Mankamyer Condemns Mankamyer -- And Some Others
I have before me a well-worn tract on "TOBACCO, Does the Bible Condemn It?" The author of this tract is Orlin L. Mankamyer. Address: P. O. Box 22, Price Hill Station, Cincinnati 5, Ohio. This author says he is a church of Christ preacher. He really preaches for what is known to us as the Christian Church. In fairness to Mankamyer, however, I think he opposes the human missionary societies; also opposes sales, shows, and suppers as means of raising money for the church. But this same Mankamyer favors the use of mechanical instrumental music in church worship.
In this paragraph I wish to state that I do not chew, smoke, rub snuff, or drink strong drink. In this respect I could wish others might follow my example. I know that such a course is safe spiritually and physically. But the purpose of this article is not to deal with the rightness or wrongness of the use of tobacco. I am arguing the foolproofness of every argument made by Mankamyer against tobacco. I am to show in this article that some of the arguments made by him against tobacco, may be used with equal force against instrumental music in church worship, which Mankamyer says is right. Therefore, Mankamyer condemns Mankamyer. Not necessarily in order, but some of Mankamyer's arguments follow.
1. Mankamyer says in his tract on tobacco: "Most people use it for two reasons: (a) Because they want to use it; and (b) because a majority of the people sanction its use." Again he says, "Regardless of what the scientists say; regardless of proven facts; regardless of how many people it has maimed and murdered, there is nothing wrong with tobacco, because I WANT TO USE IT!!" This preacher Mankamyer certainly does not think much of the people's so-called reasons for using tobacco, does he?
But Mankamyer condemns Mankamyer. May we not say this about him? Mankamyer uses mechanical instruments in church worship: (a) Because he wants to use them; and (b) because a majority of religious people sanction their use. Moreover we may say of him: regardless of what the New Testament says; regardless of proven facts; regardless of how many people the use of instrumental music in church worship has spiritually maimed and murdered, there is nothing wrong with instrumental music in church worship, because I (Mankamyer) WANT TO USE IT!! May we not say to this author: "Physician, heal thyself"? Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? (Rom. 2:21.) We are pressing the same reasoning against this instrument user that he presses against the tobacco user.
2. Mankamyer says of tobacco users: "Not a few people are operating today under this black and bloody flag of personal liberty." He explains his terrible charge by saying he means some people say of tobacco, "since its first name is not called in the Bible" it is not a sin to use it. This author is set against such reasoning out of tobacco users. He thinks it won't hold water. Hear this against-tobacco-man again. He says, "A certain thing does not always have to be named in the Bible to be divinely and scripturally condemned." Now hear this man further: "God through his word condemns sin in three different ways. One way is naming the evil thing outright; another way is APOSTOLIC PRECEDENT standstill another, by INFERENCE." So, concludes this author while he is discussing the tobacco question, to use tobacco is sin. Why? Well, though it is not condemned outright by calling ITS FIRST NAME, it is a sin to use it in the absence of apostolic precept, example, or inference.
But use the same arguments against Mankamyer's instruments in church worship that he uses against the tobacco users, and you have Mankamyer condemning Mankamyer. Those who use instruments in church worship, like Mankamyer says of tobacco users: "Are operating today under this black and bloody flag of personal liberty." They say of their instruments, "The Bible nowhere condemns them." And since the Bible doesn't call it out by its first name, it is permissible. Why then isn't tobacco permissible? Where, I ask, is there any apostolic teaching, example, or inference for instruments in church worship ? There is none. And this author, Mankamyer, knows this as well as I do. Yet he uses his instruments of music because he wants to, and he thus worships under "this black and bloody flag of personal liberty." The absence of New Testament authority for instruments in church worship, makes such worship sinful.
3. But Mankamyer deposes further for the benefit of the tobacco user. He says, "The only sure information we have concerning the will of Christ is what he gave us through the scriptures." If this puts tobacco out, it will also put the instrument out of the worship. Again Mankamyer condemns Mankamyer. But this author I am reviewing says the tobacco users say, "But I get so much pleasure out of using tobacco," and he thinks this won't work. I have heard Mankamyer's brethren say the same thing about instruments in church worship, "We get so much pleasure out of them." If this won't work in the absence of Christ's authority for tobacco, neither will it suffice in the absence of Christ's authority for instruments in church worship.
4. Mankamyer proposes this solemn question: "Would Jesus Christ raise or use tobacco?" But here is a solemn question for Mankamyer and his brethren: "Would Jesus Christ use man-made instruments in church worship ?" We know he and his apostles did not use such instruments in worship. (Matt. 26:30.) They sang. The Jews, themselves, did not introduce instrumental music in their worship in their synagogues, after Christ's death on the cross, until about 1815. An appeal to the civil authorities removed it until 1818 and then a Gentile organist was used. Or so I have read.
5. Again Mankamyer says to tobacco users: "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for PEACE, and things wherewith one may EDIFY another." (Rom. 14:19.) Mankamyer thinks tobacco users DISOBEY this scripture. Well, here again, Mankamyer is against Mankamyer, and condemns himself. Instruments of music in church worship have destroyed "peace" among a once united brotherhood. Such music, and other departures, are keeping brethren divided. Come, my erring brother, Mankamyer, and practice what you want the tobacco user to practice.
6. Mankamyer tells us why he preaches against the use of tobacco. Hear him: "The writer of this little essay, one who cannot console himself the "here," for he must also give serious thoughts to the "hereafter." If this author is as serious as he sounds, we think it is about time for him to cease upholding the divisive practice of instruments in church worship.
The "AND SOME OTHERS" of the title of this article means we should ponder well the principles of truth set forth here. The same principles of truth that will condemn instruments in church worship, will apply with equal force to missionary societies organized among men, centralized control and oversight in our own midst, and any and all human organizations that are calling upon support from the church treasuries. Unless I have read my Bible wrongly, all of these are contrary to: "the teaching which I have commanded you." (Matt. 28:20.) All such violates apostolic teaching and practice. All such violates the principle of necessary inference. For the church to cling to and support human institutions from the church treasury is to think of men "above that which is written." (1 Cor. 4:6.) It is to declare in action at least that we do not believe that the Lord has "delivered unto us all that pertains unto life and godliness." (1 Peter 1:3.) Dear brethren, "Let us go on," but let us go "safely," go "scripturally."