Institutionalism
Institutionalism is the bane of the church today and has always been. The lust for power and authority to dominate is a human element that must always be watched in the church. Paul warned against this when he said, "the mystery of lawlessness doth already work." This craving for power upon part of some church leaders, and the abject connivance upon the part of others to their diabolical aspirations led the apostolic church into the great apostasy out of which came the Roman Catholic hierarchy that kept the Bible from the masses, destroyed the autonomy of the local congregations, and struck the death knell to religious freedom for a thousand years, and a part of two or three continents was saturated with the blood of martyrs before the word of God was restored to those who wanted it. This power was not obtained at once; but like creeping paralysis upon the human body, it was gradual and almost unnoticed till the spiritual body of Christ became impotent, and unable to carry on its scriptural functions.
"Boniface III, who was Pope for only ten months in the year 607, was the first to whom the title of Universal Bishop of Christendom was conceded by the Greek Emperor (Phocas)," himself a murderer and usurper. Thus, by a gradual process, it took the New Testament church more than five hundred years, after the close of the apostolic age, to completely lose its identity and merge into the most corrupt and tyrannical religio-political institution that ever blotched the pages of history.
Remember what institutionalism did for the Nineteenth Century Restoration, the greatest move for Christian unity since the days of the apostles. The spirit of iniquity is still fermenting and permeating that movement. Brethren, I am afraid of these institutions, separate and apart from the church, organized by uninspired men to do the work that God has committed to the local congregation, and to individual Christians.
The Church A Divine Institution I want to call your attention to what the church is, because I am persuaded that there are many who do not know what it is, and could not tell you how to enter it, what its mission is, nor how that mission is to be accomplished.
From the following references we learn that the church is a divine institution (Matt. 16:18, 19); an institution purchased by the blood of the Son of God (Acts 20:28); a body of which he is the head and saviour — the only institution of which he is saviour (Eph. 5:22-23); the only institution that is to be presented unto him at the last day (Eph. 5: 24-27). If I am not a member of that institution there is no statement in God's truth that I will ever be presented to him.
I believe, therefore, in view of these statements that a man might belong to every fraternal order on the face of the earth and every other religious organization on the earth, do all the good that he might accomplish (and that might be a great deal to the world), and then die and go out of the world without hope and without God. I believe a man can be a member of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, be a member of that alone, serve God in that institution, and die and go home to the Father and live with the redeemed of the earth through the cycles of eternity. That is what I think about the church of the Lord Jesus Christ when compared with all other institutions on the face of the earth.
The Work Of The Church — Preaching The Gospel
I suppose that all will agree that one of the works of the church is carrying the gospel to the world. (Matt. 28:18-20; 1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 3:10) There is, therefore, no other institution on the face of the earth that has any right or authority to even attempt to carry the gospel to the world.
Those who are familiar with the spreading of the gospel in the first century know that when the church in Jerusalem was scattered abroad that the individual members went about preaching the word. Paul and Barnabas were sent out from the church at Antioch. They made a journey through the island of Cyprus, and then to Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Then they returned after establishing churches in those cities and appointed elders in every city. When they returned from their journey they called together the church and reported to it what God had done among the Gentiles by them. Why didn't they call together some Ladies Aid, or some Ladies Bible Class, or some other kind of a society, and relate to them what God had done? He called the church together — that was the institution he recognized.
When Paul and Silas started out on their second missionary journey they crossed over into Europe and planted the church at Philippi. When Paul left Philippi he went to Thessalonica and preached there. From there he went to Berea, Athens, and Corinth. After leaving Philippi he wrote them, "Ye yourselves know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but ye only; for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my need." (Phil. 4:15,16) While Paul was preaching the gospel in Thessalonica the church in Philippi sent once and again unto his necessities. He left Thessalonica and wrote them, "For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything." (1 Thess. 1:8) The church at Philippi was established. Then it supported the preaching of the gospel in another place (Thessalonica). The church at Thessalonica in turn sounded forth the word of the Lord. That was the way the gospel was carried to the then known world. To the Colossians Paul said, "If so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister." (Col. 1:23) Here the apostle declares that the gospel had been preached to the whole creation. In a period of a few years, simple gospel preachers without an organization or institution except the church carried the gospel to the then known world. Yet, with all of the machinery that we have today we can't get it to the world. There is something wrong somewhere. There is no doubt in my mind but that the trouble is that man's wisdom is pitted against the wisdom of God Almighty. I have called your attention to the above matters to show that one mission of the church is to carry the gospel to the world, and how it was carried.
The Work of the Church — Caring For the Needy The church is to care for its needy. I am calling your attention to how that was done in New Testament times. Many are busy trying to burden the church with responsibilities that God never bound upon it. Some ask, What are you going to do with the little illegitimate children of the world? Are you going to let the Catholics have them, or are you going to build an orphan home to take care of them? Now did you ever read anything in the Bible about the church taking care of the poor little illegitimate children of the world? The Bible teaches the church to care for its own!
"But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee ? or athirst, and gave thee drink? And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? And when saw we thee, sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me." (Matt. 25:31-40) Thus, the way we do good to the Lord Jesus is by doing good to each other. It is by taking care of his brethren — not the world. If I help the people of the world (I do it simply as an individual Christian. This, however, does not mean that it is a responsibility of the church.
In Acts 6:1-6 we learn how the church in Jerusalem took care of some widows. The context shows that those under consideration were "disciples." This was an emergency, and they met it.
"Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world which came to pass in the days of Claudius. And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea: which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul." (Acts 11:27-30) Now, get this: it does not say they sent it to help all of the suffering in Jerusalem. Of course, if the church was suffering because of the famine, those who were not members were suffering because of the same famine. These brethren were concerned about their brethren. Now was that narrow? They sent it to the elders. The elders were the agents who distributed it or had it distributed to their brethren.
"What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?" (James 2:14-16) Why didn't he say if ANY man or woman be in need and ye say so and so? I assure you it is the business of the church to see after its own.
"But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17) Notice, again emphasis is placed upon taking care of a brother.
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order for the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as ye may prosper, that no collections be made when I come." (1 Cor. 16:1,2) Who is he concerned about? The SAINTS who were in need.
"Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which bath been given in the churches of Macedonia; how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For according to their power, I bear witness yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints." (2 Cor. 8:1-4) They were not ministering to the world nor sending to have a home built for all the poor in Jerusalem or Judea or any other place on God's earth. They were sending to the SAINTS in Jerusalem. These brethren gave of their own accord while in extreme poverty. However, their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. They were zealous in carrying the gospel to the world. They sent once and again to Paul's necessity while he was preaching the gospel. Here they had gone beyond their ability in sending relief to the poor. I never like to hear a congregation talk about what it can't do. If we will do what we can, then God Almighty will take care of the other. We should never feel badly when we can't do as much as we wish. If we are willing for God to work in and through us, we will do just exactly what he wants us to do, and that will be enough. Paul was telling these people about the liberality of the Macedonian saints to. stir them up. Then he pays, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." (2 Cor. 8:9) Not rich in this world's goods but become rich in that we become heirs and joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, he is talking about contributing to the SAINTS — not to some orphan home or institution apart from the church.
"For this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will. But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, and not according as he hath not. For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed; but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality." (2 Cor. 8:10-14) Now the reason I know there wasn't any orphan home at Jerusalem to which they were sending relief is because that statement concerning equality could not have been made. There was an emergency and Paul is urging to take care of that emergency assuring them that the table might turn and they would be the beneficiaries of their liberality. Now could you say that about any orphan home? Such is not an emergency! It is a permanent thing! There is continuous sending with no hopes of anything being sent back in the way of money.
"For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them. But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared; lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence. I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforesaid bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion." (2 Cor. 9:1-5) They had made a promise a year before. What was it? To help build an orphan home in Jerusalem to take care of all the orphans in that area? A thousand times no! It was to take care of an emergency that was in Jerusalem at that particular time.
"But now, I say, I go unto Jerusalem, ministering unto the saints. For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem .... Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and bythe love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that are disobedient in Judea, and that my ministration which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints." (Rom. 15:25-31) This contribution was for the "poor AMONG THE SAINTS." He wanted the church to pray for him that the bounty he was carrying would be accepted by the SAINTS.
"Visiting"
"Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27) Now what does the word "visit" mean? Does that mean that just as soon as a man dies and leaves his wife a widow to grab up his children and send them to an orphan home? Is that your idea of "visit"? Visit the widows and orphans — that means you go and minister to their needs. If a father in some congregation should die leaving no relative to take care of that wife and children, what business would it be of the church? It would be the church's business to go to that woman and say, "don't you worry we will take care of you through this emergency. If you are a renter we will pay your rent. If you are buying a home struggling along with it almost paid out we will pay that out. Keep your children together! We will see that they are fed and clothed!" That would be a temporary arrangement. It might not be long until she would be married again and the emergency would cease. But about all we can conceive of today is to run them off to an orphan home. The church must take care of them and continue to send year in and year out. Why in the world didn't they establish an orphan home in Jerusalem? Did the Lord overlook that part? Did they have to have an institution besides the church to take care of the widows and orphans in that day? If they didn't, why should we?
I remember when the first orphan home was started among our brethren. In the turn of the century W. T. Boaz bought an old house in Columbia, Tennessee, and started one. That is the one that is now known as Spring Hill. Later an old Brother Tipton out in Oklahoma deeded his farm for an orphan home. Some brother wrote in one of the papers and said, "the church of Christ has never made any provision for their orphans until a good old white headed brother in Oklahoma deeded his farm." I wrote in answer to him and said, "what you should have said is that the church had made no arrangement to build an orphan home until this good old brother deeded his farm. The church has taken care of its widows and orphans from the beginning." It is an impeachment of the wisdom of Almighty God to intimate that the church in the apostolic age did not care for its widows and orphans. Show me any passage from which you can deduce the idea of a modern day orphan home. I am just calling your attention to facts; not to sentimentality or some little sissyisms in religion.
If any church has more orphans than it can take care of it has a perfect right to call upon the other churches to help take care of them in the emergency. But do you know of a church in our town that can't take care of its orphans? There are none in Birmingham. This idea of "Childhaven" was born in Montgomery in the mind of "Popcorn" Meyer (I have known him for forty years) and one or two more, and then they brought it up here. Now you just think about three or four brethren getting together and conceiving a great plan and organizing something and throwing it off on the church and claiming that it is the church's responsibility. And, yet, many brethren over the country will say, "If you don't go along with such, you don't believe in caring for orphans. You don't believe in 'visiting the widows and orphans'."
Of course we should feel keenly toward the needs of all. Didn't Paul say, "So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of faith." (Gal. 6:10) Yes, but does that mean the church is obligated to provide for the physical needs of all men? God Almighty expects the church to feed, clothe, and care for its own. Of course, God doesn't mean that you can't as an individual help some outsider just from humanity's standpoint. If I should see a poor wicked sinner naked or starving, I would feed him, but I wouldn't think that I was feeding the Lord Jesus Christ when I did it. I would do it just for humanity's sake. There are many duties that we as individuals perform in our daily practice of Christianity which are not duties of the church. We must be careful to make this distinction. Furthermore, not all widows within the church are to be charges of the church. (1 Tim. 5:8-16)
Misrepresentations
Responsible people have told me that some have said, "Brother Lewis is a crank, sorehead, hobby rider who doesn't believe in taking care of poor little orphans." Now if a person is honest about that and does not know the difference in caring for orphans and in building one of these modern day orphan homes, he does not have anything to worry about at the judgment. God Almighty will take care of him. Whoever tells you that John T. Lewis don't believe in caring for orphans, you tell them in advance for me that they are liars. All I want people to tell about me and what I believe is to tell the truth, and I'll thank them for it, but when they go to falsifying that is different.
If some person were to ask me, Do you believe in caring for orphans? I would answer, yes, sir! Well, but brethren say, "He said you had to adopt orphans." No one ever heard me say that! Did you ever see anything from my pen saying you ought to adopt orphans? It is my contention that they ought not to be taken away from their mother. There is nothing wrong in adopting orphans if you can get one. I'm not against that. The point is, I am in favor of caring for the needy in the right way!