Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 21
June 26, 1969
NUMBER 9, PAGE 5b-7a

No Greater Work?

Tommy McClure

Is An Institution A Greater Work Than The Church?

In the Boles Home News (May 10, 1968, Vol. 25, No. 9) appeared an article under the heading "Memorial Sign Honors Home Granddaughter." Since the article reveals so clearly the materialistic attitude characteristic of some in the church, it is here reproduced in its entirety followed by some comments from me.

"A memorial sign honoring Valerie Lee Polvado, six-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Polvado has been erected at the west end of the Boles Home campus, on Highway 34. The red-brick sign is 30' x 4' x 4", with eighteen inch cast aluminum, satin-bright letters spelling the name BOLES HOME and with an attached memorial plaque in white marble. (A picture of the sign appears over the article being quoted. T. M)

"Valerie Lee Polvado was fatally injured in an automobile accident August 10 1965, and we repeat a portion of a letter from ex-student Eugene, which was written in the October 10 issue of the BOLES HOME NEWS the same year:

— We are enclosing a check for One Thousand Dollars which is in the funds of the burial policy we had on Valerie. There is no work anywhere that is closer to our hearts than Boles Home. Valerie was able to be at Boles Home only twice during her six and a half years with us but often asked questions about the home because she had such a tender compassion for small children. If this check can be used in some specific work in her memory, we would appreciate it, but feel free to place it in the general fund if the need is greater. After all, there is no greater work than feeding the hungry stomach of a little child, and being able to create some measure of happiness of a broken heart.'

"Eugene is minister of the Church of Christ in Arlington Heights, Corpus Christi, and he and his wife, Nancy, and their children, plan to visit Boles Home soon to share with us the beautiful memorial sign."

My sympathy certainly goes out to this preacher whose child became the victim of the automobile accident and I would not think of criticizing his desire that her memory be preserved. The thing I am criticizing is contained in two statements of his letter quoted above: (1) "There is no work anywhere that is closer to our hearts than Boles Home"; and (2) "After all, there is no greater work than feeding the hungry stomach of a little child, and being able to create some measure of happiness of a broken heart."

I have often said that some of our institutional brethren put their human organizations (the idols of their hearts) on a par with the church of Jesus Christ. The first statement re-quoted above is absolute "proof of the puddin" for that charge! Here is a man occupying the role of gospel preacher and referred to as "minister of the Church of Christ," yet "NO WORK ANYWHERE" is closer to his heart "THAN BOLES HOME"! This preacher needs to be introduced to the work of the church and the splendor of God's divine institution. Although he is an "ex-student" from Boles Home, it is clearly evident that the training which he received at Boles did not sufficiently stress the church, its work and its splendor. Or, if his training did include these matters, it is certain that the teaching did not "take" in this preacher's case. God pity the church and future generations with such preachers in the pulpits.

The work of the church of Jesus Christ, God's divine institution, ought to be closer to the heart of any "minister of the Church of Christ" than the work of every human institution on earth, of which Boles Home is one. This, I say, ought to be the case, whether it is or not. Consider some contrasts between the church and Boles Home, and you will see the reason for and the truthfulness of what I have just said: (1) The church originated in the mind of God; Boles Home originated in the mind of man. (2) The church exists by the authority of Christ; Boles Home does not. (3) The church is regulated by divine law; Boles Home is not so regulated. (4) The church was designed by the wisdom of God; Boles Home was not so designed. (5) The church has a divinely given mission; Boles Home does not. (6) The church is a scriptural institution; Boles Home is not. These contrasts will not be denied by anyone who is informed with respect to the church and Boles Home and who has an honest heart. The work of the church will be closer to the heart of such people than that of Boles Home or any other human organization.

Some will perhaps object to this criticism by saying, "The preacher whose letter was quoted did not mean to put Boles Home on a par with the church; he meant works other than the work of the church." My reply is: No effort on my part is made to judge as to what the preacher "meant"; I know only what he SAID! He said, "There is NO WORK ANYWHERE that is closer to our hearts than Boles Home." (Emphasis mine, T.M.). If he "meant" works other than or excluding the work of the church, he could have easily indicated that. He made no such indication. Nor did the editor of Boles Home News make any such indication when he quoted the statement. If the preacher did not mean what he said or did not say what he meant he is the one to tell us that — not those who would criticize my reply. Furthermore, Boles Home News is the medium through which he should do his explaining. Personally, I would rejoice to see an article in that paper from any preacher showing why the work of the church is greater and should be "closer to our hearts" than the work of Boles Home. Will such an article appear, or is the editor so wed to his idol that he will not allow it? Time will tell.

Consider the next statement under review: "After all, there is no greater work than feeding the hungry stomach of a little child and being able to create some measure of happiness of a broken heart."

Let all clearly understand that I have no intention of disparaging the works of feeding hungry stomachs and bringing happiness to broken hearts. I believe these works are important and that more activity in these efforts should be evidenced on the part of Christians and non-Christians. But to say "there is no greater work" than these is to put the emphasis in the wrong place and demonstrate a materialistic attitude. This is what I am critical of.

It would be rather interesting to hear the preacher who made the statement under review tell us to what the greater works of John 14:12 refer. Speaking to His apostles Jesus said, "Verily verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." Jesus had miraculously fed hungry stomachs on more than one occasion and had "create(d) some measure of happiness" in broken hearts on many occasions by raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out devils, etc. etc. With reference to performing miracles the apostles did no greater works than Jesus did while on earth. They did no greater work than did Jesus with reference to feeding hungry stomachs and creating "some measure of happiness" in broken hearts. Hence, if there is no greater work than these (and that is what the preacher said), it was absolutely impossible for the apostles to do greater works than Jesus had already done! Yet Jesus said they would do greater works, and I believe He told the truth.

The "greater works" of John 14:12 can only have reference to the preaching of the gospel. In this respect, the apostles did greater works than did Jesus in a number of ways: (1) They went into all the world (Matt. 28:19,20, Mk. 16:15; Col. 1:23), whereas Jesus for the most part confined his labors to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt. 15:24). (2) The apostles preached the gospel as an accomplished fact, whereas Jesus preached it only in promise and preparation. (3) The apostles preached under the new covenant which was better than the old (II Cor. 3:6; Heb. 8:6), whereas Jesus did his works under the old covenant, for it was not taken out of the way until His death (Col. 2:14). (4) The ministry of the apostles lasted from Pentecost until the close of the century, but the ministry of Jesus was only about three and one-half years in duration. These, and all other ways in which the apostles did greater works than Jesus, are directly connected with gospel preaching. Now, since Jesus had already fed hungry stomachs and created "some measure of happiness" in broken hearts, but the apostles were to do (and did) greater works all of which were directly connected with gospel preaching, it follows that gospel preaching is the greater work! Yet, the preacher said (and Boles Home published it), "After all, there is no greater work than feeding the hungry stomach of a little child, and being able to create some measure of happiness of a broken heart." The Lord's statement of John 14:12 stands in direct contradiction.

But what was the thousand dollars used for by Boles Home? To feed hungry stomachs of little children and bring happiness to their hearts? No! IT WAS USED TO BUILD A SIGN WHICH WILL ADVERTISE BOLES HOME! According to the article, "The redbrick sign is 30' x 4' x 4", with eighteen inch cast aluminum, satin-bright letters spelling the name BOLES HOME and with an attached memorial plaque in white marble." Note the size of the Boles Home name — "eighteen inch cast aluminum, satin-bright letters"! Although the dimensions of the memorial plaque are not given, the picture shows it to be much smaller than eighteen inches, but, then, it is made of white marble. Unless the children at Boles Home can digest red brick, cast aluminum and white marble, the money which was spent for this sign will do little good in feeding their hungry stomachs; for it is doubtful that much of the thousand dollars was left after such an expensive sign was erected. The preacher who sent it told them to "feel free to place it in the general fund if the need is greater." Evidently the need was not greater, so they built this expensive sign. Brethren should remember this when they receive those begging letters which make it appear that Boles Home and the children in it are in dire need.

— 2917 El Paso Way, Antioch, Calif. 94509