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 I
noticed where a brother labored hard in an article to prove that
I was inconsistent, and he proved it to his own satisfaction.
Since it seemed to afford the brother pleasure to prove that I
was inconsistent, I state for his further satisfaction that I
have frequently been inconsistent with myself, and am liable to
be so again. I am trying harder to be right than I am to be
consistent, except to be consistent, or in agreement, with the
Bible.
I
had rather be inconsistent and be right than to be consistent
and be wrong. Some of the most consistent men I ever knew were
bad men, while some of the best men I ever knew were
inconsistent. Paul started to Damascus to persecute Christians,
but instead of doing that he became a Christian himself. That
was inconsistent with himself. If I am wrong and ever get right,
I will then be inconsistent on that point.
It
seems that the brother thinks one should not change, lest he
become inconsistent. It seems very hard for a preacher to say,
“I was wrong about that thing.” He may know that he was
wrong, and nearly every one else knows the same thing; but he
does not admit it for fear some one will think he is
inconsistent. Now, if we were never wrong about anything, we
might be consistent provided we stayed right; but if we ever
find our self wrong, we will be bound to become inconsistent
with ourselves if we get right.
All
of this inconsistency complained of came up over the different
foundations” — the Morrow and
the Firm.... They are both chartered companies, as I understand
it, and
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they exist only
as business organizations. That being true, they both stand or
fall together. In the first case I was opposing the Morrow
Foundation as a religious or church institution. I am still
opposed to it as such.
I
do not believe that brethren have the right to get together and
start a business organization without consulting any church as
such, and then wish it off on the churches to support. The
churches were not consulted when they were organized; neither
have they any voice in their management. Some of these
institutions I would like for the churches to contribute to
their support, but this looks too much like taxation without
representation. It would not do to mix the churches up in the
management of these institutions, for this would injure the
churches and the institutions both. To put these institutions on
the churches for their support would be too much like a
missionary society for me to see the difference between them.”
***********************
The
above is taken from an article by F. B. Srygley, published in
Gospel Advocate, Sept. 7, 1933. We reprint it chiefly for his
point about consistency. (“. . .Thou Art A Jewel!”)
But
it was also of interest to us to note that in this same G.A.
issue G. C. Brewer was writing “About Organizations”; a
series that defended church contribution to “Bible Colleges.”
AIN’T HISTORY INTERESTING??
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