Cooperation Controversy In The Christian Church
I have before me a booklet entitled "10 Reasons Why I Do Not Support The Program of the Disciples of Christ" by Burton W. Barber. Barber is a digressive preacher, a conservative and capable man. He has debated with our brethren on the instrumental music question. He is at odds with the "Disciples of 'Christ" because of their liberalism and anti-scriptural cooperative arrangements. In this pamphlet, he is answering a "Eureka College Bulletin" which attempts to clarify the issues in the Christian Church. It labels the liberal side as the majority, the conservative side as the minority. It seems that liberal movements always claim majority and are quite glib in their boastings. In regard to the majority and minority labels, Mr. Barber answers; "In my judgment, after having evangelized over this nation from coast to coast for years, their 'majorities' are in the minority, and their 'minorities' are in the majority. However, be as that may, I would have nothing about which to blush or apologize if they were right in their 'majority' and 'minority' guesses. Moses was in the minority, but he was right. Christ and his apostles were in the minority, but they were right. Jesus called the right way 'narrow.' In our language, that means 'minority.' The Disciples are in the minority and the Roman Catholics in the majority. Does that make the Roman Catholics right? Don't forget that because some few in a church report to the convention, all members of that church are not necessarily represented by those few persons. Count members, not 'delegates' or representatives from churches. I know how that works because I have been on both sides of the fence, and I now deal constantly with churches with split interests."
The bulletin Barber is reviewing has this to say about the two views regarding the missionary organizations:
The Majority Viewpoint. Missionary work should be conducted under the sponsorship and direction of societies representing the voluntary cooperation of many congregations. Alexander Campbell was a leader in the organization of 1849 of the American Christian Missionary Society, and was its first president. Since that time, nearly all of the missionary work has been administered and supported through societies.
The Minority Viewpoint. Missionary organizations are out of harmony with both the teaching of the Scriptures and the principles of the Restoration. Each congregation should support missionary work exclusively by sending financial support directly to individual missionary projects.
Mr. Barber answers this thusly: "(1) Just why do they say that 'missionary work should be done under the sponsorship and direction of societies representing the voluntary cooperation of many congregations'? If the Bible is the book of our religion, then we 'should' do the work of evangelism according to directions. The early church had no 'societies.' The church itself is the 'missionary society.' According to God's revealed plan in the Bible, each congregation is to have the 'sponsorship and direction' of 'missionary' work. (2) But, granting the right of societies to direct this work, why do the Disciples insist upon the 'United Christian Missionary Society' doing all of this? If they hold that 'no such action is binding on any congregation unless voluntarily accepted,' why are they not content to allow each congregation to choose just any society to dispense with its funds and serve as placement committee for its ministers It is a poor rule that does not work both ways! (3) We are not 'Campbellites'; therefore, it matters little to us by way of authority what Alexander Campbell did; Mr. Campbell devoted his life to bring people of the very kind of organizations into which the Disciples of Christ has grown. Mr. Campbell is to be respected for many things, but Christ alone is our Lord. Christ is the 'KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS' of His exclusive 'missionary society', the church! (4) It is not true that 'nearly all of the missionary work has been administered and supported through societies'. In fact, there are more missionaries on the fields who are directly supported by congregations than there are who are supported by the Disciples of Christ organization. (5) As certain as God has 'completely furnished (us) unto all good works' (II Tim. 3:17), just that certain 'missionary societies are out of harmony' with the teaching of the 'Scriptures."
Where the "majority" of the Christian Church says "missionary work should be done under the sponsorship and direction of societies representing the voluntary. cooperation of many congregations," the "majority" in the church of Christ says, "Evangelistic work should be done under the sponsorship and direction of one eldership representing the voluntary cooperation of many congregations." Majority?