Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 13
April 5, 1962
NUMBER 47, PAGE 11b

A Big Change

Guthrie Dean, Bald Knob, Ark.

Quite a bit has been said and written regarding brethren who have "changed positions." I am no prophet, but I predict that some of the so-called 'unchangeables" are on the verge of a big change.

According to the charters of the charitable institutions among us, these projects are variously called "corporations," "charitable corporations," "organizations," "institutions," and "charitable institutions." These are their own terms. Many of the institutions are governed by boards of directors, separate and apart from any church and subject to the elders of no church. They exist, not as a church, and not as a home; but as an unscriptural third party standing between the church and the work the church is to do. Again, let me state, they are not the church, they are not the work, they are unscriptural organizations set up to control and do the work for the churches. This is the issue clearly stated.

Those who seek to justify church-supported orphan asylums are divided on their defense. Some say they are doing the work of the church; others say they are doing the work of the home.

If the institutional homes are defended on the ground that they are doing the work of the CHURCH, the next change will be to adopt the missionary society. For if the churches can pool their funds under a board to do their benevolence, they can also pool their funds under a board to do their evangelization.

On the other hand, if the institutional homes are defended on the ground that they are adjuncts to the HOME and that contributing churches are helping a needy home feed and clothe its children; the next move will be to put the college into the church budget: The argument will be, if the churches can provide food and clothing for children, they can also provide training and education for children. (Eph. 6:4, they could use.) And if churches can do this for one group of children, in an institution, they can do it for all. And so the high schools and colleges will, as adjuncts to the home, go into the same church budgets.

Therefore, the modern orphanages (though outmoded) will EITHER bring the missionary society into the church treasury, on the basis that BOTH ARE DOING THE WORK OF THE CHURCH; OR they will bring the schools into the treasury, on the basis that BOTH ARE ADJUNCTS TO THE HOME. There is an inevitable change in the making. (If my conclusions on this matter are wrong, I would appreciate your help in setting me straight. I sincerely want the truth and want to live by the truth. But if my conclusions are correct, institution-advocates will either have to drop their institutions or accept a BIG change.)