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 Browsing
some ‘45, ‘46, ‘47 editions of Truth in Love (Alabama), it
is clear that often those who warned of digression in the
organization and work of the church, did not grasp the extent of
coming digression nor some fundamentals needed to stop it.
*********************
Garvin
M. Toms (T.I.L., June ‘47): “It should be borne in mind that
each congregation is an individual entity. Although it is a part
of the body and is related to every other congregation, yet it
is independent of all others so far as its government is
concerned and is subject only to its Head.” The “members”
of Christ’s body are not congregations, but saints. (1 Cor.
12:l2-f) The “sister churches” concept was the basic fallacy
of Alex. Campbell, and led to the missionary society then, and
to the multi-church arrangements of today.
Toms,
again: “One congregation might assist another in a good work;
and several churches may unite their efforts to accomplish more
as did the churches of Macedonia in contributing to the poor
saints in Judea. But the New Testament authorizes no
organization larger than the local congregation or smaller than
the church as a whole for either missionary or charitable
purposes.” (1) When churches send independently to the same
need, (as did churches of Macedonia and Corinth— study 1 Cor.
16:1-3 each does its own work of sending alms to the needy
church. If “unite their effort” means pooling funds at the
disposition of an executive board or “sponsoring elders,”
(2a) this is not what the Macedonian churches did; and (2b)
in
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such we have formed an organization larger
than the local, church. Highland in Abilene is not a church
“in need,” yet her elders oversee and spend the funds of
thousands of churches. It is the organizational medium for the
contributing churches’ radio and TV work. The N. T. does not
put local elders over “brotherhood” work.
Glenn
L. Wallace (T.I.L., Mar. ’45) says, “There is as much
authority for a ‘United Christian Missionary Society’ in the
Church today, as there is for some editor, some school president
or some preacher to name himself the ‘organizer’ and the
solicitor for missions among the Churches.” Glenn had made
reference to the late ‘chief of missions’ much in the news
of ‘45. Is there any more authority for “some sponsoring
church” to name herself the “organizer and the solicitor for
missions among the churches”? None!!
Billy
H. Hood (T.I.L., Dec. ’46): “Let it be clearly understood
that the work of the church is not simply to entertain: it is
not to compete with the organizations of men, the modern
theatres, and places of amusement. Further it is not to do the
work of the Community Chest or the Red Cross. The work of the
church is much greater than any human organization. It has a
work that no human institution in the world can do. Its primary
work is to teach and preach to men and women the gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ by which they are to be saved. . .“ Amen!
But I would cut out the word “simply.” Other than that— if
bro. Hood is still living today, I wonder what he thinks of the
current social work of some churches?
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