Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 11
June 4, 1959
NUMBER 5, PAGE 3a

Some Comments On: "Disciples Of Christ Preacher Changes"

Ira B. Sandusky, Inglewood, California

In the Gospel Advocate, April 16, 1959, James D. Groves, Daytona Beach, Florida reports that Gerald R. Black and wife made the change March 8, 1959. I am sure that we are all grateful for the faith and courage of this man and wife being led to see the TRUTH OF GOD. In his report he says: "It is basic to the future usefulness of such men, we believe, to have at least a year's residence on the campus of one of our schools. Hence, we are now seeking support to enroll Brother Black in one of the schools".

Since when does the Church of the Lord have to depend upon any school to produce preachers for preaching the gospel of Christ? Since when can any school give a mature man a better foundation, who has attended Emporia State Teacher's at Emporia, Kansas, and hold M.A. from Phillips University, and spent twenty years preaching, with Bro. Black's educational background and experience, he does not need to attend any of 'our schools' to unlearn what he has already learned. If Bro. Black had been able to learn the TRUTH in his former condition, why cannot he go on and preach God's TRUTH and devote himself and his talents to preaching the unsearchable riches of God, without having some, or any so-called Christian college give him backing and extra training. (Seems to me some of the brethren have the tail wagging the dog, IBS).

Bro. Black says he left the Christian church because of Modernism, Central Control from headquarters, worldliness and lack of fervor in the membership, which has almost deleted the Sunday Evening and mid-week service from their program. I am not a prophet, but I am sure that he will find some of all these in the Lord's church and find that he is still dealing with weak human beings and many who are not converted to God's way, but would rather have their own way than to follow the divine pattern of God's truth. Bro. Black will find denominational teachings and practices among the brethren. Self appointed men have organized human institutions, such as Orphan Homes, Old Folk Homes, so called "Christian" Colleges, Herald of Truth and TV programs etc. etc. and such like which are admittedly human organizations, and yet they claim to be doing the Lord's work. (I well remember the criticism of Don Carlos Janes and his one man mission society 25-30 years ago.)

Youth Camps are devoted primarily to social and recreational activities with Bible study relegated into the back ground, yet supported by money from the church of the Lord, which was given to preach the gospel of Christ. (One Gospel preacher was fired recently because he talked to Elders privately regarding their sponsoring a Youth Meeting and told them of the mistake and error of such a program, IBS)

Worldliness and Modernism have a foothold among the brethren and some even advocate dancing and the social drink for members of the church. It is not uncommon to hear some good sister say: "A chaperoned dance at school is all right for our young people to enter into and these same people are teachers of Bible classes.

When I left the Christian church in 1933 I left for many of the same reasons he mentions today. I found the brethren were still human and many of them would not abide by a "Thus Saith The Lord", and some had little or no conviction and refused God's divine pattern and standard. I think that there are perhaps more loyal congregations and preachers in the Los Angeles area, who have not bowed the knee to Baal, than any other concentrated area in the world today. Preachers are still having doors closed and meetings cancelled, but I believe that we are gaining ground out here, and not going backward as Rue Porter would have the world and church believe, from his editorials in Christian Worker.

May the day soon come when all who claim to be gospel preachers will stand firm in the faith and overthrow all human institutions and let the Lord's church do the work the Lord intended it to do.

When coming this way worship with us at Culver Center church, Culver City, California.