Facts You Need To Know-- Questions For Herald Of Truth
Under the above title the elders of the Highland Street Church of Abilene, Texas, where the Herald of Truth program originates mailed this tract along with an appeal for money to help support their program. Underneath this caption was seven paragraphs listed as, Fact No. 1, Fact No. 2, etc.
I have seen no comment from any writer on this material, but from what I see, or think I see, this proves beyond doubt the unscriptural position occupied by these brethren, they being the witness. Listen to what they say:
Fact No. 1. The Herald of Truth program is a work of the Church of Christ at Fifth and Highland, Abilene, Texas. The elders of this congregation direct and oversee every phase of this work from preparation of sermons to mailing of printed copies of these sermons. The Highland elders have never delegated any authority to any person, but have as a unit directed this work.
Fact No. 2. Every person working in connection with the work is a faithful member of the Lord's church. Since December 16, brethren E. L. Crawford, W. C. Smith, and J. F. Reese, elders of the Highland Church, have been charged with disbursing all funds used for carrying on the Radio-Television work. All checks are signed and countersigned by two or these brethren.
Now note: The Highland elders have never delegated any authority to any person, but have as a unit directed this work. WHY have not the Highland elders delegated any authority? Do they think it wrong, scripturally wrong, to do so? Why do they make this point unless there be a consciousness of wrong doing in delegating a work of the Highland Church to be performed by others? Their view on this gospel truth is so self-evident that they need not be further interrogated on this point. They believe it would be wrong, wicked, and sinful, for them to delegate any phase even the smallest detail to overseers beyond the authority of the Highland Church.
If this be in harmony with scripture (and they affirm that it is) that the doctrine of the autonomy of the local congregation be thereby protected and upheld, does it not follow that the same divine law is applicable to all other local congregations and the same restriction rests on them?
How can the Highland Church be so zealous in conforming to the divine pattern, and at the same time turn the world upside down persuading other churches to delegate their work to the Highland Church? Thus seducing others to sin in the thing that she allows not.
Fact No. 6. "To maintain its autonomy or independence, the elders must make final decisions." Likewise must the elders in other autonomous congregations make final decisions how their work shall be conducted and their substance expended and cannot delegate authority to the Highland elders to make decisions for them.
Thus, the Highland elders being witness, If any congregation sends money to the elders at Abilene to be spent at their discretion, the congregation so doing is guilty of the sin of delegated authority which the prudent elders directing the Herald of Truth program declare that they will in no wise do.
Fact No. 4. The Highland Church merely asks sister congregations to have fellowship with her in this work. All checks are to be made payable to Church of Christ, 5th and Highland marked for radio work.
Webster defines fellowship — "Mutual association on equal terms; equal in rank; on equal terms, endowment and character; peer; compeer." But wherein is the fellowship if the Highland elders direct and oversee every phase of the work from preparation of sermons to mailing of printed copies? The disbursement of all funds? The making of all decisions?
Strange fellowship indeed if sister congregations' only part in the matter is to (merely) shell out the money! Where is equality, or rank, or endowment, or character or mutual association on equal terms? It seems necessity has forced these brethren to twist the meaning of this fine Christian word "fellowship."