Bible Chairs
Just what is a "Bible Chair"? This is a term which is applied to an arrangement in which brethren seek to take the advantage of an opportunity to teach the Bible and related subjects in a state college or university. The educational institution may or may not grant this privilege to a given religious organization. If such right is granted, the church or congregation which is to direct such activity is responsible for employing the teacher and providing the facilities, usually, to be used in this endeavor. Said facilities are usually not on the immediate campus of the university or college but in very close proximity, perhaps immediately across the street from the campus, or at most not farther away than a block or so. The teacher employed by the congregation must meet educational standards which will make it possible for the university or college to grant credit for work done by the students enrolled in the courses supplied. The educational institution has no control over the teaching, other than to set the academic standards of the instructor, the degree which he must have, and approve or accept the courses which are to be taught for credit. The church, so far as I know, receives no financial remuneration from the college or university, the entire financial expenditure being paid by the religious organization directing the work, whether it be the church or a denomination.
Is it right for us to use expressions with reference to church activities which are not scriptural? I do not read in the scriptures of a "Bible chair" even though Paul reasoned daily in the school of Tyrannus. (Acts 19:9.) However, the fact that he did such work, taking advantage of an opportunity to teach the word of God, indicates that we also are at liberty to teach the Word under like circumstances when the opportunity is afforded. As I presently view the matter, I have no objection to a congregation's teaching students who are in attendance at a college or university and doing this as part of the curriculum. For the church to support such endeavors, employing the instructor, paying for the building, the tables, desks, blackboards, etc., is not objectionable. Certainly, young Christians who are in attendance at state colleges and universities need teaching which will keep them from being led astray. Too, such teaching may well lead to the salvation of aliens. This work may be carried on in a way which is entirely acceptable. However, there are certain prevailing practices which pertain to such work which are objectionable.
If this work is to be done, and supported by a church, it must be recognized that it is the work of a local congregation. It is not, indeed it can not be, some sort of institution that is given an organic existence apart from the local congregation. Without doubt when such an arrangement becomes a body politic, acting and functioning without regard to the local congregation, without the direction, guidance and oversight of the elders of the local congregation, it is in existence in violation of New Testament principles. I have no doubt in my mind that certain "Bible Chairs" have become little more than miniature missionary societies. They do not represent a function of a local congregation but become an institution carrying out a program of activity for many churches. The "Bible Chair" is not thought of in terms of a local congregation or the work of a local congregation. They cease to be simply a "systematic arrangement" for the accomplishment of the Lord's work and become the tool of many churches. Many churches contribute to the "Bible Chair" and look upon the work done as "our" work rather than the work of a single local congregation. The congregation having undertaken such work does so without the ability to finance the work, knowing that from the outset she will have to solicit the resources of other congregations to accomplish this work. While it is true that each congregation has the responsibility to preach the gospel, a general charge, this responsibility can be shouldered only in terms of opportunity and ability. A congregation does not have responsibility beyond its ability. But she does have, and so does every other congregation, the responsibility to teach to the full extent of her ability. Since every congregation sustains the same relationship to the general field of evangelism it can never be the right of a congregation to assume oversight of a work beyond her ability. If churches at large can contribute to a "Bible Chair" to do a work for them how is it that we have been so reluctant in establishing a missionary society or starting a Bible seminary? Why not remove the "Bible chair" from the college or university, expand the facilities, functions and resources, let the churches contribute to the new-born "brotherhood Bible seminary" and let that institution train our youth, indoctrinate our preachers, and turn out men who will in time qualify to serve as elders in the church? Does not consistency demand it? Is it not abundantly evident that there is a vast difference between the work Paul did in the school of Tyrannus and what we are doing with our "Bible Chairs"?
Let me keep it before you. The church may take advantage of an opportunity afforded it by a university or college to teach the Bible. It may employ the man that does the teaching. But neither the "Bible Chair" nor the congregation supporting this endeavor should seek to become the instrument of the brotherhood, receiving contributions from the brotherhood at large. If such activity is to be under the elders of a local congregation, then it can not be nor should it be thought of as the work of the brotherhood. If such arrangements are to have the support of the church then this arrangement must not become an institution, a body politic, with organization and function distinct from that of the local congregation. In short, it must be simply the work of a local congregation, an activity of the church to teach the Word just as is true in using the facilities of the radio station. The "Bible Chair" must be an activity, not another organization. It must not have functions of its own. What it does must be the function of the church. This being true, then all activities of "Bible Chair" should be spiritual since all legitimate and scriptural activities of a church are spiritual except in the field of benevolence.
Literature which I have in my possession from two of "our" "Bible Chairs" indicates that each of these projects is under the direction of the elders of a local congregation. Both "Chairs" publish papers which report on activities of the "Chairs." In addition, booklets, leaflets and directories are also published. In these publications the purposes of these "Bible Chairs" are set forth. Some of the purposes are legitimate and worthy. Other specified purposes are entirely out of order in view of the fact that they put the church into business that is not her business at all.
A "Bible Chair" publication, a tract, which comes out of Lubbock, in answering the question WHAT IS A BIBLE CHAIR? among other answers tells us that it is: "A Student Center where college young people may gather for participation in good, clean, Christian recreation." If the church provides the "Chair" with all its facilities, directing its activities, just where do we read in the scripture of the Lord's making the church responsible for providing "recreation"? Another publication of this same "Bible Chair" is listing its "Activities" gives "Christian Fellowship" as another of its activities: "Picnics, games, and other types of Christian recreation are enjoyed by all under proper supervision." Mind you, friend, these are given as activities of the "Bible Chair". From this same city the periodical published by the "Bible Chair", "College Christian", December, 1957, reports on its "Annual Christmas Party": "An excellent crowd gathered at the Bible Chair Saturday night, December 14, for the annual Christmas party." This "Bible Chair" is under the elders of the Broadway church in Lubbock. Since when do elders scripturally oversee such activities? But remember, friend, this is simply a part of the "fellowship" which is one of the stated purposes of the "Bible Chair". Still further, from the "College Christian", November, 1957, a paper evidently paid for by the Broadway church, we have the following: "Screams went echoing down Broadway Friday night, November 1. Where were the unearthly sounds coming from? Why, the Texas Tech Bible Chair, of course, where the witches were really brewing up a Halloween party with all the trimmings to go with it." The "Bible Chair" is said to be the work of the church and the "Bible Chair" provides these things. Brethren, what do the Methodists have that we do not have? The "College Christian" April, 1957, gives a report of the successes of the "Bible Chair" softball team and describes it as a "red hot team from the Bible Chair". Since when does the charge to the elders to "tend the flock of God which is among you" involve promoting such an activity as a red-hot softball team? Surely, this is not whit the Lord would want a "Bible Chair" to be!