"If Any Man Speak"
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.... that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 4:11)
This Scripture not only tells us what to do: "speak as the oracles of God": but it also tells us why to do it: "that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ." This language is too plain to be misunderstood.
No doubt Thomas Campbell had this Scripture in mind when he announced these words: "We speak where the Bible speaks; and we are silent where the Bible is silent." And who ever penned these words must have had the same Scripture in mind: "We call Bible things by Bible names; and do Bible things in the Bible way." Both statements show reverence for the word of God. Would we not be better off if we did things just that way?
Some Changes We Would Note
If all Christians spoke as "the oracles of God" we would be compelled to make some changes. And before I notice any such changes, I want it strictly understood that I am not riding a hobby on this or any thing else, and I don't intend to. In times past, in some things, I may have been equally guilty of failing to speak as the oracles of God. It could be that no direct principles of truth were violated, other than Bible phraseology was not used, a phraseology that "could" and "would" distinguish us as a "peculiar people," separate and apart from the denominational world. A thing which I believe the apostle's teaching in 1 Peter 4:11 is calling for. Certainly I am not going to press this to "sowing discord among brethren." But I frankly do think this lesson is a step in the right direction, as its purpose is to get us to use Bible phraseology in talking about Bible things. We are fast drifting away in this respect. But if all Christians spoke as the oracles of God, the church would come together for
"Scripture Study"
not Sunday School. Yes, yes, I know the arguments used to justify calling this Sunday School. I've heard them. I've used them. The day is Sunday. We study in a school. Sunday School just describes what we do. Yes, I know all this. But it is not Bible phraseology. Sunday is not even in the Bible; neither is Saturday for that matter. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." (2 Tim. 3:16) "Study to show thyself approved unto God." (2 Tim. 2:15) "Scripture" and "study" is "speaking as the oracles of God." This is only an example; there are other ways this could be designated in Bible phraseology without saying Sunday School. Too, if we speak as the oracles of God it will do away with the
Superintendent Of Sunday School
The word superintendent is not Bible phraseology. But a superintendent "oversees" you say. Yes, I know. But the elders are to "oversee." (1 Peter 5:1-4) And many times the superintendent is not an elder. If the elders oversee the Scripture study, well and good. But call them what the Scripture calls them. If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God. The oversight of the spiritual and temporal affairs of the church has been given to elders. In departing from Bible phraseology, we have become so loose in our speaking, that it appears as though there is a separate office in the church for a treasurer and a secretary. But no such thing is true. We talk much about secretaries, treasurers, etc., like they held offices in the church. Well, they don't. This work belongs to the oversight of the church, Then, too, because we are forgetting to speak as the oracles of God, we hear much talk about
Committees
We have the committee on flowers, the committee to look after the poor, etc., etc. The use of the word committee is not speaking as the oracles of God speak. Committee is not Bible phraseology. From the amount you hear about committee this, and committee that, you would think the Bible was full of such talk. But it isn't. As Israel picked up the idea of idolatrous worship of the Egyptians, so we are picking up the denominational phraseology of the day, and it is time a halt was called. God put the running of the affairs of the church into the hands of elders, not leaders or committees. And it is about time we are leaving matters where God put them. God didn't even put the running of the church in the hands of the preacher-pastor. If the preacher has been appointed as one of the elders, he is only one, and he is no more important than any other elder.
Much more could be said here, and maybe should, but for the present I shall close these thoughts. If what I have written will help to bring us all closer to God, I am quite sure I shall be thankful to him who has made it possible. Brethren, think on these things!
— Rt. No. 3, Box 135, Coraopolis, Penna.