An Open Letter To Yater Tant
Dear brother Tant, I have been reading with more than usual interest your comments on the Guardian's "peace offensive." I think it is admirable of you to try your hand at making lines of communication better between brethren who are divided over the institutional issue. However, I feel that you are wasting your time.
I realize that this sounds a little cold and pessimistic, but nonetheless, it is a feeling created from experience. I also realize that I am much younger and with less experience than you, but I am compelled, out of regard for you and the Guardian, to write this letter. Please accept it as a younger man's advice to his respected friend.
I am now numbered among those of your brethren who think that unity between brethren divided over institutionalism is impossible. There are two fundamental reasons why it is impossible.
First, those who believe churches have the right to centralize their evangelistic work under a single eldership and also contribute to benevolent institutions (Orphanages, both under elders and under a board of directors), and who believe the churches may engage in some sort of entertainment as church functions are not willing to stop those practices. They are unable to produce scripture for them, but are too deeply wedded to them to give them up for the sake of unity.
I remind you of the workshop of Oklahoma Christian College which you attended, where a flat denial was given to the proposal to give up the Herald of Truth, church support of orphanages and entertainment. Have you met any representative brethren who are willing to give them up for unity?
The second reason is that brethren who are opposed to the institutional and social practices are unwilling to bend any in their attitudes toward brethren with whom they differ. I do not say that all conservative brethren are this way, but there are enough that feel that way to hinder any realistic approach to bettering lines of communication.
Furthermore, from my experience, I want to warn you (as though you didn't already know this!) that some of those men you think now are your best friends will turn against you vehemently if you try to have a closer working relationship with the so-called "liberals." If you regard them as "brethren," conservative preachers will spread around the brotherhood that you are "going soft." And, if you were to announce one of their meetings, you will surely be classed as "going liberal." And, when and if you ever call on a "liberal" to lead a prayer, you will be described as "gone forever."
Some of the brethren who stand with you on the institutional question will not take the time to write you as much as a postal card or letter or make a phone call before they publish to the brotherhood that you are "star struck" and "dreamer" and they have no more confidence in your soundness. As a result of this, you will not be used in meeting work as much as you have been in the past. Churches that are looking for a preacher will be warned not to consider you for the work. In short, if you try to better communications with the "liberals" you will be excommunicated by the conservatives.
We have been friends for a number of years. I still fondly remember your patience and kindness in helping me see the truth on the institutional question. Remember, after I came back from the Porter-Woods debate in Indianapolis — I had given up the institutional side and wrote you time and time again for answers to questions I was confused about while a student at Harding College? I will always be grateful to you for that help and in return for some of that valuable assistance you gave me then, I ask you very sincerely, to forget this business of "unity" and "better communications" with the institutional brethren.
I am also fearful for your future when you take up "local work" in Birmingham, because it is quite possible (again I speak from experience) that if brethren there do not like one little thing about you, they will use this "unity" thing to either get rid of you or pull off a factious group and spread falsehoods all over the country about you. I hope you will re-consider your plans.
Yours in Christ, Dudley Ross Spears