Speaking As The Oracles Of God
A Principle
Some may consider it "silliness gone to seed" to object to modern terminology in describing scriptural activity instead of using Biblical expressions, nevertheless I will risk saying what I think needs to be said.
Language is a chief medium of our communication. We all know that words are the conveyors of our thoughts. Hence, it is easy to understand that if we are to correctly impart our thoughts to others, the proper conveyors (words) must be employed. An incorrect word will convey an incorrect thought. It is no wonder then, when God imparted His thoughts to man He chose the very words that most perfectly conveyed His will. The apostle Paul said concerning the wisdom of God, "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit . . . which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth." (1 Cor. 2:10, 13.)
It cannot be successfully denied that the best conveyors of sacred thoughts are Biblical words. The apostle Peter admonishes, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." (1 Peter 4:11.) There is a reason for this. If there is to be unity, all must accept God's will which is conveyed in words divinely chosen. A departure from sound words will naturally result in a departure from God's will. Hence, for unity's sake, Paul writes, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing . . . ." (1 Cor. 1:10.)
Every religious party has its own set of words and expressions to denote its peculiar practices. If every practice and thought were scriptural, it would be sufficient to employ only scriptural terms. Such terms as "christening, sacrament, eucharist, indulgence, et al" denote practices or thoughts foreign to the Bible; hence the reason for their existence.
Brethren, when the time comes when Biblical terms are not sufficient to describe our practice, it can only mean that we have strayed from the way! I am fearful of the present trend to replace Biblical terms with sectarian terms!
A Specific Case
Attention has been called to this study by the prevalent use of the word "missionary." Why is it used? Is it because the work being done is not described by any word used in the Bible? If the person of a "missionary" is denoted in the Scriptures, then why not use the word that God chose in designating this person?
I realize that many use this term with no more connotation than the Bible denotes a preacher to be. At the same time we must face the fact that this word carries ideas to many which do not belong to any worker of the church of our Lord. And I think we have seen the fruits of this very thing. For example, preacher conveys the idea of preaching; evangelist, a bringer of good tidings. Missionary conveys the idea of one who establishes a mission; it is more than simply preaching the gospel, but carries the idea of other work such as trade-schools, medical service, benevolence, etc. And with many a Christian today a missionary is expected to do more than simply preach, and thus establish congregations as preachers do.
Several years ago I discovered a congregation in California that was advertised in "our" gospel papers as "the little mission of the West." Was it in a virgin field? No. There were no less than nine other congregations in the same populated area! And it was not across a body of water from the United States! But this was the "Church of Christ" mission in the West! I am still trying to figure out why it was a mission and not a church.
Also several years ago I visited the campus of one of "our" schools and learned that they had a "missionary club." As I inquired as to what a missionary is, it appeared to be what the Bible calls a preacher or evangelist. Then, why not call "our" missionaries evangelists or preachers instead by a term that is more intimate with Roman Catholicism than with the Scriptures? I further learned, on this campus, that a member of the faculty was moving (temporarily) to Louisiana to do mission work (preach for one of the largest congregations in the state at a handsome salary while working on another degree)!
Brethren, let us send preachers into virgin fields to preach the gospel and thus establish churches, and let the missionaries and their missions stay with Rome! With the present trend in the use of this term we are forming a caste in the brotherhood. "Is brother so-an-so a preacher?" "Oh, no. He's a missionary!"
Let us not adopt the language of Ashdod, but if any man speak, let him speak as "the words of God"!