Transcript History of the Institutional Controversy

History of the Institutional
Controversy
A brief review of the
previous lesson
Division has occurred over the
last 50-60 years
• This division in many respects mirrored the division in that
took place 1890-1900
• Sadly, bitterness and wild charges often accompany
division
• Conservative brethren were often called “antis” and
“orphan haters”
• Those who believe Christians could “visit the fatherless
and widows by taking them in your home” have “taken the
narrow, crooked pig-path of radicalism.” (The words of a
Christian College professor)
The Bible and Apostasy
• The Old Testament Period was full of apostasy
– Prophecies of apostasy made even before they entered
the promised land (Deut. 31:19-21)
• The New Testament history presents similar
warnings
– Paul’s charge to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:28-30)
– Paul’s warning to Timothy (I Tim. 4:1-4)
– The warning in Hebrews 3:12
• Within the 2nd Cent. we see the beginnings of the
system that eventually led to complete apostasy
The 19th Cent.—the beginning
of Restoration
• The 16th Century saw efforts by Luther,
Zwingle, Calvin and others to reform the
corruption in the Roman Catholic Church
• Rather than restoring N.T Christianity, this
movement led to the formation of
multitudes of Protestant denominations
• Beginning around 1800, serious efforts are
made to restore the ancient order of things
• Thomas & Alexander Campbell, along with
Barton W. Stone and several others began
the plea for a
return to simple,
undenominational
Christianity
The spread of the “Christian’s
Only” plea—1830-1849
• Through publishing and preaching, the
growth of this movement grew to around
200,000 by 1839
• But dark clouds of division were on the
horizon
– Some were not content with the simple plan of
evangelism as practiced by the early church
– They wanted another organization besides the
church
The beginning of the end--1849
• In 1849 we have the formation of a human
organization to do the work of the church—the
Missionary Society
– This was formed over strenuous objections
• Then about 1860 there came a change in worship,
as mechanical instruments of music were
introduced
• By 1900, the lines of division were pretty well
drawn, and three groups emerged
– Churches of Christ, The Christian Church, and
the Disciples of Christ
History of the Institutional
Controversy
The 20th Century--Growth and
New Division
VI. The First Half of the
20th Century
• As the “dust settled,” the conservative
churches were few and small
– Perhaps 12 full-time preachers in 1900
• Despite these numbers, these days were
thrilling days for conservative churches
– Foy E. Wallace, Jr., N. B. Hardeman, G. C.
Brewer, J. D. Tant, Joe Warlick, H. Leo Boles
Foy E. Wallace, Jr.
N. B. Hardeman
H. Leo Boles
J. D. Tant
G. C. Brewer
The First Half of the
th
20
Century
• During this time, various para-church
organizations were also growing
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Nashville Bible School—David Lipscomb College
Abilene Christian College
Harding College
Pepperdine College
Tennessee Orphan Home – 1909
Potter Orphan Home – 1914
Boles Home – 1927
Tipton Orphan Home – 1928
The First Half of the
th
20
Century
• There was a spirit of unity
– “There was a time when Churches of Christ
were known as a people of the Book. All who
knew us knew that we hungered above all for
the word of God. They knew that we immersed
in its truths and sacrificed dearly to share the
gospel with those who had never heard. These
were our most fundamental commitments. We
knew, and others knew it” (Leonard Allen).
The First Half of the
th
20
Century
• “I don’t think they see the glory of the church,
unencumbered by denominationalism, as I did… when I
was growing up…I don’t think members of the church
think the church is different from Protestantism. When I
started preaching members of the church believed
Protestants needed to be saved.
We’ve lost a lot of that. It goes
back to an understanding of the
distinctiveness of the church. At
an earlier time they really felt the
gospel was a lot better than
Protestantism” (Willard Collins).
The First Half of the
th
20
Century
• “Most of the baptisms were from the denominations. In those days denominational people would
come to our meetings…Denominational people do
not come these days to
our meetings and if they
did they would not, in
most places, hear anything
that would lead them out
of false doctrine”
(G. K. Wallace)
The First Half of the
th
20
Century
• “…larger and more expensive buildings, the more affluent
middle-class membership, the number of full-time
ministers, the increasing emphasis on Bible schools and
Christian education, and missionary outreach all reflect a
gradual but impressive growth…
After W.W. II the church enjoyed
a remarkable growth in urban
areas. As its members climbed the
economic and educational ladder,
the church moved ‘across the
tracks” (Bill Humble).
Words of caution from Guy N. Woods
• “The ship of Zion has floundered more than once
on the sandbar of institutionalism. The tendency to
organize is a characteristic of the age. On the
theory that the end justifies the means, brethren
have now scrupled to form organizations in the
church to do the work the church itself was
designed to do. All such organizations usurp the
work of the church, and are unnecessary and
sinful.”
• “It should be noted that there was no elaborate
organization for the discharge of these charitable
functions. The contributions were sent directly to
the elders by the churches who raised the offering.
This is the New Testament method of functioning.
We should be highly suspicious
of any scheme that requires the
setting up of an organization
independent of the church in
order to accomplish its work.”
A word of caution by Guy N. Woods
VII. World War II
• The period of time around W.W. II marked
a definite change in the church
• Attitudes toward the war itself produced
some controversy and change
VIII. The Post W.W. II Era
• With the return of GIs from the war, fervor
for evangelism grew
• In time some brethren began to have second
thoughts about such cooperative efforts that
involved something larger than the local
church
• Roy Cogdill, Luther Blackmon,
Foy E. Wallace, Yater Tant and
others were forced by conscience
to withdraw their support
Roy E. Cogdill
Luther Blackmon
Foy E. Wallace, Jr.
Yater Tant
• Preceptor
• Searching the Scriptures
• Truth Magazine
IX. What Were the “Issues”?
• The proliferation of human institutions and
sponsoring churches’ arrangements, all
clamoring for church support
– The “Herald of Truth” was looked upon as the
“voice” of the churches of Christ
– Clamoring for support were homes for unwed
mothers, homes for the aged, orphan asylums,
publishing ventures, “Cows for Korea,” etc.
What Were the “Issues”?
• Opposition began to appear in some of the
religious journals
– Foy Wallace in Gospel
Guardian, May, 1949
What Were the “Issues”?
• Opposition began to appear in some of the
religious journals
– Glenn Wallace in Gospel
Guardian, Dec., 1953
• The Gospel Advocate and the Firm
Foundation were the main organs
supporting the innovations
B. C. Goodpasture
Gospel Advocate
Reuel Lemmons
Firm Foundation
Eventually there were
several debates
Holt-Totty, Indianapolis, 1954
Harper-Tant, Lufkin and Abilene
Texas, 1955
Woods-Porter, Indianapolis, 1956
Cogdill-Woods, Birmingham,
1957
Wallace-Holt, Florence, AL 1959
X. The Arguments Advanced by
Non-institutional Brethren
• A. That God has revealed in Scripture patterns to
be followed in the work and worship of the church
– (Heb. 8:4-5) “Now if he were on earth, he
would not be a priest at all, seeing there are
those who offer the gifts according to the law;
who serve that which is a copy and shadow of
the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned
of God when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, says he, that you make all things
according to the pattern that was shown you in
the mount.”
X. The Arguments Advanced by
Non-institutional Brethren
• A. That God has revealed in Scripture patterns to
be followed in the work and worship of the church
– (Heb. 8:4-5) “Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest
at all, seeing there are those who offer the gifts according to the
law; who serve that which is a copy and shadow of the heavenly
things, even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make
the taberna-cle: for, See, says he, that you make all
things according to the pattern that was shown you
in the mount.”
• B. That authoritative patterns are expressed
in terms of
– Generic or specific statements or commands
– Approved examples for churches to follow
– Necessary conclusions or implications (Acts
15)
• C. That the generic statements or commands
allow expedient ways of obeying, while the
specific directions are more restrictive and
do not allow changes
• D. That the differences between general and
specific instructions can be distinguished by
common sense principles of interpretation.
• E. That there is a difference in individual
and church responsibilities, in carrying out
their respective roles in glorifying God.
• F. That the church’s treasury is to be used
for the purposes of the edification and
education of its members, assisting saints
who are in need, and supporting preachers
in their proclamation of the gospel.
• G. That there is no authority in Scripture for
human organizations or super-church
arrangements through which local churches
may do their work (II Cor. 11:8-9; Phil.
4:15-18).
• H. That the church Jesus died to purchase is
a spiritual institution, and was not intended
to provide for the recreational or social
needs of its members, nor to be a worldwide benevolence organization.
• I. That human societies or organizations
(hospitals, publishing houses, colleges, etc.)
may provide services on a fee-for-service
basis, but the Scriptures do not allow for
these to become permanent appendages to
the church.
• J. That individual churches do not compose
the universal church as in a denominational
structure, but that it is individuals who are
the universal church.
The universal church is not composed of
individual, local churches. That is a
denominational concept.
The universal church is not composed of
individual, local churches. That is a
denominational concept.
The universal church is composed of
individuals, who share a relationship.
• K. That there is no provision in Scripture for the
universal church to function, for it is a relationship
of people rather than a structured organization.
– The human race exists, but has no
organizational structure
– The human race lives and functions in nations,
which have organizational structure
– The universal church exists, but has no
organizational structure
– Its members function in local churches,
which have organizational structure
The human race exists but
has no organizational structure
The human race lives in nations,
The human race exists but
which have organizational
has no organizational structure
structure
The human race lives in nations,
The human race exists but
which have organizational
has no organizational structure
structure
Individual states comprise
the United States
The universal church exists but
has no organizational structure
Christians function in local
The universal church exists but churches which have
has no organizational structure organizational structure
The universal church exists but
has no organizational structure
Christians function in local
churches which have
organizational structure
But local churches do not
comprise “The Church of Christ”
XI. The Yellow Tag of
Quarantine
• The lines of fellowship were further strained by
the policies of the Gospel Advocate.
The Yellow Tag of Quarantine
• The lines of fellowship
further strained by the
Gospel Advocate.
• Florida College a target
Hamilton
Puckett
Cope
Payne
Hailey
Pickup
The Yellow Tag of Quarantine
• The ugliness of a partisan spirit was manifested in
many ways
– Ads for preachers – “No anti need apply”
• In short, by the 1960s the clear message was sent
to the minority “antis”—“Go away, you bother
me.”
• Tant’s group uses slander and libel,
(And knows nothing much about Bible).
They’ll find at the end,
After judgment they’ll spend
Eternity down with le diable
• (The last two words used give this a fine
continental flavor, and would let intelligent people
know that you have at least one contributor who
has traveled, has an education, and is above the
general troglodyte level of your usual trash. No
charge.) Regus P.
• “We contend that the homes perform a service
more effective than the average private home in
developing habits of work and industry…We
contend that the homes do a more effective work
teaching good, moral behavior than the home…
We contend that the homes are more successful
than the average private home in making
Christians of the young people…This statement is
no indictment of the private home. It is the best
organization in the world.” (Said by defender of
Central Kentucky Orphan Home).
• “We contend that the homes perform a service
more effective than the average private home in
developing habits of work and industry…We
contend that the homes do a more effective work
teaching good, moral behavior than the home…
We contend that the homes are more successful
than the average private home in making
Christians of the young people…This statement is
no indictment of the private home. It is the best
organization in the world.” (Said by defender of
Central Kentucky Orphan Home).
• The average institutional church member
gave 7¢ per week for the care of orphan
children.
The Yellow Tag of Quarantine
• What is abundantly clear is that the majority
of the men and institutions that were centers
of influence were with the institutional
majority