How Should They Read??
Letters have been written by some brethren letting the brotherhood know about their change in conviction relative to the issues before the church today. We are not questioning the conviction of any brother who may have conscientiously changed. It is a fact, however, that if any honest lover of God's word changes, there can be but one reason. That reason can only be the teaching of God's Word. It makes us wonder just what in God's word will cause a man who formerly taught that "human institutions" (to do the work that God gave the church) were unscriptural to change and now teach that such are scriptural. Scripture please!!
Knowing some of the above described brethren and the circumstances, we are led to these questions: 1. Do the "confessional" letters contain the real reason for the changes? 2. If they do, is the truth so hard to discover? 3. If they do not, just how should the letters read? We are convinced that if the underlying reasons were really uncovered some of the letters would contain such statements as:
"Brethren I am changing my preaching because of talk. Several are talking about me. I heard one nice and kind sister say that she could not see how anyone could be so cruel as to oppose the Herald of Truth and Little orphan children. One of her neighbors told her about hearing the Herald of Truth and she knows that it is doing good. How can a man be so cruel as to oppose such good works?
"I have also been referred to as the 'anti' preacher, and you know that I don't like that. Why it is almost as bad or even may be worse than being called Campbellite! One brother even asked me what I was doing in the way of mission work. After all the Bible says do it, but it doesn't say how.
"I also received a letter from brother Think Big. He baptized me. He said that he heard that I was going with the `Royyaterites'. That really got me. Can you imagine being called such? I know now that I had rather be called a Campbellite than a 'Royyaterite'. How dare they? Brother Think Big said that he knew they were wrong. He also reminded me that he had always been interested in me. I guess I am kinda obligated. He also told me of preachers that preached "anti-ism" that were now preaching part time, and a number more that had had meetings cancelled. I couldn't stand for anything like that to happen to me. Bro. Big told me if I would change my preaching I could hold more meetings, and he would even help me to get some. How Kind!!
"I began to think about what he said. I remembered the pressures that I had undergone. I also didn't want to lose my job (after all I have a family) Then some one told me that the majority of the 'Church of Christ preachers' were for all those good works. Brethren, that was touching.
"A man also has his health to consider. One night after a pressurized discussion I didn't go to sleep until almost mid-night. I do believe that a man could develop ulcers.
"Furthermore, I was talking with three preachers recently. These preachers have been to college and know what they are talking about. Preacher No. 1. told me that he was going to wait and see where this thing was going before he took a position; after all, there's nothing like being with the majority. Preacher No. 2 said he was under pressure, so he took the easiest road out. Preacher No. 3 had just moved and he knew if he took an unpopular position he would have to move again, and he certainly couldn't stand that. I decided they were right.
"Brethren, I know that you are divided among yourselves. I am going to agree with the ones with whom I talk. I am glad that I can now hold more meetings, and probably make more money. I believe that I am now with the majority. But let me warn you: You had better always stay in the majority, for if you ever let them "antis" get ahead of you, I'll join them.
"Keep up the good work. Do it any way, through any institution. Don't question anything that the 'Church of Christ Church' does."
Sincerely, I'll N. Dorset