Why I Left Liberalism

Posted on August 1st, 2001 in Liberalism, Institutionalism, Themes, Institutionalism, Subject Index by Yeager, Brian A.
This entry is part 10 of 10 in the series, Institutionalism.
Editor’s Note: After this August 2001 issue was already posted, I was asked by brother Yeager to publish the following article. Brother Yeager has recently taken a stand against the error that is documented elsewhere in this issue of Watchman. His reasons for leaving serve as a welcome addition to the material already found in this month’s Watchman. I commend the article to you.

The Lord’s church today is divided over many issues. Most of those issues are simply filed under the subject of Bible Authority. I spent my first preaching work teaching liberal doctrines relative to the church’s authority to support things in which the Bible never authorized. I spent most of my second preaching work studying some of these issues because of Ed Phillips who was my neighbor, friend, and a fellow Gospel Preacher. I had studied with others and had seen some of my inconsistencies but I was not fully convinced that I was a false teacher on these matters of authority. I then began my third work and during the beginning of that work I was realizing more and more as I studied. I never did buy into the fact that we had authority to support orphan homes with the Lord’s money, but I did not stand against it either. This article is going to reveal what finally made me leave the liberal position of Institutionalism and the things relating to that position. I knew of some like myself who did not belong in that belief system, but we also had a developed hatred towards what we termed “anti’s”. Of course, labels are used to develop prejudice against a group of people. For example the Christian church calls faithful members of the Lord’s church “non-instrumentalist”. This is true, for faithful Bible students would be “anti instruments” or against instruments used in Christian worship. We must realize that there are extremists on all sides of every issue. I am not an extremist. I was listening to a lecture on the subject of “anti-ism” on the Internet. This fellow said that “anti-ism” was people who bind one communion cup, no bible class, etc. This is the case in some extreme positions, but not most. Do not allow your mind to be clouded by misrepresentations so that you will not study these issues. This is what I did, it took me too long to wake up and see the truth!

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Division: The Institutional Issue

Posted on August 1st, 2001 in Institutionalism, Themes, Division, Institutionalism, Subject Index by Price, Ralph
This entry is part 9 of 10 in the series, Institutionalism.

Why We Are Still Divided in the 21st Century

The apostle Paul wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the saints in the first century as recorded in 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” We know this was in accordance with the desire of Jesus because of Christ’s prayer that we have recorded in John 17. We read in verses 20-21 of that chapter these words of prayer offered to the heavenly Father by our Lord: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

The ancient psalmist, David, wrote of the pleasantness of unity when he penned the 133rd Psalm, which reads: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing — Life forevermore” (vss. 1-3)

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The Social Gospel

Posted on August 1st, 2001 in Social Gospel, Institutionalism, Themes, Institutionalism, Authority, Subject Index by Miller, Matt
This entry is part 8 of 10 in the series, Institutionalism.

Why Churches of Christ Do Not Build or Support “Fellowship Centers” or Sponsored Recreation

“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). So wrote Paul the apostle to the Corinthian Christians two millennia ago. Problems in the church of Christ are nothing new, and have existed since the First Century. There have always been problems, issues, disagreements, heresies, and apostasy stemming from within the church, and often this internal turmoil can be more harmful and hurtful than external persecution. The particular manifestations of the root issues have varied throughout history, but the seed has remained the same; that seed is the desire to change the worship of God to the worship of self.

We young preachers have read many accounts of the issues that affected the church in the 19th Century and earlier, especially in this country as the issue of institutionalism played itself out in the debates over the church’s support of manmade institutions. Yet the people representing the two sides of these issues have, for the most part, stood their ground, so that today there are faithful brethren who refrain from such practices, and others who insist on them – a vast rift between those who once were brethren, and now are very different.

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The Church VS The Individual

Posted on August 1st, 2001 in Institutionalism, Themes, Institutionalism, Authority, Subject Index by Wallace, Steve
This entry is part 7 of 10 in the series, Institutionalism.

For over fifty years there has been a controversy among members of churches of Christ concerning the work of the New Testament church. A major part of this controversy has involved what difference, if any, there is between the church and the individual. Many brethren have argued that there is no difference between the church and the individual. Let us pause to notice some examples of their reasoning.

“There are those who try to distinguish between the work of the church and the work of Christians, indicating one to be divine, the other human. This is fallacious reasoning. The church is composed of Christians; what the church does, Christians do; what Christians do, the church does, generally speaking. We cannot separate the Christian’s work from the work of the church.” [i]
“Actually we may say that whatever is the duty of the Christian is the duty of the congregation of Christians.” [ii]
“Consciously or otherwise we make a distinction between the church and Christians, and much of our reasoning is based upon this unproved assumption.” [iii]

These are clear statements. Such reasoning brings up several pertinent questions. Why have our brethren made such arguments? Does the Bible really teach that there is no difference between the church and the individual? Where does such reasoning lead? Our study of this matter seeks to both answer these questions and introduce helpful facts relevant to this discussion.

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Are Institutional Orphan Homes Expedient?

Posted on August 1st, 2001 in Orphan Homes, Institutionalism, Themes, Institutionalism, Subject Index by Needham, James P.
This entry is part 6 of 10 in the series, Institutionalism.

One of the most useful helps in a study of the Bible is an accurate understanding of its teaching concerning expediency. Through the centuries a misunderstanding of such has dealt the church untold misery. Under the guise of expediency every form of innovation has been promoted, and wholesale apostasies developed in the work and worship of the church. Missionary societies and instrumental music were both defended as expedient methods of executing God’s commands. Again today from the camps of the innovators the cry of expediency is heard under the same guise in an all out effort to promote organizations and operations of the same nature as those of yesteryear.

What is Expediency?

Webster says expediency means, “Cultivation of, or adherence to, expedient means and methods.” Expediency, then, has to do “means and methods ” that is, the manner or way in which a given work is accomplished. In short, then, an expedient in religion is the best means or method of executing a divine command when the way to do it is not specified.

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Institutionalism

Posted on August 1st, 2001 in Institutionalism, Themes, Institutionalism, Subject Index by Hafley, Larry Ray
This entry is part 5 of 10 in the series, Institutionalism.

I. Introduction:

    A. Over fifty years ago, a prominent preacher warned:

The ship of Zion has floundered more than once on the sand-bar of institutionalism. The tendency to organize is characteristic of the age. This writer has ever been unable to appreciate the logic of those who affect to see grave danger in the missionary society but scruple not to form organizations for the purpose of caring for orphans, and teaching young men to be gospel preachers. Of course it is right for the church to care for the fatherless and widows in their affliction, but the work should be done by and through the church with the elders having the oversight thereof. (Guy N. Woods, ACC Lectures, 1939, p.54).

    B. Using commonly accepted terminology as employed in the quote above, the Scriptures shall be our authority in this study of institutionalism (2 Tim. 1:13; 2 Jn. 9; 1 Pet. 4:11; Col. 3:17; Matt. 28:20).

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Living According to the Pattern

Posted on August 1st, 2001 in Institutionalism, Themes, Institutionalism, Authority, Subject Index by Jacobs, Jarrod
This entry is part 4 of 10 in the series, Institutionalism.

All people need to see that God has left us a pattern by which we can live our lives. This pattern is found in the Bible. Paul told the Colossians that whatever we do “in or word deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). When we understand that Christ’s authority extends to all parts of our life, we will be on our way to living as God wants us to live. In this article, I wish for us to consider the pattern that has been set forth in the Scripture for the work of the church.

First of all, let us understand that the local church has work to do. The Bible teaches that the church has a responsibility to proclaim the Word of God to a lost and dying world (1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Timothy 3:15). The church also has a responsibility to care for needy saints, and widows indeed (Romans 15:26; 1 Timothy 5:16). Lastly, the local church must provide for the edification of the saints (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 12:19).

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Learning How to Discern God’s Will from the Apostles

Posted on August 1st, 2001 in Institutionalism, Themes, Institutionalism, Authority, Subject Index by Graham, Bobby
This entry is part 3 of 10 in the series, Institutionalism.

The will of God is discernible from the Bible, for God has so revealed it in a way understandable to the mind of man (Ephesians 3:1-6; 5:1). To believe otherwise is to classify the Bible as a useless document and impugn the wisdom of God or His love. Did He not care enough to make His will known in an understandable fashion? Did He lack the power to do so?

Not only the content of the will of the Lord can be gained from a study of the Bible, but the very means by which the apostles set forth matters as authoritative, having the force of divine law, can also be learned from a study of their teaching. The apostles were designated by the Lord to be forever the teachers of the world; we must let them teach us how to discern the divine will.

Peter’s Trip To Caesarea

In harmony with His will that Gentiles be included in the kingdom of Christ, the Lord instructed Peter to teach Gentiles, though in an indirect way. Through the miraculous vision and the mandate to eat the various animals, the Lord was leading the apostle to understand the distinction between clean and unclean foods, as well as between Jew and Gentile, had been removed. He also provided the situation to which the lesson would be applied when the messengers from Cornelius arrived and the Spirit directed Peter to accompany them without any doubts or misgivings (Acts 10:20). Upon arrival at Cornelius’ house, Peter then explained the process that had led him to Caesarea, as well as the conclusion he had reached concerning the propriety of teaching the Gentiles.

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Cogdill - Woods Debate

Posted on August 1st, 2001 in Orphan Homes, Sponsoring Church, Institutionalism, Themes, Institutionalism, Subject Index by Cogdill, Roy
This entry is part 2 of 10 in the series, Institutionalism.

(Roy Cogdill’s First Affirmative)

Editor’s note: What appears below is a computer scanning of the first affirmative speech by Roy E. Cogdill in the Cogdill – Woods debate, also known as the Birmingham Debate, conducted in Birmingham, Alabama, November 18 – 23, 1957. The enhancements included in this publication highlight scripture quotations within the text. The other text enhancements appear in the original text. The Copyright from the book appears at the end of the article. Permission was sought from and granted by Mike Willis of the Guardian of Truth Foundation, which holds the copyright on the book, for this publication to be made. Our thanks are extended to brother Willis for his cooperation. This is a classic presentation that I wanted to have included in this issue of Watchman on the subject of institutionalism.

Proposition:

It is contrary to the scriptures for churches of 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 Aged that are among us.

    AFFIRMATIVE: Roy E. Cogdill
    NEGATIVE: Guy N. Woods

Cogdill’s First Affirmative

Gentlemen moderators, brother Woods, ladies and gentlemen:

I am grateful for the good providence of God that has made it possible for us to assemble upon this occasion that we might study together his word. I am also very grateful for the presence of this good audience in spite of the storm and pray that it has done a minimum of damage, especially to those who are of the household of faith. We are glad that you are here and we are grateful for the fact that many brethren have come from all over the country to study these questions with us. Your presence at a sacrifice of time and money upon your part, many of you an extended sacrifice, indicates the great interest that you have in the issues that are involved in this discussion. An interest that I hope and pray is born of a desire to know the truth of Almighty God concerning these issues, that we may stand before him for that which is right and according to truth.

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Theme Editorial

Posted on August 1st, 2001 in Themes, Institutionalism, Institutionalism, Authority, Associate Editorials, Subject Index by Fain, Larry
This entry is part 1 of 10 in the series, Institutionalism.

It is August 1, 2001 when this issue of Watchman Magazine is published. Most who will read this article, but hopefully not all, are residents and citizens of the most affluent country in the history of the world, The United States of America. In the United States, we are protected by what I believe to be the greatest legal document produced by man in the history of the world, The Constitution of the United States, including its first ten Amendments, commonly called the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” No law is therefore allowed to prohibit the free exercise of religion. We have the freedom of religion. We are protected by law to follow our faith in whatever course that faith may direct us. That freedom we enjoy so much and for which so many have sacrificed even to the point of death to maintain allows us to make our own decisions in matters of faith. This is altogether good, as God will judge us on how we make those decisions. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Lest we forget, in our freedom, we owe our lives to God.

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