Division Within The Lord’s Church Always Been Issues

Past Questions… Is circumcision essential to salvation? (Acts 15) From among “yourselves”-perverse things (Acts 20:30) Doctrine of no resurrection-(1 Corinthians 15:12) Colossian Heresy—(Colossians 2) Some will depart giving heed to error—(1 Timothy 4:1-3) Doctrine that 2nd coming is imminent—(1 Thessalonians) Judaism (Hebrews, etc)

During The Restoration Movement Pointing men back to the Bible: “Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where it is silent, we are silent.” Called for men to lay aside opinions and unite upon the Scriptures Soon two major mindsets developed: Church can do only what is positively authorized Church can do anything not specifically forbidden Division was inevitable!

Divisions Within The Church of Christ Issues: 1. Missionary Society (1849) 2. Instrumental Music (1859) 3. Colleges in Church Budget (1938) 4. Orphan Homes (1950’s) 5. Sponsoring Church (1950’s) 6. Social Gospel (1960’s)

Church Divisions---College Supported in the Budget Faded picture background with full-color overlay (Intermediate) Tip: For best results with the picture overlay on this slide, use a picture that is the same dimensions as the slide: 7.5” high and 10” wide. If the picture is not the same height and width, resize or crop to those dimensions before following the instructions below. To reproduce the background effects on this slide, do the following: On the Home tab, in the Slides group, click Layout, and then click Blank. Right-click the slide and then click Format Background. In the Format Background dialog box, click Fill in the left pane. In the Fill pane, select Picture or texture fill, and then under Insert from, click File. In the Insert Picture dialog box, select a picture, and then click Insert. Also in the Format Background dialog box, in the Fill pane, in the Transparency box, enter 50%. Also in the Format Background dialog box, click Picture Color in the left pane. In the Picture Color pane, under Recolor, click the button next to Presets, and then click Tan, Background color 2 Light (third row, first option from the left). On the Insert tab, in the Images group, click Picture. In the Insert Picture dialog box, select the same picture chosen for the background, and then click Insert. Select the picture. Under Picture Tools, on the Format tab, in the bottom right corner of the Size group, click the Size and Position dialog box launcher. In the Format Picture dialog box, resize or crop the image so that the height is set to 7.5” and the width is set to 2.25”. To crop the picture, click Crop in the left pane, and in the Crop pane, under Crop position, enter values into the Height, Width, Left, and Top boxes. To resize the picture, click Size in the left pane, and in the Size pane, under Size and rotate, enter values into the Height and Width boxes. Also in the Format Picture dialog box, click Glow and Soft Edges in the left pane, and then in the Glow and Soft Edges pane, under Soft Edges, in the Size box enter 10 point.

Church Support of Colleges “College Supported Churches” Was the first of the “Institutional Issues” Today Most Colleges Among Brethren Are Supported by Churches David Lipscomb Free-Hardeman Harding Abilene Christian Oklahoma Christian

A. Early Schools—has Some Church Support Kentucky Female Orphan School – L.L. Pinkerton (1849) – received some church support Fanning Orphan School – Tolbert Fanning (1884) – later received some church contributions But – Not Wide Spread

A. Early Schools—has Some Church Support B. First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933,35,38

G. C. Brewer 1933 – Wrote a series of articles on “organizations” in Gospel Advocate. Said colleges had a right to exist & churches should support them. 1935 – Appealed for churches to put colleges & orphan homes in their budgets. Said churches Cleburne & Sherman, TX (where he preached) & two in OH had done so. 1938 – ACC Lectures urged elders to put ACC in budget: Said any church did not support the college had the wrong preacher!

A. Early Schools—has Some Church Support B. First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933,35,38 C. Not Widespread Acceptance 1. Most brethren did not agree 2. The “College” was hard to sell (put in the church budget)

A. Early Schools—has Some Church Support B. First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933,35,38 C. Not Widespread Acceptance D. 1947—Turning Point 1. ACC made a strong push for it. 2. N.B.Hardeman—turned the issue to orphan home

N. B. Hardeman College Supported by Church Orphan Home Shifted to “The right to contribute to one is the right to contribute to the other…The same principle that permits one permits the other. They must stand or fall together.” (Gospel Advocate, 1947, p. 844)

Shifted to a “Sellable” Issue College Supported by Church Orphan Home Shifted to Has Emotion Used as a tool to get college

A. Early Schools—has Some Church Support B. First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933,35,38 C. Not Widespread Acceptance D. 1947—Turning Point E. Opposition 1. Bible Banner/Gospel Guardian (Wallace and Cogdill) 2.Debated 1954 (W.L. Totty—Charles Holt)

A. Early Schools—has Some Church Support B. First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933,35,38 C. Not Widespread Acceptance D. 1947—Turning Point E. Opposition F. 1963—Batsell Barrett Baxter echoed Hardeman

In the Light of the Scriptures Batsell Barrett Baxter Batsell Barrett Baxter, Jr. Question and Issues Of the Day In the Light of the Scriptures Batsell Barrett Baxter 1963 “Some who are agreed that the church can contribute to an orphan’s home are not convinced that the church can contribute to a Christian school. It is difficult to see a significant difference so far as principle is concerned. The orphans’ home and Christian school must stand or fall together” (p. 29)

A. Early Schools—has Some Church Support B. First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933,35,38 C. Not Widespread Acceptance D. 1947—Turning Point E. Opposition F. 1963—Batsell Barrett Baxter echoed Hardeman G. 1968—Athens Clay Pullias—wrote tract

Athens Clay Pullias 1968 A Tract - Published by David Lipscomb College Pushed for church support of the college

Colleges Accepting Church Contributions Only One College Did Not James R. Cope President 1949 - 1982 FC 50-year book?  They have a section on pp.74-75 that describes the series of board meetings (does not quote Cope's statementbut places it in spring 1956. Board Meeting: Spring 1956 Cope being pressured said: “My soul is not for sale, nor is this college.”

Church Support of Colleges I. History Behind It II. Mission and Work of the Church

II. Mission and Work of the Church A. Work is Determined by God 1. Done according to the pattern (Hebrews 8:5) 2. Christ has all authority (Matthew 28:18-20) 3. Christ is head of the church (Ephesians 1:18-23) 4. Must abide in the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9-11)

II. Mission and Work of the Church A. Work is Determined by God B. Work is threefold (Ephesians 4:12) 1. “Equipping the saints” 2. “Work of the ministry” 3. “Edifying of the body of Christ” “For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

Threefold Work “Equipping of the saints” “Work of ministry” Means: repair, put into order – make complete Ephesians 4:16 – edify itself Edification “Work of ministry” Means: serve; used of benevolence (Acts 6; 2 Corinthians 8-9) Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 5:16 Benevolence Evangelism “Edifying of the body” Means: build up (ASV) – increase by teaching 1 Timothy 3:15

II. Mission and Work of the Church A. Work is Determined by God B. Work is threefold (Ephesians 4:12) C. Work is NOT: 1. Social (betterment of man) a. Gospel did not change social problems— but made them better (1 Corinthians 7:20-22) b. Home center of social activities (1 Corinthians 11:20-22) 2. Recreation 3. Business 4. Secular Education (math, science, history, language)

Church Support of Colleges I. History Behind It II. Mission and Work of the Church III. Problems With Church Support of Colleges

III. Problems With Church Support of Colleges A. Issue Clarified 1. NOT: Do Bible colleges have a right to exist? 2. NOT: May individual Christians contribute to them? 3. NOT: The corruption in them or what is taught. 4. IS: Do the Scriptures authorize churches to contribute to a Bible college?

III. Problems With Church Support of Colleges A. Issue Clarified B. No Authority

How Authority Is Established Acts 15 Command / Statement VV. 13-21 – James appealed to direct statement from Amos 9 V. 12 – Paul & Barnabas appealed to example of their work and miracles Approved Example Necessary Inference VV. 7-11 – Peter appealed to events at Cornelius’ house – infers…

None None None Church Support of Colleges Command / Statement Approved Example None Necessary Inference

III. Problems With Church Support of Colleges A. Issue Clarified B. No Authority C. No different than Missionary Society

The Missionary Society Local Church $ Missionary Society Local Church $ Support Preachers $ Local Church $ A Separate Organization Between The Church And The Work Local Church

“Christian School”/ Bible College The Bible College Local Church $ “Christian School”/ Bible College Local Church $ Support Preachers $ Local Church $ A Separate Organization Between The Church And The Work Local Church

If one is Scriptural – so is the other! What is the Difference? If one is Scriptural – so is the other!

III. Problems With Church Support of Colleges A. Issue Clarified B. No Authority C. No different than Missionary Society D. Puts Church in Secular Education 1. While it is a Bible College— still secular Education 2. Funds support the whole college work

3. Organization Between Church and the work Summary of Problems 1. No Bible Authority 2. Work is Secular 3. Organization Between Church and the work

Church Support of Colleges I. History Behind It II. Mission and Work of the Church III. Problems With Church Support of Colleges IV. Arguments Made to Justify It

IV. Arguments Made to Justify It A. “College teaches the Bible— is work of the church” 1. Bible is not all they teach 2. It a secular institution – liberal arts school 3. Still have a separate organization between church and work being done!

IV. Arguments Made to Justify It A. “College teaches the Bible— is work of the church” B. “Schools prepare church leaders” 1. That is not all these colleges do 2. Separate organization between church and work 3. On same basis—church support any family—might be training church leaders.

IV. Arguments Made to Justify It A. “College teaches the Bible— is work of the church” B. “Schools prepare church leaders” C. “Churches may educate children of poor members” 1.Could church contribute to Catholic or Baptist Hospital for poor members? 2. Could church operate a golf course for children of poor members?

IV. Arguments Made to Justify It A. “College teaches the Bible— is work of the church” B. “Schools prepare church leaders” C. “Churches may educate children of poor members” D. “School is a good work” 1. Good work—defined by scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16,17) 2. Government a good work? 3. Baptist Hospital a good work? 4. Building roads a good work? 5. Space exploration a good work?

IV. Arguments Made to Justify It A. “College teaches the Bible— is work of the church” B. “Schools prepare church leaders” C. “Churches may educate children of poor members” D. “School is a good work” E. “Bible does not forbid it” 1. Silence is prohibitive (Hebrews 7:14) 2. Did not forbid the instrument of music 3. Did not forbid the use of jam on Lord’s Supper

Church Support of Colleges I. History Behind It II. Mission and Work of the Church III. Problems With Church Support of Colleges IV. Arguments Made to Justify It