What Next????
During the past few years there have been many changes in the church of Christ. Some have been good and some have been in the direction of apostasy and ruin. Preachers in whom much confidence was placed have sacrificed the confidence others had in them. In many places where men were sacrificing the Gospel of Christ for big organizations and young people's projects they have learned too late the sure departure from His Word. In Southeast Missouri a young preacher who had a desire for the church to buy a plot of ground on one of the lakes and erect cottages for summer vacations and Bible schools for the young is permitted to see the offspring of his departure from the word of God.
We quote from one of the books used in a young people's class in a church of Christ in Southeast Missouri. "Problem One. Bessie has taken piano lessons ever since she was ten years old. She plays very well and is considered the best young pianist in the church. When she was recently chosen as pianist for the Sunday school she insisted that she be allowed to play several classical selections during the worship service. Only a few members of the congregation enjoyed the music. Most of the people wanted to sing more hymns. When the Bible school superintendent explained to Bessie that the kind of music she wanted to play, fine as it was, was not appropriate to the worship service, she angrily resigned as pianist. If you don't appreciate my talent, I'll go somewhere else, she explained bitterly. Was Bessie using her talent for the Lord's work or for her own glory? What attitude should she have taken toward her position as Bible school pianist?"
This is a church of Christ, mind you. Do you think the elders read or obtained this literature? We have been informed the preacher and one of the elders secured this literature for the young people. No wonder Paul states by inspiration "I would not have you ignorant brethren." The great need of the church today as always is knowledge of the truth along with love for it. When the elders know the truth and demand that preachers preach the truth much of our strife and division will be lost. The problem that poor, little, Bessie has in wanting to play more classical music is not near as great a problem that faces the church where the elders and preacher selects such "stuff." The church there has a problem that needs to be dealt with. The elders need to read the Bible and learn the truth and stand for it and the preacher needs to study much more before he ever tries to teach anyone if this literature is characteristic of his knowledge of His Word. It is time to pray "Lord save the church."