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 With
this issue we begin volume 12 of Plain Talk, thankful to God for
the blessings that have brought us this far. If the Lord wills,
we shall continue as a part of the teaching program of Oaks-West
church of Christ in Burnet. This publication is free to all who
request it. Your many letters and cards are appreciated.
As
our nation approaches its bicentennial celebration we felt this
volume might be profitably dedicated to the development of a
better historic sense among brethren. We are, whether we realize
it or not, now making history. We are, to a great extent,
products of previous history. And generations yet unborn will be
influenced by the historic legacy we leave them. This is not to
say we look to history as our authority, nor that human will can
not change the course of history. But a proper sense of history
and our place in it will help us to better understand the
present, and recognize our obligations toward tomorrow. It will
sharpen our sense of purpose in this life, as we prepare for the
next.
Often
“church history” is little more than a prejudicial selection
of events so arranged as to promote some arbitrary conclusion of
the writer. On the other hand, the lack of space forces us to
select and cut -- and
we can only strive for objectivity. We plan to emphasize those
events which seem to have peculiar bearing on what is called the
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“Restoration”
of New Testament Christianity. We are particularly interested in
earlier circumstances and concepts which may have prompted (if
not caused) our generation to think and act as it does.
Space
will forbid giving details of sources in each article. We will
lean heavily upon the following histories, and upon many
biographies.
History
of the Christian Church, by Philip Schaff; Eight
Volumes; Eerdmans Publ. Co., Grand Rapids, 1910. Search for
the Ancient Order, by Earl West; Two Volumes; Gospel
Advocate, Nashville, 1949. The Church, Falling Away,
Restoration, by J. W. Shepherd; F. L. Rowe, Publ.,
Cincinnati, 1929. Disciples on the Western Reserve, by
A.S. Hayden; Chase & Hall Publ., Cincinnati, 1875. Disciples
in Kentucky, by A. W. Fortune; Publ. By Convention of
Christian Churches in Ky., 1932. Biographies of Elder John
Smith, Barton W. Stone, Benjamin Franklin, Tolbert Fanning,
David Lipscomb, etc.
Our
quote page will feature Archibald McLean, Scotch Baptist, and
his treatise on the Great Commission. We hope to impress you
with the great array of truth seekers of the past, who have
helped to make “our” history.
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