The Denominations Do It!
Recently I read an article on "standing Straight or Leaning Over Backward." Fundamentally the article was all right but it had a tone that seemed to be critical of people who were cautious in taking up things that were indulged in by our denominational neighbors. Now certainly just because "the denominations do it" is not sufficient reason for us to leave off the doing of a thing. But, when "then denominations do it" we very definitely need to approach that thing with utmost caution.
"The denominations make use of the Bible study. Should we cease because 'the denominations do it'?" No, but it would do many congregations good to look at the denominational "Sunday School" organization with its president, secretary, treasurer, etc., and be sure that "we" do not become involved in any such. This is not the cry of "wolf" because some of my brethren have already begun to mimic the denominations by bringing into existence a "Sunday School" organization. Something smaller than the local congregation. Yes, we even read in the financial reports of various "institutions" among "us" where certain classes are taking collections and sending them to these places. There is nothing in all of God's Word to authorize the denominational concept of the "Sunday School" organization which is rapidly being adopted by many of my brethren!
Then too, the promotional schemes practiced by the denominations in raising attendance in their "Sunday Schools" need to be avoided. But my brethren are taking up those ideas also. Trying to buy or entice people to Bible Study by prizes, feeds, or entertainment. When our service to God has to be bought, it isn't worth the time it took to perform it and my brethren need to learn that. Certainly we are obligated to "study" and "teach" God's Word. But, if we cannot teach people to accept that obligation, nothing can be gained by enticement. That kind of service is on a par with baptizing a person for some reason other than that which we find in the Bible. Let's stand up — "stand up straight"--and contend for every "jot and tittle" of God's Word. If someone wants to criticize and say that we're "leaning over backwards," let them have at it. "As for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah."
"The denominations use radio and TV, shall we quit?" We certainly shall not use these facilities as the denominations do. Generally speaking we find them putting on programs for the entertainment of people. My brethren, in many instances, are following right in their footsteps with canned music, canned prayer, and lessons that could very easily be presented in the houses of our denominational friends with no offense at all. Also we find that some of our "good" sisters have begun to teach publicly by means of TV. They wouldn't teach in a general assembly, but they see nothing at all wrong with addressing a TV audience which will probably outnumber any assembly.
"The denominations have mid-week services. Shall we quit?" If we have the same type mid-week services that they have, we had better clean it up, not quit. Some that call themselves the "church of Christ" do all the things they (the denominations) do and then brag in the papers about their "fine Wednesday evening attendance." The people who indulge in unscriptural things at these services are perhaps MORE the sons and daughters of Satan than if they had stayed at home Wednesday evening.
Shall we shun a thing because the denominations do it? Actually what the denominations do must not be, and cannot be, the standard for our doing or not doing anything. We must serve God. But we must serve him in harmony with his Word. When we depart from that we have become a part of the denominational world.
"We" are rapidly following in the footsteps of the denominations in many things. "Area-wide meetings" of first one sort and then another; recreational facilities for the young people; fellowship halls for the old folk; huge lectureships that have all the earmarks of a denominational convention with virtual disfellowship for those who will not attend; (shades of the Baptist convention) unscriptural cooperative movements of every description between churches; (we have to borrow these from the denominations because we can't find them in the Bible) and on and on we could go, but you can continue the lesson from here.
There are very few things the denominations do that can be classed as "scriptural" and even those are usually perverted before they get done with them. Yes, let's just fall all over ourselves (backward, forward, sideways) to keep the church of the Lord free from all innovations. Certainly we must "do", but we must be guided by the words of the Master in so doing; "not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven but he that DOETH THE WILL of my Father in heaven." When we do JUST that, HIS WILL, we will have done enough. To do MORE or LESS is to fail.