|
 In
the Gospel Advocate of Oct. 22, 1890, bro. David Lipscomb
reports on a convention of churches meeting in Chattanooga, TN.
(today, we would call it an "area-wide" meeting) to
discuss missionary efforts.
He
first reviewed an address made by a bro. Rhoulhac on "The
Lord's Plan" for such work, pointing out its errors. He
then publishes a copy of a statement he had presented a
committee appointed to determine how far he would go toward
organized cooperative work. We reprint portions of that paper,
as space will allow.
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"The
churches of Christ are the institutions ordained by divine
wisdom for perfecting the saints and converting the world. No
other organization is needed or permissible. No arrangement or
association of churches or individuals is allowable that
overrides the churches, or interferes with the work committed to
the churches, or that transfers to any one church or society
what was committed to each and all. No association of churches
or individuals is permissible that presents an organization
separate and distinct from the churches of Christ. To do so is
to impugn the wisdom of God and to supercede his appointments
with inventions of man.
Churches
may co-operate in spreading the gospel 1st. by two or more
churches, each communicating with an evangelist when he is in a
distant and destitute field, and supplying his wants and
necessities. Eph. 6:20-21; Phil. 4:15. 2nd., Two or more
churches may co-operate in sustaining an
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evangelist, by conferring with each
other through a messenger and each doing a part in the work.
(This is an inference but a legitimate one, from the apostles
sending messenger, to other churches in stirring up to bounty
and in carrying that bounty to the poor saints). A messenger
differs from a delegate in that a delegate has power delegated
him to confer, organize, advise and determine for the church.
This is practical legislation as to what and how the churches
shall do. A messenger delivers what the church has decided and
directs him, receives in turn a message and returns it.
Messengers cannot confer, devise or command.
When
a church sees a work to be done and is not able to do it, it may
send a messenger to another church or churches and ask aid in
that work, the other churches can respond as to what each can
do, and this is the end of co-operation in that line. There can
be no self-perpetuating body save the churches of Christ to
collect and disburse funds or direct preachers. That is the work
committed by God to the churches themselves and they cannot the
work to others. It is legitimate and proper for an individual or
a church that sees churches neglecting their duty or that sees
destitute fields that need help to go or send to the churches
and stir them up to activity and point them to the fields
needing the help. When he stirs them up to their duty and points
to the field, it is right for them to send help to aid the
preacher at work. To delegate others to disburse the means and
direct the labor for the churches is wrong."
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