My Preaching Ten Years Ago
A few years ago, Brother Reuel Lemmons was saying, in substance, that some preachers need to get some of their old sermon outlines out, of ten years ago, and preach them today. He was speaking of their position on current issues, and alleged considerable change in their teaching on these points, from then to now. He even, said that much of our trouble and disturbance over these differences would cease if the preachers he had in mind would do this. One would think that all preaching brethren with one accord, only ten short years ago, were vigorously and consistently teaching that the so-called co-operation of churches, and church supported secular Institutions, as we know them now, are in harmony with Bible teaching.
The following quotations are from my own sermons, preached from twelve to fifteen years ago. At the time I was preaching for the church in Lincoln, Nebraska, and received my income from the Broadway church in Lubbock, Texas. (Would Brother Lemmons claim I owe them a refund?) Being in a new field, and far removed from any center of "brotherhood" activity or controversy, I was not aware that the matters of which I spoke were, on soon would be, major issues among brethren. I did not so much as know at the time that the Gospel Guardian even existed! These quotations are word for word, from sermon outlines' I still have, exactly as I preached them:
"God's order is for local churches to be independent units, for elders to rule and for deacons to serve....men will find fault with the plan, but it is the Lord's; he knows best....we must be free from organizations within and connections with those without."
I thought this was what all gospel preachers preached, and what brethren expected to hear. I took for granted these sentiments and those in the following quotations were as thoroughly settled among brethren as baptism for the remission of sins, with a few exceptions, representing a small minority.
"The word 'organization' when applied to the church creates a disturbance in the minds of some who are ever watching for dangerous trends that might lead us from the faith. It is true that the first great departure the church made was in organization, and we might well guard against such trends now prevalent that are a definite encouragement to its happening again."
"The establishment of human organizations through which the church has worked, has added to the fear of even the thought of organization, and it is true that our greatest need is to recognize the all sufficiency of the church in accomplishing the work God wanted done, and avoid the establishment of other organizations through which the church is to work."
"But we do not advocate the act of organizing the church. God has already organized it. All we need to do is to recognize God's system of organizing it, and set the churches in order according to the divine pattern."
"We must ever remember that God has set forth a plan to guide the church in its local organization, and in its administration of its duties in every department of spiritual activity. God's way is sufficient and cannot be improved upon; neither can we substitute one that will do just as well. We must execute his plan to the letter, just as it is, if we produce the results God wants. No church can fully accomplish God's purposes in it, unless it is fully organized after his pattern."
I believe Brother Lemmons would be among the first to admit that not nearly as many preachers are preaching like this today as were doing so at the time I preached these sermons. I further believe he would grant that many more pulpits were open for such preaching then than would be now And I still further believe that if preachers would go back to the kind of preaching they did ten and fifteen years ago on these matters, that promoting brethren would be amazed at the support they would lose for their projects and contentions.
But since I have mentioned him by name, I wish to close by expressing sincere appreciation to Brother Lemmons for the excellent editorial writing he has done recently along these lines. Even though he has not likely changed his position, his well chosen words should have a moderating effect, and cause brethren to indulge in some intensive deliberation and reflection before continuing to press their contentions and practices to such radical extremes as we are having occasion to observe.
— 322 Pearl, Fort Collins, Colorado