Dr. S. Frank Logsdon was a popular author, conference speaker and Baptist pastor. He pastored the Moody Memorial Church of Chicago (1950 to 1952); the Central Baptist Church in London, Ontario (1942-50); and others:
“One of the most popular and best loved pastors is the author of this book. Mr. Logsdon is an uncompromising defender of the faith once delivered to the saints, and each Sunday in Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, thousands of people gather to have their souls refreshed from the divine springs of Christian truth.” (Lest Ye Faint; from the cover)
Logsdon began to see two of the most important foundations in the life of believers:
The Holy Scriptures (inspiration and preservation).
The Fear of God (the Judgment Seat of Christ).
Satan questions the words of God, and raises doubts concerning His warnings: Genesis 3:4 “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Therefore, he seeks to deceive believers today by down-playing the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the consequences for sin and sloth in the Christian life: Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”.
Below is Logsdon’s testimony regarding how his eyes were opened concerning the preservation of the Scriptures in the Authorized Version:
“…we are in the end time. And this end time is characterized by a falling away…And when there is a falling away from truth, concurrently there is always confusion…Back in 1956-57, Mr. F. Dewey Lockman of the Lockman Foundation contacted me. He was one of the dearest friends we’ve ever had for 25 years; a big man, some 300 pounds, snow white hair, one of the most terrific businessmen I have ever met. I always said he was like Nehemiah; he was building a wall. You couldn’t get in his way when he had his mind on something; he went right to it; he couldn’t be daunted. I never saw anything like it; most unusual man. I spent weeks and weeks and weeks in their home, real close friends of the family. Well, he discovered that the copyright [on the American Standard Version of 1901] was just as loose as a fumbled ball on a football field. Nobody wanted it. The publishers didn’t want it. It didn’t get anywhere. Mr. Lockman got in touch with me and said, ‘Would you and Ann come out and spend some weeks with us, and we’ll work on a feasibility report; I can pick up the copyright to the 1901 if it seems advisable.’
“Well, up to that time, I thought the Westcott and Hort was the text. You were intelligent if you believed the Westcott and Hort…At any rate, we went out and started on a feasibility report, and I encouraged him to go ahead with it. I’m afraid I’m in trouble with the Lord because I encouraged him to go ahead with it. We laid the groundwork; I wrote the format; I helped to interview some of the translators; I sat with the translators; I wrote the preface. When you see the preface to the New American Standard, those are my words…
“I just took for granted that it was done as we started it, you know, until some of my friends across the country began to learn that I had some part in it and they started saying, ‘What about this; what about that?’ Dr. David Otis Fuller in Grand Rapids. I’ve known him for 35 years, and he would say (he would call me Frank; I’d call him Duke), ‘Frank, what about this? You had a part in it; what about this; what about that?’ And at first, I thought, now, wait a minute; let’s don’t go overboard; let’s don’t be too critical. You know how you justify yourself the last minute. But I finally got to the place where I said, ‘Ann, I’m in trouble; I can’t refute these arguments; it’s wrong; it’s terribly wrong; it’s frightfully wrong; and what am I going to do about it?’
“Well, I went through some real soul-searching for about four months, and I sat down and wrote one of the most difficult letters of my life, I think. I wrote to my friend Dewey, and I said, ‘Dewey, I don’t want to add to your problems,’ (He had lost his wife some three years before; I was there for the funeral; also a doctor had made a mistake in operating on a cataract and he had lost the sight of one eye and had to have an operation on the other one; he had a slight heart attack; had sugar diabetes; a man seventy-four years of age), ‘but I can no longer ignore these criticisms I am hearing and I can’t refute them. The only thing I can do…I must under God renounce every attachment to the New American Standard’...I tell you, dear people, somebody is going to have to stand. If you must stand against everyone else, stand. Don’t get obnoxious…If we could hear His voice we would have no trouble learning His Word from the Authorized Version…Let’s be people of the Book…It was Moody’s Book; it was Livingstone’s Book. J. C. Studd gave up his fortune to take this Book to Africa. And I don’t feel ashamed to carry it the rest of my journey. It’s God’s Book.”
“When questions began to reach me, at first I was quite offended. However, in attempting to answer, I began to sense that something was not right about the NASV. Upon investigation, I wrote my very dear friend, Mr. Lockman, explaining that I was forced to renounce all attachment…The product, however, is grievous to my heart and helps to complicate matters in these already troubled times.” (Logsdon’s letter to Cecil Carter, June 9, 1977)
Logsdon spent his final days doing all that he could to make restitution by turning believers to the Authorized Version:
“As a pastor, I write this for the people in our church. On occasion, I have been asked why we, in our church, use the outdated King James Version…In Proverbs 22:28 the Bible says to ‘Remove not the ancient landmarks which thy fathers have set.’ A landmark is a surveyor’s term and refers to a benchmark or property marker. Today, in most jurisdictions, it is against the law to move or alter a survey landmark. Christianity has its foundations in an authorizing and governing document. That document is the Bible…Because the Bible is in every sense the final and absolute foundation of what we as Christians believe and practice, it only is prudent that we be concerned that the foundation is sure and the benchmark has not been altered…
“In the year 1611 A.D., King James I of England was influenced to provide a common Bible for the English speaking world. Hence, he authorized a translation of the Bible into English that came to be known as the Authorized Version…Their product, the King James Version of the Bible, has been, until just recently, the universal standard for Bible believing Christians of the English-speaking world…
“‘WE BELIEVE THAT THE CRITICAL TEXT IS CORRUPT!…In viewing the distortions, deletions, corruptions, dilutions, changes and questionable associations of the critical text and its resultant modernist translations, we will stick to the venerable King lames Version of the Bible that our forebearers so faithfully used. It is an ancient landmark. Down through the centuries, it has been the Bible used for every major revival to sweep across portions of the English-speaking world…’ (Why We Use the King James Version)
“Logsdon’s understanding of the perilous judgment that unfaithful believers will experience at the Second Coming was likely one of the prime motivators for his taking such a stand. Remember, he testified: “I’m afraid I’m in trouble with the Lord…”
Note. The above information was gleaned from reading Pastor Joey Faust’s new book, to be published soon.
I have not prepared Newsletters since 2022. However, this ministry is still very alive, actively helping churches organize according to New Testament Church doctrine, counseling, etc.
The photo above shows Dr. Dixon, in blue on the right, and his dear wife Wanda, in white next to Dr. Dixon, in January 2019 with the weekly Bible study class he teaches.
The Late Greg J. Dixon: His Passion and Warfare! (October 27, 2019 Sermon)This is a great message chronicling Dr. Dixon’s spiritual warfare. He was a man ahead of his time, and fought a great fight for Christ and the cause of Christ in America. The sermon by one of Dr. Dixon’s close friends, also gets into some Bible beliefs which he accepted later in life.
Unshackled: Links to Programs on Dr. Dixon’s Life: Greg Dixon, Part I: Adoption, Anger, Cursing. He had three different names by the time he was nine, yet Greg Dixon would receive an even greater Name at fourteen. Don’t miss this unusual testimony, another true dramatization on UNSHACKLED! Greg Dixon, Part II: Freedom, Near Death, Religious, Religious Freedom. Imagine having three different names by the time you’re nine years old. Then as a man, Greg Dixon followed the name above all names. Don’t miss the conclusion of his unusual testimony, another true dramatization on UNSHACKLED!
The Lord used Dr. Greg Dixon, a true hero of the faith, to build one of the largest Independent Baptist Churches in America, Indianapolis Baptist Temple. During the time he was pastor of IBT, from the late 1950s until the 1990s, he and other IBT members led many to the Lord and many were added to the local church.
Dr. Dixon learned in the late 1970s into the 1980s that legal status for churches violates New Testament church doctrine and grieves the Lord Jesus Christ. He set out to rid IBT of her unholy alliances with the state and federal government standing firm for that cause and educating other believers and churches on God’s desired relationship between church and state and helping new churches to begin as churches under Christ and Christ alone and already established churches to come out from under civil government controls and organize as churches of Christ. He continues that fight until this day.
The Biblical Law Center, founded in the 1980s and directed by Attorney Al Cunningham, helped churches who wanted to operate as churches under Christ only. He was assisted by legal assistant Barbara Ketay helping churches to remain under Christ as non-legal entities. He helped IBT to come out from the authority of Caesar in the 1980s. After Brother Cunningham passed away in 2004, Dr. Dixon took over administration and leadership of the BLC.
Attorney Cunningham started the BLC in the 1980s and administered it until his death in 2004. Cunningham’s wife then gave the BLC to Dr. Dixon. Until 2018, Dr. Dixon and then his son, Greg A. Dixon, continued the work with the assistance of his dad. From 2005 until 2011 Jerald Finney worked with the BLC.
In early 2017, after Ms. Ketay went home to be with the Lord, Attorney Jerald Finney again assisted the Dixons and the BLC. In early 2018, Finney became National Director of the BLC and remained so until late 2018 when the work was continued under the Churches Under Christ Ministry of Charity Baptist Tabernacle. Dr. Dixon graciously advises and assists Finney as the work goes forward.
By the grace of God and for His Glory this work will continue. Please pray for that end.
With time, more will be added to supplement this webpage.
Links to great sermons by Dr. Dixon:
“Authority, The Greatest Thing In The Universe,” Dr. Greg Dixon 2005. This sermon explains the importance of authority and power and correct doctrine. It explains how great men of God can proceed according to some false doctrine and the consequences. For example, John and Charles Wesleys’ teachings led to the tongues movement and all its modern derivatives and adnerents such as TD Jakes, Joycd Meyers, Kenneth Hagan, etc.
Dr. Greg Dixon went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 20, 2019. Dr. Dixon was my great friend and mentor, a man of God who I greatly loved and respected. He loved the Lord’s churches and devoted himself to the cause of organizing churches under the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ. He invited me to work as legal counsel for the Biblical Law Center in 2005. Since then, working with Dr. Dixon, I have devoted myself to helping churches organize under Christ and Christ alone. With the Lord’s help, I will continue to devote my life to this cause.
The following e-mail from Brother Henry Long on October 22, 2019 says it better than I ever could. “Prayers, Blessings And Condolences To ALL Of The Family And Friends Of Dr. Greg Dixon; Who I am Very Grateful To, For Guiding me And Showing me The Way To establish A TRUE Church Of And For The LORD; As The HEAD And CORNERSTONE Of The FAITH And NOT The State. To Be Absent from The Body Is The Be PRESENT With The LORD; A Genuine Warrior And Solider Of The LORD, Will Be Greatly Missed; But Forever Will Be Held In High ESTEEM In my Heart For The Duration Of My Stay On This Earth. HALLELUJAH !!! I Hear The ANGELS Singing; Glory, Glory; WELL Done True And Faithful SERVANT, WELL Done. Yours In Christ, For His Glory; Elder/Pastor H.( Bro. Henry) Long.”
A. To Own Property
B. The church must operate as a business
C. So that the church can go into debt
D. So that the church may enter into contracts
E. So that the church can manage their employee payroll and tax matters
F. Limited liability
G. Romans 13 and other verses require a believer and church “to obey every ordinance of ma”
H. Just follow your convictions, but it is best to incorporate your church and get federal tax exempt status
I. To be “practical” a church must incorporate and get federal tax exempt status
J. etc.
V. Answers to Questions and Comments from Pastors and Other Believers Concerning Church Organization:
Most believers in America have never considered whether or not God’s Word communicates teachings, doctrines, and principles concerning Christ’s churhes which are at odds with the organization and conduct of the church they attend. They never ask, “Has my church been corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (See, 2 Corinthians 11:3).
Most have not considered whether violation of His principles is important to God or whether there are long term negative consequences for deviating from God’s church rules. Most pastors were never taught, and do not teach, New Testament Church doctrine and its application. They assume that their practices handed them by tradition are in line with God’s will. That would be OK if, indeed, their tradition were in line with God’s Word.
Is a church, according to God, to be:
a temporal worldly organization,
or an organism, the body of Christ; instinct with His life, and heavenly in calling, promise, and destiny,“
or a combination of the two?
How is one to know “the nature, purpose, and form of organization of local churches, and the right conduct of such gatherings?” God’s Word, mainly in the epistles of Paul, answers these questions.
As the serpent beguiled Eve, has your church been corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ?” Will you turn your back on God’s Word as regards God’s church principles?
II. Bible Principles
What are the principles and how can a church in America apply them? The essential principles are relatively easy to grasp, but some Bible study is needed to get into the deeper waters of the doctrine.
The basic principles for church organization are rather simple:
Christ purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28).
He “also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
God gave God the Son “to be the head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22).
Christ “is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).
A church is to be espoused to one husband, to be presented “as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
God desires that a church have no relationship with any other lover, any other entity, than the Lord Jesus Christ.
In other words, God desires His churches to love and glorify Him by remaining 100% faithful as shown by the fact that they are in relationship with no entity other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
other methods of operation and organization by which a church which entangles herself with another lover by becoming a “legal entity“?
The answer to the three questions above is yes. To understand this, one must understand the Bible principles and then make the application of those principles to a particular type of organization. For links to short answers explaining the facts about church incorporation, tax exempt status, etc. Go to Short Answers to Some Important Questions (each short answer links to additional more in depth studies.)
See the following for short answers which link to additional resources which give more in depth answers:
Sadly, Satan, through his subtilty, has beguiled most churches in America, as he did Eve, from the simplicity that is in Christ. Most are temporal worldly organizations who, to one degree or another name the name of Christ but keep the commandments of men as opposed to the principles of God.
In America, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution (the highest man-made law of the land) and corresponding provisions of the Constitutions of all the states allow a church the freedom, without persecution, to apply God church principles. See, Religious Liberty in America, The History and Meaning of the First Amendment, or An Abridged History of the First Amendment. Even though man’s highest laws in America regarding the relationship of church and state protect those churches who choose to honor God in the matter, most churches follow American tradition rather than God’s word in their relationship to civil government, mainly by incorporating and applying for Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3) status or claiming 501(c)(3) status under Internal Revenue Code § 508(c)(1)(A).
How can a church organize as did the churches in the New Testament and according to the New Testament Church doctrine? This website gives you God’s principles, the way to apply those principles, and information on many related matters. For a concise explanation of the Bible principles and application of those principles, see Simply Church: The Holy Union of Christ and His Local Church; see also, for more information and links to more resources, Bible Trust: Principles and Application.
Website of typical modern “church” in America, Trinity Fellowship in Amarillo TX. Click image above to go to website.
Contents:
Introduction
Analysis of False Reasons Given A. Romans 13, 1 Peter 2:13, and other verses require believers and churches to “obey every ordinance of man. B. A church must incorporate or become some other kind of legal entity in order to hold property. C. They want to be “practical.” D. Answer to a Bible College Vice-President’s Article on Church Incorporation: “To Incorporate or Not To Incorporate?” E. Links to an analysis of a variety of other false reasons (limited liability, etc.).
Links to resources which analyze and reveal the truth about other false reasons given by Pastors, some “Christian” lawyers and others for church legal entity status.
Introduction
This page links to resources which analyze false reasons for betraying our Lord in church organization, goal, doctrine, and practice. They embrace and preach a social gospel, not a Bible gospel. They treat churches as businesses, according to the traditions of men as opposed to the principles of God.
Except for God’s remnant, pastors, so-called Christian attorneys, Bible College, divinity school, and seminary presidents and “professors” give a lot of excuses for violating New Testament church doctrine and example. They believe that a church in America must follow man made tradition and doctrine; that they must do things differently than did New Testament churches. They give a lot of reasons for their betrayal of our Lord:
These people claim that the modern church cannot operate Like New Testament Churches did, that churches must, for example:
A. be able to own property; B. be able to enter into contracts, as opposed to honoring God’s relevant Bible covenants and commandments; C. be able to go into debt; D. organize so that the church can sue, be sued, and act legally;; E. provide a way for members to sue—in a civil court where Bible arguments will not be heard— each other, the pastor, the church, the state, etc.; F. limit liability of members to those who might be injured on property belonging to the church; G. guarantee a tax deduction to those members who give to the church corporation; H. pay the pastor a salary (make a hireling of him); I. operate like a business, using business, not Bible, methods.
Their methods include:
A.finding out what the people in the community want (community surveys) and giving it to them in return for the people filling the corporate coffers (which they describe as building the kingdom); B. providing worldly entertainment such as “Christian” rock music and concerts (which they call “worship) in a nightclub atmosphere; sports (basketball, softball, etc.) facilities and competitions; C. orming elderly, youth, sports (basketball, softball, etc.) other groups each of which can be provided with entertainment and activities which appeal to the group; D. teach and practice “philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of man, after the rudiments of the world” (they entice by advertising: “experience God, find community, fulfill your purpose”).
They claim that they must obey every ordinance of man since Romans 13 and other Scriptures require them to do so (even though the highest man made laws in America, First Amendment to the United States Constitution and corresponding state constitutional provisions, protect religious freedom and churches who wish to do things God’s way.)
1. Analysis of False Reasons Given
A. Romans 13, 1 Peter 2:13, and other verses require the believer and the church to “obey every ordinance of man.”
The primary false reason for corporate 501c3 status or related types of organization, given by many pastors and believers, is that Romans 13 (or some other verses such as 1 Peter 2.13) requires them to do so. They will say, for example, “We believe in obeying civil government as required by Romans 13.” First, no law in America requires a church to organize as an established entity, an entity under man’s law. In fact, the religion clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, the highest law of the land, mandates that churches can organize any way they wish, even as spiritual entities under Christ and Christ alone according to New Testament Church doctrine.
The Romans 13 and related arguments – such as “We should obey civil government,” and “We do not want to fight civil government.” Paul, Peter, and all the apostles except John, who was exiled on the isle of Patmos were martyred because they would not bow down to civil government when the highest power, God, required them to act contrary to the rules of civil government. What about Elijah, Moses, Daniel, Shadrach Meshach, and Abednego? See the following for thorough analysies of these false arguments:
Many believers – in deciding church organization and doctrine – ask, “Is it pragmatic [or practical.” The question should be, “Is it biblical,” not “Is it practical” or “Is it pragmatic.” Click here to go to a sermon by Evangelist Randy Keener gives an excellent analysis of “pragmatism” versus “biblical doctrine.” Violation of the New Testament Church Doctrine sooner or later brings negative consequences for the cause of Christ. This is especially true when churches violate the principle that Christ should be the only authority over His churches and that things should be done God’s way. Look at the history and state of “churches” and “Christianity” in America, except for a small remnant, for proof. The Church as the Glory of Christ, another sermon by Evangelist Randy Keener, is also very instructive.
Believe it or not, another false reason by some unlearned believers for church establishment (corporate, 501(c)(3) or 508(c)(1)(A) tax exempt status, charitable trust status, or any church status created, defined, and controlled by man’s law) is: “The Bible does not say that a church should not incorporate, get tax exempt status, or organize under man’s law.” Another pastor stated the same argument in a different way this way: “We are Bible believers. If the Bible says do not do something, we do not do it.” The following short essay addresses that frivolous argument: According to the Bible, God Grieves when a Church Chooses to Organize Under Any Law of Man (Non-Profit Corporation Law, Federal Tax Exempt Law, Charitable Trust Law, Etc.).
Letter to the Danbury Baptists from Thomas Jefferson
After 080118, all questions and answers from believers and others interested in the issues which the Churches Under Christ Ministry specializes in are on the following page: Questions and Answers on Various Topics of Concern.
See the link below (in blue) for links to answers to questions before those linked to on this page. Now, important questions, comments, and inquiries are answered below as received.
Question (July 6, 2018): You emphasize that salvation is based on the fact that Christ “paid the penalty for our sins.” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance has no entry for “penalty,” nor did Jesus or the apostles ever mention that a penalty for our sins was paid. If I ask fellow Christians where to find this view in the Bible, either they don’t know the answer or they imply that I’m not saved. I pose that question to you.
Question (July 11, 2018): I read with empathy and agreement your excellent article “Jews, Gentiles, and the Church.” However, one thing you said puzzled me. It was this: “Essential also is an understanding that the church was created through offering to both Jews and Gentiles a ‘new covenant’ relationship with God.” My understanding of the “new covenant” is Jeremiah 31:31-40. This covenant is identified clearly as the New Covenant. It is a covenant addressed solely to the Nation of Israel. The church has no part in it—indeed it will not be instituted until after the close of the church age (the catching up of the church). Your statement, quoted above, seems to imply that the new covenant was offered to the church. Is that what you meant, or have I misunderstood you?
JERALD C. FINNEY BAB, HB, BBA, JD 801 Elgin St.
Amarillo, TX 79118 Phone : (512) 785-8445
E-MAIL: jeraldfinney157@gmail.com
The local church sanctified and cleansed by the washing of water by the word——————–A ministry of Charity Baptist Tabernacle of Amarillo, Texas led by Pastor Ben Hickam. "Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:1-3). ————————————Jerald Finney, a Christian Lawyer and member of Charity Baptist Tabernacle, having received this ministry in the Lord, explains how a church in America can remain under the Lord Jesus Christ and Him only. "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:10-11; See also, Ephesians 4::1-16 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-25). "Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it" (Colossians 4:17). "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church" (Ephesians 1.22; See also, e.g. Colossians 1:18).
Simply Church 