Conventions Now In Order
As "collectivism" takes a firm grip today upon the church of our Lord, all kinds of methods for "cooperation" of churches are being advocated and practiced. One such method now being practiced among brethren is the "convention" form of cooperation, although brethren do not call it by that name. I am once again reminded of the saying: "A rose by any other name is still a rose."
The word "convention" means, among other things, a "body of delegates, representatives, members, or the like, periodically convened for a common purpose." (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 5th Edition.) For years we have seen denominational churches employ this form of cooperation in order to bring about collective action on the part of the local, "independent" bodies of the denomination — each body sending delegates to a meeting where they make plans for the participating congregations. Any action on the part of the delegates while in the delegate body had to be ratified by their respective congregation, thus preserving, so they say, the local "autonomy" of each congregation.
It may come as a surprise to some brethren to now learn that congregations of the Lord's people are employing this convention form of cooperation. Several months ago I learned of such a plan being used by a group of congregations in California (the city escapes me), but now one can read about it in reports published by brethren. For example: in the January 19th issue of the Firm Foundation, page 46, an article appeared with the title "Plans for Wichita Falls Area Campaign Announced". It was written by Floyd J. Spivey. Now if this article does not describe the convention form of cooperation, I would not know what it would take to do FO. Let us examine the article.
The first paragraph tells about the place where the "1960 Campaign for Christ" will be held in Wichita Falls, Texas, February 14-21. It also gives the names of the speaker and song leader. The third paragraph of the article in question describes the plans for advertising the campaign. However, it is the second paragraph that is the most significant because it is here that the "convention" form of cooperation is so vividly described. The second paragraph reads as follows:
"This meeting is a result of extensive planning of the Elders, deacons and preachers of twelve congregations in the Wichita Falls area. From the first meeting in July 1959 much enthusiasm has been manifested concerning this type of a cooperative effort. The eldership of each congregation appointed two men from their respective congregations to work out the details for the campaign. This resulted in a steering committee made up of 24 elders and preachers who have met together periodically to discuss the plans and return to their home congregations for the approval or disapproval of the local elderships." (Emphasis mine — V. H. S.)
Let us use a chart to illustrate this "type of cooperative effort".
Chart Goes Here
A Convention Form Of Cooperation
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12)
Delegate Body Or "Steering Committee"
Conducts the "1960 Campaign for Christ".
Each of the twelve congregations, so described above, constitute a functional body — a body ordained of God and described in the Bible. On the other hand, the "steering committee" (delegate body), composed of "24 elders and preachers", is also a functional body, but one that is neither authorized by God nor mentioned in the Bible. This steering committee or delegate body was conceived in the mind of man, brought into existence by men, and kept alive by men. Furthermore, it is a body empowered by man (not God) to "plan" and to "steer" twelve congregations in a "cooperative effort" called "The 1960 Campaign for Christ". This functional body, the "Steering Committee", is not a local congregation with its elders, deacons, and preachers; nor is it the church in a universal sense. Then what is it? It is a man-made religious organization, separate from the local church, that was created to function in place of the local congregation, God's only functional unit. It was brought into existence to accomplish something that God never authorized to be accomplished — the activating of many (twelve) local congregations into one collective, functional unit.
If these brethren are on scriptural ground in forming this convention form of cooperation to put on a "campaign for Christ" in one particular city, then it would follow that the same "type of cooperative effort" could be used to put on a "campaign for Christ" in a county, in a state, and in a nation. Hence, we move from a "city convention" to a "county convention", to a "state", and then to a "national convention." If one is scriptural, then all would be. Brethren, God has never authorized such a "type of cooperative effort". Therefore, it is unscriptural and sinful.
How pathetic it is to see a "steering committee" STEERING brethren down the path of digression and error. "If the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit." (Matthew 15.14.)