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 A
"CHURCH OF CHRIST" Retirement plan is now on the
market. It is developed by (--and who else?) Christian Benefits,
Inc. This "non-profit organization" operated by
"members of the Churches of Christ" has been formed to
provide "Christian Benefits" right here on earth, in
the midst of moths and rust.
Looks
as though we must reconstruct our ideas about
"Christian" benefits. They can be laid up here,
with interest compounded annually, plus allocated dividends.
Seriously,
we are not objecting to sensible planning for old age and the
expenses that continue after our earning power has decreased or
ceased. We do believe, however, that truly Christian
benefits (benefits promised the Christian) are of more enduring
nature, and are realized in eternity. We do not object to
brethren being in the insurance or retirement planning business
as a legitimate commercial venture. But we deny that the church
of Christ has any connection with such matters, and we deplore
all efforts to capitalize on Christ's name.
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According
to the "Christian Chronicle" (7-1968) Ohio Valley
College built an auditorium to be used for daily chapel and
Bible classes — and now can use it for neither. Seems
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the U. S. government
loaned $76,000 to construct that
building, and now says it is illegal to use the facility for
"sectarian instruction or religious worship." (Higher
Education Facilities Act) "A director of higher education
has informed the school that upholding Christianity in any way
in the Bible classes would be construed by the government as
sectarian instruction." The daily chapel period would
involve "religious worship."
I
suggest you take another look at an earlier situation —
history of the University of Kentucky, which brethren thought
they owned. (Details are in "Search For Ancient Order"
by West; about 1865 is the date, although do not have the book
with me to check) The government had granted some land and
perhaps other considerations; and the brethren found out, to
their consternation, that they thereby nullified their freedom
to control and keep "sound" the instructions there.
"You can't git nuthin; fer nuthin;!"
In
the face of history, law, and horse sense; brethren keep trying
to "own" something without denominational machinery,
exercise brotherhood control without brotherhood harness,
"get" something without paying for it, and prove
something without scripture.
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