No Headquarters On Earth???
"We have no headquarters on earth" is an assertion that has been made by Christians and gospel preachers ever since the beginning of the Restoration Movement, and is still very boldly made today. But isn't it possible that we are gradually developing earthly headquarters for the churches of Christ in spite of our continued assertion to the contrary?
Isn't it possible that if we continue to establish Benevolent Associations (societies) to care for "our" widows and orphans, these Benevolent Associations (societies) will eventually become "our" District, State, or Regional Headquarters for doing "our" benevolent work?
Also, isn't it a fact that if we establish Missionary Societies (whether they be under an eldership or otherwise) to do "our" evangelistic work, these Missionary Societies will eventually become "our" District, State, or Regional Headquarters for doing "our" evangelistic work?
Or, isn't it entirely possible (or even inevitable), if we establish Sponsoring Churches through which we do "our" benevolent work and "our" evangelistic work, these churches will eventually become "our" District, State, or Regional Headquarters for doing both "our" benevolent and evangelistic work?
Then, finally, we may have to (is entirely possible) establish one large association (society) or one large Sponsoring Church through which all "our" work is done, without these smaller societies or Sponsoring Churches, or through which all these smaller societies, associations, or sponsoring churches are controlled. If so, this will have completed the apostasy which started with the first move toward "centralized control and oversight," and we will then have "our" National Headquarters on earth in spite of the continued assertion that the churches of Christ have no earthly headquarters.
The only way to avoid the possibility of this (or do you deny its possibility) is to stick with the New Testament pattern of cooperation.
If you agree that this is possible (I believe it is inevitable if we follow the present trend to its logical end) who, in your estimation, would be responsible for the dividing of the body of Christ: The ones who promoted "centralized control and oversight" or the ones who opposed it?