Over the years, I have done a significant amount of concrete work. I learned how to create forms, pour, and finish concrete from my father. He was a concrete mason at the Air Force Base in Tullahoma, Tennessee for several years before his job changed. Learning his profession taught me many lessons about preparation and planning.

Once you start pouring concrete into a form you cannot wait or delay in leveling or finishing the pour. For that reason, you need to have the forms secure and correct before the concrete truck ever arrives. All tools needed for pouring and finishing the concrete need to be available and ready. Preparation is everything for a successful job.

The real work begins in digging and making the forms. One must make sure that they adequately reflect what the desired outcome is as displayed in the blueprints or drawings. If the form “moves” or is not correct once the pour starts, it is too late to make corrections. In such settings one stands to lose time, labor, and a significant amount of money for poor workmanship in preparation.

The idea of preparation is a profound consideration in spiritual matters too. Many of the statements that precede changes in doctrine or moral stance always cause me to cringe. With little variation, I know that something bad is about to happen or be spoken by the one contemplating a change. Several examples immediately come to mind.

One must prepare and decide what he believes regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage before he or any of his loved ones get into that situation. The Bible offers teaching on this matter that is not hard to understand. Matthew 19:9 says, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

I have heard some ridiculous defenses on one’s decisions to divorce for reasons other than fornication and subsequently remarry. One person said to their mate, “Your father has been divorced and remarried five times, and they believe they are going to heaven.” I suppose if the same man had murdered five people and determined that he was going to heaven without any repentance, it would be okay for any person to do likewise?!

Consequently, someone once said, “There are many people in the church who believe one can divorce and remarry for reasons other than fornication.” I know this to be the case, but that does not make it right! We should never be willing to follow a multitude of people into destruction. Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” The real question is “What does the Bible teach about the matter?”

Along these same lines of reasoning, I have heard people say, “I do not believe what the church of Christ teaches on these matters.” Well, I do not either. There is no such thing as “church of Christ doctrine.” There is biblical or “sound” doctrine verses false doctrine. We are admonished to proclaim or teach sound doctrine by the Apostle Paul. 2 Timothy 1:13

says, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” Still, this idea is used to justify a departure from sound doctrine regarding many issues.

Various congregations that re-examine doctrinal issues had better seriously consider the ramifications of their decisions. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 says, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” I always cringe when a church says, “We have re-examined the issue and arrived at different conclusion.” This conclusion is almost always against the clear teaching of God’s word.

Progressive churches will proclaim, “We have reached a different conclusion regarding the use of instruments in worship” (Colossians 3:16-17). Certain false teachers will say, “We have reached a different conclusion regarding the role of women in a mixed worship assembly” (cf. I Timothy 2:8-15). Sectarians will say, “There are Christians in all denominations” (cf. Ephesians 4:4). Heretics will say, “One does not really have to be baptized for the remission of sins” (cf. I Peter 3:21; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38) The truth has not changed (John 8:32). Their treatment of the truth did!

Christians, Elders, and members of the Lord’s church had better determine the truth and resolved to stand for it before they face the issues that have been summarily addressed in this article. Act 20:27-31 says, “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”