The Truth in Print Vol. 20 Issue 12, Jan. 2015
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Mr. Not Relevant
Human Institutions (Societies, Agencies, etc.) Built by Brethren
Why would a local church have articles on
human societies built by brethren to do the work God gave the divine
organization, the local church, to do? Because God gave His organization,
that’s why. Why would a church speak out against any and all human societies
brethren build that provide for worship and edification if there is no such
society in the particular location of the church? Because understanding present
apostasies matters, that’s why.
Mr. Not Relevant says why would a church in
Arizona have articles on their webpage about a human society in some state far
away? After all, the human society in some state far away is not relevant to
what’s going on in a particular city in Arizona. He thinks that the local
community outside the church would not relate to such articles. Therefore the
articles are just not relevant. Since when is contending for the faith once for
all delivered to the saints and exposing apostasies geographically limited?
Mr. Not Relevant has the relevancy in the
wrong place. First of all, contending for the faith once for all delivered to
the saints is always relevant to the work of the local church (cf. Phil. 1:27).
A basic understanding of the local church is its teaching locally (cf. Acts
20:27-32; I Cor. 14:26). Matters of apostasy are never irrelevant for
Christians in a local body as they are warned about them. Moreover thinking
none in the community outside the church will understand or relate, is like
saying they can’t understand the New Testament patterns Christ gave concerning
the local church. Many warnings were given to local churches from one not even
a member (cf. Gal.1:8-10, 2:8, 3:1; Col. 2:8). And local churches influence in
teaching abroad is seen in such passages as I Th. 1:7-8; Acts 15:2-3.
Are such matters ever irrelevant abroad as
the church of our Lord hears warnings throughout the world? Why would we care
to hope that brethren here and in foreign lands would hear, study and apply the
many warnings today coming from those who are speaking against the multiple
human societies built by brethren for edification, evangelism and benevolence?
The society is often shown relevant in some
sense when members come through various locations on their way to certain
events sponsored by human societies — stating of course that they are “on their
way to” such and such a society’s lectureship or program. The society in
apostasy is relevant in the minds of brethren who travel some distances to get
to it. It’s promoted as doing the work of the Lord. Those who attend their
functions see themselves as engaged in such. Now that’s due to the appeal of,
vast influence of, and promotion of human societies. But how can a local church
dare have articles as warnings that could possibly be relevant concerning these
societies wherever they are — some just have the relevancy in the wrong
place!
Issues Are Not All That Important
There is the kind who thinks issues are
just not all that important to be concerned about. I once heard the worm-can
approach. If something comes up that members of a church are divided upon then
it's just figuratively dropped into a can set up, thus they don’t have any
problems like some churches do over issues. Don’t kid yourself! To say that
issues are not all that to be concerned about is like saying don’t be concerned
about apostasy past and at the present. There is no faster way to corrupt the
local body than to look the other way and play some foolish game like dropping
issues into the worm can. Look at the destruction in Acts 20:29 by those who
“come in among you.” And the motive in Acts 20:30 belonging to those who speak
perverse things “to draw away the disciples after themselves.” Those “peddling
the Word of God” are likened to those who “dilute or corrupt” a product for
monetary profit (2 Cor. 2:17). And only cowards give in to such (I Cor. 11:19;
Gal. 6:12).
Excuses Like “The Societies our brethren build do not receive
funds from local churches.”
With the promotion of the Society either for
evangelism, edification or benevolence for saints you will without exception
have the disclaimer that denies any connection with the local churches — we
want you to know that we do not receive donations or contributions from the
churches they say.
And that is what many tell the young
preachers and members of the church today. And have for decades. In other words
don’t worry about it because the Society doesn’t receive funds from the local
churches. Simply answered that is not the issue! The issue is what right does
man have to build a human society of his own will in order to do what God gave
the divine organization the local church to do?
Historian, Earl West, states
the apology for the Society given by W.K. Pendleton (The Society Controversy
1866-70). Notice what West says was ignored and completely overlooked in the
1800s in order to justify the society:
“The basic apology for the Society Pendleton based upon his conception
of the church universal, and in this he followed closely the reasoning of
Alexander Campbell. No man is prepared to see the Society as Pendleton saw it
without beginning where Pendleton began. First, he filled his mind with the
thought of the church in its universal aspect, ignoring for the time being the
local church. God gave to the church - in its universal sense – the
responsibility to convert the world. But God did not give the method by
which the church – in its universal sense – was to convert the world.
Therefore, whatever method the church – in its universal sense – uses is
acceptable. The method is a matter of expediency. The church universal is left
free to decide for itself. . . . The church universal was charged with
preaching to the world, but God did not provide its method; therefore, it was
left to human expediency to devise the best plan. This, of course, completely
overlooked the fact that the church universal was given a method, the method
being the work of the local congregation.” Search for the Ancient Order, Vol.
2, pp. 55, 62.
Apostasy repeats itself and today we have
the same reasoning given by brethren for their societies. And what is ignored
and completely overlooked! Certainly it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to
answer that. So why would a local church have such articles to name a few?
Our Brethren’s “Sole
Purpose” Argument &“The Percentage
Justification” (2014)
It’s Camp Time Again! (2013)
The Great Apostasy is
Done, Finished! (2012)
The Lies of Apostasies (2007)
You will find a series of articles answering
arguments made for the existence of Florida College on our Home Page. Simply
access “Florida College”. For Human Organizations doing the work of
the local church see the homepage articles index: S index: “Societies”; H
index: “Human Organizations”; I index: “Institutions.”
By
Bob Lovelace
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