A Stand For Truth
(Note: The author of this article has been scripturally baptized, and is now thoroughly scriptural in his worship and preaching, having recently come to us from the Digressives. His family and two other families of Christians have started a congregation 25 miles from us across Melbourne. This is in addition to the congregation we started fifteen months ago in this city of 1,500,000 people. Brother Burgin is preaching for the new church, while engaging in secular work to support his family. It is hoped that support can soon be secured to put him into full time work. He is worthy of the confidence of Christians everywhere. This article, which was written for Australian consumption, reveals his soundness in teaching. The reader should keep in mind that "Associated Churches of Christ" in Australia are the same as. the Christian Church, or Disciples of Christ, in America. — T. H. Tarbet, Box 22, Footscray West, W-12, Melbourne, Australia.)
Thirty odd years ago the plea of churches of Christ for the restoration of New Testament Christianity made its appeal to me, as a youth. Almost all those years I was engaged by the churches in the ministry of preaching, and served in most of the States of Australia.
With the passing of time a gradual decline, both doctrinally and spiritually, was evident in the "Brotherhood." Of more recent years increasing departures from the New Testament truth and life have been criticised by many of the more spiritually minded folk in the Associated Churches of Christ. There has been a fast growth in error.
Through all my years and labours I had not regarded the Conference organization and the addition of mechanical music to church worship as evil. I knew full well, however, and fought unceasingly the overshadowing effects of these things. Finally I came to see, what others had long since seen, that such things are wrong in principle, being no part of New Testament Christianity. Following the principle which allows such innovations leads but surely farther and farther from the right ways of the Lord.
Herein is the explanation of the great difference that can now be seen between churches of Christ in the past and the Associated Churches of Christ today, which are one with denominationalism.
They have ignored the teaching of Romans 16:17. The more denominational they are becoming the less loyalty they are showing to New Testament truth, and the less courageous they are in preaching the truth of the gospel.
False doctrines are finding their places in the churches of the Conference more and more. Their pulpits have been opened to all kinds of preachers with all sorts of doctrines. I encountered Modernism and the Social Gospel, the false doctrines of "salvation by faith alone," "once saved, always saved," an unscriptural Millennialism, a passion for unity at the expense of truth, the claim of the baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit for today, and other "doctrines of demons."
The pioneers of the churches of Christ in Australia would have no place in the present-day "Restoration Movement"
There are, it is true, many in the Associated Churches who grieve over these things as much as I did. I remained with them in the hope of better days returning, and no doubt would have continued longer in "the fight" had I not come to see that I was a part of an unscriptural organization and endorsing human innovation in worship.
We have no right to make additions to the Lord's organization of the church, or to the divine program of church worship, any more than the Roman Catholics have to add the multitude of other things that have so sadly corrupted Christianity.
The right and only safe way is to refrain from adding anything to religion, as strictly as we would refrain from taking anything away from it. (Rev. 22:18, 19.) The teaching of those verses must be applied to all New Testament Scripture, for the writing of Revelation is no more sacred than other New Testament writings.
It is shown in Hebrews 2:1 (RV) that man's tendency is to "drift away" from the Word of God, not toward it. When anything unscriptural is introduced into the Lord's religion the thing introduced inevitably leads men to "drift away" from the divine teaching.
An illustration of this is seen in Mark 7:9, where we read how human innovations led the people to "drift away" from the commandments of God. The innovation always grows to overshadow the thing commanded, as truly as weeds grow and choke the flowers.
The way "infant baptism" has overshadowed scriptural baptism is another illustration.
In the Associated Churches of Christ the responsibility of the local churches has been undermined by Conference activities. For example, the unscriptural Conference committees have caused the churches to "drift away" from the scriptural doctrine of the eldership. See Acts 20:17, 28; I Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 1:5-9; Peter 5:1-3. The work of a scriptural eldership has been further undermined by extra organization internally.
In the matter of worship, one innovation has led to others, as innovations logically do. Choirs have come with their anthems which are more designed for their music than their message. They may cater for lovers of music, but not for souls in need of eternal salvation.
Sunday School Anniversaries and other "Special occasions" are also overshadowing the gospel of Christ, which ought to be the only thing in the church to captivate the interests of people.
Among the unscriptural "auxiliaries of the church" there are in some of the Victorian churches secret Orders, such as the Kappa Sigma Pi. In the weeknight program of this Order's Third Degree the profanity of introducing the Lord's Supper is practiced, with a perverted conception of pleasing God. Once men begin to interfere with Christ's perfect system of religion and program of worship there is no end to the perversions. Roman Catholicism is a monument to that truth.
Since the churches of Christ in America began sending preachers of the gospel to Australia I saw that I had much more in common with them than with the Associated Churches of Christ in this country. The brethren from America stand religiously just where the brethren in Australia stood last century, both in doctrine and life. This is by reason of the same devotion to the same pattern which is "that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:2.)
The church at Lygon Street, with which I ministered, knew for a long time of my opposition to many things in the "Brotherhood." I had both written and spoken much of the worsening drift from New Testament truth. My travail of mind and heart was well known everywhere.
My acceptance of a further three years at Lygon Street was with the stated proviso that I would want to be free to leave if my convictions led me to do so. However, my convictions concerning the addition of mechanical music to the divine program of church worship were unexpected even to myself.
On reaching my decision to withdraw from the Conference churches, to identify myself with the Scriptural churches of Christ, I immediately handed my resignation and explanation to the secretary of the official board at Lygon Street. Five days later I posted a circular letter to the members in general conveying and explaining my decisions. My resignation was then accepted by the officers, and my associations with the Conference churches ended.
Early after my departure the following announcement appeared in "The Australian Christian": "The officers of Lygon Street Church, Carlton, Victoria, announce with sincere regret the immediate termination, at his own request, of L. G. Burgin's term as preacher, and place on record their grateful thanks and highest appreciation of his valued services during the period of his appointment."
Many of my friends in the Associated Churches of Christ have shown interest in my stand. I quote from a letter of one honoured Conference man, who has had associations with the churches of Christ in America. He wrote in respect of my stand for truth, and said: "I have much sympathy with you in the matter. While in U.S.A. I had a deal of contact with the churches of Christ and I admired their stand.... I found them the most orthodox from the New Testament view and the most progressive. The latter feature was, in my opinion, because of their insistence on the simplicity of the New Testament plan of organization, preaching and government.
"The recognition of the Eldership is a feature that has always appealed to me, and this is sadly lacking in the Brotherhood . . . I admired their Bible knowledge — that is, on the part of the membership generally.
"I enjoyed some delightful fellowship with those folk and counted many of them among my best friends over there."
This testimony is refreshing, especially in view of the astonishing fact that many in the Victorian Conference have treated these folk as among their worst religious enemies. Galatians 4:16.
In closing my ministry at Lygon Street, an agreement was entered into for the rental of the manse, which is of mutual benefit during a brief interim. The manse is now occupied on a business basis. The conditions were decided by the officers of the church at Lygon Street, in my absence, and accepted by me as entirely satisfactory. My family has been of one accord with me in all things, and together we have found great spiritual blessing in the fellowship of the church of Christ at West Footscray. We expect in good time to take up residence in our own home at East Keilor.
Doors of opportunity are opening for ministries in the Word. "I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel." (Phil. 1:12.)
We call upon "whosoever will" to take a stand with us for the truth. (Rev. 22:17.)