I Too, Wonder, "Is The Day Of Proof Texts Gone?"
About ten years ago, an editorial appeared in the Gospel Advocate under the title, "Is The Day of Proof Texts Gone?" It is an excellent article and expresses the urgent necessity for a "thus saith the Lord" in all matters of faith and practice. The principle herein expressed is at the very heart of the present controversy among brethren. (See Advocate 1-27-49)
The editor related how some "unseasoned" young preacher had berated an older preacher for filling his sermons with so much scripture. Concerning this the editor said, "When one berates the timely and frequent appeal to the Holy Scriptures, he betrays a woeful lack of knowledge of, and respect for the 'living oracles.' If he is not a modernist, he is speaking the language and serving the purpose of the modernist. He has failed to let the word of Christ dwell in him richly. (Col. 3:16.) He is a stranger to the injunction of Isaiah: "To the law and the testimony: if they speak not according to thy word, it is because they have no light in them." (Isa. 8:20.) He has failed to attain to the high standard: "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." (I Pet. 4:11.) He who thinks that he can express the thoughts of God in language superior to that of the sacred text thinks too highly of himself." Then the editor went on to quote from an article elsewhere. Below is a question of that article:
"No religious proposition is really proved until it is clearly supported by the word of God. (Emphasis mine. D.V.R.) Hence, the Biblical use of proof texts finds abundant justification.
He who objects to proof texts methods proclaims:
(1) That he has lost his taste for solid, Biblical preaching and teaching.
(2) That he puts the value of human reasoning, observation, and opinion above the value of the word of God in supporting points.
(3) That he holds certain beliefs which he is unwilling to submit to the test of the scriptures, preferring to formulate them to suit himself. (Emphasis mine D.V.R.)
But those who join Jesus in the conviction that 'Thy Word is truth like to hear propositions proved by a 'thus saith the Lord."
There it is, friends, and a firm appeal is made for proof texts. I believe the editor was right when he said that one who "berates the timely and frequent appeal to the Holy Scriptures, .. shows a woeful lack of knowledge of, and respect for the living oracles." I believe he was right too, when he said such a one is "serving the purpose of the modernist." "Lost his taste for solid, Biblical preaching and teaching; proclaims that he puts the value of human reasoning, observation, and opinion above the value of the Word of God. . . " Yes, he was right when he said that such a person shows that he holds beliefs and practices which he is "unwilling to submit to the test of the scriptures, preferring to formulate them to suit himself." He was right finally, when he said, "No religious proposition is proven until it is "clearly supported by the Word of God." Now friends, if a religious proposition had to be clearly supported by the word of God in 1949, in order to be proven, then why not so just ten years later?
Application To Present Controversy
Does the above principle have any application in the present brotherhood controversy? Let the editor answer: No religious proposition (I suppose that would take in the ones discussed today) is really proved until it is clearly supported by the Word of God." About a century ago when some brethren arose advocating the Missionary Society, their theme song was, "The Bible doesn't say HOW to take the Gospel into all the world and therefore we do not need any scripture or proof text for our society. It is simply a METHOD of preaching the gospel". Because of their determination to have an ORGANIZATION for which they had no scriptural authority, they departed from the day of "proof texts". They continued to depart until today they are a people who make no pretense at giving proof texts for a great host of practices in which they engage.
History is, we fear, repeating itself in our day. There are those NOW advocating benevolent societies, and their theme song is, "The Bible doesn't say HOW to do benevolent work and therefore we are at liberty to form benevolent societies through which churches may do their benevolent work." In the fight over the evangelistic societies, there was no contention over the how or the method but over what organization was to do this work and to have the oversight of it. Hence the advocates of the society were obligated to give a proof text for their society, or another organization being formed to do the work of the church. But, they were unwilling to face the real issue and put it to the test of the scriptures, "preferring to formulate their beliefs to suit themselves and hence placed more emphasis upon human reasoning than the word of God.
Likewise today the battle is NOT over the HOW, (the means & methods) but over the ORGANIZATION. Those advocating the formation of benevolent societies to do the Church's work, need to cite the proof text for establishing such a society. With those of us who still respect the proof text method, this would resolve our differences and peace could be restored. They need to remember that their proposition cannot be proven unless it is "clearly supported by the word of God." Human wisdom, sophistry, ridicule, and such like will not be accepted by those who have "attained to the high standard: 'If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.' (1 Pet. 4:11.)
No Scripture Cited
Instead of giving the text for benevolent societies and centralized agencies, we are being treated to a lot of "berating the necessity of giving proof text" in certain quarters. It is being said, by some, "We do many things for which we have no authority and for which we need none." There is or has developed among some the idea that we are at liberty to do many things without authority. Surely, to use the words of the editor, "they are serving the purpose of the modernist"... and are holding beliefs and practices which they are unwilling to submit to the test of the scriptures."
Faithful brethren a century ago were right when they demanded proof texts for evangelistic societies. They were not "hobbyists, cranks church splitters, anti-missionary." Erring brethren were wrong in contending that they needed no scriptures for such, that this was just a "way, a means" of preaching the gospel. They were duty bound to find authority for their society or give it up. They did not do either. They simply left the "day of proof texts" My prayer and plea today is that brethren today who are "On The March" will come back to do the day of proof texts. Our strength rests in being able to establish religious propositions by the Word of God.
It would serve a good cause, I am sure, if the Advocate editor would republish the editorial of January 27, 1949 just as it appeared, WITHOUT having to be "doctored" to make it taste better to those who have "lost their taste for solid, Biblical preaching and teaching." Let us all stand — together. The only common ground upon which we can stand and fight shoulder to shoulder is the word of the living God.