Is It Worth It?
Question: Suppose a majority of the congregation voted to use a piano during the Sunday worship service. Could you continue to worship with that congregation?
No sir! Why not?
Because they would have introduced something extra into the worship that just isn't authorized.
O. K., if you left, who would be splitting the church?
Why, they would, of course. They did the introducing; they drove the wedge.
Question: Suppose a majority of the congregation voted to support the Herald of Truth from the budget of the congregation. Suppose also that I sincerely and conscientiously believed this method of evangelism to be sinfully organized; and because of my belief, could not continue to worship with that congregation. Also, if I joined with other families of like persuasion in establishing a new congregation, then who would be at fault?
Why, you couldn't do that: you'd be splitting the church. But who would really be at fault?
You, of course. Leading people off like that.... say, are you an Anti?
But, wait a minute. You said first that the one who introduced the piano was the one who drove the wedge. Now, I ask you, who is driving the wedge here? Or, to put it another way, who is introducing something new into the work of the church?
Why, of course you....are...., Say!, are you trying to confuse me. You're just one of those Anti's, and you're probably Anti college and Anti orphan, aren't you?
I'll tell you what I am Anti, and that's Anti sin. But the important thing is not who is or is not Anti, but it should be, why don't we sit down as brethren and study this question together? The fact that we differ indicates that one of us at least is wrong, and perhaps both of us. If you'll just not force the issue by pushing through (something which you know I cannot support, we can still continue to work as brethren, and spend our energy doing the Lord's work in this community, rather than needlessly fighting each other. This way we will have saved the congregation the painful shame of a split, and we may both arrive at a better understanding of the truth.
Well,....I don't know. I still think you are wrong, but I do love the Lord and wouldn't want the church to split. You know, maybe it is a good idea to study this thing, there are a few things I am still not clear about...
Of all the torn and winnowed congregations throughout this nation, can one truly say that all the good done by all the preaching over the Herald of Truth can equal, or make up for the carnage of harm done to the Lord's church by the division it has caused? — Brethren, is it worth it?