|
 It
seems my "Is This Trip Necessary?" (V.17, N.6) touched
a very tender spot, or was poorly written, or both. I have
received two strong protests on behalf of those who teach
"veiling" (as it was called in the Philippino letter
mentioned), and one questioned my "including 'no class'
among the listing of various unscriptural doctrines." Two
of the three agreed that matters of private judgment should not
be taught as charged in the letter reviewed; and even the third
said, "many of us may disagree with some of their
positions." But so much of the article conveyed ideas to
these readers I did not intend, I must accept responsibility for
a very poorly written article.
My
theme was the impropriety of pressing matters of judgment
upon the Philippinoes to the breaking of fellowship. This
subject was prompted by a letter I had received. I explained I
could not vouch for the writer, nor for the matters discussed
— the letter simply served as a springboard for what I believe
was a point worthy of discussion. I mentioned NO NAMES, nor did
I seek to identify persons.
In
making the point that all kinds of teachers "can claim to
act in good conscience" my expression "can claim"
must have been poorly chosen, for it was taken as impugning
motives when I meant they could indeed
teach their concepts in
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good conscience, and yet divide
churches. The various concepts listed were only to show that
widely differing people could act in good conscience — no
other points of likeness were intended or desired. And as for
lumping together the godly and the ungodly by that illustration,
we have worked with many good men, at home and abroad, who
differed with us on the covering and class questions, but who
would never press their views to the breaking of fellowship. We
are not about to classify them with false teachers generally,
nor even with any of their own persuasion who would divide
churches over such matters. It was these "private judgment
matters before those young in the faith" that we called
"dangerous doctrine" overseas and at home.
As
already stated, I must admit to failure in my effort to get
across my intended points. I'm sorry my inaptness led to such
misunderstandings. If any whose feelings were hurt would like to
write their own article on "The Impropriety of Preaching
Matters of Private Judgment in Foreign Lands"
I
will publish it. Please keep it within the space of this
article. And THANKS to all who wrote. By your response to things
unapproved you can do much to make editors responsible.
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