Is Brother Phillips Guilty?
In the March 27, 1956 issue of the Firm Foundation Brother Tom W. Phillips has a short article on "Congregational Independency or Local Autonomy." Brother Phillips says, Congregation A plans a great work; hearing of it, Congregations B and C, of their own volition, decide to help in this work planned by Congregation A.
Then, along comes Congregation D — with its mouthpiece (preacher) condemning Congregations A, B and C.
Brother Phillips says, "The accusers are guilty of their own accusations! Congregation D is the interferer."
Is Brother Phillips the mouthpiece (preacher) of congregation E condemning congregation D? Brother Phillips did not mean to be funny either.
Let us look again. Congregation A, in Texas, wants to oversee a good work in Oklahoma and wants congregations B, C, and D to send her money. Congregation D is in Kansas, and is doing a lot of mission work, and is at peace and is happy. Some of the Elders of congregation D think that congregation A's plan is unscriptural. Some of her members agree. But, some of the Elders and some of the other members think that congregation A's plan is all right and congregation A takes the money over the objection of some of the Elders of congregation D and the peace is disturbed. Will the mouthpiece (preacher) of congregation E tell who caused trouble? Don't say that does not happen; yes it does happen.