"Why Don't They Understand?"
In Jesus' day there were those who didn't understand Him and His purpose. They brought many false accusations against Him because they didn't understand. Even the accusations that were brought at His mock trial were misunderstandings: "We heard him say, I will destroy this temple . . . and in three days I will build another made without hands." (Mark 14:58). Jesus had this to say concerning them: "By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand." (Matt. 13:14)
Today, there is this same misunderstanding and misrepresentation. If it were confined to those in denominational error, it would be serious enough. But the truth is that it is seen in the church quite often, and this is truly a serious situation. Quite often, I hear statements that indicate that the person making them does not understand what he is saying and is guilty of false accusations. Sometimes people say to me:
1. "You don't believe in preaching the gospel." This is brought forth when I oppose a sponsoring church arrangement. "Why don't they understand?" I have been trying to preach the gospel ever since I was big enough to get my head above the pulpit. During the past eight years I have worked with three congregations. Each of these three did quite a bit of "outside" work in preaching while I was with them — some of it as a result of my suggestion. In each case, it was by sending directly to the preacher in the field. The church here in Tucumcari is furnishing most of the support for a preacher among the Spanish-speaking people besides supporting two men (one partially) in working with the Tucumcari church. The last church I worked with (Napa, Calif.) is still engaged in that type of work. The other was when I left. However, after a brother who believes in working through sponsoring churches and human organizations moved there, they ceased that work! I could say that they don't believe in preaching, but I dare not bring such an accusation.
"Why can't they understand" that when we oppose a human set-up such as a sponsoring church, that we are not opposed to gospel preaching? The facts speak for themselves.
2. "You don't believe in helping the needy." Again, I say, "Why don't they understand" that we do not oppose helping the needy? We oppose human organizations' doing the work for the churches, and we oppose churches' donating to human institutions. But never have we opposed the care of needy saints this year. These facts speak for themselves. We believe in fulfilling every requirement of the Lord. Yet people ay, "Tucumcari is an `anti' congregation." "Why don't they understand?"
3. "You believe it is wrong for Christians to care for orphans." Several times I have heard this statement made. Someone even wrote a letter to my brother in which he said, "Forrest Moyer preached that it is wrong for Christians to care for orphans." Can you imagine such? I simply cannot conceive of a person who claims to be a Christian making such statements. However, the person who wrote the letter didn't even hear me preach — so far as I know never has. A preacher said to me recently: "Those people were anti-orphan." When I asked him what he meant, he said they didn't believe in donating to orphan homes. So far as I know, there is not a person in the church anywhere who opposes orphan care. I wonder. Is such as this necessary? Will such statements help us to have peace in the church and unity among brethren? If a person disagrees with me, let him attack the real points of difference. But let him stay with the issue and not manufacture some false issue and attack that. I believe that the church is qualified to do its own work without donating its funds to a human organization or sponsoring church. Now this is the point, and if you believe that the church can donate to another organization or to a sponsoring church, then bring forth the scriptures that teach such. That is all that is necessary for me.
May I beg of you, my brethren, let us not misrepresent or misunderstand. Let us always speak the truth concerning any position that any brother may have. Let us try to understand.