Vol. 1, No. 8

August, 1964

What "We" Needed In 1900

Between 1889 and 1900 Bro. F.D. Srygley studied and wrote extensively on the undenominational character of the church. His editorials in the GOSPEL ADVOCATE made repeated attacks upon the Baptist, Methodist, etc.; but he was no less concerned about the sectarian spirit he saw in "our" brethren. Believing that what bro. Srygley's liberal brethren needed then, "we" need today, PLAIN TALK reprints these excerpts from earlier battles.-rft ----------------------------- "This whole business of "we" "us" "our brethren" "our people" "our movement" "our position" "our doctrine" "our cause" "our reformation" "our schools" "our papers" "our colleges" "our song books" "our Sunday schools" "our churches" "our preachers" "our publishing houses" "our books" " our tracts" "our Sunday-school supplies" etc., means simply a religious denomination, as clearly defined and as dully equipped with denominational machinery unknown in the New Testament as the Baptist denomination or le iother religious sect." ++++++++++ "Those who propose to restore the N.T. order in religious work and worship should get a clear idea as to what that order is. There are in the N.T. three things --viz.: (1) Individual Christians. (2) Local congregations of Christians called "churches of Christ." (3) The whole body of Christians, which is the church, or body, of Christ; and of which every Christian is a member. There is nothing else in the N. T. to restore. Whatsoever is more than this cometh of evil, and leads to something worse.		The way to restore the N.T. order as to individual Christians is to preach and practice exactly what the N.T. teaches by precept and example as to how. a man is made a Christian and how God requires him to live as a Christian. The way to restore the N.T. order as to congregations of Christians, called "churches of Christ," is to preach. and practice exactly what the N.T. teaches by precept and example as to what it takes to constitute a worshipping assembly, called a "church of Christ," and how God requires such a congregation to conduct itself in all matters of religious work and worship. The way to restore the N.T. order as to the body of Christ, which is the church in a general sense, and of which every Christian is a member, is to preach and practice exactly what the N. T. teaches by precept and example against all denominations or religious parties which do not include and consist of all Christians. When individual Christians and congregations of Christians follow the plain teaching of the N.T., and withdraw themselves from all denominational federations and partisan brotherhoods and sisterhoods in religion, the whole denominational fabric and institutional system will fall to pieces for the lack of a sectarian constituency. This will restore the New Testament order." [Previous Article] [Next Article]

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