|
 Each month PLAIN TALK reprints an anticle of by-gone days. We do not believe
a thing is true simply because some pioneer preacher said it--God's word is TRUTH-- but such quotes often help
us to better see ourselves in the unfolding of church history.
This is what Lipscomb, and the Gospel Advocate, published about the sponsoring
church idea, Aug.29, 1907.
--------------------
"The following article was sent me, with the request that I comment on
it .
Bathurst
St. Church of Christ*****
To the Church of Christ at Beamsville
-- Greetings:
At a
meeting of the officers of the congregation, held on June 2, a resolution was passed recommending to the congregation,
that a larger and more aggressive work in the Province be entered upon, and that, with this in view, a man be placed
in the field immediately. Also, that the church ask the cooperation of the churches and individual brethren and
sisters in the province financially, so that the needs of the entire field may in the near future be adequately
met.
A beginning
has already been made by this congregation; they having arranged with one of the preaching brethren already in
the field that he devote his whole time to the work of the church, looking to this congregation to make up any
deficiency in the amount necessary to carry this decision into effect. We now appeal to you to cooperate with us
in creating and maintaining a fund which shall be used for the extension of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ in places where
|
|
churches now exist, and to preach the gospel and to establish churches
in communities where there are now no churches of Christ.
********************
If the church is asking help to support a preacher in a temporary work, there
is no harm in calling on others to aid in the work and for those who are called on to help in the work if it seems
good to them.
If it means that one church is to receive and direct the means given in by
other churches, it is all wrong. (Emphasis mine, rft) It will
take the work out of the hands of those to whom God committed it and give it to others. This can only work evil
to all the parties to it.
God commits
work to His churches and children, not because he needs the help of these, but because doing the work will strengthen
and build up these and give spiritual growth and activity to the churches and Christians. Each church should collect, control, and direct its own means; do what it can in preaching
and having preaching done to the whole world. They need this
for their own growth and spirituality. A Christian cannot live and grow without working to save others. Each needs
personal work in teaching and saving others to develop and save himself. Churches need the sane experiences in
working to save others to develop their own growth and activity."
********************
(Sponsoring churches are no new problem, and are as wrong now as then.RT)
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
