"The Largest Church Of Christ Gathering ...In The History Of The Denomination"
These are words used by a news item in THE DALLAS TIMES HERALD of June 12, 1958 to describe a gigantic "Youth Rally" which is being sponsored by "the Elmwood Church of Christ and a number of the other Churches of Christ in the Dallas area" Headline for the item reads, "Youth Rally of 10,000 Set". It will be in Dallas Memorial Auditorium June 29 and will feature Singer Pat Boone and Olympic Star Bobby Morrow. "Tom Wallace, minister of the Elmwood Church of Christ, said an attendance of 10,000 is anticipated for the Church of Christ meeting. Such an audience would be the largest Church of Christ gathering under one roof in the history of the denomination. The present record is 5,500."
We cannot say that reading this news item shocks us for we have come to the place we are not shocked by the actions of some of our liberal brethren. Rather, the effect could be best described as a numbing, sickening, nauseating one. These who are promoting this "Youth Rally" are our brethren in Christ. In the past, they have stood for New Testament simplicity. Membership in the body of Christ and fellowship with God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and with each other through Christ's blood were quite enough to satisfy their longings. Something has happened! "We" have arrived. There is now an attendance record of 5,500 "in the history of the denomination". And the sponsors of this "Youth Rally" are determined the audience will be "the largest Church of Christ gathering under one roof in the history of the denomination".
Here is another symptom of the insidious evil working in the church. Our trouble is not institutionalism. Institutionalism is only a symptom, as is the above. Our trouble is disrespect for the authority of Christ, along with boredom for the simplicity that is in Christ. Add to this the denominational pride that fills the hearts of so many brethren and the stage is set for men to attempt the very thing these are seeking to accomplish: to change the church of Jesus Christ. Over and over do such liberals chant "We do many things for which there is no authority" when pressed for their license for certain practices. Verily, they do! An intense yearning to be "respectable" and to let the world and our religious neighbors know we have "arrived", parades the church for which Christ died before the world as a denomination.
In the history of ancient Israel when Nehemiah and the Jews were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, their enemies, Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, resorted to ridicule, open fighting and compromise to get the building stopped. All of these were to no avail. The ridicule was ignored by Nehemiah. The open fighting was repulsed. The compromise proposal of Sanballat and Geshem was rejected by Nehemiah. In the work of restoring New Testament Christianity, those opposed have used the same three thrusts. In our time, the ridicule and open fighting could not harm our cause but a large segment of our brethren have fallen prey to compromise. Parading the church in such a fashion completely vitiates the plea of distinctiveness of the Restoration movement.
Someone may say the brethren are not responsible for the Ashdodic expressions in the newspaper item Not so! They are responsible. Tom Wallace, "minister" of the church sponsoring it, is quoted in the article. Then, they are having a "Youth Rally". There is no scriptural language for such an unscriptural event. Although we recognize newspapers take it upon themselves to use denominational terminology, such is not the case in this instance. The "minister" furnished the information. These brethren cannot escape the responsibility for the unscriptural language of the publicity given this unscriptural event.
"Pat Boone", star of his own television show and doll of teen-age music fans will lead the group singing end take part in a discussion of the problems of youth". As much as we have tried, we have failed to find that which is admirable in Brother Boone. A recent interview appeared in a national farm magazine in which he had no scruples against dancing or kissing movie heroine but only abstained because of his church connections.
The truth is, he has not always abstained from dancing. It is to be wondered what Pat Boone could contribute of spiritual value either to the singing or the discussion of the problems of youth. His example is certainly not to be followed by those who would "live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world".
Bobby Morrow is also to be one of the attractions. While to our knowledge Morrow has not brought reproach on Christ as Boone has by his conduct, it is to be deplored that he will lend himself for exploitation by these brethren who are so filled with "the vain-glory of life.
George Bailey, preacher for the College Church in Abilene will also appear on the program to speak on `Living For Christ". We know not what Bailey will say but do know some of what the New Testament says about living for Christ — enough to believe it impossible for Brother Bailey or an one else to tell what the New Testament says living for Christ is in harmony with the spirit of this "Youth Rally". Living for Christ involves self-denial, humility and obedience; not the ostentation, vanity and prideful appeal of this affair.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation" writes the Apostle Paul (Rom. 1:16). How long have these very preachers promoting the "Youth Rally" affirmed this truth! How their present action denies it. Why not just let the elders, preachers, teachers, and even the parents teach these young people the gospel in their homes and in the respective churches where they are growing up? Why not teach them the gospel without all these trappings and superficial ornaments? The route these brethren are going, displays a lack of faith in the power of the gospel of Christ. Deny it, they cannot!
Our object in protesting this action of our brethren is not to enhance our popularity. We are sure that far too many of the brethren are so worldly-minded that these words will be of little effect to them. There are, however, many loyal brethren who oppose the spirit that wants to be like the nations about us. We write for the encouragement and edification of such. The hope is also ours that there are honest brethren now limping between two sides who may be aroused to stand for the ancient order of things and stem the tide of digression.