Issues, Colleges, Orphan Homes And Scriptures
Many interested observers have never seen the real issues in current controversies. Concerning colleges the main issues are: Can a college rightfully teach the Bible and can any human institution be supported financially by the church? Institutions can rightfully teach Bible (limitable) but no human institution is to be tied to and supported by the church.
In discussion with those who oppose the college teaching the Bible, we find that the opposition points to the abuses and usurpations the colleges may be guilty of. It can be agreed that they have been guilty of error — they are human institutions, finite, fallible, apt to err. But that is not the real issue between the above mentioned for the issue involved here is, "Can a college teach the Bible and emphasize Christian living?" Some tracts have been written by anti-college brethren which hardly deal with the issue.
In discussion with the brethren who want the church to pay the way of the colleges and thereby have the colleges do the work of the church we find that they point out the weaknesses in the programs of local congregations, and the good that Bible colleges can do. Some have even gone so far as to declare that the church, cannot progress without the colleges. These things do not involve the issue. The issue here is "Can the church financially support the college?"
Now the orphan home question is in the spotlight and the same thing is happening — men wrangle over points irrelevant to the issues. The issue is not, "You produce a better plan," nor "What are you doing about helping the orphans," nor "Can not an individual(s) operate a home for orphans." The real issue here is "Can the institutional orphan home be scripturally supported and/or maintained by the local congregations?" I wish the brethren would stick to the issues and quit playing the ways of the adolescent by calling each other names and bemuddling the propositions.
It is difficult to discuss the orphan home question because of the humanitarian principles involved. The only thing some brethren can picture in their minds is a half-starved wretch of a child walking the street, having no home, no parents or guardians. When we question the scripturalness of certain church projects these individuals picture us as being cruel, cold-hearted, indifferent, anti-orphan-care rascals. When brethren opposed the missionary society they were branded as anti-missionary. When they opposed putting the colleges in the budget of the church they were referred to as "Sommerites" or anti-college. When we oppose the putting of orphan homes in the budget of the church we are labeled anti-orphan or anti-orphan-home by those who can see nothing beyond the humanitarian views involved. For the sake of the church, brethren, put reason before feeling, scripture and scriptural principle before man's efficiency. May the operation of orphan homes and colleges be carried on separate from the church as the operation of hospitals and hotels are. We do not maintain hospitals or hotels but sometimes we patronize those institutions when they become a means in which we can carry out some work of the church without violating scriptural principle. The local church ought to help the sick and in so doing it maybe necessary to send the sick to the hospital and pay the bill. The congregation may need to house a preacher and it may be expedient and necessary to send him to the hotel and pay the bill. The church has orphans on hand and has not a qualified or capable home or local facilities to care for them. It might be the expedient thing to place them into a public institution contributing directly to their (the orphans) support. For an example I know a family who has a boy in an institution for the feeble-minded. The family pays the state $35.00 monthly for the support of that particular boy. They are not contributing toward the maintenance of the institution but toward the care of that particular boy. That is what the church can rightfully do if necessary in the case of an orphan, if they cannot care for him at home in the local congregation. The best and right place for the care of orphans is in a Christian home; the expedient when home facilities are not available is a public orphan home. Now there is some difference in patronizing a college. When a boy is sent to college it does not involve humanitarian principles but rather scholastic opportunities. Methinks the church may rightfully under certain circumstances contribute to the feeding and clothing of a particular boy in college; however, it is not the work of the church to give the boy an education in biology, ball playing, etc.
Mis-Applied Passages
"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end." (Eph. 3:21) Paul declares that the church should go to Christ. The church glorifies Christ in: (1) The presentation of truth; (2) Individual application of Christian principles to daily activity; (3) The benevolent activities of the local congregation. The truth is preached and Christ is glorified. The preacher stands before the audience proclaiming God's word and Christ is glorified. The teacher leads a discussion of God's word in a "Sunday School Class" and Christ is glorified. The duties of the Christian individual are to teach and live Christian principles. The Christian teaches his co-worker on the job and Christ is glorified. The Christian instructs his family in the ways of the Lord and Christ is glorified. The Christian is asked to teach a Bible lesson in a high school assembly or such like, and he does so and Christ is glorified. The Christian is hired to teach the Bible in a college, he does so and Christ is glorified. The Christian establishes an institution entirely separate from the church in which Christian living is emphasized and it matters not whether this institution is a business enterprise or educational foundation, Christ is glorified. The Christian sees a man in immediate need and helps him and Christ is glorified. A Christian is known for contributing to orphans and widows (James 1:27) and Christ is glorified. The Christian establishes an institution entirely separate from the church to care for orphans and Christ is glorified. In each instance the individual is a church member, influenced and inspired by the church and as all church members are, he is subject to the discipline of the church in every public endeavor of life. At any time the Christian brings shame to the church he brings shame to Christ and whether he be involved in oil well digging, teaching in a college, or taking care of orphans he personally is subject to the scriptural discipline of the local congregation. When in any of his endeavors he as a Christian applies Christian principles to his living he is glorifying Christ as a Christian, and being a Christian he is a church member and Christ is glorified through, in, and by the church.
Ephesians 3:10: "To the intent that now unto the principalities in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." (Eph. 3:10) Now those who oppose a college that teaches the Bible in any way or form use this scripture in an attempt to support their claim that the church is the only institution that can teach the Bible. Can a college teach the Bible and instruct young preachers in the art of oratory, hermenuetics, et cetera? No, says a writer, for Eph. 3:10 says the manifold wisdom of God must be made known through the church. The brother is guilty of the very thing we warn the sectarians against — taking a verse from its context and making a pretext out of it. The subject of the passage is the revelation of mystery. The Gospel was a mystery to Old Testament personnel and Paul is teaching that the mystery is now revealed — God's eternal purpose is no more of a mystery to those who seek first the kingdom of God. Paul affirms in the eighth verse that it is his personal mission to preach the gospel to the Gentiles revealing to them the eternal purpose which God purposed in Christ Jesus. In the ninth verse he declares all men should see the mystery in revelation and not only all men but even the heavenly beings (vs. 10) experience an increase in knowledge in the revelation of God's mystery. The church of Christ is the realization of the end in view of the eternal plan of God. The plan materialized when the church was established, when God's plan was revealed; his purpose became evident to the angels in heaven who had desired to look into the mind of God. (1 Peter 1:12) The church is the manifestation, the realization of God's plan to save mankind and when the plan materialized all including the heavenly hosts could see what God had in mind — the mystery was no more a mystery. The angels in heaven do not sit at the feet of the scholars of the church and learn about God's will; that is not what the passage teaches. But when the church was established — when salvation was made available to all mankind, then the angels who had desired to look into God's plan (1 Peter 1:12) now were enlightened, they now know what the Almighty had kept secret. If the interpretation of those who oppose Bible teaching in and through any other institution than the church be correct, then the heavenly hosts are taught and instructed by earthly beings — those who make up the church of Christ. To so twist this passage to suit a theory is to make the knowledge of angelic beings dependent upon the Bible teaching of finite teachers here on earth.
Is the missionary society a parallel to the college? No. The missionary society attaches itself to the church via the magnetic forces of monetary contributions and authority, or else attaches the church to the society. The church either becomes subordinate to the society or the society becomes a leech on the church. Now as long as the colleges are not put in the budgets of the churches they are separate from the churches unless connected in some other unscriptural way. And as yet the church has not become subordinate to the colleges, so there is no parallel there. There is a danger. The missionary society cannot rightfully exist because it is set up precisely to do the work of the church, collectively, universally, and specifically. It combines the work of congregations into a centrality of authority, of action, and of glory. This is not true of the colleges unless they attach themselves to the church as stated above.
There are many things to consider in these issues and the purpose of this writing is to help us all to see the real issue and understand problems involved. "Brethren think on these things."