The Need Of The Moment
The greatest need of the moment is a thorough study of the patterns of organization and operation of the New Testament church. Church history sets forth the glaring facts that every major departure from the divine pattern had its origin in a departure from the simple patterns of organization and operation of the New Testament church. The first departure after the apostolic days began with a departure in organization. This was closely followed by departures in doctrine and worship and finally resulted in the Roman Catholic Church. The division in the Restoration Movement of the nineteenth century had its beginning in a departure in organization by the adoption of human societies through which to do the work of the church. The introduction of instrumental music (mechanical) in worship followed. Ties between brethren were severed and another denomination was born out of apostasy — The First Christian Church. And now, once again, history threatens to repeat itself unless God-fearing men and women stay the threat of departure in organization by restudying, carefully, earnestly, and prayerfully, the patterns of organization and operation of the New Testament church, and hold to them at all costs.
Following the division in the Restoration Movement of the nineteenth century, which was brought about by the adoption of human societies through which to do the work of the church and the introduction of mechanical instruments of music, loyal brethren punctuated their preaching for years following with sermons proving the unscripturalness of Missionary Societies through which to do the work of the church, and sermons proving the unscripturalness of using mechanical instruments of music in worship. But, as the years rolled by, they began to drop their opposition to Missionary Societies because they considered that error was defeated. (This was a sad mistake.) But, brethren have continued their opposition to mechanical instrumental music in worship till this good day. The result: Today we are faced with another threat of departure in organization — yea, we are in the midst of it! But we are not bothered much with the introduction of the mechanical instrument in worship.
How many sermons have you heard in the last five, ten, fifteen, thirty years against the introduction of instrumental music in worship? Why, they are legion! That is the reason we are not having too much difficulty over the introduction of mechanical instrumental music in worship. On the other hand, how many sermons have you heard in the last thirty years against the adoption of human societies through which to do the work of the New Testament church? Why some of you haven't heard NUMBER ONE. Other some, NOT ONE until the last year or so! That is the VERY REASON we are faced with the threat of departure in ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION of the New Testament church. Yes, that is the VERY REASON we are IN a departure in ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION of the New Testament church.
The past warns us that when Satan launches an error, it never dies. It will raise its ugly head in SOME FORM and challenge the way of God in every generation. Every generation must fight it down or go down!
Truly, the need of every Christian in every genera-tion is a thorough knowledge of the patterns of organization and operation of the New Testament church; and also, a thorough knowledge of church history from the first century which depicts to us the subtle way which Satan uses in leading children of God away from divine truth, as concerns organization.