Soul Drift 2005
by Douglas Hoff
For years now the brightly colored
and professionally laid out fliers have come to the church building. Every year I have put them into a file. This year’s advertised event is now
history. Soul Lift St. Louis was conducted
Sunday July 31 through Tuesday August
2, 2005 at the St. Charles
Convention Center.
Perhaps you are not familiar with
this annual time of fun and games for young people. Starting in 1987 Abilene
Christian University
helped sponsor Soul Lift which included a youth rally and a day at Six Flags
over Texas. Beginning in 2001 Harding
University became the
co-sponsor. That year the event took
place in Chicago with the Hawthorne
Church of Christ in Mundelein, IL
as another co-sponsor.
There is certainly nothing wrong
with people having fun. God wants
mankind to enjoy the many blessings he has given (1 Timothy 6:17; Ecclesiastes
2:24-26).
Time off for rest, relaxation and recreation is part of God’s plan (Exodus 20:8-11; Ecclesiastes 4:6; Mark 6:30-32).
However, when entertainment and not
the gospel becomes the drawing power, the Lord’s church is in serious trouble
(cf. John 12:32, 33).
Other happenings at Soul Lift should also give faithful Christians
reasons to be concerned for the souls of impressionable young people. It would be great for teenaged Christians to
get together, enjoy some fellowship and fortify their faith as they learn more
about God’s will (Jude 17-21). I do not think anyone would argue that those
who attended were entertained. Sadly, they
are also being exposed to teaching and practices that will cause their souls to
drift away from the truth. Long ago
Christians were warned, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the
things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Hebrews
2:1; NKJV). The Christian’s focus
needs to be on the word of God, not entertainment (cf. 2 Timothy 3:1-5; esp. v.4).
Evidence that entertainment is a
major emphasis of Soul Lift can be gleaned from their advertisements. Back in 2001 Grant Knisley was quoted as saying,
“Soul Lift is full of fun and excitement, plus it’s a great way to introduce
your friends to Christ” (www.harding.edu/soullift;
accessed 19 June 2001). Notice which is mentioned first:
entertainment or evangelism? The design
of the fliers also reveals amusement is a big part of the production. The theme of this year’s event was boldly
proclaimed: “iGod. Download. Listen. Dance.” The obvious allusion is to Apple’s popular
music player iPod one of which was given away. To this writer it smacks of taking the name
of the Lord in vain (Exodus 20:7) — as if God exists to entertain
us. The schedule does not mention any
period for dancing. However, since
concerts were listed among the activities, who knows? Perhaps some may have felt like expressing
their “worship” by lifting up hands and swaying to the tunes. To suggest dancing is connected with
Christian worship blasphemes the name of God and his doctrine (1 Timothy 6:1).
Soul Lift began on the Lord’s
day. Interestingly, the youth rally
sponsored by Harding University
includes “worship gatherings” (their words) and performances led by a group
called Watershed Worship. The audience
was also presented with “inspirational messages” (again, their words) by noted
false teacher Jeff Walling. Any
reasonably informed member of the Lord’s church will probably recognize his
name. If not, there is ample
documentation spanning more than a decade to prove his actions have not been in
keeping with pure New Testament Christianity.(1)
An interesting note on Sunday’s
schedule states that “Communion kits will be provided at the conclusion of the
rally for groups requesting them.” Since
everyone had gathered at the Convention Center why would “communion kits” be
supplied to various groups? Communion is
to be observed when the church has come together in one place (1 Corinthians 11:20).
The New Testament is clear
regarding what should be done about those who would corrupt the purity of the
Lord’s body. Paul commanded, “Now I
beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to
the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such
serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and
fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17, 18). Sadly, instead of marking and avoiding false
teachers, some willingly embrace them. In
so doing they endorse their error (2
John 9-11). According to the web
page, the following churches have supported Soul Lift St. Louis: Florissant
Church of Christ, Fairview Heights Church of Christ, Lafayette Church of Christ
and McKnight Road Church of Christ.(2)
Years ago at least one gospel
preacher was well known for warning the church about the spread of liberalism. He used to express it thus: “Brethren, we’re
drifting!” In some places they are no
longer drifting — they have departed from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1). No Christian
should send precious souls to the wolves (Acts
20:29, 30). Perhaps only Judgment Day will reveal the
damage wrought by this tragic soul drift.
(1) For example, see Goebel Music, “Strange And
Uncertain Sounds From Jeff Walling,” in Behold
the Pattern (Colleyville, TX: Goebel Music Publications, 1991), 198-223.
(2) http://soullift2.vista.com/pages/1964490