Yes, Mr. Sectarian, We Now Have A Creed
Should any faithful Christian be asked the question by some sectarian, "Do you all have a written creed?" he can NOW answer in the affirmative. If you would like to see a copy of "our" creed it can be found on page 626 of the Gospel Advocate, October 2, 1958. The new creed has at the present five "articles of faith." Others will possibly be added at the 1958 Convention (called "lectures") on the campus of David Lipscomb.
In the Gospel Advocate, October 2, 1958, "Athens Clay Pullias, President of David Lipscomb College and a 'member of the bar,' " gave the "restrictive clause for the deed" which is nothing more than the creed for the church of Christ. If one doesn't think it is a creed get a copy of a Baptist Manual and see how much the two are alike. Even the form in which it is written is like a creed. But let's notice some things about this creed.
Article of Faith, number one says, "The Holy Bible shall be accepted as the full and final revelation of God's will to man and shall be the only rule of faith and practice in religion." Doesn't that sound creedish to you? Question: "If "the Holy Bible shall be accepted as the full and final revelation of God's will to man . . ." what has been their final source of authority before this time?" It must not have been the word of God because it "shall be accepted" as final authority.
Notice how the other "articles of faith" are written. But alas, we have found the REAL reason for this "restrictive clause." It is found in the latter part so that it will not be very noticeable. Those who accept what they see on the pages of the Advocate, without question, by the time they read the fourth article are lauding A. C. Pullias and do not see the blunder that he is leading them into. NOTICE "article of faith" number four. "The support of such organizations as care for orphans, dependent children, aged and sick, shall not be opposed or forbidden." Notice "such organizations." What kind of organizations are these? Pullias does not specify what kind of an organization this shall be. Catholic organizations care for the "orphans, dependent children, aged and sick" so according to this "article of faith" the church that supported a Catholic organization could still retain her property. According to Pullias a church of Christ could support Christian Children's Fund, Inc. This is the largest Protestant orphanage organization in the world. It has 250 affiliated orphanage schools in 34 countries. According to this college president, churches of Christ could support the Red Cross, the Cancer Fund and ANY organization regardless of the kind, color or stripe it was just so long as it cared for "orphans, dependent children, aged and sick." Who is ready for this?? Yet this is what is found upon the pages of the Gospel Advocate. No, one need not be surprised at any thing found on the pages of the "Jerusalem Journal."
In the October 5, 1958, issue of the Twelfth Avenue's (a bulletin from the Twelfth Ave. church of Christ, Nashville, Tennessee) an article is found entitled, "More About U G F." This is the United Givers Fund and its goal is $1,378,000. The article is a good one, and tells why Christians should not give to this organization. In this same paper, the week before, I learned that from the U G F the Catholic Ladies of Charity will receive $14,600, St. Mary's Orphanage gets $22,180, and the Salvation Army gets $51,331. Yet, according to Pullias churches of Christ could support this organization because it cares for "orphans, dependent children, aged and sick." Oh, yes, the preacher for the congregation in Nashville that put this bulletin out teaches at David Lipscomb College. Maybe Pullias should first start to work in Nashville! How far will a man go with his idol??
Now note, in this creed nothing is said about churches of Christ not supporting Missionary Societies. Could a church of Christ support the Missionary Society of the Christian or the Baptist Church? If it did, could she still keep her property?
When a congregation no longer adheres to this man-made creed she loses her property to the nearest congregation "measured by air line" which does follow this creed. This is not congregational equality but rather one congregation is subordinate to another congregation. But what if two congregations are equal distance by "air miles?" Who would gain the property? The biggest! The one that had the "biggest pastor," "the biggest educational director", "and the biggest Sunday school" on the side of the river that this congregation which no longer followed the creed was located. And if there were to arise any other problems, the man with all the answers would be A. C. Pullias because he knows how to prepare "clear and comprehensive statements."
It would be interesting to know how many congregations will take this creed and have it incorporated in their deed. And the reason they will do it is because they saw it in the "Old Reliable."
Pullias tells a lawyer who is going to prepare this for a deed how to word the deed and gives him "official advice." This is an insult to any lawyer who reads Pullias' article, since Pullias does not give the lawyer credit with having the ability to write a deed himself.
I want to copy three paragraphs of a deed, from a certified copy, to one of the meeting houses here in Middle Tennessee. This was not written since Pullias' "restrictive clause" appeared but the following three paragraphs were written in 1929!
"It is further distinctly understood and especially made a part of the consideration hereof, and no provisions, stipulations or recitals herein contained shall be construed adversely thereto, that so long as said property herein conveyed shall he owned and used by said Church of Christ, that there shall not be permitted in connection with any of its church services and the worship of God, any musical devises such as the organ, or any other musical instrument, contrivance or invention by which musical sounds making a tune are produced, and that the only music to be used in such worship is the voices of the congregation or worshippers raised in songs of a sacred and devotional nature, and
"It is further distinctly and especially made a part of the consideration hereof, that no societies. organization, associations or institutions shall he added to or connected with said Church of Christ in any way or manner, in its endeavor to carry on the work and worship of God, on the property herein conveyed, as the Church of Christ is of Divine origin and is complete, perfect and absolute within itself for all the purposes for which it was created, ordained and brought into existence, and that no other society, organizations, associations or institutions of any kind should be added to or connected with said Church in any way or manner, whatsoever.
"And in the event of any division or serious contention arising among the members of the Church of Christ, at , Tennessee, (omission mine, T. 0.) over the last two above conditions of the consideration of this deed, then, in such event, the use and improvements of all of the premises herein conveyed, including all improvements which are now on or may be hereafter made or erected on the premises herein conveyed, shall inhere to and remain with those members (whether in the majority or in the minority) who most rigidly adhere to these requirements and provisions."
I wonder if this deed would please A. C. Pullias?