Which Way-Brother Witty?
In an article in the Christian Standard of Feb. 14 James DeForest Murch writes on the "progress toward unity" which he and Brother Witty have made in their annual "Unity Meetings." He confesses that the evidence of "progress toward unity" between "Churches of Christ" and "Disciples of Christ" is nothing more than straws in the wind." He could not have given his article a more appropriate heading.
He names fifteen of these "straws" which consist only of a few Premillennial preachers of "Churches of Christ," who have been hobnobbing with Brother Murch. And if that is anything to boast about, then the Adventists, Holy Rollers, Four Square Gospeliters, Research Bureau, J. Frank Norris' Band, and a host of others can boast more than Murch; for these Premillennial preachers of "Churches of Christ" have flirted with all these sectarian bodies, and some have actually run off with them.
As has been said several times before, these "straws in the wind" indicate that the Premillennialists in "Churches of Christ" are losing their identity just about as fast as any apostate people ever lost it.
No, Brother Murch, your "straws in the wind" are nothing to rejoice over. That crowd that is winking at you will flirt with anything that can stomach its fantastic theories. While they wink at you with one eye, they wink at J. Frank Norris with the other eye. Have you ever heard how they acted during the Wallace-Norris debate?
Murch named fifteen "straws" and told what each represents; he did not tell what the "wind" represents; he just put a picture of it on the same page with his article. Brother Witty's picture is at the top of the page and Brother Murch's picture is at the bottom. According to what Murch says, the "straws" are all blowing in the same direction. What about it, Brother Witty? Are you blowing the straws in the same direction that Murch is blowing them? Or is Brother Murch just out-blowing you? Did you help blow the Premillennial church at Horse Cave over to the Christian Church?
Since Brother Witty permits his name and his picture to appear in connection with Murch's "straws in the wind," there can be no doubt regarding his endorsement of the Horse Cave affair. Murch gives the Horse Cave fiasco as "Straw One."
'Brother Witty is helping the denominational world absorb the Premillennial element in "Churches of Christ," which may not be such a bad thing for the church after a History is replete with such examples of annihilation by absorption.