Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 14
November 1, 1982
NUMBER 26, PAGE 1,12-13a

"Hawaii Calls"

Ben M. Shropshire

The title of this article is the name of a popular radio program emceed by Webley Edwards on which is heard the ever popular and beautiful music of Hawaii. The purpose of the program is, of course, to lure tourists to that "Paradise of the Pacific." A discussion of this radio program is not, however, the design of this article.

In yet another way and for other purposes, Hawaii is calling — not for tourists — but for the power of God unto salvation. Our fiftieth state has as great a need for the gospel as any other of the other forty-nine and yet very little is being done to preach the pure and simple gospel to the over a half-million citizens of that new state. The state is made up of eight islands — Oahu, Hawaii, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Kahoolawe and Niihau — with the greatest population concentrated on Oahu on which is located Honolulu, the center of commerce and government. The population is composed of Hawaiians, Puerto Ricans, Chinese, Japanese Koreans, Filipinos, Caucasians (called haoles) and others.

Hawaii is no exception when one considers the religious division that is so prevalent in the world today. Nearly any kind of sect, church or denomination that can be found anywhere can be found in Hawaii. Roman Catholicism and the various Protestant denominations are well represented there. Catholicism, Episcopalians, Congregationalism and Mormonism are probably the most popular religions. Congregational missionaries were the first to bring "Christianity" to the islands. The Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses are today especially zealous over there and are making great inroads into the established religions: In addition to these so-called "Christian" religions, the Oriental influence is manifested in the prosperity of several Oriental religions, the most popular of which is probably Buddhism. Judaism likewise exists there.

From my experience in Hawaii in 1955-58, I would say that the people of Hawaii are generally more receptive to the gospel and are, perhaps, less indifferent than people here on the mainland. This may have changed, however, in the intervening years, but I doubt it. Nevertheless, Hawaii is a field that needs to be worked. There are many people there who have never come in contact with the simple truths of the gospel — especially is this true among the Orientals. Their attitude, it seems to me, is one that makes them "teachable." Surely, this is one reason, at least, why the Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses are experiencing such rapid growth. So little has been done and is now being done, however, to reach these people with the truth!

Since Hawaii has been, and still is, a strong military outpost, military personnel have greatly contributed to the present growth of the church in Hawaii. In the past their help has been indispensable and still they are an important part of every existing congregation there. At the same time, however, much of the work in the past has been concentrated on the military people and other such transients, which has resulted in a great deal of instability (not only in the memberships, but also in the work, organization and activity of the congregations) and has hindered the establishment of congregations on a more permanent basis. As examples of this, there is only one congregation (at Pearl Harbor) in Hawaii that is self-supporting and the oldest congregation — at Honolulu (at least 25 years old) — is hardly self-supporting at this time. As far as I know, none of the congregations have elders. Much more, therefore, needs to be done in the way of reaching the local and permanent residents of Hawaii with the gospel. In this, of course, the military personnel can not and ought not be neglected.

Certainly, Hawaii is calling for the gospel — and that call must be answered. However, Hawaii is calling for another purpose. There are at present six congregations in Hawaii — five of them on Oahu (at Honolulu, Waipahu, Pearl Harbor, Wahiawa and Kailua) and a newly established congregation at Hilo on Hawaii, the "big island." There is a definite need for the truth concerning present Issues now troubling churches of Christ everywhere to be taught in Hawaii — and this need constitutes a "call from Hawaii." Something must be done to fill this need in Hawaii if the many conservative-minded brethren there are to be taught the truth and thus saved from the digression that is today feverishly at work in the Lord's church. Most of the congregations there are following the institutional trend and institutional brethren definitely are seeking to control them. Liberalism has a firm hold on the church at Honolulu. It is definitely institutional (it advertises itself as being such in "Churches of Today") and its social gospel attitude is well-known to all who know anything of the congregation.

In view of the institutional trend in Hawaii and the commonly known fact that liberal brethren everywhere are doing all they can to gain control in every congregation, that which makes the Hawaiian picture more tragic is that most of the churches and preachers there have apparently come to a tacit agreement not to discuss "the issues" because "we are not bothered with them here." "Middle-of-the-roadism" and "fence-straddling" seem to be the popular approach to the issues over there. Such an approach, of course, does not do much to prevent "institutional" preaching or practice — it strives only to keep so-called "anti-ism" quiet. In such a vacuum, institutionalism, taking advantage of the silence of the truth, will move in so that one by one each congregation will either become institutional, or, at least, will be dominated by institutional brethren.

To illustrate this condition and to show the fear that some of the churches over there have of having the truth concerning the work and organization of the local congregation taught, let me cite the following incident: During April of this year I was contacted by three members of the Waipahu congregation asking me to agree to come and work with that congregation so they could submit my name to the business meeting as a preacher to take the place of bro. T. R. Atkinson, Sr., who was to leave on July 1st. I did agree to go and my name, along with F. B. Shepherd's, was placed before the business meeting and then the pressure was applied. Bro. Atkinson and others of the liberal element in the congregation began to argue that an "anti" preacher would divide the congregation and that if a "too conservative" preacher were to come and work with the congregation they would have to return the money they had received from various churches for their building program. One brother even threatened to "withdraw fellowship" from the congregation if I were invited to come. It was therefore, argued that they should decide on a preacher "that could work with both sides" and so by a 13 to 9 vote, bro. F. B. Shepherd was selected and is now working with them. This is not the only example of such "middle-of-the-road-ism" at work in Hawaii, for in 1958 I was asked by some of the members of the same congregation to agree to come and work with that church but, at that time also, institutional and fence-straddling preachers and brethren (not all of them in the one congregation) joined forces, applied pressure, and the church was persuaded that it would be better for me not to come. Their reason was, as stated in their letter to me, "All the congregations on the island, except one, vary greatly with you concerning church cooperation" and "....we feel that it is best that we find someone who will harmonize with the other congregations." The Waipahu church is not alone in its refusal to hear the truth, I am equally confident that any sound preacher would be denied the privilege of preaching the truth concerning the organization and work of the church in the congregations at Wahiawa Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, and Hilo as well. They would not want to be "disturbed" by it.

Something must be done to counteract this "let's not disturb the churches because we're not bothered with it here" attitude that now prevails in Hawaii. There are conservative-minded brethren who appreciate and will respond to the teaching of the truth in these congregations that are dominated by institutional and middle-of-the-road brethren. No doubt, there are many within the congregations who are totally unaware of the problems in the brotherhood today and therefore do not realize the consequences of the path they are following. They do not realize, I am sure, that they "are drifting." Brethren in Hawaii need to be warned of the dangers of apostasy. They need to be shown the errors of institutionalism and liberalism. The truth needs to be taught!

The Purpose Of This Article

It was my privilege to work in Hawaii for 15 months, from October 1, 1955, to December 31, 1956. While there I worked for the church in Honolulu and with the Wahiawa congregation. From the time I left I have continually lived with a deep regret for having left and with a strong desire to return. Both the "regret" and the "desire" have been increased by my own awareness of my failure to preach on the issues as I should have when I was there. At that time, I, too, was influenced to not "disturb" the churches over there with the problems of the brotherhood and it was not until the last three or four months I was there that I began to take an open stand for the truth but, of course, in such a short time no permanent results could be expected. I am, therefore, willing to share part of the blame for the condition of the churches over there now. I sincerely hope that I shall be afforded an opportunity, having learned my lesson, to correct the mistakes I made over there along this line.

With a realization, then, of Hawaii's needs as outlined above and after a great deal of prayerful consideration, I have determined, if the Lord wills, to return to Hawaii. I have resigned my work with the good Central congregation here in Louisville to be effective at the end of this year with the intention and plans of going to Hawaii on or about January 1st for the purpose of establishing a sound congregation in Honolulu. Through the establishment of such a congregation, it is my hope that we will be able to inaugurate an active program of evangelism for the people of Hawaii and at the same time begin teaching the truth on the organization and work of the local congregation in an effort to reverse the "let's not discuss it here" attitude.

In this I will, of course, be needing financial support and assistance in my traveling expenses and, through this article, I would like to solicit the prayers and encouragement of faithful brethren and the financial support of sound congregations that I may, in part, fulfill Hawaii's need. I sincerely hope there will be a number of congregations and, perhaps, some faithful brethren which will be interested in having fellowship with me in this important work. If any congregation is interested and would therefore like further particulars concerning my financial needs or plans for the work there, I will be happy to supply them. Let's answer Hawaii's call!

— 2101 South Shelby Street, Louisville 17, Kentucky