On the nights of August 29 through September 1,1966, in Montgomery, Alabama, James P. Miller metGuy N. Woods in a public discussion. On Monday andTuesday nights, Guy N. Woods affirmed the following proposition.
"It is in harmony with the Scriptures for churchesof Christ to build and maintain benevolent organizations for the care of the needy, such as Boles Home,Tipton Home, Tennessee Orphan Home, Childhaven,and other orphan homes and homes for the agedthat are among us."
On Wednesday and Thursday nights James P.Miller affirmed this proposition.
"Such an arrangement and cooperative effort onthe part of churches of Christ for the preaching ofthe gospel as the 'Herald of Truth' is without Scriptural authority."
The Cleveland Avenue church, 4216 ClevelandAvenue, endorsed Guy N. Woods and the Gay Meadows church, 2665 Fisk Road, endorsed brotherJames P. Miller. The entire debate was conducted in the Cleveland Ave. church building. Each night wascharacterized by large crowds, some nights the people could not get into the building. The estimatedattendance by Cleveland Avenue was between 700to 900 people the first two nights.
This debate will go down in history as one of thebest debates ever conducted. The spirit that prevailed throughout was on the highest plane. Brethren on both sides of the issue were well pleased withthe conduct manifested on the part of those directlyinvolved. The decorum of the audience was excellent. This debate proved that we can discuss our differences with good conduct.
The moderators for the debate were Robert O. (Bob) Miller, brother of James P. Miller, Mondaythrough Wednesday and Marshall Patton on Thursday night. Carroll W. Puckett was co-moderator each night. Tom O'Neal turned the charts of brother Miller. E. R. Harper, associated with Fifth andHighland church in Abilene that sponsors the Herald of Truth, was the moderator for Guy N. Woodsand he was assisted by Gayle Oler, Supt. of Boles Home and W. F. Cawyer, who is the Highland elderwho travels for the Herald of Truth. The hosts for these discussions were O. B. Porterfield, evangelistof the Cleveland Avenue church, and Carroll W.Puckett, evangelist of the Gay Meadows church.
There was much support given to each of thesemen. The impressive thing about this debate wasthe tremendous support given brother Miller. Wehave estimated it to have been around 150 to 200 conservative preachers from at least 19 states, pluselders, deacons and brethren. The Gay Meadowschurch was encouraged and impressed to see howthe brethren stood behind the truth. Much good wasaccomplished for the cause of truth in this area.There were a number of brethren that had never heard these issues discussed publicly and werestrengthened by it. There were many liberals whowere awakened to realize the importance of thesematters and as one told me that he had always takenthe preacher's word for everything and had neverstudied these matters for himself. I have had manyto tell me that they were going to begin seriousstudy of these issues and were going to take a standfirmly one way or another. There are several whohave requested information to assist them in theirstudy. The Gay Meadows church has had eleven tobe identified with us since the debate (two weeksafter the debate). There are several others that wefeel sure will come with us soon, that we have talkedwith since the discussion. Only time and eternitywill reveal the extent of the good that was accomplished during those four nights.
H. E. Phillips recorded the debate using professional equipment and he told me that the quality ofthe recording was excellent. The entire discussioncan be obtained from brother Phillips. Brother Phillips was a great help in every way throughout thediscussion. This debate is recorded on new 1 1/2 milMylar (Polyester) tape and recorded at 3 3/4speed.
Brother Miller was well prepared and did an outstanding job in defending the truth. He was able toget the truth across with simplicity so that all couldunderstand exactly what the issues were about. Weshould be thankful to our God for the ability ofJames P. Miller in his powerful presentation of theTruth.
I he following debates on tape may be obtained for $3.00 per reel — each reel contains one complete discussion for one night. These tapes are new 1 1/2 mil. Mylar (polyester) base, weather resistant, and recorded at 3 3/4 speed and can be played on any recorder using a 7" reel. Special orders on smaller reels at I 7/8speed made upon request.
MILLER-WOODS DEBATE
Montgomery, Alabama
August 29-September 1 — Orphan Homes and Herald of
Truth.
Four reels— $12.00
MILLER-WALLACE DEBATE Tampa, Florida
August 16-20, 1965 — Orphan Homes and Herald of
Truth.
Four reels — $12.00
SPEARS-WADE DEBATE
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
July 12-15, T965 — Number of cups on Lord's Table and
Classes and women teachers.
Four reels— $12.00BROCK-McWHORTER DEBATE
Chattanooga, Tennessee
October 25-29, 1965 — Cooperation of churches in Benev
olence and Evangelism and Orphan Homes. Four reels
— $12.00
GRIDER-TOTTY DEBATE
Tompkinsville, Kentucky
September 27-30, 1965 — Orphan Homes and Herald of
Truth.
Four reels — $12.00
SPEARS-HALE DEBATEOklahoma City, Oklahoma
March 28-April 1, 1966 — Herald of Truth and Orphan
Homes.
Four reels— $12.00
LITTLE ROCK DEBATE
Little Rock, Arkansas
June 28, 29, 1966 — Creation and Evolution. (James D.
Bales and Jack Wood Sears vs. Dr. Carl Sagan, Dr.
Ernan McMullin, Dr. Thomas K. Shotwell, and Dr. R. C.
Lewontin). Questions from audience answered.
Three reels — $9.00
JOHNSON-WILSON DEBATE
San Diego, California
June 28, 29, 1966 — Existence of God and the benefits of
religion.
Two reels — $6.00NEEDNAM-THOMAS DEBATE
Russell Springs, Kentucky
April 21, 22, 1966 — Women teachers and classes.
Two reels — $6.00
INMAN-WILLIS DEBATE
Parkersburg, W. Va.
September 19-23, 1966 — Herald of Truth and Orphan
Homes.
Four reels— $12.00
THE MILLER-WOODS DEBATE
On the nights of August 29, 30, 31 and September1 in the city of Montgomery, Alabama, one of themost memorable discussions of our generation tookplace between James P. Miller of Tampa, Florida andGuy N. Woods of Memphis, Tennessee. The place ofthe debate was the meeting house of the ClevelandAvenue church of Christ who endorsed brother Woods. The audience the first night was given atabove 800 men and women. Similar crowds were present each evening. Visitors attended from 19states and as many as one hundred preachers andelders were present. The preacher of Cleveland Avenue was O. B. Porterfield and he, together with thebrethren there, extended every courtesy to all concerned. Brother Miller represented the Gay Meadowscongregation in Montgomery, and their preacher,Carroll Puckett, deserves much credit for manyhours of hard work in bringing the debate to realization. Both Woods and Miller represented the verybest on both sides of the issues. They are veteran;debaters, having met all kinds of representatives inthe religious world. Both men are at the height oftheir powers and did the best work possible in giving full representation to the propositions at hand.
Guy N. Woods was assisted by the best minds theinstitutional brethren have to offer. E. R. Harper,Minister of the Fifth and Highland church in Abilene, Texas, moderated for brother Woods. He wasassisted by Gayle Oler, Superintendent of the BolesHome, and W. F. Cawyer, elder of the Highlandchurch. Brother Miller's brother, Robert O. Miller,long time attorney and judge in Kentucky, was the moderator for brother Miller, assisted by CarrollPuckett and on the last night by Marshall Patton.These men made the discussion a truly representative one.
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ISSUES DEALT WITH The debate was outstanding in a number of ways.First, no time was lost in dealing with personalities.The entire sessions were addressed to the issues at hand and on the highest plane possible. Very littletime was given to what other men had said at different times about the problems under investigation.Little effort was made to prove the scriptural nature of the-questions by human authority. This isunusual in a discussion of this kind. In the second place, little time was consumed by side issues thatare of no worth in determining what the Bibleteaches. Passages like II Corinthians 9:13 did notenter the debate. Galatians 6 was mentioned perhapsone time if at all. This is as it should be and it is to the credit of the debaters that it was true. These passages do not prove the institutional question andhave little place in such a discussion.Searching The Scriptures in the review that follows makes no direct quotation from brother Woods.If any man feels that we have not represented himcorrectly or told the truth in any part of this reviewall he had to do is to order the tapes from PhillipsPublications and hear every word of the debate forhimself. The victory for truth and the all-sufficiency of the church of our Lord was too complete for it tobe necessary on our part to even shade one fact. Asmen and as Christians who will have to give answer,we have given the facts as they were presented. Itis hard for us to believe that a debater with the experience of Guy N. Woods could lose this composureand even try to debate with the audience. Get thetapes and you will find that this is exactly what hedid or tried to do on both Tuesday and Thursdaynights. We say again that the truth has nothing tofear from debating.
SERIOUS DIVISION
The very fact that Guy N. Woods with all ofhis experience and standing among those whofavor the institutions, would not take aposition on the question of support of the college from the treasury of the church points out inunmistakable terms the division that exists between liberal brethren. It would be impossiblefor us to state this too strongly. These brethren are in trouble, and serious trouble, over thecollege question. Added to this is a great hostof brethren in the west who feel that the onlyway an orphan home can scripturally operate isunder the eldership of a local church. With one or two exceptions every home west of the Mississippi is under a eldership. There is littlequestion that another division is coming. Justas the digressives of a little over a century agofound themselves divided over the MissionarySociety, our institutional brethren are on thebrink of division. There will never be another course when any group of men give up the restoration plea and no longer remain silent wherethe Bible is silent.
James P. Miller
In debating a proposition where the Bible is involved every term of the proposition has to be defined in the light of Bible teaching. This is not trueof human discussions where the affirmative can define the terms in the light of human wisdom. Thefirst glaring mistake made by brother Woods wasthat he failed to check his terms with the teachingof the word of God. His entire position in regard toInstitutional Orphan Homes is that the church canbuild and maintain such homes but can not OPERATE THEM. This is called the restored home argument. He affirms that the church can build the institutions and support them but it then must turnthem over to the board of the human institution for function. He is very definite in the statement thatthe church can not do the care required.
CHART NO. 1
This chart on the meaning of the word "Maintain"exploded forever the falsehood of this position. Lookat the chart carefully. The word "maintain" is foundonly two times in the New Testament. In Titus 3:8and in Titus 3:14. In both of these passages it declares that the Christian is to, "maintain goodworks." This simply means to DO THEM. The Greekword from which "maintain" is translated is found six other times in the New Testament. In Romans
12:8 it refers to an elder, "that ruleth with diligence"; in I Thes. 5:12 to those that, "are over youin the Lord." In I Timothy 3:4 it is made evenplainer when speaking of a prospective elder Paulsays, "one that ruleth well his own house." Moffatt's translation has, "manage his own household." In the next verse, I Timothy 3:5, "if a man know nothow to rule ..." and in I Timothy 3:12 "ruling their children and their own . . ."
From these passages even a child can see that toMAINTAIN means to be over, to rule, to see to, tocare for. ANYTHING ON EARTH THAT THE CHURCH CAN BUILD AND MAINTAIN IT CAN OPERATE. It is unbelievable that an experienceddebater could make this elementary mistake. The restored home theory is exactly that, just a theory.It has no basis of fact in the word of God.
It is small wonder that brother Woods stands opposed to the operation of every institutional homewest of the Mississippi with one or two exceptionswhen they say that the operation of the homes isthe work of the church and as Grover C. Ross of the New Mexico Christian Children's Home states in a letter to Ralph Bruce, "I received your letter recently inquiring if the home here is under the eldersas such or the elders serving as a board. Our eldersare serving as elders. The home is a part of thework. I am one of the elders. Thus, we feel that we are over it, in it, under it, and in the middle of it."
Guy N. Woods found himself with an impossibleproposition. A twelve year old boy can answer the"Restored Home" argument from this day forward.THERE IS NO BASIS, EXCEPT IN THE MINDS OF BROTHER WOODS AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE THIS POSITION THAT THE CHURCH CAN NOT OPERATE ANYTHING THAT IT CAN BUILD AND MAINTAIN. We hasten to add however that there is not a verse of scripture in all ofthe word of God that even intimates that the church can build any institution much less a Human Institution under a board of directors. The elder can not turn over the rule of the church to someone else, thefather of a household cannot turn over the rule or management of his household to another any morethan Christ on his throne could turn over the headship of this church to an angel. The proposition isan impossible one in the light of the scriptures.
BROTHER WOODS AND CHART NO. 2
The reader will have to see this chart and the marking-of brother Woods to believe it. This chart calls for the passage or passages where the churchof Christ ever BUILT a human institution, ever OPERATED a human institution, or when the churchof Christ ever USED (sent any one to) one. Floundering in serious trouble and trying1 to argue withthe audience, brother Woods was provoked intowriting these passages on the chart. The picture tellsthe story,
This mistake is so plain that little purpose will beserved in comment. In fairness it should be pointedout that Woods marked out the word human and wrote in the word divine, but it must be remembered that he was defending such institutions as Boles Home, Tennessee Orphan Home, Childhaven,etc. His position is that these homes are divine.THUS HE HAS THE CHURCH BUILDING A HOME SUCH AS BOLES HOME, TENNESSEEORPHAN HOME, CHILDHAVEN, ETC. INTHE SECOND CHAPTER IN GENESIS, 4000YEARS BEFORE THE CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED. The other scriptures are about as falacious. There is no institution like Boles Home in I Timothy 5:16 or in Acts 4:32. Every fair reader ofthis review needs to sit down and search his soul. If the scripture for these Human Boards had been inthe Bible Guy N. Woods, E. R. Harper and GayleOler all sitting at the same table would have found them. Brethren should give this picture wide circulation among their liberal friends for to an honestman this is enough.
WHEN ARE THESE HOMES DIVINE?
To take the position that these Human Board Operated Homes are divine is to almost insult the intelligence of reasonable men and women. BrotherWoods argues like this: every child has a right toa home, the institution is the only home the childhas, therefore the institution is a divine home.
This same logic was given brother Woods in regard to a hospital. Every sick saint has a right to ahospital bed. The bed in the hospital is the only bedthe saint has. Therefore the hospital is divine. Anynumber of similar illustrations can be given. Takethis one for example. Every child has a right to aneducation. The school is the only institution the child has in which to get an education, therefore the schoolis divine. One who takes this position is immediatelyfaced with this question. WHEN DOES THE INSTITUTION BECOME DIVINE? Is it divine when it is first thought of? Is it divine when the board isselected before there is any house, ground, children,supervision or care? Could it be divine withouta house, children, superintendent or operation?Brother Woods did not attempt to answer the question except to say in its inception. Think of arguingthat a home is divine when it has: no land, no house,no children, no superintendent, no care. Yet this isthe very problem. The GCCH, Greater ChattanoogaChildrens Home Inc., has been taking up money fortwo years or more when it had no house, no children, no supervision and no care and YET BROTHERWOODS IF HE FOLLOWS HIS CONCLUSION WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT IT IS DIVINE WITHOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS.
THE DIVINE RELATIONSHIP
To a student of the Bible the teaching on the divine home is clear. In Matt. 19:5,6 the teaching isvery clear. The only thing in the world that makesa home divine is the RELATIONSHIP. The relationship of husband to wife as they "become one flesh"and the relationship of the children to the union ofthis man and woman with the passing of time. Thehouse in which they live is not divine nor is the tableand chairs from .which they eat. To take a positionthat the Institutional Board made up of men fromall walks of life and an Institutional Supervisor with a hired staff providing shelter and clothing withfood and care is the home of Genesis the 2nd chapter, started by God when he took the rib fromAdam's side is to make a mockery of the word of
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God. The Lord provides for a restoration of this relationship in I Timothy 5:14 when he tells theyounger women to marry and bear children.
CARELESS RESTORATION
If the same careless use of the scripture was usedin the restoration of the Church, look at the result.In place of the elders we could put the pope, instead of the deacons we could put the cardinals, in placeof the preachers we could place the "Priests," andwho among the restored home advocates could raiseone objection. If the cry is raised that it is impossible to restore the home, AND INDEED IT IS, justadmit it and recognize the human nature of theseman made institutions. Place them to any test inthe reason of man. What makes a Human Denomination in religion? For years we have taught, andrightly so, that a human origin, a human creed (charter), a human organization and things of like naturedefine every denomination on earth as HUMAN. Trythe same principles on the home. If it is of HUMANORIGIN, if it has a HUMAN CHARTER (CREED)and if it has HUMAN ORGANIZATION, it is HUMAN AND NOT DIVINE.
YOU MUST TEACH THE TRUTH
In the matter of whom the church can help fromits treasury brother Woods was caught on the sideof limited benevolence and "saints only." This wasbecause he turned his back on the scriptures thatteach the saints are the objects of church action inActs 2:44-45, Acts 4:32-37, Acts 6:1-6, Acts 11:2730, I Tim. 5:16, I Cor. 16:1-2, Rom. 15:25-31, I Cor.8:1-4, II Cor. 9:1-5, 12-13, and made up a rule of hisown. In answer to the question, would he give to aBaptist Orphanage, his answer was, NO, because they did not teach the truth. This then becomes his law. YOU CAN NOT GIVE TO THOSE WHO DO NOT TEACH THE TRUTH. How easy the answer. Nonebut saints teach the truth, therefore none but saintscan be helped from the treasury of the Lord'schurch. This, although he did not anticipate it, putsGuy N. Woods forever on record as favoring help tosaints and to saints alone. The only escape whichwould be far worse for liberal brethren, is to takethe position that those who are not Christians teachthe truth. (Some may be closer to this position thanwe realize. We do not charge brother Woods withthis view, however.) It was forcefully pointed outthat if a Baptist preacher was starving next door tothe meeting house brother Woods could not helphim. Several speeches later he sought an explanationbut the tapes speak for themselves.
GOD'S WISDOM ALWAYS BEST
To those who believe the word of God and want to be bound by the authority of the sacred scripturesGod's wisdom is always best. Brother Woods' entirecase for the institutional orphan home was basedon the assumption that the church could not providethe actual care for homeless children. It was pointedout time and again in the debate that God had already taken care of this requirement. The churchhas the organization and all the organization that isnecessary within the very frame work of the congregation. The elders can provide the SUPERVISION,the deacons can furnish the MINISTRATION and the saints can provide the RESOURCES. The early church proved this in the very first years of thehistory of the church in Acts 2; Acts 4 ; and in Acts 6.To deny that this is true is simply to deny the wordof God.
In seeking to prove the scripturalness of the Herald of Truth brother Woods based the entire case on this argument. IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TOFEED THE SOUL AS IT IS THE BODY, thereforethe scriptures that show how churches cooperatedin benevolence can be used as examples in evangelism. In other words, if one church sent to another to feed the body it can send to another to feedthe spirit. Of course this does not happen to be true.In evangelism the support is always sent to thepreacher and not the church. Brother Woods hasacknowledged this at other times and used Phil. 4:15, 16, to prove God's simple way. Here is the positionin which he found himself. If they are parallel heneeds to be consistent. He should be institutional on both sides of the board.
ON ONE SIDE, PHYSICALOTHER SIDE, SPIRITUAL
Church Cannot Do The WorkChurch Must Do The Work
Human Corporation Right Human Corporation Wrong
Institutional Anti -Institutional
Brother Woods is justinstitutional when it suits him.
This conclusion is inevitable. If the matters of food and clothing are parallel with preaching and teaching he needs to be institutional in both or anti-institutional in both. He can not say they are parallel and have it both ways. If they are parallel whatis right on one side would be right on the other, andwhat is wrong on one side would be wrong on theother. The truth of the matter is simply that Guy
N. Woods is an "anti", when it suits his restoredhome theory to be or he would admit this greatinconsistency
THE COLLEGE QUESTION
The moment any advocate of the InstitutionalHome seeks to use scriptures in benevolence in a parallel with preaching he immediately involves otherinstitutions that would be truly parallel This makesTHE COLLEGE QUESTION a legitimate issue.There can be no question that the College is parallelwith the Institutional Orphan Home and the onlydifference is that one is in the field of the physicaland the other in the spiritual. Several pages couldbe written in this review on the embarrassment brother Woods suffered on this question. HE SIMPLY WOULD NOT TELL ANYONE WHERE HE STOOD. Just think of such a position; a preacherdefending institutionalism who will not tell wherehe stands on institutions. The same thing was trueof G. K. Wallace and his debate a year ago. Askedover and over they maintain complete silence. In this both of them had one thing in common. Neither ofthe churches they represented believed in puttingthe college in the budget and they knew this but yeteither out of conviction that it was right or fearfrom those who do, they stand dumb speech afterspeech. Brother Woods finally stated that when hewas ready to debate the college question he woulddecide the time and place. This was an admissionthat he might debate it and the only conclusion isthat he would be for it, OTHERWISE THEREWOULD BE NO DEBATE. It will come with poorgrace for him to say that this is putting words in his mouth for he had speech after speech to speakfor himself. Just here it ought to be pointed out thatthe Cleveland Avenue Church that sponsored brotherWoods stands firmly against putting the college inthe budget and their preacher O. B. Porterfield haschallenged the ultra liberals on the radio to debatethe question. It is a shame that in a discussion oninstitutionalism a preacher like Guy N. Woods wouldnot state his position on an issue that bids fair toDIVIDE THE CHURCH AGAIN.
THE TOTAL SITUATION
This old argument has been handed down andchanged so many times that in some ways it is hardlyworthy of an answer. When it started there wereabout a dozen links in the chain and now they whouse it have changed the number of component partsuntil the chain is so short they can not get a goodhold on either end. In the first place they are the lastpeople in the world who should make such an argument. A true institutional church never has a total anything. It is either sending a part of its membersor resources to someone else or having someone sendto it. In the case of the Highland church in Abilenethere would never be a day when they could auditthe books and say this is the total situation. Moneywould be going and coming and so would many ofthe personnel. For a congregation to have a totalsituation it must have all of the following. The question was asked several times, which of the followingcan a congregation turn over to another and havea total situation. Can it turn over ITS MEMBERS,ITS RESOURCES, ITS WORSHIP, ITS WORK ORITS DISCIPLINE?
THE WEAKEST LINK
In any argument where several things are givenin proof of a conclusion always remember that everylink in the chain not only must be true but theremust be scripture to prove it. Although it is truethat faith, repentance and baptism upon confessionare a part of the total situation in salvation, it mustalso be remembered that each of them is scriptural and a verse or verses can be given to prove each ofthem. Brother Woods and those others who use the total situation argument have to assume the verything they need to prove. As they were presented inthe Montgomery debate this was element numberthree, THAT A CHURCH COULD SCRIPTURALLYUNDERTAKE A WORK LARGER THAN IT COULD DO. This link in the chain is simply not trueand the passage used to prove it is perverted. Acts
11: 27-30 proves no such contention. The church atJerusalem did not assume anything. God Almightyassigned to the church in Jerusalem the task ofseeing to needy saints. It is not parallel with Highland assuming to do all of the radio and televisionfor the brotherhood. This is the very thing Woodsneeded to prove and he at the very last minute ofthe third night tried to run it in under the guise ofa scriptural part of a total situation. If he could findthis link in the chain he would have a valid argumentbut neither he, brother Harper, Cawyer, or Olercould find it. Brethren, do not fear this argument.Just show the link that is not true and it makes little difference about the others, the chain will notpull the liberals out of the dilemma in which theyfind themselves.
TOTAL SITUATION TURNED AROUND
When men try by human wisdom to prove something not in the word of God they always find themselves in the trap they have laid for others. In following the total situation line of reasoning this wasoffered to brother Woods. (He kept the only copybut this is the substance.) 1. The preaching of theword of God as it relates to the college in the budgetis a component part of the total situation of theHerald of Truth. 2. The belief and teaching of thechief speakers on the Herald of Truth is related tothe preaching of the word of God as a componentpart on the Herald of Truth. 3. Therefore the collegein the budget as believed by Baxter and Chalk is apart of the total situation and therefore a legitimateissue in regard to the total situation of the Heraldof Truth radio program. Brother Woods stutteredand hedged but could not deny it. He finally madethe profound observation that the notes handed himdid not have a verb in one of the sentences. He was told that Highland had taken out the verb when itrefused to have this part of the council of God taught on the program.
FRAUDULENT CLAIMS
Over and over again the brethren at Highlandmake fraudulent claims for the Herald of Truth. Searching the Scriptures does not know the heartof any man. It may be that the brethren are deceivedby high pressure agents in the radio and televisionfield. Regardless of this the propaganda sent out bythe Herald of Truth is one of the greatest fraudsin modern times. Claims that the price of one cupof coffee will preach the gospel to 21 lost people orthat a small donation of just a few dollars will send it to thousands. There is simply no truth in theseclaims. They are false to such a percentage that itis unbelievable. In preparation for the debate wewrote to the American Broadcasting Company andasked them for the ten most popular religious programs on the major networks today. The letter wasaddressed to Mr. Paul Sonkin of the ABC network. It was referred by him to Mr. Charles E. Gersch whois the Supervisor of Program Analysis. If anyonein the world ought to know what an accurate estimate of the size of the Herald of Truth is he should be the one. Here is the list in the exact order he gavethem in a letter dated July 25, 1966.
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would be natural for ABC to set the figure as high
as they thought the could in the light of the surveys.
THE DELUSION OF THE SHORT CUT
In 1954 brother Burton Coffman moved to New
York City to work with the Manhattan church. He
believes in the scriptural nature of every promotion
among us. In the Gospel Advocate of March 17, 1966
on page 165 he made these observations.
"The delusion of the short-cut tempts every gen
eration of men. When printing was invented some
supposed evangelism had reached the end of its
usefulness. But books are hardly the answer to man's
crying need of salvation . . .
"Then came radio . . . wonderful as our programsmay be in this field, only a blind man can shut hiseyes to the colossal fact that people are simply notlistening to us. In ten years in New York City, wehave baptized only five people as a result of our own radio programs and those of others, and of these five(baptized), only one is, of this date, still faithful,and even here the issue is not finally determined ...the same thing is true of television . . .
"One more example will suffice. One of our latestshort-cuts is an exhibit at the World's Fair, or other fairs, when it is supposed, that by expenditures ofhundreds of thousands of dollars some magnificentharvest of souls can be achieved for His name's sake. Oh, how I wish that it were true. If only there couldbe some short-cut to tell the dying millions of theBlessed Savior's love; but here again, we find nosubstitute for preaching the gospel. As a result ofthose visiting the Fair last summer, we receivedsome three thousand names of so-called prospects,representing the end result of a vast expenditureand coming down to a batch of cards which we ofthe Manhattan church of Christ have faithfully triedto process and convert to tangible and meaningfulresults. Printed personal invitations were sent to thewhole list and we are in the process of visiting allof them. After months of effort and expenditure, wecan reports that eight people have attended churchat least once; and of the entire total none has accepted Christ. We are not giving up, but have foundout that mass conversions are simply not going toresult from any deployment of men and money suchas this. One rather poor evangelist, full of his message, with a tent on a back street in an obscure village could probably have achieved as much in a tenday meeting. . . Not long ago, at a sales meeting ofone of the greatest life insurance companies in theworld in New York City, the president addressed therepresentatives of his giant insurance empire, andsaid, 'Today there are a hundred million policyholders in our company, and every single one of themwas sold one at a time!' There was a message and amessenger, and these are the two prime ingredientsof evangelism." (Burton Coffman, Gospel Advocate,March 17, 1966, page 165)
ABUSES NOT THE POINT
It should be remembered that abuses as bad as they are do not make these digressive things unscriptural. The home is abused but it is still divine.The church is abused but it is still the blood boughtchurch. The thing that makes all of this wrong isthe centralization of authority and power. This iswhat makes the Missionary Society wrong and this
is what makes a centralized eldership like that ofHighland wrong. The word of God teaches no centralization of power, whether it be in the hands ofthe Pope, the Missionary Society or the elders ofthe Highland Church. It is not a matter of cooperation but the kind of cooperation that makes the Herald of Truth wrong. This illustration was givenbrother Woods several times and he did nothing with it. Under the centralized type of the Herald of Truththe churches are working through someone else. Inthe scriptural type the work is done directly. Theexample was given of pushing a car. The Herald ofTruth calls for any man to put his hands on the car and for all others to put their hands on him and pushthrough him. The Bible way would be for every manto put his own hands on the car and all push together.Look at this parallel.
MY VISIT TO CHICAGO NATURALHISTORY MUSEUMNo. 2
In my former article I stated that most evolutionists disclaim the position that man descended directly from the monkey or gorilla, but most of themsay that they are close relatives, descending fromthe same family.
I have four statements on record, including"white" booklet (page 48) which state that man andthe apes are "cousins." But the various definitionsgiven for Evolution, regardless of how extremelyatheistic and liberalistic they may be, are confirmedand set forth by word, drawings, molds and arrangements throughout the museum, its displays andwritten material. Every animal and human form,whether in pictures or wax and clay molds, and all"arrangements" showing their relationships to eachother are made based upon a prior assumption ofthe evolutionary doctrine. Note:
"The Halls of Mammals in systematic arrangement show related species in the same or adjoiningcases." White, page 62. "Fossils restorations anddioramas trace the evolution of life from its earliest single-cell forms to the appearance of man a million years ago. Diagrams at the museum ascribe all
forms of life, plant and animal, to a common ancestry, single-celled aquatic organisms. Both algae, ancestors of the plants and protozoa, ancestors of theanimals, evolved from these protostic cells, according to the museum scientists who planned the diagrams." (And we might note — who also built,molded, and fashioned them and then arrangedthem to teach the unproved and unproveable theoryof Evolution. P.F.) ; "The animal 'line of descent'from the unicellular protozoan, as shown in the museum's diagrams, include amoeba, chordates, fishes,amphibians, reptiles, mammals, ancestors of man and other primates, branched off from one group ofreptiles about 180 million years ago. . . The lordlypeacock and the glamorous bird of paradise areclosely related to the snake, lizard and crocodile. Man has ho right to be smug about this, however, for on the museum's 'Family Tree' of living mammals, he is a cousin of the ape and a close relative of the moles and shrews." (White, page 48.) "The fossil fishes,amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals exhibited inthis hall (No. 38) are arranged according to biological relationship. The entire geological sequence of life is indicated." (i.e. by their "arranged" and "schematized" exhibits).
"Skeletons of the principal vertebrate animals — fishes, frogs and their relatives, birds and mammals
— are exhibited in order of their relationship,from' lower forms to higher apes and man." (Green, pages 39, 43.)
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QUESTION — Why do the conservative brethrenhold on to Institutionalism? If Christians can own and operate religious institutions like Florida College, why can't they own and operate missionarysocieties so long as they leave the church outof it? Show by the scriptures that the early Christians had religious institutions such as Florida College. Is not the church the only religious institutionthat Christians need? Is not the local congregationsufficient?— H. D.
ANSWER — While I do not propose to speak forany college, I am happy to state my convictions in the matter.
The above questions imply that Florida College isa religious institution in the sense of supplantingthe church. I do not believe that this is so. Florida College is a secular institution engaged in the business of secular education. But for this business it would not exist. It also has within its framework a systematic arrangement whereby religious instruction is imparted. This arrangement is a matter ofprimary consideration end special emphasis in relation to its reason for existence in the first place — secular education. We might also say but for thisarrangement it would not exist. The two objectivescombine to make possible the fulfilling of the parental responsibilities of Eph. 6:1-4 — and at a verycrucial time in the lives of boys and girls. This isdone on the basis of paying for services rendered(tuition) and contributions. I, therefore, hold Florida College to be an adjunct to the home and not tothe church.
To make the church responsible for providing aneducation in the liberal arts and sciences in an environment and under instructors with a faith like that in the home of parents who are Christianswould be to extend the church's responsibility beyond its divinely authorized mission. While thechurch can and should make a worthwhile contribution to the spiritual welfare of the child during his"bringing up" (Eph. 6:4), it should not take overthe above described responsibility. Such comes within the purview of parental responsibility, and since no specific pattern has been prescribed for the parents, it falls into the realm of divinely authorized human judgment.
The missionary society is supported by churchesand serves as an agent for them in evangelizing theworld. This it does in its selection, support, and sending out of preachers to evangelize the world. FloridaCollege does none of this, much less act as an agentfor churches in this endeavor. It seeks to provide aservice needed by parents, in extending and executing their duty, and other individuals. The mission
________________________________________________________________________ '_____________________________ Page 9
ary society is wrong per se. This is so, because itsupplants the churches, destroys their autonomy,and activates the church universal. Florida College does neither. As long as this is so, it has itsright to exist as a divinely authorized institution inthe realm of human judgment for the fulfilling ofGod ordained duties imposed upon parents andindividuals.
An individually owned and operated missionarysociety, though apart from the church, would, nevertheless, supplant the church. Whenever this is doneby any organization, it reflects upon the all-sufficiency of the church, and is, therefore, wrong.
I am not sure that I understand what our queristmeans by "religious institutions." If he means onethat supplants the church, then I stand opposed toit. If he means one that provides a service wherebyparents extend and execute their religious duties asparents, then I am not opposed. Publishing companies often combine the efforts of many to produce a religious product (papers, tracts, sermon books,etc.) which can be bought and distributed by individuals and churches. Such might be called a religious institution. However, I would not be opposedto such — it would not supplant the church. If contributions were made to it and used at the discretion of those in authority to distribute such products, itwould thereby become a missionary society andwould supplant the church. There is a difference between an organization that produces the product and the one buying and making use of it. Not all institutions that may be called religious in some senseare to be opposed. Not all of them reflect upon orsupplant the church of our Lord.
On October 23, 1849, one hundred fifty-four delegates met in Cincinnati in convention to form theAmerican Christian Missionary Society. This meeting was a result of the efforts of Alexander Campbell and the Millennial Harbinger, of which he waseditor. At this meeting W. K. Pendleton, in Campbell's absence, presided; a constitution of thirteenarticles was adopted and Campbell was elected president. The aims of this labor can be summarized byCampbell himself, who desired to "build a moreglorious superstructure" on the foundation alreadylaid. The meeting directly resulted from desires tosecure suggestions from readers as to how the workcould be more effectively accomplished. Such notables as Tolbert Fanning were present to lend their support.
Campbell, by his own admission, desired to enlarge upon that which had been in the eternal purpose of God. For 1800 years the church of our Lordhad existed, had grown, and had even flourishedseparate from the devices of men (Acts 2,3,4). The history of the early church had been one ofrapid growth and enlargement, even reaching to the ends of the known world; but now man, with hisintentions, was about to mar that glorious body ofthe Son of God.
Needless to say, the purpose, achieving a moreefficient way to organize the various congregationsin work, was not in itself honorable. But even moreso was the failure to recognize the divine organization and the factors underlying the rapid growthof the early church, namely: (1) diligence in service,
(2) liberality in giving, (3) unity of doctrine, (4)recognition of authority and (5) respect for organization.
From that day until this brethren have increasingly relied upon human institutions to do the workof the church. Especially during this century therehas been prevalent a desire for the church to cofunction with the adjuncts which man might attachto it. Certainly these did not recognize the perfection of the church in its ability to work as Godmade it. Paul stated it in Ephesians 4:16 that thebody, as God made it, effectually worked with thatwhich every joint supplied — this is its perfectionas God made it.
Those who once cried for the support of orphans'homes on the basis of sympathy are the very oneswho now are pleading for congregations to surrender their autonomy to colleges, hospitals, and missionary-society-type arrangements. Institutionalism
— its tide never ebbs — from 1849 to the presentyou see her history. Her future course is determined: further digression.
To assist with the Lord's work by means of humaninstitutions is to deny the perfection of that heaven-sent, blood-bought, and Spirit-filled body and todeny God's ability to chart her course.
THEY REHEARSED ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM . . ."— Acts 14:27
REPORT FROM JACKSON, TENNESSEE
Earl Fly, P. O. Box 57, Jackson, Tennessee 38301
The Hollywood Drive church continues to makeslow but steady progress. Five have been restoredand five others placed membership since June. Weare beginning to reach more people with newspaperarticles (over 23,000 circulation), and a weekly radio program in Lexington, Tennessee. We recently sent40 subscriptions to SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES for preachers, elders, deacons and othermembers of local churches, in the hope of stimulating study and a better understanding of the current,controversial problems in the church. We also planto publish a paper in the future.
Several visitors from denominations and local churches of Christ attended our recent meeting withBill Cavender. One sermon presented the New Testament teaching on benevolent work and did much visible good in correcting misunderstandings of ourposition. Two came from liberal churches to be identified with us.
Opposition is beginning to increase from brethrenin this area. In efforts to isolate and subvert our work, some are using "carnal weapons" of misrepresentations, false charges, appeals to prejudice andthreats to mark visiting Christians from localchurches. One lady was told by an elder that nonattendance would be better than worshiping withus. She became confused and ceased to attend anywhere. We are working with some success to restoreher to Christ.
Brother A. E. Emmons, Jr., preacher for theBemis church, charged in a sermon that we wouldallow little children to starve while buying fertilizerfor the lawn, and that we are as the Pharisees who"say and do not." Such irresponsible and recklessstatements completely misrepresent our position andpractice, harshly judge our hearts, charge hypocrisy, create prejudice, and show a flagrant disregard for facts. Just because we do not "sound atrumpet" when we do our work, does not mean weare not working God's work in benevolence and evangelism. Such false charges and evil speaking manifest a lack of love and brotherly kindness, and aspirit of error. Only error depends on ungodly tactics of misrepresentations and prejudicial statements tocamouflage the real issues, confuse the mind, prejudice the heart, and stop the ears, to blindly lead itsblind followers. Truth needs only the Bible, notcarnal weapons, for its defense. If a doctrine orpractice cannot be proved or disproved by the Bible,it cannot be proved or disproved at all.
Brother Emmons' charges are eternally serious innature, and if true, we have departed from God andare lost in sin. Therefore, in the interest of truth and salvation of souls, he will be invited to publicly discuss these vital matters, and to defend church contributions to human organizations (the real issue).But we shall insist on Bible proof. We are "set forthe defense of the gospel," we are ready and willing to "prove all things" and "contend earnestly for thefaith" (Phil. 1:17; I Thess. 5:21; Jude 3). We haverepeatedly stated that if anyone can and will proveby the Bible that we preach or practice anythingcontrary to God's will, we will immediately cease it;or if it can be proved that we are failing to preachor practice something required by God, we will immediately begin it.
The Hollywood Drive congregation is simply andonly a scriptural church of Christ, believing in andstriving to practice God's instructions to oppose allerror, preach the gospel, care for the needy, worshipand serve him, according to Bible teaching, as wehave ability and opportunity. We sincerely inviteChristians in the Jackson area to work and worship with us, where the Bible only is complete authority,and where Bible authority is required for all things.We constantly stand "ready to always give an answer to every man that asketh (us) a reason of thehope that is in (us) with meekness and fear" (I Pet. 3:15).
CHICAGO DEBATE ON BENEVOLENT WORK OF THE CHURCH
The Grand Avenue church of Christ, 3679 WestGrand Avenue, Chicago, Illinois will provide the setting for a public debate the first week in Decemberconcerning the benevolent work of the church. Thespeakers will be Elvis Bozarth, preacher at GrandAvenue, and William Mizell, preacher for the Humboldt Park church of Christ which meets at 3700 West Fullerton, Chicago. The Humboldt Park churchwas willing to provide the place for half the debatebut their building will seat less than 75 and wereunable to find another church in the area to providespace for them. Therefore, the Grand Avenue churchagreed to provide the space for all the debate.
The propositions are:
MONDAY AND TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5-6, 1966 "It is scriptural for churches of Christ to contribute from their treasuries to relieve the physicalnecessities of those who are not Christians." Affirmative: WILLIAM MIZELL Negative: ELVIS BOZARTH
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 1966 "The building, maintaining, and supplying of orphan homes such as the Tennessee Orphans Home iswithout scriptural authority."
Affirmative: ELVIS BOZARTH
Negative: WILLIAM MIZELL
L. A. Stauffer, preacher for the Berwyn, Illinoischurch, will moderate for Bozarth and Sidney-French, preacher for the Chicago Midwest church,will moderate for Mizell.
The Grand Avenue members will try to providehousing for out-of-town visitors who request it.
Such requests should be made as far in advance aspossible. Adequate space for tape recorders will beprovided in the soundproof nursery for those whodesire to tape.
MOSBY-TOTTY DEBATE Frank D. Butler, Frankfort,Ky.
Ronald G. Mosby of Valley Station, Kentucky and
W. L. Totty of Indianapolis, Indiana will engage in a four nights discussion in Frankfort, Kentucky, December 12, 13, 15, 16, 1966. This discussion will bein the meeting house of the Frankfort church ofChrist, located on U.S. 60, on the West Side of Frankfort. The propositions to be discussed are as follows:
1. Resolved: It is scriptural for the church ofChrist to take money from its treasury to give benevolent assistance to those who are not members of the church.
W. L. Totty affirms Ronald
G. Mosby denies
2. Resolved: It is not scriptural for the church ofChrist to take money from its treasury to give benevolent assistance to those who are not members of the church.
Ronald G. Mosby affirms
W. L. Totty denies
3. Resolved: It is scriptural for a local church ofChrist to make contributions to a benevolent institution such as Potter Orphan Home in Bowling Green,Ky.
W. L. Totty affirmsRonald G. Mosby denies
4. Resolved: It is not scriptural for a local church of Christ to make contributions to a benevolent institution such as Potter Orphan Home in BowlingGreen, Ky.
Ronald G. Mosby affirms
W. L. Totty denies
Tape recordings of this debate are available to anywho desire them. H. E. Phillips, P.O. Box 17244,Tampa, Florida 33612, is making the recording andwill have excellent recordings of the complete debateon four reels at 3 3/4 i.p.s. The price is $12.00 for allfour reels — the complete debate. Order now.
BOWLING GREEN, MISSOURINEEDS HELP NOW
Jimmy Tuten, Jr.
In the early part of 1965 a brother in Christ fromClarksville, Missouri came by the Spring & Blainebuilding to discuss his dissatisfaction with liberaland modernistic trends in the church of our Lord at Louisiana, Missouri. Within a few days anotherbrother from Hannibal, Missouri came by with anaccount of how he was being maligned and forcedinto isolation within the church at Hannibal and that such action was due to his convictions with reference to institutionalism. Since neither of these brethren knew the other, they were put in contact
Page 11
with each other immediately. Shortly thereafter,brethren Kenneth Hirshey and Alton Jenkins, Sr.,along with several others, established the church atBowling Green, Missouri. This small, but faithfulnucleus has a determination to establish the work after the New Testament order. In their stand for truth, they have suffered greatly from the efforts ofliberal brethren in the area to destroy their influence. After meeting in a small, but modest storebuilding for over a year, they have made greatstrides. Their number has grown to over 22 in regular attendance and their contribution runs $75.00 weekly. In spite of many obstacles, things have gonewell for the cause of Christ in Bowling Green.
Albert Robinson now preaches for this groupbeing supported by churches in Springfield, Butler,Hazelwood, Kirkwood, St. Louis and Bowling Green,Mo. Brother Robinson preached for the church inClarksville, Missouri until he dared to speak out concerning present day issues. He was immediately released, not by Clarksville, but by the Overland andSouthside churches in St. Louis, who were supporting him. He was not given his last week's salary,nor was the three month notice agreement honoredby the church at Clarksville. This man's immediateneed was assumed by "anti" churches who "do notbelieve in cooperation" and are "do nothingers."
During the period of time that brother Robinsonhas preached for the church at Bowling Green, hehas been receiving inadequate support. This problemwill become more serious after the first of the year.He needs immediately an additional $75.00 permonth. Since one or two of the churches now helping with his support will have to cut back, effortsare being made to raise $150.00 per month support for brother Robinson by the first of the year. In 1967the church at Bowling Green will assume an additional $50.00 of his need. Brethren, if you can helpkeep this man in the field, please contact KennethHirshey, 5007 Wyaconda, Hannibal, Missouri, immediately. These brethren are working hard, makingmany sacrifices, and are deserving. Loyal brethrenin the St. Louis area can recommend the efforts of these brethren.
THE NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY
by William Hendriksen
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, 505 pages ................ $ 6.95PHILLIPIANS, 218 pages ................................. 5.95I & II THESSALONIANS, 21 4 page s .............. 4.50I & II TIMOTHY & TITUS, 404 pages ................ 6.00REVELATION — MORE THAN CONQUERORS,
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In our last article we tried to give our brethren inother areas who read Searching The Scriptures an idea of the general progress of the church in California. In this concluding piece we would like tofocus attention on northern California, the areawhere we are now working and the one with whichwe are more familiar. Perhaps a brief look at thegrowth of the wholesale apostasy of the majority ofthe churches in this area will serve to forewarn brethren where the departure from the New Testament pattern still seems unreal or minor.
As we said in the last article, the State of California seems to be about fifty years ahead of the nation in most everything — including error and lawlessness. Departures from New Testament authority arerife in this most populous state of the Union. As examples of the attitude held by most of the preachersand elders in the larger churches of northern California here are some excerpts from bulletins we havereceived:
"Have you heard about our bowling teams?
We have two you know. We are a church
league . . . (the names of those on the teams fol
low) . . . Since we haven't been bowling very
long no official standing has been available. We
will keep you posted on our progress from time
to time. In the meantime come on out and cheer
for us on every Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at
Fireside Lanes on Auburn Blvd." Roseville,
Calif.
The article would do better to begin, "Have youheard about anything like a 'church league' fromreading your New Testament?" Here is another:
"Bro. ---------has offered to give 10% of each
item, other than gas bought from him at his
service station to the Academy . . ." Central
church, Sacramento, Calif.
The "Academy" mentioned here is a full-blown elementary school which teaches secular as well asreligious subjects — owned and operated by one ofthe churches in Sacramento, California. Book, chapter, and verse? Authorization for the church to enterthe field of secular education may be found on p. 29of Questions and Issues of the Day by Batsell Barrett Baxter, but don't bother thumbing your NewTestament for it. It ain't thar'. Oh well, the Catholics have been doing it for years; it must be right.
"Would you believe" a step toward instrumentalmusic and the Christian Church? The following announcement was received by bro. Frank Thompsonwho preaches for the faithful church Carmichael,California:
"Men's Fellowship
Monday night, June 6, 7:30 p.m. at the:
Town and Country Church of Christ 4837
Marconi Avenue, Carmichael
Speakers: Member ---------, a member of the
Central Church of Christ Elder , Town
and Country Church of Christ
Minister ---------, California Avenue Church of
Christ
A question and answer period will follow. Come,
join in this area fellowship of the Churches of
Christ (Instrumental-Non-Instrumental). Our
first fellowship was so appreciated that we have
planned this second venture! Come! Refresh
ments will be served after the meeting!" Car
michael, California.
We would certainly have no objection to brethrengetting together to study their differences on suchthings as instrumental music, but this action is partof a trend toward adoption of the innovations of theChristian Church (here called the Church of Christ-Instrumental). This was not an effort to cleanse theinstrumental church of its error but a period of "fellowship."
To be blunt, brethren who move to California thesedays have got a choice to make: either they identifywith one of the small struggling groups of faithfulbrethren here, or they can melt into the large fast-moving denomination which left the plea for NewTestament authority fifteen or more years ago.There are some large churches among faithful brethren but they are few and far between. Generally the brethren who have rot bought the institutional, recreational, and educational programs of thelarger urban churches are just now beginning to seethe light of day and become firmly established. The work here in Sacramento is only three and a halfyears old. A small church in Orangevale is one yearold. Bro. John Wilson moved to Chico, California thisyear to begin a work there. A work has been recentlybegun in Santa Rosa, California. And so it goes. There are many churches that are older, but nearlyall, whether new or old (ten years is old out here),they are in the fifty to one hundred member range.All of this is distressingly reminiscent of twentyyears ago and childhood memories of services in private homes and rented halls, of careful saving andscrimping to build meeting-houses, of sacrificial efforts to reach unconcerned multitudes with the truth. Two decades and an apostasy later, we are back inthe same boat. But none of this alters the determination of dedicated brethren to overcome every obstacle of whatever nature or intensity. There are afew left here and everywhere who remember andstill reverence the motto with which they begantheir lives as Christians: "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God."
ROMAN CATHOLIC EFFORTS TO CHANGE THE CONTEXT OF SCRIPTURE
In the New Testament, there are several wordsthat are used interchangeably in reference to theoffice of bishops or elders in each of the New Testament congregations. We list them as follows:
(1) ELDERS (Acts 20:17). Translated from theGreek word presbuleros. (2) OVERSEERS (Acts 20:28). Taken from theGreek word episkopos. (3) BISHOPS (Phil. 1:1). Taken from the Greekword episkopos. (4) PASTORS (Eph. 4:11). From the Greek word poimen.Each of the above terms apply to the same officein the churches of Christ. May we call your attention to the fact that the word PRIEST is NOT among these synonyms. However, the fact that theword priest does not apply in Holy Scripture to theoffice of the bishops, our Catholic friends are not inthe least ashamed to INSERT it into contexts where it does not belong.
SOME EXAMPLES OF CATHOLIC MIS-INSERTION'.
Acts 14:22 (Acts 14:23 in King James Version) :"And when they had ordained to them priests inevery church.. ." (Rheims Version.) The Greekword for "priest" is hiereus, or hieros. The questionto be answered next, then, is; "What word is actually used in the Greek in Acts 14:22 (23)?" We shallconsider the Greek texts of several different scholars.
Stephens Greek Text: Presbuteros is the wordused . . . not hiereus. Elzevir's Greek Text: Presbuteros is the word used.
Griesbach's: Presbuteros is the word used.
The Resultant Greek Testament which includes any variations of rendering from the works of Lachmann, Tregelles, Tischendorf, Westcott and Hort,and Alford . . . indicates that no variation exists as to the use of the word presbuteros in the passageunder consideration. Therefore, we can only concludethat the Catholic Hierarchy INSERTED the word"priest" even though the word "hiereus" wasn'teven there!
Acts 15:2 — " . . . they determined that Paul andBarnabas . . . should go up to the apostles and prieststo Jerusalem about this question." Here again, theword "priests" is mis-used in the Rheims Version.The word actually used in the Greek language ispresbuteros, and is properly translated "elders" oranglicized to form "presbyters." In any case, theRheims "scholars" dropped their scholarship fortheir "priesthood."
I Timothy 5:17 and 19 — "Let the priests thatrule well, be esteemed worthy of double honor . . ."and "Against a priest receive not an accusation, but under two or three witnesses." In both of the foregoing cases, the word "priest," singular or plural, isa MIS-TRANSLATION. The Greek text uses the word presbuteros in one of its forms, which wouldbe correctly translated elder or elders.
James 5:14 — "Is any man sick among you? Lethim bring in the priests of the church . . ." (RheimsVersion). The word presbuteros is the Greek termused. Thus, elders would be the correct rendering.Not priests!
THEY CAN TRANSLATE IT CORRECTLY
... IF THEY WILL!
Perhaps you wonder by this time if the RheimsVersion EVER translates the word "priest" correctly? We can answer with a "Yes." In Revelation(Apocalypse) 1:6 — "And hath made us a kingdom,and priests to God . . ." The word used here in theGreek is hiereis. It teaches that every child of God,thus every Christian, having been purified by theblood of Christ, through faithful obedience to thegospel, sustains an intimate relationship with Godthrough His Son Jesus Christ. In fact, it puts thefable of the Catholic priesthood to shame, whereinthe follower is deluded into supposing that onlythrough the PRIEST can his or her sins be forgiven, while in reality, every Christian has the right andprivilege of approaching God in prayer and repentance, through the one mediator, Jesus Christ therighteous.
In the recent debate between James P. Miller and Guy N. Woods, brother Miller did a masterful jobin showing all the fallacies in brother Woods' arguments on the support of Institutions from thechurch's treasury. However, many of the preacherswho were there seemed to shudder at the thoughtof anyone trying to defend the "saints only" proposition. Thus the reason for this article. I believe I can prove that the MAIN issue, in defending theteachings of the Bible, IS to whom the church fromits treasury may assist. This is the ONLY proposition I would want to affirm. I believe I, or anyoneelse, could "nip the institutional question in thebud" by proving this proposition. Now, I wouldn'twant to have to affirm brother Grider's prejudicialproposition he had to sign with W. L. Totty. In fact,I don't know of a sectarian preacher who would askanyone to sign such a proposition. But then, manyof our liberal brethren are worse than sectarians — including W. L. Totty. But, anyone who was notprejudiced and heard brother Grider define hisproposition and debate the issue, knows that Griderhad and defended the truth.
Now, to get down to the matter at hand. Every debate, that I have heard or read on the institutionalquestion, has been filled with such terms as "corporate bodies," "board of directors," "re-established home," "incorporation," "en loco parentis" etc., andthus it becomes a battle on words and not on Scriptural terms, for none of these are Bible terms. Thisis the reason for the title of this article.
Why talk about building an institution to takecare of non-saints UNLESS you can find some Scripture that authorizes the Lords treasury to be usedfor those who are non-saints? Surely no one will saythat non-staints will starve to death with all the Scriptures that are directed to the Christian to helpsaints and non-saints. (James 1:27; Gal. 6:10; Eph.4:28). Benevolent institutions cannot be built by thechurch for lack of Scriptural authority for takingcare of those who would be placed in them. Why talkabout the church building them?
Why talk about the church building an institutionin which the sick may be cared for UNLESS youcan find Scriptural authority for the church takingcare of the sick of the world? There would be no talk of church of Christ hospitals for lack of Scriptural authority for taking care of the sick of theworld. Someone may say, "what about the widowindeed in I Tim. 5:16?" "If she needed medical care,why couldn't the church build a hospital for thewidow indeed." But, here is where the switch ismade from the REAL recipient to the problem. Instead of helping the one that is to be helped — a person, an individual that God made and Christ lovedand died for — they switch to the human institutionthat God didn't make, and for which Christ did notdie. Of course, the widow can have the care sheneeds; because Paul said the church should care forher. But providing what SHE needs, is by no stretchof the imagination the BUILDING of anything.Thus, why talk about building them?
Why talk about the church building and maintaining a school like David Lipscomb or Florida College;unless you can find Scriptural authority for thechurch being responsible for teaching secular subjects to anyone? Of course, the question has only tobe asked to be answered.
Thus, this is my contention on the subject of thechurch building any kind of an institution-When you study the Bible you learn that the primary purpose of the church is to support and see that thegospel is preached (I Tim. 3:15). This is its first andforemost responsibility. Secondly, it is to give assistance to the need of the poor among the saintsthat there may be equality (freedom from want)(II Cor. 8:14). So, why talk about the church building and maintaining anything of human origin?There is no Scripture for it!!!
TAPES OF EVERY SPEECH OF THE
1965 FLORIDA COLLEGE LECTURE PROGRAM
Clear and complete tapes are available of theentire Florida College Lecture Program — January 2528, 1965. New 1 1/2 mil polyester "Mylar" base strongtape that will not stretch will be used, recorded at 3 1/2 speed and may be played on any tape recorder. One7" reel will contain any two speeches desired Therewere 20 lectures and 10 tapes will contain the entire lecture program.
** *
SPEAKERS AND THEIR SUBJECTS
Harris Dark — Relativism and Absolutism."Jim Ward — "Moral Revolution In America."Ronald Mosby — "Conscience Struggle Of The Organization Man "Art Ogden — "Works Of The Flesh "Homer Hailey — "Moral Implications In The Fall Of Nations."Foy Vinson — "Love Not The World."Stanley Lovett — Immoral Dispositions."Harry Pickup, Jr. — "Basic Causes of Divorce."Bill Fling — "Moral Responsibility of Communication Media."Howard See — "Let it be Corban."Jim Rury — "Morality And Spiritual Mindedness."C D. Hamilton — "Moral Implications of Capital Punishment "Gene Frost — "Moral Implications of Gambling."Ray Ferris — "Bribery And Perversion of Justice."James R. Cope — "Moral Implications of America's Public Health
Enemy #4 " Steve Hudgins — "Fruit Of The Spirit." David Tant — "Morality and Judgment to Come." Melvin Curry — "Moral Implications of Organized Benevolence " A. C. Grider — "Why Florida College" Robert Jackson — Technique of the Big Lie "
** *
Any one tape (two speeches) .. . $ 3.00 The
entire program (1 0 tapes) .... $27.00
* * *
order from:
PHILLIPS PUBLICATIONS
P. O. BOX 17244
TAMPA, FLORIDA 33612
W. W. OTEY, CONTENDER FOR THE FAITH
A history of controversies in the church of Christ from 1860-1960
by Cecil Willis
A biography of one of the greatest gospel preachers of this century — William Wesley Otey. A well documented book with some of the most pertinent and important information bearing on the present issue in the church today and its development through the years.
425 pages $4.00
Order From
PHILLIPS PUBLICATIONS P. O Box 17244 Tampa, Florida 3361?
BOOKS BY W. CURTIS PORTER
Quibbles That Backfired— Contains three sermons at Florida College several years ago. These are outstanding denominational arguments that Porter turned on his opponent. He had a large number of debates with all sorts of falseteachers.
Price — $1.00
Sermon Outlines, Volumes I & II — Sermon outlines W. Curtis Porter used through the years of his preaching.
Price — $2.00 Set of 2 vols. — $3.75
of the
LECTURE PROGRAM OF FLORIDA COLLEGE
January 24-27, 1966
SPECIAL ON ONE TAPE
Of special interest and importance — three lectures on Evolution, very ably delivered by Paul Foutz Everyone should hear these lectures on this vital subject
Only $3.00
An outstanding lecture on "Perversion of Justice" byRoy Cogdill Due to the length and wealth of this lecture both sides of the tape were required to recordit. A vital subject well delivered
Only $3.00
ANY TWO LECTURES ON ONE TAPE
| Claude WorleyYater Tant Art Dowell Jimmy TutenBarney Keith C. D. Hamilton |
| Bryan VinsonFrank Puckett Lloyd MoyerChoice BryantSewell Hall Cecil Willis Ferrell Jenkins H. S. Owen |
| Charles Holt James P. Miller |
Recorded on new strong 1 1/2 mil. Mylar tape ofgood quality. This is new weather resistant tape, recorded on both sides at 3 3/4 speed and can beplayed on any recorder using a 7" reel.
Each tape (two speeches) — $3.00
Entire Program (10 tapes) — $27.00