Trouble In Tennessee - A Lot Of Racket
We have at least four preachers in this area who are making a lot of racket about a few things that to them are definite marks of apostasy in the church and saying that all who are parties to such are hell-bound. I have been listening to these particular men the last few weeks. While they are to be greatly admired for their courage and zeal, the way they carry on in every lesson they present indicates beyond doubt that they have become first-class hobbyists. While I do share the opinion that there are definite marks of apostasy, and digression within our ranks, I am sure that it is not wise or right to make a hobby out of these matters, and thereby create an apostasy in this respect. By the word "hobby" I mean that these men can talk of nothing else; they are always riding their "hobby-horse" and to them it has become the most important thing in preaching. They press their hobby with all their might even to the disturbance of churches. With them the hobby is so all-important that one is not sound and cannot enjoy their fellowship who does not agree with them. There are some things for which they contend that are right, but one can become a 'hobbyist" even in contending for something true and right.
These men can talk of nothing else than what they are pleased to call "the pastor system." According to them "the pastor system" is about to take over the churches and we are almost under an ecclesiastical rule like the Roman church — the rule of the clergy! To these men the "located preacher" — a preacher who works regularly with one congregation is "the pastor system," especially if said preacher is paid a "stipulated amount," the church furnishes him a place to live and an office at the church building! This just settles the matter as far as they are concerned. They can really rave against such practices. Everywhere they look they see this awful thing threatening the church.
There are several aspects to this "pastor system" that they oppose. For example, the idea that a preacher cannot "preach" to the church. He can only "teach" the church but never "preach" to it, and even then the preacher can only do his pro rata share of this teaching the church. Every other member must share equally in this teaching! The preacher is to "preach" to the world only. Then there is the notion that it is sinful for a church to support a preacher in a stipulated or an agreed-upon amount! They will argue that preachers should be supported and supported well, but it must be a different amount each time otherwise it is sinful and means that the preacher is a "pastor" and preaching for money! Since one hobby generally calls for another, they are now pressing the silly idea that it is sinful to have the Lord's Supper at the evening service for those unable to attend that morning. To them this is a "Second Supper" and a terrible departure. With these come some other ideas equally as wrong and foolish.
On all of their radio programs (they have four in this area) they are talking about these matters. They have caused no little excitement and stir in the churches of the Nashville area. They have aroused considerable opposition, some of which may be of the wrong kind. They take pride in telling about the beginning of a "restored" church — a really scriptural church — which has had its beginning in East Nashville. All other churches save those of their "fellowship" are sinful and everyone in them is hell-bound. They are making these hobbies {a} tests of fellowship.
One of these radio programs is being conducted by Brother H. Clay Grayson over our Franklin station. He is thrashing the ills of the church (as he has determined them to be) over the program. To them there is but little difference in the church and the Roman hierarchy. So far Brother Grayson has done all the teaching on this program which is sponsored by the Longview Church in Nashville. All of his lessons are to the church and about the church. These brethren are supposed to believe in what they call "mutual edification," which means that the teaching or edifying is to be done by all in the church and not by any one man. This "mutual edification" work must apply only to the Lord's day morning assembly because Brother Grayson is doing all the edifying (?) on this radio program which is paid for by the Longview Church — a church of their "fellowship." He is the one and only teacher on this occasion! Wonder why the other brethren at Longview do not demand of this "One-Man-Radio-Preacher-System" their part of the time? Surely Brother Grayson is supposed to be instructing the church at this time. It is hoped that he is not intending by this program just to "preach" to the world about the ills and sins of the church! The other preachers carry on the same way on their programs. Does not this "mutual edification" apply in such cases? By "hogging" all of this radio preaching for themselves and thus trying to instruct the churches all over this section, these men are taking over the work of the elders and are keeping others of their "fellowship" from developing their talents as radio teachers. The other preachers in addition to Brother Grayson are: Brethren Tom Hill, Jerrell Hadley, and Douglas McWherter. (These men are aligned with Brethren Carl Ketcherside and Leroy Garrett.) Maybe their programs are not considered by them to be "edification" and, hence, there need be nothing "mutual" about it. With this I am somewhat inclined to agree. These men ought not to forget when they start teaching and edifying the church on these programs that it is to be "mutually" done by all.
In some ways it is good to have these men come among us and I am glad of some results that follow, although the price paid for the results is far too great. Such cannot but help make us more careful and cautious in what we say and do. It will make us take stock of ourselves and this is always in order. There is no doubt that there are many abuses made of various phases of our work. In some instances a preacher may have become. "The Pastor" in the full denominational sense. That there are trends in this direction no one knowing the facts would deny. Such dangers are always present. No doubt the elders are not qualified in many places and in many respects they fail to do their duty. Without question there has been a taking on of some of the unscriptural practices of the denominations. In many instances we are using the "Language of Ashdod" — such as, "The Minister," and other such unsound words. These abuses and unscriptural practices need to be stopped and we must ever be on guard against any departure from the Divine Pattern. But we must keep in mind that because a practice or a principle is abused and misused, it does not follow that the practice or principle in itself is sinful and wrong. Certainly we need to oppose the abuses and even the unscriptural tendencies. I can join with these men in this. However, even this must be done in the right way and with the right spirit. We must remember that we are brethren. I am not willing to defend the abuses, but rather will join in condemning such. I am willing to defend as scriptural the principles underlying what we call "located work," and will do so at any proper place and time. These men should not be mistreated, nor should we be afraid to learn from them or anyone else. In an honorable and fair way we can meet with them and discuss these differences. There should be no effort made to stop their mouths by force or pressure. The truth has nothing to fear from investigation and I am anxious to know the truth on all matters. It is to be regretted that these men labor with such a "factious" spirit for this makes the right kind of discussion much harder, if not impossible at times. However, we must be careful lest we manifest an attitude and spirit just as bad if not worse — an attitude of being unwilling to study and investigate; of being unwilling to profit by mistakes; an unwillingness to admit errors; and the resorting to the use of wrong methods to silence those who disagree with us.