watchtowers and watch! However, let our watching be done because we love the truth and the souls that the truth has the power to save (Romans 1:16).

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Brother Robertson has, in my humble opinion, given a thorough discussion of what I've believed for many years are smokescreens brought up to cloud the real issues. I too have heard some preaching brethren claim that certain other brethren are part of a "brotherhood watchdog organization." Yet, upon investigating their claims, I've been unable to find any evidence to convict those who are accused of being part of such an organization.

Why do people make such charges? I do not wish, as some of my preaching brethren are prone to do, to get into judging another's heart and motives. Is every preacher who plainly and boldly points out error that another preacher is teaching (in writing, or orally) part of this so-called organization? I concur with brother Robertson, the "church autonomy" argument is no argument. We all understand that each church is self-governing, and no one has the right to instruct another church about the way it carries out its work. Still, if I know of a brother who teaches and espouses error on a doctrinal subject, and a neighboring church is considering having him for a meeting, what is my obligation? Do I, by giving the elders of that congregation the facts about this man's known unscriptural teaching, break the autonomy rule? Absolutely not! Are not that congregation's souls, which could be led into apostasy, just as important as those who can be led into error by any teaching that is not in accordance with God's revealed will? Since when is it contrary to God's word to warn those who might be led into false doctrine--whatever it might be. Such thinking is beyond my understanding.

To be sure, I need always to have a pure motive--love for the souls in danger because they teach such things, and love for the souls of those who may be influenced by their teaching. Sadly, I'm afraid many brethren have become "weary in well doing." Some have told me they are no longer willing to discuss differences with others because "they are untrustworthy men." If this be the case, it becomes even more imperative, for the sake of the souls in danger, that discussions take place. When we get into judging our brethrens' hearts and motives, we've in real trouble. Let us think the better until we have evidence of the worse. Remember, we "be brethren." (KMG)