2. There Have Always Been Questions, Issues, & Problems Among Brethren
Is circumcision essential to salvation (Acts 15)?
From among “yourselves” – perverse things (Acts 20:30)
Doctrine of no resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12)
Colossian Heresy (Col. 2)
Some will depart giving heed to error (1 Tim. 4:1-3)
Doctrine that 2nd Coming is imminent (1 Thess)
Judaism (Hebrews, etc.)

3. 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!

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

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

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

7. Divisions Within The Church of Christ
Colleges Supported by Churches

8. Are Supported by Churches
Church Support of Colleges
“Colleges Supported by Churches”
Was the first of the
“Institutional”
issues
Today Most Colleges
Among Brethren
Are Supported by Churches
David Lipscomb
Freed-Hardeman
Harding
Abilene Christian
Oklahoma Christian

9. Church Support of Colleges
History Behind It

10. History Behind It Early Schools – had 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

11. History Behind It Early Schools – had Some Church Support
First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933, 35, 38

12. 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!

13. History Behind It Early Schools – had Some Church Support
First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933, 35, 38
Not Widespread Acceptance
Most brethren did not agree
The “College” was hard to sell (put in church budget)

14. History Behind It Early Schools – had Some Church Support
First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933, 35, 38
Not Widespread Acceptance
1947 – Turning point
ACC made a strong push for it
N. B. Hardeman – turned the issue to orphan home

15. 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)

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

17. History Behind It Early Schools – had Some Church Support
First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933, 35, 38
Not Widespread Acceptance
1947 – Turning point
Opposition
Bible Banner / Gospel Guardian (Wallace & Cogdill)
Debated 1954 (W. L. Totty – Charles Holt)

18. History Behind It Early Schools – had Some Church Support
First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933, 35, 38
Not Widespread Acceptance
1947 – Turning point
Opposition:
1963 – Batsell Barrett Baxter echoed Hardeman

19. In the Light of the Scriptures
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)

20. History Behind It Early Schools – had Some Church Support
First Pleas from G.C. Brewer 1933, 35, 38
Not Widespread Acceptance
1947 – Turning point
Opposition:
1963 – Batsell Barrett Baxter echoed Hardeman
1968 – Athen Clay Pullias – wrote tract

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

22. Colleges Accepting Church Contributions
Only One College
Did Not
James R. Cope
President
FC 50-year book?  They have a section on pp 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.”

23. Church Support of Colleges
History Behind It
Mission & Work of the Church

24. Mission & Work of the Church
Work is Determined by God
Done according to the pattern (Heb. 8:5)
Christ has all authority (Matt. 28:18-20)
Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 1:18-23)
Must abide within the doctrine of Christ (2 Jno. 9)

25. Mission & Work of the Church
Work is Determined by God
Work is Threefold (Eph. 4:12)
“Equipping of the saints”
“Work of ministry”
“Edifying of the body of Christ”

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

27. Mission & Work of the Church
Work is Determined by God
Work is Threefold (Eph. 4:12)
Work is Not:
Social – (social betterment of man)
Gospel did not change social problems – but made them better (1 Cor. 7:20-22)
Home center of social activities (1 Cor. 11:20-22)
Recreation
Business
Secular Education (math, science, history, language)

28. Church Support of Colleges
History Behind It
Mission & Work of the Church
Problems With Church Support of Colleges

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

30. Problems With Church Support of Colleges
Issue Clarified
No Bible Authority

31. 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

32. Church Support of College
None
Command / Statement
None
Approved Example
None
Necessary Inference

33. Problems With Church Support of Colleges
Issue Clarified
No Bible Authority
No Different than Missionary Society

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

35. A Separate Organization Between
The Bible College
Local
Church $
“Christian
School” /
Bible College
Local
Church $
Teach
Bible $
Local
Church $
A Separate Organization Between
The Church And The Work
Local
Church

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

37. Problems With Church Support of Colleges
Issue Clarified
No Bible Authority
No Different than Missionary Society
Puts Church in Secular Education
While it is a Bible College – still secular education
Funds support the whole college work

38. Summary Of Problems No Bible Authority Work is Secular
Organization Between Church and the Work

39. Church Support of Colleges
History Behind It
Mission & Work of the Church
Problems With Church Support of Colleges
Arguments Make to Justify it

40. Arguments Make to Justify it
“College teaches the Bible – is work of church”
Bible is not all they teach
It a secular institution – liberal arts school
Still have a separate organization between church and work being done!

41. Arguments Make to Justify it
“College teaches the Bible – is work of church”
“Schools prepare church leaders”
That is not all these colleges do
Separate organization between church & work!
On same basis – church support any family – might be training church leaders.

42. Arguments Make to Justify it
“College teaches the Bible – is work of church”
“Schools prepare church leaders”
“Churches may educate children of poor members.”
Could church contribute to Catholic or Baptist Hospital for poor members?
Could church operate a golf course for children of poor members?

43. Arguments Make to Justify it
“College teaches the Bible – is work of church”
“Schools prepare church leaders”
“Churches may educate children of poor members.”
“School is a good work”
Good work – defined by Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Government a good work?
Baptist Hospital a good work?
Building roads a good work?
Space exploration a good work?

44. Arguments Make to Justify it
“College teaches the Bible – is work of church”
“Schools prepare church leaders”
“Churches may educate children of poor members.”
“School is a good work”
“Bible does not forbid it”
Silence is prohibitive (Heb. 7:14)
Did not forbid the instrument of music
Did not forbid the use of jam on Lord’s supper

45. Church Support of Colleges
History Behind It
Mission & Work of the Church
Problems With Church Support of Colleges
Arguments Make to Justify it