1. There Have Always Been Problems, Questions and Issues Among Brethren

2. 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)

3. During 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
1. Church can do only what is positively authorized
2. Church can do anything not specifically forbidden
Division was inevitable!

4. Churches of Christ Divided in mid 1800’s
Issues:
Missionary Society (1849)
Instrumental Music (1855)
Result:
Formation of Christian Church (1900)
Later: Disciples of Christ (liberal)

5. Churches of Christ Divided in mid 1900’s
Issues:
Sponsoring Church (Herald of Truth)
Orphan Homes
Colleges in the Church Budget
Social Gospel (Recreation)
Result:
Spilt among churches ( )
Institutional churches of Christ

6. 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)

7. Divisions Within The Church of Christ
The Missionary Society

8. The Missionary Society
I. History Behind It

9. I. History Behind It A. Born out of desire to evangelize the world
1. Great Motive (Mark 16:15)
2. Crying need in America and foreign soil
3. Not enough was being done

10. I. History Behind It A. Born out of desire to evangelize the world
B. Alexander Campbell—responsible

11. Alexander Campbell
1831 – Wrote a series in Millennial Harbinger – Argued that church can do what individual can’t, so a group of churches can do what a local church cannot
“A Church can do what an individual disciple cannot, and so can a district of churches do what a single congregation cannot.”
“The New Testament furnishes the principles which call forth our energies, but suggest no plan…”

12. Alexander Campbell
1831 – Wrote a series in Millennial Harbinger – Argued that church can do what individual can’t, so a group of churches can do what a local church cannot
Not much said for 10 years
1841—Pushed stronger for organization to help
“I am so deeply penetrated with the necessity of a more intimate organization, union and cooperation than at present existing among us, that I feel myself in duty bound again to invite the attention of the brotherhood…to a more thorough and profound consideration of the subject than they have ever given to it.”

13. Alexander Campbell
1831 – Wrote a series in Millennial Harbinger – Argued that church can do what individual can’t, so a group of churches can do what a local church cannot
Not much said for 10 years
1841—Pushed stronger for organization to help
Clear: Campbell wants brotherhood wide organizations through which churches may cooperate to preach the gospel
1842—1848 wrote another series on “church organizations”

14. Campbell’s Six Reasons
1. We can do comparatively nothing in distributing the Bible abroad without cooperation.
2. We can do comparatively but little in the great missionary field of the world either at home or abroad without cooperation
3. We can do little or nothing to improve and elevate the Christian ministry without cooperation

15. Campbell’s Six Reasons
4. We can do but little to check, restrain, and remove the flood of imposture and fraud committed upon the benevolence of the brethren by irresponsible, plausible, and deceptive persons, without cooperation
5. We cannot concentrate the action of the tens of thousands of Israel, in any great Christian effort, but by cooperation
6. We can have no thorough cooperation without a more ample, extensive, and thorough church organization.

16. I. History Behind It A. Born out of desire to evangelize the world
B. Alexander Campbell—responsible
C. First Missionary Society
1. October 23, 1849
2. Cincinnati, OH
3. American Christian Missionary Society
4. Campbell was first president

17. I. History Behind It A. Born out of desire to evangelize the world
B. Alexander Campbell—responsible
C. First Missionary Society
D. Opposition from the conservatives
1. Campbell had opposed such organizations in 1820’s—but changed!
—Gospel Advocate started

18. Objective: To oppose the Missionary Society
Gospel
Advocate
1855
William Lipscomb
David Lipscomb
Tolbert Fanning

19. The Missionary Society
I. History Behind It
II. What It Is

20. A Separate Organization Between
What It Is
Local
Church $
Missionary
Society
Local
Church $
Support
Preachers $
Local
Church $
A Separate Organization Between
The Church And The Work
Local
Church

21. The Issue At Hand Not: The preaching of the Gospel
Not: The churches responsibility to evangelize the world
Not: How little is being done
Not: How much good could be done by Missionary Society
IS: Where is the scripture for the organization between the church and the work being done?

22. The Missionary Society
I. History Behind It
II. What It Is
III. Objections To It

23. III. Objections To It
A. No Bible Authority

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

25. Illustrated with Lord’s Supper
Authority
Illustrated with Lord’s Supper
Observance– 1 Corinthians 11:23,24
Command / Statement
Time of Observance– Acts 20:7
Approved Example
Frequency of Observance– Acts 20:7
Necessary Inference

26. NONE NONE NONE Missionary Society ???? Command / Statement
Approved Example
NONE
Necessary Inference

27. There Is A Difference Radio Station Newspaper Internet Host TV Station
Buying A Service
Contribution
Radio Station
Newspaper
Internet Host
TV Station
Sign Company
Radio Station
Newspaper
Internet Host
TV Station
Sign Company

28. III. Objections To It A. No Bible Authority
B. Denies the All Sufficiency of the Church
1. Church can do its own work (1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 4:12)
2. Church can send men to preach (Acts 13)
3. Church can support men to preach (2 Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:5)
4. Man is trying to “improve” God’s plan with organizations

29. III. Objections To It A. No Bible Authority
B. Denies the All Sufficiency of the Church
C. Seeks to Activate the Church Universal
1. Church (Universal)
Made up of individual Christians (Acts 2:47)
No officers, work, or organization
No treasury
2. No organization larger than the local church (1 Timothy 3:15)
3. Campbell viewed the universal church as a group of local churches. (“..a district of churches…”)

30. The Missionary Society
I. History Behind It
II. What It Is
III. Objections To It
IV. Arguments to Justify It

31. IV. Arguments to Justify It
A. Expedient
1. Campbell: Told what, but not given a plan
2. Brinery (Otey-Birney Debate, 1908): Method is not prescribed
3. An expedient must FIRST be lawful (1 Corinthians 6:12)
God told us which organization: the church (1 Timothy 3:15)

32. IV. Arguments to Justify It
A. Expedient
Good that is Done
1. “The end justifies the means”
2 This way—more work being done—gospel is preached!
3. End DOES NOT justify the means—Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:1-11)
Cannot go beyond the word! (2 John 9)

33. IV. Arguments to Justify It
A. Expedient
Good that is Done
Those that Object—Oppose Missionary Work
1. False charge
2. Those that opposed the ACMS did not oppose preaching
Interesting that it is an “expedient”, but if one objects—against the work itself!

34. IV. Arguments to Justify It
A. Expedient
Good that is Done
Those that Object—Oppose Missionary Work
Way for church to cooperate
1. Real question is one of Divine authority
2.Where does the Bible say churches must cooperate?

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

36. Cooperation Local Church Local Church Local Church Are Cooperating$ MS
Are Cooperating
Doing Same Work
Accomplishing Same Goal
NOT TIED TOGETHER
Are Cooperating
Doing Same Work
Accomplishing Same Goal
ARE TIED TOGETHER

37. The Missionary Society
I. History Behind It
II. What It Is
III. Objections To It
IV. Arguments to Justify It