Cedar Park Church Of Christ


 

Special Studies


STUDY MATERIAL ON "INSTITUTIONAL" ISSUES

by Jim R. Everett


AN OVERVIEW OF CHURCH HISTORY

  1. WHAT WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST?
  2. WHAT WAS THE APOSTASY OF 1 TIM. 4:1-FF; ACTS 20:29-30
  3. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
  4. THE REFORMATION MOVEMENT
  5. THE SO-CALLED RESTORATION MOVEMENT

    1. There was a spirit of independence that came with the immigrants to the Colonies and eventually was prevalent in the United States -- that spirit was not only evident in politics but especially in religion.

    2. Springing up in several places by several men who were ndependent Bible students was a recognition of what associations and organizations were doing in restricting freedom of belief (Search...p. 13, Elias Smith, 1789)

      1. Orthodoxy within a group had been maintained by:
        1. Creeds and group belonging -- remember that the different creeds of the Catholic Church were designed to offset heresy by establishing orthodoxy. A failure to agree with the orthodox position of the church meant that you taught heresy and would be excommunicated. The problem in the councils was that they would reverse themselves from time to time and the official, church stance on a subject would change.

        2. By acceptance of preachers and ordination -- or on the other hand, withholding ordination and disallowing preachers to preach within the framework of an association.

      2. Note the Last W ill and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery (ibid., p. 24)

      3. The cry was heard in several places that we speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent...we are Christians only...the Bible is our only guide, etc. (Ibid., 47).

      4. Note how that attitude makes a difference in the direction people take religiously.

    3. Though Alexander Campbell stated that truth, his concept of organization was that God had not specified how churches could do their work together, so there was the liberty to combine their efforts through another organization.

    4. This movement was the largest growing body in the U.S. between 1830-1865

  6. THE DIVISION FROM THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

    1. THE UNITED CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY ISSUE organized in 1849 with Campbell as its first president -- Campbell seemed to have always believed in a need for combining churches together to do greater work.

      1. The Gospel Advocate came into being specifically to fight the UCMS -- edited by Tolbert Fanning, 1855. Other opponents of the UCMS were David Lipscomb and Ben Franklin (ibid, p. 197)

      2. Note David Lipscomb's observations abut organizations (ibid., p. 206-207) -- SOUND FAMILIAR?

    2. THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ISSUE

      1. The instrument of music was not the main issue that divided churches in the middle 1800's -- it came in after the ACMS

      2. Note Campbell's observations (Ibid., p. 310)

      3. Where is the Christian Church today? It is perhaps the most liberal of all denominations. There are still some conservative groups known as "Disciples of Christ".

  7. THE BEGINNING OF THE INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES AS WE HAVE COME TO KNOW THEM -- the 1800's pass into the 1900's. The division is crystallized and two churches are listed separately in 1906 religious census -- The Christian Church and The Church of Christ. This was not surprising since there had been no association for about 20 years and the division was marked distinctly between them.

    1. IN CHURCH SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS, THE ORIGINAL THRUST WAS FOR COLLEGES IN THE CHURCH'S BUDGETS BUT THAT WAS NOT VERY POPULAR AT THE TIME IT WAS INTRODUCED -- Even in the church in Burnet in 1960 no member was in favor of church supported colleges, one man was in favor of the HOT. The church support of orphans' homes became the focal point of thrust, because of the emotional appeal -- prejudiced, quarantining of "Anti-orphans".

      1. IN 1964 BATSELL BARRETT BAXTER WROTE A TRACT IN WHICH HE ARGUED THAT IF CONGREGATIONS COULD SUPPORT AN ORPHAN'S HOME, THEN THEY COULD SUPPORT A COLLEGE -- THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS THAT ONE WAS A BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION THE OTHER WAS AN EDIFICATION INSTITUTION

      2. "Some who are agreed that the church can contribute to an orphan's home are not convinced that the church can contribute to a Christian school. It is difficult to see a significant difference so far as principle is concerned. The orphan's home and the Christian school must stand or fall together," (Questions and Issues of the Day, p. 29).

    2. THE HERALD OF TRUTH -- ON THE COATTAILS OF CHURCH SUPPORTED, BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS -- A combined effort of churches worldwide to preach the gospel under the oversight of the Highland Church in Abilene. Started on February 10, 1952. I understand now that the HOT is a separate entity altogether. NOTE P. 18 OF "WOLFGANG"

      1. The Herald of Truth is a "brotherhood endeavor" overseen at the beginning by the elders of the Highland Church of Christ in abilene. "The ultimate success of the Herald of Truth effort will depend on the faith and determination of the entire brotherhood." (The Christian Chronicle, Sept. 10, 1965, p. 7)

      2. It employs pressure to get churches to support it (p. 7 of Bob Harkrider's material -- QUOTE)

      3. It is a centralization of several churches working as a unit through the oversight of a single eldership -- FORMAT: "The churches of christ greet you. Highland Avenue of Abilene, in cooperation with sister congregations bring you Herald of Truth."

      4. It is not a local church at work.

    3. COMBINED CONGREGATIONAL PROJECTS -- TEMPORARY, CITY AND AREA WIDE TREASURIES UNDER SUPERVISION OF AN ELDERSHIP OF ONE CONGREGATION OR A "BOARD OF ELDERS" REPRESENTING COMBINED CONGREGATION

      1. Note "If I Be Lifted Up" a book written containing the sermons of Batsell Barret Baxter preached at the Greater Lubbock Bible Forum, which was a combined effort of area churches with the elders at Pioneer Park in Lubbock assuming the oversight)

      2. Campaigns For Christ became very popular in the 1960's -- like The Greater Philadelphia Campaign for Christ -- under the supervision and oversight of the Geraldine congregation in Oklahoma City (Note p. 6 of Bob's)

  8. WHERE ARE LIBERAL CHURCHES TODAY? (Note Wolfgang, p. 28-29)
    1. Facilities complete with family counseling, gymnasiums, day care centers.

    2. Choruses, drama plays

    3. One among other denominations -- exchange pulpits, belong to Ministerial Alliances.

    4. There is now a deep schism within institutional churches, p. 32 of Wolfgang.


["Institutional" Issues Outline] [Introduction] [Lesson 1] [Lesson 2] [Lesson 3] [Lesson 4] [Lesson 5] [Lesson 6]


Click here to send an e-mail to Jim R. Everett: corresp@cedarparkchurchofchrist.org


 

Created on 01-Apr-99

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