An "Ad" For A Preacher
The following "ad" appeared in three issues of the Christian Chronicle beginning with the issue of September 2, 1960:
"PREACHER WANTED: Need fulltime man with ability to do personal work as well as pulpit work. Age, 40-50. Prefer a man from the Southwest who is thoroughly experienced with the 'antics' and their tactics as they are now at work in this, their last area of hope. With a total church membership of less than of I% of the county population plus the 'anti' problem, this is the place for a sound preacher who is looking for a challenge. Write to elders, Keizer Church of Christ, Box 2281, Salem, Oregon."
Several preachers who are friends of mine have written me about this "ad," and some sent the "ad" clipped from the Chronicle. Some of them wondered what had taken place here and some were almost tempted to apply for the job and give me as reference. I have been in Salem for two years and four months now. There is one congregation in Salem, and one in Keizer, which is a suburb to the north of Salem. My residence is in the Keizer district about one block from the city limits of Salem. Prior to my moving to Salem the Central church cooperated with the Keizer church in supporting Choice Bryant to preach for the Keizer church. But when the Keizer church became self-supporting about a year before the time I moved to Salem, brother Bryant moved to Woodburn, fifteen miles north of Salem, and helped to start a congregation there, still supported in part by the Central church.
The trouble with the Keizer elders is that eighteen of the members of Keizer have in recent weeks identified themselves with the Central church. This was done voluntarily on the part of the members and without solicitation from members of the Central church. Now, in the eyes of the elders of the Keizer church, the Central church is "anti." They want a preacher "who is thoroughly experienced with the 'anties' and their tactics," to deal with this problem. Of course, the plural of "anti" is "antis," but the "ad" had it as quoted. Now the preacher that they have had for more than two years is from the "Southwest," but I suppose he is not experienced, at least, not "thoroughly experienced" with the "anties." I wonder if the elders think that another man from the "Southwest" can do a better job of handling the problem of only of 1% of the county population being members of the church, "plus the 'anti problem."
It is certain that the elders at Keizer cannot handle the "anti" problem, even with the preacher they have, who is from the Southwest, for they could not even give one verse of New Testament authority for the church to do its evangelistic and benevolent work through human organizations to some of the members who "asked them a reason." Furthermore, they would not even permit one of the deacons to teach a class in the church building to study the Bible about the church doing its work of evangelism and benevolence. The Keizer church has been in existence for several years and I wonder just how much responsibility is theirs for the small membership of the "county population!"
The "ad" states that the " 'anties' " "are now at work in this, their last area of hope." This is a declaration that purports great knowledge of the "anties" throughout the world. According to this statement, those who are called "anties" are only in the Salem area, and this is the last area of hope for those who are labeled "antics." What about those in other parts of the world who take the same stand with reference to doing the work of the church as those named "anties" in the Salem, Oregon, area? Do the Keizer elders know about those they call "anties" in Florida? Alabama? Tennessee? Ohio? the Southwest? California, southern and northern? I wonder if they even know the situation in the Seattle area? There is hope for the truth of the gospel of Christ wherever it is preached, and Salem is not the only place where that is being done today.
Just at this point in the writing of this article the Postman came and in the mail was the bulletin, GOSPEL VISITOR, published by Tenth and Francis Streets Church of Christ, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and edited by James W. Adams. Brother Adams has a short statement, "PURELY PERSONAL," in this issue in which he tells of being in a meeting with the Birch and McFadden congregation in Santa Ana, California. He said in part: "The battle over current issues affecting the churches generally has already been fought and won in this church. It stands 100% behind apostolic teaching and refuses to be moved by current waves of digression. In this (area) there are numerous thriving congregations standing firmly for the ancient order of things. There are many young, able, and aggressive evangelists pressing the battle for truth. Churches are being established and built up and many who have never known New Testament Christianity are being converted. It is a thrilling experience to be a part of the great work being done out here." It looks like here is another "area" where those called "anties" may have a little hope. In 1959 this writer was in a gospel meeting with another Santa Ana church, Berrydale, where brother Floyd Thompson is the preacher. He was in a gospel meeting with the Keizer church when I moved to Salem in June 1958. I suppose it would be useless for him to apply for the job advertised in the "ad" we are considering. There are many other preachers as brother Adams states in Southern California who are standing against the innovations that some are supporting in the churches at this time. There are many churches of Christ in California standing for the truth without compromise as well as elsewhere throughout the nation.
The Central church in Salem stands for a "Thus saith the Lord" either in a direct command, apostolic approved example, or a necessary inference from the scriptures in everything that it teaches or practices. This has been drilled into this writer through all of his life by men who thus contend in their preaching. They would offer to give scriptural authority for everything they taught or withdraw it and apologize for so preaching. It is quite easy to shout "anti," but it is something else to be willing to stand up and defend what one believes to be the truth without resorting to the practice of sectarians of name calling and labeling those whose arguments for truth cannot be met. When the time comes that I cannot give authority from the word of the Lord for what I teach, either by direct command, an apostolic approved example, or a necessary inference from the scriptures, I will quit teaching it. If some will show me some teaching in the scriptures, which is binding on us now that I am not teaching, I will begin to teach it. If this makes me an "anti," then I have been an "anti" all my life, and will continue to be an "anti" as long as I live.
Brethren, do not fear for those who are termed in this "ad" "antics." The very people who are responsible for the "ad" have been very nice to me up to now, even since their "ad" appeared. They smile and speak when they meet me and never have they intimated to me that they think I am "anti." They just do that in "ads" and when they are talking behind my back. They are not such a bad lot of people, but are just in desperate straits right now for some one to fight their battles for them, I suppose. I will try to advise brother Charles A Holt as to "the man they finally accept."