A Study In Attitude
In recent years we have seen a change in the line of reasoning used by the brethren in defense of the institutions among us. That change has been accompanied with a change of attitude toward those who are opposed to church support of these human arrangements. Others have dealt with the change of defense from time to time, so in this article I want to take a look at the change in attitude of at least one of the promoters of human wisdom in the place of divine wisdom.
I have before me a bulletin of the Plateau Church of Christ, Mobile, Ala., dated Nov. 10th, 1960. Brother V. P. Black is the preacher and it is to his writing I call your attention. In this publication is an article entitled, "Under the Cover of Darkness." I now quote the article in full.
"Any doctrine that man has to advocate under the cover of darkness to get converts could not be the doctrine of Christ. Sometimes a false teacher will go to a congregation that has supported orphan homes and cooperated with sister congregations in preaching the gospel over the radio since there has been radio. This man will begin his undercover work by going into homes of the gullible in such a nice innocent sort of way. After several visits he begins to express his own "personal" "private" "opinions." Month after month he does not open his mouth; he does not open his mouth in the pulpit. The time comes when he has a few hatchet men, they let him know that they will stand behind him. Then over night it becomes a matter of conviction with him, he has to preach his convictions. Those who will not go along with his hobby of fighting orphans and cooperation among churches can get out. These hatchet men have assured him that they will stand behind him even to the dividing of the Lord's church. I don't know of any anti-orphan home, anti-church cooperation preacher that could teach his hobby until he did several months of secret, undercover, undermining, underground framework to get some weak-knee elders and gullible church to join him in his hobby. When the framework is laid, the next move is to proclaim his hobby from the pulpit. It was first a matter of opinion, now it has become a matter of faith.
"The orphan home fighters will never accomplish very much for the simple reason that it is a negative religion.
"There is not one orphan home fighting church in the world that could go into a community and tell the people, in the beginning of the meeting, what they believe and baptize one intelligent person. Let them announce at the first service, "We don't believe the church can support orphans homes and we don't believe the churches can cooperate, and we also believe that it is a great sin for the church to help any person unless he is a member of the Lord's church.
"The only way the anti group can ever grow it to first deceive the people about what they believe, and after they join up with the anti group, some one has to convert them to the hobby of fighting orphan homes; as a result they will lose most of those they baptize, for not many honest people could believe such a damnable heresy. The best that can be said of them is this; they are in the same boat with the anti-cups, anti-located preacher. (I predict these preachers won't go after this hobby for that would put them out of a job.) Anti- preacher home. (Yes, here is another hobby these preachers won't take.) The church can build him a house, pay his lights, water, telephone bills, but a sin, a terrible sin to build a house for orphans. This is what they are tearing up churches over. Anti-baptistery, anti-literature.
"If elders would use more judgment, they would not let a man work with them who is filled with all kind of crack-pot ideas and hobbies and spending his time trying to divide the very people who are supporting him. Ask your preacher where he stands. Bring him out in the open. He will not do as much harm in the open as under the cover of darkness."
As you can plainly see, brother Black's attitude toward those with whom he differs concerning the care of orphans is one of contempt. He has decided in his mind already where those are going who dare differ with him! Hear him, "...for not many people could believe such damnable heresy." He does admit that some could differ with him and be honest but the ones who differ with him on the issues discussed are guilty of embracing "damnable heresy" and of course they will lose their souls if they should die in that condition. It is hard to see this attitude in brother Black of years gone by. Surely something has happened in his life to cause him to be like he is now and to take such a radical step. I have never known of his acting as a judge of those who dare differ with him before.
This review, however, is not to defend those who hold to such a position (if there be any) as described in the article but to show the attitude of our brother toward them. Hear him again as he gives us more information on these matters. "There is not one orphan home fighting church in the world that could go into a community and tell people, in the beginning of the meeting, what they believe and baptize one intelligent person." In the first place I do not know of any church that is fighting "orphan homes." I know of hundreds that are carrying on their own work and will not bow down to the pressures of the institutions and support them. In reality it is to those hundreds o r maybe thousands that brother Black has turned his wrath. Never-the-less, how does brother Black know about t h e intelligence of others under such conditions? Does he have some supernatural power? Is he now of the Mrs. White variety? The Bible says, "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?" Brother Black affirms that the person who is baptized by a preacher who takes the position which is opposed to his view, is not intelligent if he knew of that position before becoming a Christian. Surely this is a radical change in the attitude manifested a few years ago.
I felt the need of further exploring the attitude made known in the article and knowing that brother Black was a "fearless defender of the faith" and that he would de fend anything from his own pen for sure, I wrote him the following letter.
Pensacola, Fla.
January 6th, 1960
Dear brother Black:
I have before me your publication, "Plateau Visitor," of November 10th, 1960. In this issue of the paper, you have an article with the title, "Under the Cover of Darkness." In this article you say and imply some things with which I agree. However, there are some points you make which I consider completely out of harmony with the Word of God. I feel sure you believe everything written therein and stand ready to defend your position regarding the matter. I know I will always defend anything I write or any position I take. I don't see how any preacher could do otherwise and be true to God.
In view of some of the things said in the article, I would like to challenge you to a discussion on the position you have taken in this matter. I have the assurance of one of the biggest buildings in Pensacola, Fla. for the debate. I know it will profit the Truth to hold such a public discussion. I have listed some propositions which will show clearly the difference between us and I feel sure the Truth will be made known. If I am wrong on these issues, I want to know the Truth. I know you are a capable man and can show me the error of my way in these matters if it is in the scriptures.
I am bothered mostly by your attitude in the matter.
1. Resolved: The scriptures teach that a congregation can care for orphans without such institutions as are among us today
___________ Aff. Warren Rainwater
___________ Neg.
2. Resolved: The scriptures teach that institutions as we have today must be had in order to care for orphans.
______________Aff.
______________Neg. Warren Rainwater 3. Resolved: The scriptures teach that any person who opposes orphans as we have them today is guilty of teaching "damnable heresy."
______________Aff.
______________ Neg. Warren Rainwater 4. Resolved: The scriptures teach that any person baptized by a preacher who is opposed to church support of orphan homes as they exist is not an intelligent person if he knew before hand of the position of the preacher.
______________Aff.
______________Neg. Warren Rainwater The above propositions will clear the air concerning who is doing what in this section. I would appreciate
hearing from you soon. I think it would be to a great advantage to the cause of Christ to have the discussion here and over there also. It may be that you rather not have your "members" to hear both sides of the question so I am willing to have it over here only.
Hoping to hear from you soon, Warren Rainwater
I have not heard the first word from him in reply to my challenge. It has been nearly two months since I wrote him. I feel he has had time to accept or admit that he doesn't feel up to defending what he wrote. His failure to defend his writing makes me wonder about several things. To this change in attitude I have tried to point out. It appears that brother Black is going to rely on the time proven method of the opposers of Christianity to try to win his battle. Honest people are going to wonder why he has seen fit to hide when called upon to defend his assertions. Yes, there has been a change in attitude as well as a change in defense.
Nevertheless, good brethren will be asking for a "thus saith the Lord" in all things and statements that can't be backed by the Word of God will fall to the earth void even though uttered by those who feel it should be accepted because "I said it."