Some Startling Admissions
On the cover page of the Christian Standard, December 4, 1943, is the following announcement: "The management of the Standard Publishing Company desires to announce that beginning January 1 there will be a very definite change in the policy and character of the Christian Standard. Instead of continuing chiefly as a home paper of general religious information and instruction, we shall offer this journal as a rallying center for all who believe implicitly in the authority of Christ as revealed to us in the divinely inspired New Testament Scriptures.
"It will become: First, a vigorous proclaimer and advocate of New Testament doctrine and life, and of the New Testament policy in which once we were a great united brotherhood.
"Second, it will as vigorously protest every instance of the substitution of human expediency for the authority of Christ. It will help all who are like-minded to put a stop to misrepresentations of the historic position of our movement which is founded on His authority.
"Where the Book speaks, we shall not tolerate the substitution of expediency in the name of disciples of Christ to go unrebuked.
"'Where the Book is silent,' we shall champion the right of any Christian to uphold his own opinion in a Christian spirit.
"We shall devote the Christian Standard in the months to come to this issue which is as widespread as Christendom and which is today troubling every Bible loving people: Will you follow the orders of Christ or the expediencies offered by ambitious men?"
The Christian Standard, as you may know, is the leading publication among the conservative element of the digressives. The above announcement is interesting to us especially because of the startling admission that are made therein. This announcement is an admission that the Standard has not been "a vigorous proclaimer and advocate of New Testament doctrine and life, and of the New Testament policy in which once we were a great united brotherhood."
No wonder the Christian Church (or Disciples of Christ) has continued headlong in its departure from "New Testament doctrine and life," when its leaders have failed to vigorously champion these things. Too late, they begin to see the need for some vigorous action. I say "too late" because they have departed too far from the New Testament position ever to return. They are too involved in their "human expediencies" to ever return to the New Testament pattern of things.
This announcement is also an admission that there have been "substitutions of human expediencies for the authority of Christ" among them. They now declare that they will "vigorously protest every instance of the substitution of human expediency for the authority of Christ." I wonder just how far they will go in their determination?
They have tried to justify their use of instrumental music in the worship on the ground of expediency. Will they now begin a "vigorous protest" against it? I wonder. We have the authority of Christ for singing in the worship. But where is the authority of Christ for instrumental music in the worship? They cannot shrug their shoulders and say that this is a matter of indifference, for this, and similar human expediencies, have caused division in what was once "a great united brotherhood."
They have sought to justify their missionary societies, and kindred organizations, on the basis of expediency. Will they now begin a "vigorous protest" against all such organizations that have been set up to do the work of the church? It is my opinion that they have no intention of doing so. It is my opinion that they will continue to do nothing in regard to the fundamental issues that have divided what was once "a great united brotherhood."
The church itself is the organization that God called into existence to accomplish His purpose in the world. He instituted no sub-organizations nor super-organizations to do His work. Paul made this very clear in Eph. 3:10-11, when he said, "to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The largest (and the smallest) unit of organization in the New Testament is the local church. The officials of this organization are clearly defined, and their qualifications are carefully set forth in the third chapter of 1 Timothy. Where is "the authority of Christ" for a missionary society? Where is "the authority of Christ" for the officers of a missionary society? We shall all watch with interest to see when the Christian Standard begins to "vigorously protest" this "substitution of human expediency for the authority of Christ."
How can they justify their disgusting practice of using all kinds of money-raising schemes to finance their work, except on the ground of expediency? They do not have "the authority of Christ" for such practices. The only way that the New Testament church was financed was by giving. They gave as they were prospered upon the first day of the week. Since there is no other method taught in the New Testament for financing the church than giving, all other methods must be mere human expediencies. And the Christian Standard says that it will now "vigorously protest every instance of the substitution of human expediency for the authority of Christ." We shall wait and see.
They will no doubt say; "We did not have such things in mind as instrumental music, missionary societies, money-raising schemes, etc., when we announced our change in policy." But the language that they have used in their announcement certainly puts them on the spot. If they will carry their announced intention to its logical conclusion, they will have launched a real unity movement. If they are going to "vigorously protest every instance of the substitution of human expediency for the authority of Christ," they must protest against the things mentioned above. Will they do it? It is my opinion that they will not even attempt it.
Again, they say, "We shall devote the Christian Standard in the months to come to this issue which is as widespread as Christendom and which is today troubling every Bible-loving people: Will you follow the orders of Christ or the expediencies offered by ambitious men?"
This is a stirring challenge, but it is also an admission that their people have not followed the orders of Christ, but the expediencies offered by ambitious men. Missionary societies were not brought into existence because men were following the orders of Christ. They were substitutes for the New Testament plan, offered by ambitious men. This is also true of instrumental music, choirs, etc. It is likewise true in regard to the use of money-raising schemes to finance the work of the church. If we "speak where the Book speaks, and are silent where the Book is silent," all such expediencies of ambitious men must go.