Special Meeting At El Cajon, California
The church in El Cajon City is planning an all day service for Saturday, April 4. Everyone is invited to attend. The services begin at 9:00 in the morning and will conclude at 4:30 in the afternoon with about an hour and a half out for lunch. The program for the day is as follows:
Subject: Church Related Entertainment
9:00 - 9:45 A.M. Robert A. Hawkins, La Mesa, California: "Is it in harmony with the scriptures for churches of Christ to use their facilities for recreation and entertainment for the members of said churches?"
9:45 - 10:30 A.M. Forrest D. Moyer, Sacramento, California: "Is it in harmony with the scriptures for churches of Christ to provide facilities for, finance and/or supervise recreation and entertainment for the members of said churches?"
10:30 - 11:00 A.M. Questions answered by brother Hawkins and Moyer.
Subject: Congregational Co-Operation
11:00 - 11:45 A.M. Chas. B. Middleton, San Diego, California: "Is it in harmony with the scriptures for churches of Christ to contribute funds from their treasuries in support of the Herald of Truth Radio and Television program, conducted by the Highland Church of Christ, Abilene, Texas, as a means of co-operating in accomplishing the mission of said churches in preaching the gospel?"
11:45 - 12:30 P.M. Roy E. Cogdill, Canoga Park, California: "Is it in harmony with the scriptures for churches of Christ to contribute funds from their treasuries in support of the Herald of Truth Radio and Television program, conducted by the Highland Church of Christ, Abilene, Texas, as a means of cooperating in accomplishing the mission of said churches in preaching the gospel?"
12:30 - 2:00: Lunch.
2:00 - 2:30 P.M.: Questions answered by brothers Middleton and Cogdill.
Subject: Benevolence
2:30 - 3:15 P.M. Ben J. Franklin, Lemon Grove, California: "Do the scriptures authorize churches of Christ to build and/or maintain benevolent organizations for the care of the needy, such as Boles Home, Tennessee Orphan Home, Southern Christian Home, Childhaven, and other such orphan homes and homes for the aged that are among us?"
3:15 - 4:00 P.M. John W. Wilson, San Diego, California: Same question as discussed by brother Franklin.
4:00 - 4:30 P.M. Questions answered by brothers Wilson and Franklin.
The questions to be discussed in the above program are vital and represent issues that are creating dissension and division among the people of God all over the world. It is tragic and sad that brethren and churches are divided over these matters but it is true. The havoc created by such division cannot be ignored or minimized and our duty be discharged. When brethren try to follow such a course and are not willing to study and discuss their differences they are not interested in Truth and the souls of others or in the Kingdom of God.
When one closes his mind to further investigation and study he is not interested in truth and right nor even in his own soul, but is determined to follow his own course. He has shut his eyes, stopped up his ears, and hardened his heart. Matt. 13:14-16. He stands condemned as a consequence and is wrong — even if he should be right?
When one shuts out discussion and study with those who differ with him, he has made himself insensitive to his obligation to "teach and admonish", "admonish the disorderly", "reprove, rebuke, and exhort", "restore such an one", "convert the sinner from the error of his way and hide a multitude of sins." All of this complete disregard for the souls of his brethren condemns. Because of a lack of interest in his brother's salvation, he is wrong and stands condemned, even if he should be right!
Moreover, when a man professes to be a servant of the Lord, a teacher or preacher of His Word especially, and refuses to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints," he is either a moral and spiritual coward, in which case God repudiates him, or he does not value and love the truth. This failure to properly regard the word of the Lord and to be "set for the defense of the gospel" means again that such an one is wrong and stands condemned even if he is right in his position!
Brethren who think that they can ignore those who rise up in opposition to what they are teaching and practicing and brush off their obligation to meet the issues as they present themselves are either ignorant of their duty or unconcerned about it. This means that they are lost because of their attitude, even if they are right in what they advocate.
It is altogether commendable when brethren are willing to come together and reason upon the scriptures. There is nothing commendable about not being willing to do so. It would be a fine thing if such discussions could be held in meeting houses among the brethren everywhere. It would be fruitful of much good if brethren who are running schools like Pepperdine and Abilene, et cetera, would open their "lectureships" and conventions for such a discussion in the interest of truth instead of turning them into "propaganda mills" to grind out the promotion of their own interests regardless of the destructive effect upon the cause of truth and righteousness and the Kingdom of God. The fact that such free discussion is not permitted in these councils is but evidence that they are more interested in their human idols than in service to the Lord.
How pitiful is the state of mind upon the part of an individual who has become so prejudiced that he will not hear or read anything critical or opposed to what he is doing or wants to do! How much harder or more de prayed can one's heart become than that? Jesus said that such a heart has "waxed gross" and is "hypocritical." Matt 13:14-16, Matt 15:1-9.
— 8156 McNulty, Canoga Park, California