Vol.VI No.VII Pg.6
September 1969

Srygleys Jewel

Robert F. Turner

I noticed where a brother labored hard in an article to prove that I was inconsistent, and he proved it to his own satisfaction. Since it seemed to afford the brother pleasure to prove that I was inconsistent, I state for his further satisfaction that I have frequently been inconsistent with myself, and am liable to be so again. I am trying harder to be right than I am to be consistent, except to be consistent, or in agreement, with the Bible.

I had rather be inconsistent and be right than to be consistent and be wrong. Some of the most consistent men I ever knew were bad men, while some of the best men I ever knew were inconsistent. Paul started to Damascus to persecute Christians, but instead of doing that he became a Christian himself. That was inconsistent with himself. If I am wrong and ever get right, I will then be inconsistent on that point.

It seems that the brother thinks one should not change, lest he become inconsistent. It seems very hard for a preacher to say, I was wrong about that thing. He may know that he was wrong, and nearly every one else knows the same thing; but he does not admit it for fear some one will think he is inconsistent. Now, if we were never wrong about anything, we might be consistent provided we stayed right; but if we ever find our self wrong, we will be bound to become inconsistent with ourselves if we get right.

All of this inconsistency complained of came up over the different foundations — the Morrow and the Firm.... They are both chartered companies, as I understand it, and they exist only as business organizations. That being true, they both stand or fall together. In the first case I was opposing the Morrow Foundation as a religious or church institution. I am still opposed to it as such.

I do not believe that brethren have the right to get together and start a business organization without consulting any church as such, and then wish it off on the churches to support. The churches were not consulted when they were organized; neither have they any voice in their management. Some of these institutions I would like for the churches to contribute to their support, but this looks too much like taxation without representation. It would not do to mix the churches up in the management of these institutions, for this would injure the churches and the institutions both. To put these institutions on the churches for their support would be too much like a missionary society for me to see the difference between them.

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The above is taken from an article by F. B. Srygley, published in Gospel Advocate, Sept. 7, 1933. We reprint it chiefly for his point about consistency. (. . .Thou Art A Jewel!)

But it was also of interest to us to note that in this same G.A. issue G. C. Brewer was writing About Organizations; a series that defended church contribution to Bible Colleges. AINT HISTORY INTERESTING??