Churches of Christ Divided In mid 1800s Issues: Issues: Missionary Society (1849) Missionary Society (1849) Instrumental Music (1859) Instrumental Music (1859) Result: Result: Formation of Christian Church (1900) Formation of Christian Church (1900) Later: Disciples of Christ (liberal) Later: Disciples of Christ (liberal)

Churches of Christ Divided In mid 1900s Issues: Issues: Sponsoring Church (Herald of Truth) Sponsoring Church (Herald of Truth) Orphan Homes Orphan Homes Colleges in Church Budget Colleges in Church Budget Social Gospel (Recreation) Social Gospel (Recreation) Result: Result: Split among churches Split among churches Institutional churches of Christ Institutional churches of Christ

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

Divisions Within The Church of Christ Sponsoring Church

2 nd major issue2 nd major issue Referred to as:Referred to as: Church cooperation Church cooperation Sponsoring church Sponsoring church Centralization Centralization Herald of Truth Herald of Truth

Sponsoring Church Local Church Local Church Local Church Local Church $ $ $ $ PreachGospel Sponsoring Church

Sponsoring Church I.History Behind It

A. Push for greater evangelism after WWII 1.Broadway (Lubbock, TX) – Germany 2.Union Street (Memphis, TN) – Japan

I.History Behind It A. Push for greater evangelism after WWII B. Herald of Truth in Cedar Rapids, Iowa – James W. Nichols Joint effort of Nichols & James. D. Willeford offered to Broadway Church (Lubbock, TX) offered to Fifth & Highland (Abilene, TX) 5.First nationwide Radio – then TV program 6.Batsell Barrett Baxter – speaker 7.Over 2000 churches supported

Herald of Truth Local Church Local Church Local Church Local Church $ $ $ $ Radio&TV Fifth & Highland Church Abilene, TX H. O. T.

I.History Behind It A. Push for greater evangelism after WWII B. Herald of Truth C. One Nation Under God Sycamore Church of Christ (Cookeville, TN) 3.Solicited 10 Million (first 17 Million) – mailing to every home in US

I.History Behind It A. Push for greater evangelism after WWII B. Herald of Truth C. One Nation Under God Multiple sponsoring churches – small scale D. Multiple sponsoring churches – small scale

Sponsoring Church I.History Behind It II.The Issue

A. Is Not: 1.Preaching the gospel 2.The use of a radio or TV program 3.Is good being done? 4.Can churches ever cooperate? 5.A matter of methods B. Is: 1.Can church A send money to church B to preach the gospel? 2.Can multiple churches work through one eldership?

Sponsoring Church I.History Behind It II.The Issue III.Problems With Sponsoring Church

A. No authority

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

Command / Statement Approved Example Necessary Inference Sponsoring Church Arrangement None None None

Local Church Local Church Local Church No Authority III.Problems With Sponsoring Church A. No authority B. Violates the limitation of elders authority Elders Local Church Oversight Limited To This 1 Pet. 5:1-4 Acts 20:28

III.Problems With Sponsoring Church A. No authority B. Violates the limitation of elders authority C. Destroys congregational autonomy 1.Each congregation is autonomous & independent (1 Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 14:23) 2.The sponsoring church oversees a brotherhood work.

Herald of Truth – Brotherhood Work Meeting of brethren from across the country Meeting of brethren from across the country In Memphis, TN In Memphis, TN September 10, 1973 September 10, 1973 Brethren from other churches – confronted the Abilene elders: Brethren from other churches – confronted the Abilene elders: 1.Things their preacher was teaching 2.Direction they were taking the H.O.T.

III.Problems With Sponsoring Church A. No authority B. Violates the limitation of elders authority C. Destroys congregational autonomy 1.Each congregation is autonomous & independent (1 Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 14:23) 2.The sponsoring church oversees a brotherhood work. 3.If another church can oversee part of another churches work – why not all?

Local Church Elders 1.Members 2.Resources 3.Discipline 4.Worship 5.Work Sponsoring Church Elders ?

III.Problems With Sponsoring Church A. No authority B. Violates the limitation of elders authority C. Destroys congregational autonomy D. Activates the church universal 1.Universal church a.No organization b.No treasury c.No work d.No officers 2.Sponsoring church – larger than local church!

Broadway Church Elders James Nichols James Willeford Work of the Churches of Christ Offered H.O.T. Not mention BroadwayNot mention Broadway Not the work of BroadwayNot the work of Broadway Mention: Churches of ChristMention: Churches of Christ

III.Problems With Sponsoring Church A. No authority B. Violates the limitation of elders authority C. Destroys congregational autonomy D. Activates the church universal

Sponsoring Church I.History Behind It II.The Issue III.Problems With Sponsoring Church IV.Arguments Made to Justify

A. Churches sent to other churches in benevolence in NT times Acts 11: Cor. 16:1-2 2 Cor. 8-9

Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor Funds received – used for benevolence, not evangelism Did Not Approve EvangelismApprovedBenevolence Those making the argument see a difference

Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor Funds received – used for benevolence, not evangelism 2.Receiving church was in need – not a creation of their own making 3.Cannot crisscross in Gods plan

Cannot Crisscross in Gods Plan Plan for Forgiveness Repent & Baptized (Acts 2:38) Repent & Pray (Acts 8:22) Alien Sinner Erring Christian

Cannot Crisscross in Gods Plan Worship Lords Supper (Acts 20:7) Singing (Acts 16:25) Only First Day Anytime

Cannot Crisscross in Gods Plan Officers Elders (1 Tim. 3:1-7) Deacons (1 Tim. 3:8-13) QualificationsQualifications

Cannot Crisscross in Gods Plan Work of Church Evangelism (Phil. 4:15) Benevolence (Acts 11:27-30) Send to Evang. Church to Church

Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor Funds received – used for benevolence, not evangelism 2.Receiving church was in need – not a creation of their own making 3.Cannot crisscross in Gods plan 4.What actually happened in these texts

Antioch Elders Jer. Elders Joppa Elders Lydda Elders Emmaus Elders Bethany Paul & Barnabas - Messengers

Antioch Elders Jer. Elders Joppa Elders Lydda Elders Emmaus Elders Bethany NOT: Paul & Barnabas Messengers

Jerusalem Thess. Corinth PhilippiGalatia Antioch Paul, Titus & others - Messengers

Jerusalem Thess. Corinth Philippi Galatia Antioch Paul, Titus & others - Messengers NOT:

IV.Arguments Made to Justify A. Churches sent to other churches in benevolence in NT times B. Philippi was a sponsoring church (Phil. 4:15 & 2 Cor. 11:8) 1.Logically: No church – would mean none of those that sent to Philippi had fellowship! 2.Chronologically: When I departed – not after I got to Corinth 3.Geographically: Sent money 100 miles north to Phil. So they can send it 200 miles south to Corinth

IV.Arguments Made to Justify A. Churches sent to other churches in benevolence in NT times B. Philippi was a sponsoring church (Phil. 4:15 & 2 Cor. 11:8) C. Dont believe in Cooperation

Cooperation Are Cooperating Doing Same Work Accomplishing Same Goal NOT TIED TOGETHER Are Cooperating Doing Same Work Accomplishing Same Goal ARE TIED TOGETHER

Cooperation Are Cooperating Doing Same Work Accomplishing Same Goal NOT TIED TOGETHER Are Cooperating Doing Same Work Accomplishing Same Goal ARE TIED TOGETHER $$

Cooperation Are Cooperating Doing Same Work Accomplishing Same Goal NOT TIED TOGETHER Are Cooperating Doing Same Work Accomplishing Same Goal ARE TIED TOGETHER Local Church Local Church Local Church Local Church Spon Ch.

Sponsoring Church I.History Behind It II.The Issue III.Problems With Sponsoring Church IV.Arguments Made to Justify