No Paper Next Week
It's that time of the year again — time for us to take a "breather" and try to dig out from under a mountain of letters and paper work. In other words, we are going to follow our customary practice, provided for in our mailing permit, and issue no Gospel Guardian the first week in July. Your next paper will be dated July 11, and will be Volume 20, Number 10. We have some interesting and exciting new features in process of development. We think you will like them — we hope!
At Mid-Year
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the day of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way — ."
Probably you recognize the opening sentence in "A Tale of Two Cities." We believe it is not inappropriate as we come to mid-year, 1968. This editorial is being written on June 1, and perhaps personal and family matters may color the editor's mood a bit. Perhaps not. But it was just twenty-seven years ago this day (June 1, 1941) that Jefferson Davis Tant, veteran of many hard fought battle in the army of the Lord, laid his burden down. Memories of childhood years keep coming back as we try to focus on contemporary problems and projects.
Surely one of the most significant happenings of 1968's first half was the effort made by sincere brethren at Arlington in January to seek some way to re-establish communication between two groups within the family of God who seemed to be drifting ever wider and wider apart. We cannot conceive that anyone would for a moment question the motives of brethren undertaking such an effort. And with one or two lamentable exceptions we have seen little evidence that brethren generally are critical of the idea of such a meeting. The eventual worth of the gathering is for the future to determine. But sweeping criticisms of the whole event are preposterous until one has examined the speeches and seen what was actually done and said at the meeting.
And now to a matter more directly affecting this editor — that "box in the vestibule." We have received perhaps fifteen or twenty articles in response to our suggestion, by far the majority of them critical of the idea. We published one from Brother Douthitt recently, and in this issue we carry one from Brother Fred Shewmaker. We appreciate the kind and brotherly way in which these men (in fact, ALL who have sent critical articles) deal with the editor. Not all writings (including probably some from the editor's own pen!) show the courtesy and restraint that has characterized the articles dealing with "the box."
Our whole idea in advancing the "vestibule box" was to try to offer some thing constructive, some suggestion, idea, concept, or plan which might be workable and acceptable "to both sides." Quite obviously, it is NOT acceptable at this moment to a fair number of conservative brethren. Whether it would be acceptable to brethren supporting the Herald of Truth and Cows for Korea we do not know. Brother Shewmaker quite properly points out that we would not attempt to justify the box as being specifically authorized. We assumed that all would understand that; and that our justification of it would have to be on the grounds that this was one suggestion, however good or bad we did not try to say, by which brethren might fulfill the many admonitions in Scripture that enjoin upon Christians the necessity of unity.
There is still another item to be considered: whether any of the contributions in the box would be sent to unscriptural organizations. That would be for the donors to determine! Every contribution in the box should be sent to the person, organization, agency, or what-not whose name is on the envelope. And if an envelope is found in the box with the name of "St. Joseph's Catholic Church" on it, then St. Joseph's Catholic Church should get the money! Why should the question even be raised? This is NOT a church contribution; these are NOT "church funds" being sent out; these funds are NOT under the control of the elders of the church. It would be right and proper, of course, for the elders and others to give strong teaching against any individual's supporting the Catholic Church — or any other organization which has no right to exist (such as the Herald of Truth set-up). We are not even arguing whether such organizations have the right to exist and function; we are simply asking for some plan or procedure (if such be possible) by which brethren think some of these unscriptural things should be supported out of the church treasury and brethren who are adamantly opposed to such support may live and work and worship together.
We proposed the "box in the vestibule" as one possibility. Since unity is enjoined upon us in many, many passages; and since this is (conceivably) one plan which might encourage and promote such unity, we ask again: does it violate any teaching of scripture? If you ask, where is the passage that authorizes it?, let us reply with these citations. Ephesians 4:3; Col. 3:14; Eph. 4:15,16 I Cor. 1:10,11, and a veritable host of other passages enjoining love, orderliness, peace, unity, etc.
Furthermore, we certainly have no attachment to this "box" which would not quickly be surrendered if somebody comes up with a better and more workable plan? What have you to propose? Is it possible for you in any conceivable way at all to worship in the same congregation with a devout and humble Christian who believes with all his heart that it is his Christian DUTY to support Boles Home, Herald of Truth, Homes for Unwed Mothers, etc. What concessions are YOU willing to make for unity? Or do you insist that ALL concessions must be made by those who support the institutions. If you were worshipping in a congregation where all the elders, the preacher, and all the members except you believed it was right and scriptural for them to support Boles Orphan Home and Abilene Christian College from the church treasury, but where out of deference to your conscience they were willing to forego CHURCH contributions to these institutions, and let all interested parties place their contributions to these institutions in carefully marked envelopes and drop them in a box somewhere on the premises, would you insist that that box be OFF the premises in order for you to worship with them?
It appears to this writer that the real hang-up here — shall the box be on church property, or off church property? And if off, how far off?
The elders of that Putnam City Church (Oklahoma City) made a laudable and worthy move in the right direction (we reported it last week.) Now who among the conservative congregations will match this spirit with a totally sincere and serious effort to move toward unity? If the "box" is not the way to do it, then come up with something that you think WILL work. And do be realistic about it! Let us truly seek a solution. We believe one can be found if brethren are acting in good faith and with a determination above all else to please God.
F. Y. T.