"The Church As Such" And "Elders As Elders"
One of the causes of the misunderstanding over current issues is a failure to distinguish between congregational activity and individual action. In an effort to differentiate between the work of a local church and the action of an individual Christian, some have used the expression "church as such" to refer to congregational action. Some of the brethren in the institutional camp have become quite worked up at the usage of the expression "church as such."
We were taught to use this expression by some who now oppose its usage. Our teacher was no other than the Gospel Advocate, through whose pages some present day writers have been having conniption fits about the usage of the expression "church as such." In 1930 Bro. A. B. Barret (founder of Abilene Christian College) very plainly distinguished between congregational action and individual action in the following statement.
There were no 'brotherhood colleges; 'church papers,' 'church orphanages,' 'old folks' homes,' and the like among apostolic congregations . . . Individual Christians, any number, may scripturally engage in any worthy work, such as running colleges papers, orphanages, and other individual Christians may properly assist them in every proper way; but no local congregation should be called up as such, to contribute a thing to any such enterprises. Such a call would be out of harmony with the word of the living God. And if any congregation so contributes, it transcends its Scriptural prerogative." Gospel Advocate, March 13, 1930, pg. 247.
Brother Barret uses the expression "as such" just as it is used today. He emphasizes that there are many things to which an individual Christian may contribute to which the church "as such" cannot contribute. Many brethren today take the position that whatever an individual Christian does, the church is doing. While it is true that one is a member of the church twenty-four hours a day, there are many daily functions that are not congregational acts. Even though every member of a local congregation be a partner in a private business enterprise, it does not follow that the local congregation owns and operates a private business enterprise. When a husband kisses his wife, the local congregation has not kissed his wife. While these truths are apparent, yet some brethren contend that whatever the individual Christian does, the church is doing. So when we speak of the church "as such," we simply distinguish between a congregational act, and the action of an individual Christian.
In the past few months several articles have appeared in the Gospel Advocate anonymously written by one calling himself The Disputer. I am made to wonder if our dear anonymous brother might be one of the "big name" liberal minded preachers who is afraid to sign his name to his article lest he get "branded." Too, I am made to wonder if our writer is ashamed of what he has to say, or afraid to let us know he said it.
In the June 5th issue of the Gospel Advocate The Disputer writes under the heading "The Church As Such." He asks the following thirteen questions.
1. What is "the church as such?"
2. How does it differ from the church?
3. Is the church one body and "the church as such" another?
4. Is "the church as such" a branch of the church? Or, is the church a branch of "the church as such?"
5. Can a person be baptized into one without being baptized into the other?
6. Is "the church as 'such" larger than the church? If so, how much larger?
7. Is it smaller? If so, how much smaller?
8. Is it identical with the church? If so, why not say "the church" and be done with it? Why attach the un-Biblical expression, "as such?"
9. What can a person do as a member of the church that he cannot do as a member of the church "as such?" Or, what can a person do as a member of "the church as such" that he cannot do as a member of the church?
10. If we can speak of "the church as such," can we not also speak of "the church not as such?"
12. Really, is there such a thing as "the church as such?" as "the church not as such?"
13. "Why not forget 'the church as such' and 'the church not as such,' and speak of 'the church?' Be careful what you coin. You may coin a counterfeit."
Our brother Disputer stated in his article that he was puzzled about the usage of the above discussed expression. However, since he set us to thinking about "the church as such," I am made to wonder some things about "elders as elders." In both The Spiritual Sword and the Gospel Advocate we are told that the same men who oversee orphan homes may also be elders of the church, but that they do not oversee the home "as elders." (See GA, Feb. 13, 1958, March 27, 1958; SS, Feb., 1958.) Since we have heard so much about elders "as elders", I have been made inquisitive. I have read in the Bible of "elders," "overseers," "shepherds," "pastors," and "bishops," but nowhere do I remember having read about "elders as elders." Being inquisitive, I ask:
1. What are "elders as elders?"
2. How do "elders as elders" differ from elders?
3. Are elders one set of officers, and "elders as elders" another?
4. Are "elders as elders" a segment of elders? Or are elders a segment of "elders as elders?"
6. Are there more "elders as elders" than there are elders? If so, how many more?
7. Are there less? If so, how many less?
8. Are elders identical with "elders as elders?" If so, why not say elders; and be done with it? Why attach the un-Biblical expression "as elders?"
9. What can a person do as an elder that he cannot do as an "elder as an elder?" Or what can one do as an "elder as an elder" that he cannot do as an elder?
10. If we speak of "elders as elders," can we not also sneak of "elders not as elders?"
11. Now what are "elders not as elders?"
12. Really, are there such officers as "elders as elders," and "elders not as elders?"
13. Why not forget "elders as elders" and "elders not as elders" and just speak of elders? Be careful what you coin. You may coin a counterfeit.
When Brother Disputer answers these thirteen questions on "elders as elders," he will have answered his own thirteen questions on "the church as such."