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 Remember
the old Mack Sennett comedies? Five policemen, start out chasing
one crook, but as the race continues other crooks join their
buddy and are chased-- until there are more crooks ahead than
cops behind. Then, the crooks turn around and chase the cops.
Well, we found something like that in Mexico. A preacher went on
a “disfellowshiping” binge. One by one, those
disfellowshiped gathered at a second church (whose practices
they did not approve) until most of the first church were there.
Then they went to court and asked that their original property
be restored to them. The request was approved; they ran the
preacher off; and moved back into their building. I intend no
“cops and robbers” parallel; just thought you would be
interested. Have you noticed how many small struggling churches
are built around one man? Perhaps he started the work, or for
years has held it together, and deserves credit. But now he
resents active newcomers, or even some original members who have
matured and would like to be active in service. They threaten
his “place.” We are twice sad because: (1) too little
respect is given to age, experience, and honorable past service;
and (2) it seems so difficult for patriarchs to pass their
wisdom, experience, and yes, their place on to the new
generation — who will take it anyway.
We
stopped at a roadside church for
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evening’ worship and heard a young preacher
give forth this startling thought teaser: “If it were not for
Christians, the church would have a hard time getting along.”
Yeahhh!!
Talked
with a recent corner to mid-western country churches, who
thought “Evangelistic authority” was a new, up-and-coming
issue. He was amazed as we reviewed its past history— amazed
that any church would allow one to so dominate them. We have
come a long way in reasserted congregational in-dependence, and
in teaching preachers their place as servants of the Lord—
with no “clergy-laity” distinctions. But there is a
continuing need for well-taught elders and preachers who will
take their duties seriously.
Imagine
the nerve, gall, you-name-it, that it took for the Gospel
Advocate Co. to list “Highlights of the Douthitt-Warren Debate”
in their new catalogue as “A thirty-seven paged booklet on
this debate on the subject of Anti-Class, Anti-College, and
Anti-Located Preacher advocates.” The debate was actually a
discussion of church organization and institutionalism, such as
orphan homes.
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