Evangelism On New Testament Principles -- No. 4
The Cooperative Efforts
Now the question: Do the cooperative efforts of churches of Christ today parallel these objections to the missionary society? In some points, Yes, in other points, No.
1. Organization. In this point there is no complete parallel. Thus far there has been no organization of a body separate from the church. There may never be. But consider the trend organization is now taking. Elders of some particular congregation are either selected or self-designate themselves to oversee a certain work. The work is something greater than that given to the individual or to the congregation. The work they do under the name "elders" is a work that extends beyond that for which elders were selected in the New Testament. Scripturally, they are selected to "Shepherd the flock which is among them." Their work is that of oversight of members of the particular flock among themselves. To take men appointed to one work and set them over another, whereby they must neglect the work for which appointed, violates the principle of scripture organization. In principle, is there any difference in taking men appointed to be "elders" and setting them over a work the Lord did not designate as theirs, and in selecting men not designated as "elders" and setting them over such a work? I fail to see the difference, and believe this point is worthy of the thought of our fine Christian-spirited men who now are serving in such capacities. To take men appointed for one work and set them over another does create an organization that has no basis in scripture.
2. The Wisdom of God. God's wisdom has dictated that the work be done by men acting as "salt," "lights," "leaven." This is quiet, inconspicuous, and never spectacular. Human wisdom insists on the outward, the big, the spectacular. Divine wisdom insists on sacrifice in accomplishing God's work. Human wisdom seeks to devise plans whereby work is done with a minimum amount of sacrifice. Present trends are toward that which makes a show, but relieves the individuals of real sacrifice. At this point there is little difference between the society and our cooperative efforts. Both reflect upon the wisdom of God. God knew and revealed the way that is best; or He knew and did not reveal it; or He did not know and therefore could not reveal it. I subscribe to the first and affirm that that which digresses from it reflects upon His infinite wisdom.
3. The Principle of Faith. When God speaks, faith bows. When God commits a duty to an individual, faith says, "It can be done." When I know that it is my obligation to do a thing, the doing of that both manifests and develops faith. God has never given us a task bigger than we can do. He has never given to any man the impossible Yet He has given to all the job of "holding forth the word of life" in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation (Phil. 2:14,15). The search for some other way to do it than that which involves my own doing it violates the principle of faith. The tendency and trend of our thinking and acting today tends to violate this principle.
4. Hinders Growth. It is my own conviction that al this point there is a very close parallel to the missionary society. The general trend in congregations of the body of Christ is such as to take the obligation and responsibility of Christians out of the hands of individuals and put it in the hands of others, thus hindering the growth and development of a rugged and hardy spiritual power. Got is concerned with the bringing in of numbers, certainly but He is also concerned in the developing of strong am able men and women. His way provides for the development of each individual by his preparing himself, and then getting into the fight each day. With too many such a statement as this brings to attention only development in some public service at the meeting for worship. No emphasis is put on this in the New Testament. The development comes through exercise and discharge o: duty. Our present method of evangelism may develop a few strong men and women, but a strong church is dependent upon a body of strong members, not just a few isolated ones who become strong. To give a few dollars either to engage an evangelist locally or to send a "missionary" afar, thus acting by proxy, does not make for strong character. The result today: weak members who know not how to speak for Christ or to defend His truth.
5. Tendency Toward Ecclesiasticism. The parallel at this point may be negligible, almost nil. However, when a policy is followed that encourages others to make decisions and to act, while we go along in a passive way is a step in the wrong direction and is dangerous. Today we commit our work to them, tomorrow we may be committing our souls to their keeping. Any passive program lulls our spirits into a state of lethargy from which later we may be unable to arouse ourselves.
Summary
I may not be as apprehensive of the dangers as some brethren, nor as blind to tendencies as others. Though I do not believe the present work parallels the missionary society in every respect, I do see enough to cause me to raise my voice in this article. In the overall picture, the trend of those who oppose cooperation as now practiced and those who encourage it, there is a strong tendency among us all in a direction away from the place where God put the emphasis: on the individual — you and I. A return to the emphasis on the individual and on sacrifice that enables the congregation of individuals to do what God gave it to do will just about cure us of the ills now extant in the church at this point. Let's return the emphasis to the place where God put it, and let's keep it there!