An Incident In Sedalia
While visiting in Sedalia, Missouri, the latter part of June, 1960, I visited with the church which meets at 14th and Stewart. Preaching for that congregation that day was brother Elmer Butler, a gentleman who was probably preaching before I was born. For a change, I thought I would be privileged to sit back and listen to another preacher, who had been in this type work for many years. I soon discovered, however, that it was no privilege. I have never counted it a privilege to listen to any man preach error. But to hear a gospel (?) preacher say things "unlawful for men to utter," left me bewildered. I have heard much about the present controversy, but never before heard one venture so far into error publicly. I talked to one of the teachers there before the service about the problems now before the church; and he assured me no one had ever said anything about them, nor intended to in the future, as Sedalia was not troubled with them. Whether someone there had begun to study them, or the preacher had knowledge that I did not agree with him on these things, is uncertain; but, whatever the reason, he proceeded to discourse on the issues. It finally turned out to be a sermon on "authority."
Not very far from the beginning of his lesson, brother Butler asked, "Where is the scripture for this baptistry (there was one to his right in their new building)? Why there is none. Where is the command, example or necessary inference for this building? Why there is none." Then he advanced the idea that the Bible did not teach by example or necessary inference.
Next, to my astonishment, he related an incident of a woman of some denomination talking with him, asking him to place an altar in the building of the brethren. He said he would not. The reason? THERE WAS NO SCRIPTURE FOR IT! Imagine that! He said, "no scripture for the baptistry," yet he endorsed it, "no scripture for the building," yet he said it was all right, and "no scripture for the altar," yet he would not use it for there was no scripture for it! By what authority can one use one thing for which there is "no scripture," and reject another thing for which there is "no scripture?" I am sure that the standard he was using was not the word of the Lord. All things without scripture are wrong. If he was not using commands, examples, and necessary inferences to teach what God teaches, whether of a general or specific nature, what standard did he use? He said there was scripture for none of the three, yet he would accept two and reject one. Of course, I agree there is no scripture that teaches the use of an altar, but in God's commands to assemble (Heb. 10:25) and to baptize (Mk. 16:15), I find general authority for a place to assemble and an amount of water fitting to immerse someone. He evidently uses the same logic, but does not understand what it is all about.
But that which was truly "eye-opening" in this service was a statement about 1 Cor. 16:1-2. The preacher declared that this was not scripture teaching a contribution on the first day of the week; and the reason why brethren do it, is because it is a custom. The only way he knew to "get the brethren out of this custom was to not pass the contribution basket on Sunday, but wait and pass it on Wednesday night." I wonder where the "oracle of God" is for that statement? I am persuaded that many today, like brother Butler, do not "speak as the oracles of God." (1 Pet. 4:11)
Indicative of this soft preaching and thinking, a sign has been placed by our brethren in Monett, Missouri. For those of this persuasion, the time has come for a new nomenclature, or a new name. See editorial for further comments of this sign.