"Poor Ole Noah"
Sectarians always prove things by David; institutional minded brethren have now turned to Noah and his ark.
In a recent editorial this question was raised: "How many rooms in the ark?" The reasoning was as follows: Since the Bible is silent as to the rooms in number and size, Noah was free to build at his own discretion. To limit the number of rooms would be to bind where God had loosed. God commanded us to care for orphans and widows (James 1:27); since the how (number of rooms) was not given, we are at liberty to care for them any way we select. To condemn certain practices would be to bind where God was silent.
We have tried to keep our Christian brethren consistent; if they wish to follow David they must also teach polygamy like the Mormons, idolatry like the Catholics, and Sabbitarianism like the Adventists. Could it be the institutional brethren are riding in the same saddle?
Jesus said to preach the gospel. (Mark 18:15.) He did not say HOW! Would these brethren sanction the United Christian Missionary Society on this basis? Is this not the argument?
Jesus also said to teach all nations. (Matt. 28:18, 19.) He did not add the HOW! Would these brethren sanction congregations contributing to Christian colleges on this basis? Is this not the argument from Noah? Consistency, thou are a jewel. What makes orphans different?
To say that God has not prescribed the HOW in all these categories is blasphemous and ridiculous! The true parallel with Noah, if there is one, would be found in the size of the ark. God stipulated the length, width, and height. As He circumscribed that old boat with cubits, he has circumscribed the church with principles, laws, and apostolic examples. Ephesians 3:21 eliminates church subsidization of institutions; the law of church autonomy that circumscribes every congregation eliminates centralization and inequality.
As Noah built the ark to size, as Moses built the tabernacle according to pattern, let us operate the Lord's church in its proper sphere and place. May God help us in this endeavor!