IT’S
NOT A CHURCH
Many years ago brother
H.E. McCaskill recounted that in his past life in
preaching the Gospel he once turned down a “work” because the church was
currently receiving funds from the Akin Foundation. He just could not with good
conscience be
involved with a church that received funds from a foundation set up in the
early 1940s for the
support of
churches of Christ. This was to him so blatantly wrong – an organization set up
by brethren that funded churches of Christ. I am not amazed any more when I
hear of another organization being built by brethren for the purposes of
worship, edification and evangelism or benevolence to needy saints. After all,
it has been a long time since
the
founding of Florida College and the beginning of churches of Christ being
supported by the Akin Foundation. Once accepted one human organization spawns
others. A kinship develops through acceptance, and the influence of even one
“type” of human society can weigh strongly in others’ desire for yet another.
The
Defense of the Human Organization: “It’s not a church!”
The common defense of the human society
amongst us is this. By defining the human society by what it is “not” by no
means scripturally justifies it. Ask yourself if you can find scriptural
authority for a human organization supporting churches of Christ? I
might add
that the human society is not an individual either. How do you like that? Oh,
some would not like that at all because their society for support, or worship
and edification is said to be nothing more than individuals engaged in a good
work. In fact, from the standpoint of the scriptures what James tells the
individual to do by no means authorizes the building of a human institution by
brethren to do it. James 1:27 says for individuals to practice true religion
and keep “oneself” unspotted from the world. I’d have to dust off some old
sermons but they’re out there everywhere showing that Liberals used this verse
to justify their Human Societies. People must understand what attitude lies
behind apostasy (cf. Jer. 2:19). Where did James say find you an organization?
He didn’t! You don’t stay scriptural when you transfer individual
responsibility and work to
organizational.
Remember the old arguments --- the “we” in Gal. 6:10 included Paul and Paul was
not a church! Nor did he make up a human organization – verse ten does not
authorize corporate action nor was Paul part of a corporation that he was
supposed to be referring to in that verse. In Gal. 6:9-10 in the context what
is accomplished is by
individual
action --- for “a man sows” (vs. 7) and “one who sows” reaps (vs. 8).
The
School Is Not A Church!
I am told that the school is not a church.
In “Let the Church Be the Church” Ron Halbrook
presents the local church as distinct from the individual, the family, the
school, a camp, a business, and his own G.O.T Foundation. Perhaps he is
champion of “It’s not a church!” while admitting that the local church is “the
pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim. 3:15). His use of other organizations
besides the G.O.T. Foundation that engage in evangelism and worship such as
Florida College, Athens Bible School, and various Summer Camps along with
businesses is proof of nothing so far as justifying the practice scripturally!
You don’t prove a scriptural practice just because you can list a passel of
secular institutions all engaged in the same works.
The
Camp Is Not A Church!
I am hearing that the camp is not a church.
Some, to justify sending their kids to a summer camp that provides worship and
edification (Some camps have even been known to provide the Lord’s Supper to
those willing to stay there on Sunday.) would even say, “It’s not a church,
it’s not a school, it’s a camp!” The distinction of going to a camp to have
fun, of course, seems in the minds of many as the primary purpose which
justifies the secondary (probably not as secondary as one might claim or other
might think) purposes of worship and evangelism. In other words it’s not a
church for worship and evangelism, it’s not a school for learning, and it’s a
Camp! Can’t you see that? It’s a Camp! Being just a Camp you can even send the
Camp your individual donations if you’d like to for its good work in worship
and edification! Can’t you see that? It’s just a Camp!
A Texas F.C. Camp promotes itself
like this:
“The purpose of Florida College Texas Jr.
Camp is to provide our young people summer recreational and educational
opportunities in a wholesome environment.
Our aim is to be neither a church or bible camp in the popular sense,
but we are striving to instill principles of honesty, modesty, purity of life,
and other virtues taught in the
scriptures. To this end, we include Bible study and
worship in our daily activities because these should naturally be a part of our
campers' lives; but the main thrust of the camp is not evangelism. All of us
should work to maintain a proper balance between the camp's recreational and
spiritual activities.”
The
Benevolent Society Is Not A Church!
Having Ron Holbrook’s article in mind one
the newer benevolent organizations amongst us, the “Bread Upon
the Waters” agency, states on their web site:
“We are not a church, nor do we operate as
an agency within the church. We do not solicit, nor will we receive donations
from churches. We do not supplement or contribute to the funds of church
treasuries. We do not seek to take over the work which churches have been
ordained to do. (Click HERE to see an article on another website entitled,
"Let the Church be the Church").”
NOTE (Bob Lovelace): The “Bread Upon The Waters” agency states that they are not a church
nor do they operate in direct contact with local churches. They certainly are
not a society that contributes to the church treasuries as the Akin Fund
mentioned above in its support of local churches. You may, however, send them
your donation. Such
is
explained on the Bread Upon The Waters website (http://butw.org/index.php) with
the following works:
“Donations
We want to make this simple. Our goal is to
send every dollar you want donated to the poor saints through BUTW to be sent
to the poor saints. Therefore, we do not have a donation button for credit
cards. If we received credit or debit card donations, part of the money donated
will have to pay a fee for each credit card transaction. Fees add up quickly
and become a liability that can only be paid by the donations we receive. We
want all your money to go to the person who needs it. We are working on a paypal account to be available that does not accumulate
fees. We will post this if this is possible and we are able to get this done.
If you go to the Contact Us page, you can
send your donation to the address posted there. We accept personal checks,
money orders, and cashier checks payable to Bread Upon The
Waters or BUTW. Please indicate to what area of concern you would like your
donation to be a part of. Below are the areas we are currently involved in.
Please
specify in
a note or email to which area of concern that is listed below you would like
your donation to go.
At present, we are assisting Christians in
the Philippine Islands. The island of Mindinao is
where most if not all of our effort is going to right now.
Bibles
-
English
-
Cebuano Philippine dialect
Song
books, Class books, Lord Supper supplies
Preacher,
widows, orphans or other individual's support
Food
Clothing
and Shoes
Personal
supplies and hygiene
Medicine
and hospitalized persons.”
One brother who initially informed me of this
Organization stated his disappointment. He said, “It's disappointing enough
that someone has set up another human institution for benevolence among
brethren, however it's even worse when they're also involved in supporting
preachers and providing teaching materials (look under the "donations"
tab). The missionary society is reborn again!”
The Bread Upon The
Waters agency states what they are in their “About Us”:
“About Us
Bread Upon The
Waters is a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization, founded by Michael
and Donna Glaesemann in July of 2010. In Ecclesiastes
11:1, the wise man urged: "Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will
find it after many days." We believe this principle--that if we share with
others, it will "come back to us" in many ways. The most significant
way is the treasure we lay up in heaven for eternal life. There are many
admonitions in God's word regarding the poor. We seek to awaken others to the
fact that not only is this a command, but a great
blessing to those who cast their bread upon the waters.
In our own country, even the poorest of our
citizens have resources available for obtaining the necessities of life. Such
is not the case in many countries across the seas. Most of the work of Bread Upon the Waters, therefore, will be directed to the poor of
other nations not as blessed as our own United States. The "bread" or
sustenance includes that of a physical, but also spiritual nature. We hope to
provide fellow Christians in other lands physical needs such as food and medicine,
but even more importantly the BREAD OF LIFE--knowledge of the true Source of
spiritual life, our Lord Jesus Christ, through the nourishment of His Word. In
this regard, we will also be supplying Bibles and other educational materials to many who cannot afford to buy them.
Being aware of the future
judgment scene described by our Lord in Matthew 25:31-46, we seek to do unto
His brethren those acts of kindness and charity which He considers done unto
Him. Also, in the spirit of the golden rule (Matthew 7:12) we will seek
to help others in the same manner we would wish to be helped, were we in their
situation.
Because it is so true that "there, but for the grace of God, go I.,"
we believe we are blessed in order to bless others. As Jesus told His
disciples, "Freely you have received, freely give." (Matt. 10:8)
Bread Upon the Waters will be one avenue that will
enable others to share their bounty with those in other lands who are less
fortunate.”
NOTE (Bob Lovelace): Bread Upon The Waters
is said to be “one avenue”
--- can brethren not see that this sounds just like older
arguments where the church was just “a tool” among other tools that were not
divinely given?
The “Bread Upon
the Waters” agency states: “We are not a church, nor do we operate as an agency
within the church. We do not solicit, nor will we receive donations from
churches. We do not supplement or contribute to the funds of church treasuries.
We do not seek to take over the work which churches have been ordained to do.
(Click HERE to see an article on another website entitled, "Let the Church
be the Church").”
NOTE (Bob Lovelace): That sounds like the
camp argument – the Camp is not a church! But the camp was doing the work God
gave the local church to do. Anytime now that I read those belonging to a human
organization say they do not exist to take over the work churches have been
ordained to do I look to see which work(s) it is that they are doing that God
ordained the local churches to do.
The “Bread Upon the Waters” agency states:
“We are merely concerned individuals, seeking to organize our efforts into an
agency that can enable other concerned individuals to join us in relieving the
poor and needy in an non-sinful efficient manner . In
certain cases, we may be doing a work which can also be carried out
Scripturally by a church;. but
many times we will be helping in situations churches would not be involved
with. For example, someone is struggling to send a child to college, someone's
home might need repair, a family might need help with funeral expenses, etc.. These and similar situations would not be in the realm of
the work of churches of Christ, but we might help them through Bread Upon The Waters.”
NOTE (Bob Lovelace): They are more than
just concerned individuals for their “agency” or organization is a tax exempt
charitable organization by their own admission. Being free of connections to
any “local church” is not all that is necessary to qualify a “non-sinful
efficient manner.” They say, “In certain cases, we may be doing a work which
can also be carried out scripturally by a church.” “Efficiency” arguments used to be exposed
when not scriptural as “the end justifies the means” --- if it is not
scripturally authorized it cannot be done with God’s approval. When it comes to
evangelism, worship and benevolence to needy saints God gave saints the local
church. There is already a collective treasury in the scriptures for
benevolence to needy saints “elsewhere” (I Cor. 16:1-3). The treasury belongs
to the local church not a human agency (organization) built by brethren. As
regards that “work” it was not done through a human organization. The local
church functions through a collection made up of its own according to their
ability (I Cor. 16:1-3; Acts 4:34-35).
The “Bread Upon
the Waters” agency states: “In many cases, there are those with hearts of
compassion for the needy in foreign lands, but are unsure of a trustworthy
agency through which to help. We will research any request for help, and make
sure (as much as humanly possibly, with God's help) that all donations are used
strictly for
the
ones for whom they are intended. A full accounting and report will be provided
to all those making donations to Bread Upon the
Waters. You will know how your gift was distributed, for what purpose, and to
whom. Receipts will also be supplied, which may be used for tax purposes of the
donors. No person working with Bread Upon The Waters
will receive salaries or compensation. All such persons are strictly
volunteers.”
NOTE (Bob Lovelace): Donations indicate
that there will be a treasury, oversight and intended work as stated. A
non-profit organization consists of more than non-salaried, non-compensated
individuals should they be such – intent, purpose, pooling of
resources,
oversight are things that matter.
The “Bread Upon the
Waters” agency states: “We will have various categories for giving, such as:
medical aid, balakbayan boxes (like large "care
packages" of food and other necessities), donations of Bibles and other
literature, etc. The donor may choose how he or she wishes to contribute, and
in which category. When possible, profiles
will be
given of persons in foreign lands who receive the donations, as well as contact
information so that they may be reached personally. We have already found many
incredible people overseas, who are practicing the "true religion" of
James 1:27 who need our help in relieving their fellow men. We would love for
you to get to know them,
and be
inspired by them, as we are. Once you involve yourselves with this work, it
will be such a great joy and blessing, we believe you will never want to stop!. The rewards of the giver are always greater than those of
the receivers (Acts 20:35). May God bless Bread Upon The
Waters and may it be to His glory.”
NOTE
(Bob Lovelace): So now we have the “Do
the work of James 1:27 and use our agency” appeal. James tells “you” as an individual to do that
not an organization. Since when is
Matthew 25 and the judgment scene authority for brethren building human organizations
for benevolence to needy saints? I’ve had a Captain of the Salvation Army make
the same argument from Matthew 25:40 at Christmas time to justify
what
their organization does. I explained to the Captain that the context was
Christ’s “brethren” not general benevolence, and it says nothing about working
through organizations. Jesus did not say the Agency gave, visited, invited,
clothed, etc. Jesus did not say in
Matthew 7:12, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way the
Agency
wants them to treat it.” Take notice of whose article is supposed to help you
understand that this agency is authorized. The influence of “Let the Church be
the Church” by Ron Halbrook is clearly seen.
NOTE: (Bob Lovelace): The work of the local
church in benevolence to needy saints was not an ongoing thing --- it was not
like the perpetual “agency” that is so familiar today asking for donations and
constantly receiving donations for areas, countries, peoples, etc. Brethren
should respond individually as well as collectively through
the
churches in times like the famines as recorded in Acts and the epistles. May
God bless the churches of Christ and may they be to His glory!
By
Bob Lovelace
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To learn more call, visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com