What Do You Think?
This will introduce the writer of the following epistle. Several brethren here read the Guardian and have asked me to say something. I just hope it's not too blunt to be published. I stand behind every word.
I've preached forty years over Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. I've held twenty five public debates with such men as A. Nunnery, C. A. Smith, W. S. Clouse, etc. I have moderated for Joe H. Blue different times. My association has been with such men as brethren J. D. Tant, Joe II. Blue, C. R. Nichol. I am personally acquainted with Curtis Porter. Brethren Yater Tant and Roy Cogdill should know of my work. I'm not as old as Harry Truman but my physical condition has taken me from the field. I've lived here three years and know what goes on.
— Norman Cooper Someone said if Brother J. D. Tant were living he would not say "brethren we are drifting," but would say "brethren we have drifted." Things have changed in the last few years very rapidly, and I think anyone would be justified in saying "we have drifted." Now just what do you think? And we have adopted questionable tactics to keep those who would criticize quiet, while we carry on.
The denominational people have always told the folks if they said anything against what they said or did they would be speaking against God, and some bad thing would happen to them such as sickness or death. We don't say it just that way but it's aimed at having the same effect. We say you are disloyal; you don't love the cause of Christ, etc. The idea is to keep down criticism. Our late model pastors with "unqualified elders" borrowed this from denominationalism and of course it helps their cause. Now what do you think?
Fifty years ago the denominational people waxed bold and would meet us in debate, and for twenty-five years the battles raged. But when they saw they were losing ground they withdrew from the field and there are very few debates now. It's not best for their cause; error will not stand before criticism. Our late model "pastors" and "unqualified elders" have learned these things. Write some of them a letter asking for authority for some of their practices and the letter will go into the wastebasket. You'll never get a reply. Our older preachers would invite criticism; our late models condemn all who question their teaching. Now what do you think?
The pitiable part about the drifting is it always happens in the larger centers where they can have numbers and money. The "pastor" with his "unqualified elders" gets into the saddle and they try to herd the flock with spurs instead of leading them into green pastures. Those "keep quiet? tactics have gone so far here where I live that if a preacher missteps and crosses our views or our plans, he never returns here to preach; he's a marked man! I think this is popery. What do you think?
We formerly had one congregation here but we built a house and swarmed; the old congregation appointed the elders and deacons for the new church and also hired them a preacher. Then fired the preacher and now have hired them another. Some think this is popery. What do you think?
We got together here during "Holy Week" and celebrated with the university and our denominational friends in an undenominational service. They favored us by having one of our outstanding men as the center of attraction.
Of course we dismissed our services so all could go (some sore heads wouldn't attend) and enjoy the services. Some of the brethren thought this was a bad case of spiritual adultery. Now what do you think?