Eccles. 10:1

So long as one stays among those in confusion without openly opposing their unscriptural devices and tactics, he need not expect to better their lost condition. On the other hand, when he sees that his teaching Truth to them is spurned and lightly esteemed he should "come out from among them." That is what all sincere people are commanded in the Word to do. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor. 6:17, 18). "And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities" (Rev. 18:4, 5).

Abraham’s children under the law of Moses went into bondage to the Babylonians because of their sins, and when the time came that God would deliver them, his word was for them to come out. And they seemingly gladly responded, for they were tired of wearisome bondage to confusion of idols and false oppression of their captors. They were God’s people, though they were in bondage, and He wanted to save them.

Leaving old heathenish Babylon, they must rebuild the things of the former worship of themselves or their fathers. And their God provided the plans.

There are millions of people today in utter confusion. They are either dupes of cunning deceivers or knowingly abide within the caldron of division and confusion. Claiming to be true, they are not serving the Lord. As it were, they are buying what they think is pure ointment, when really there are "dead flies" in it. Some people who claim to be Christians do not know what pure ointment is: they are not acquainted with the Word, therefore are really deceived. And there are many men who continue to deceive them, knowing that their dupes do not know what the Word teaches the pure ointment is the pure Word of Life, and that with no "dead flies" in it. Adding to or taking from the Word is strictly forbidden in plain terms: In Gal. 1:8,9 and Rev. 22:18,19 the Spirit absolutely forbids anyone to preach anything contrary to the Gospel which was delivered by the Apostles of Christ. Yet men may risk teaching or practicing things perversive of the Truth.

The worship of the saints upon the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10) is clearly set forth to have singing of spiritual songs, prayer, reading of God’s Word, exhortation by use of the Word, the communion around the Lord’s table (the "one bread" and the ‘‘one cup"’) and the collection for the saints given "as God has prospered" each member. But men have added things here and there out of something there: the centuries have added another kind of music, another kind of literature, a leaving out of the communion in part or altogether, another kind of prayer (a "disciples prayer" of Matt. 6); they have classified the One Body under a plurality of men and women teachers, and included non-members with little children in their classification; they have organized societies in the local body (the modern superintended Sunday-School is a society) and federated societies, conventions, assemblies, associations, synods and conclaves; they have instituted money-raising devices to further human missionary societies, education societies, gaming in church service; they have introduced worldly athletic sports into competitive practices between congregations. "Dead flies in the ointment!" Oh, what "a stinking savour" for the divine nostrils to breathe in! God have mercy upon us, brethren!!

Will we continue to make a false claim to apostolicity and yet wink at such evils in so-called Christendom? How Rome has grown among the Lord’s rank and file, more especially the last 150 years! We surely have no right to say that many are merely starting toward Rome—is it not more truthful to admit that the stench and grime of Romanish is fast tainting us who claim to be after the order of the primitive Christians? Whether we know of the sin in the camp or do not know of it, it is here. Something is bad wrong with what historians call "the Christian world" today. And no doubt the church schools are largely to be blamed for the growth of confusion of idols among us! "Dead flies in the ointment!"

Preaching brethren, get busy. Do not compromise in the pulpit or in the homes. Cry aloud and spare not! Many deceived folks want to know about the divisions and conclusions in the world today and what to do. Let us frankly and candidly tell them what prophecy, history and the apostles of Christ say about the present-day distress of Zion.

Another great influence for confusion today is an unqualified rulership in the local congregation. Such a leadership often is domineered or. dictated to by some preacher or preachers. "Dead flies in the ointment", and still increasing their number. A preacher who appoints for overseer or deacon a man who "is the nearest to" the qualifications required in the Word is a dangerous compromiser. I should fear to have his judgment, after he has scored sectarians for substituting for anything in the Lord’s divine plan! Preachers had better be careful to hew to the line in their tactics, for 1 Peter 4:11 says, "if any man speak, let him speak as the Oracles of God." Many preachers are today putting "dead flies in the ointment."

The Word of perfection commands us to "purify" our hearts and the Body. Unity and peace in Zion are preceded by purity, says James 3. "For where envying and strife are, there are confusion and every evil work." Those who serve the Lord have laid aside self and yield to the plastic state resulting from allowing the Word to work in them mightily. Will we then observe conditions that are wrong and cast out "dead flies in the ointment ?"