____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ November 23, 1997 ____________________________________________________ Denominationalizing the Church (Part Ten) by Roy E. Cogdill Many of the brethren are contending today that it is scriptural and right for the churches of Christ to build and maintain benevolent ``organizations'' to do the work of caring for the needy that God has charged the church to do. This proposition has been debated numerous times between brethren all over the country; though its proponents have evidently decided that it is unscriptural to debate or that it is unwise, for they seem no longer willing to mount the polemic rostrum and try to defend their ``benevolent societies.'' They have tried numerous methods of defending them, and none have seemed to work. They have asserted that such organizations as they have formed --viz., Ontario Children's Home; Boles Home, Inc., Tipton Home; Tennessee Orphans Home; Southern Christian Home; Sunny Glen Home; etc. -- are necessary because the law requires such organization in order that the church may care for its needy. This has been proven untrue, and they have had to desert it. It is obvious to anyone with any conception of truth and right, that the requirement of it by the law would not make it scriptural; but it was resorted to when they had no Bible with which to defend their position. No federal or state law in this country requires the church to form a human organization for any reason. It would be unconstitutional if they did, and it would still be unscriptural even if it were constitutional. Then they tried the contention that such benevolent organizations were merely for the purpose of giving legal protection to those who directed its affairs and had the oversight of its work, in case they are sued or prosecuted by someone. When it was shown that such corporate organizations were not merely for the purpose of holding title to property but were formed and actually functioned as the controlling and directing agency in the work being done; and that the directors were empowered by their very charter, giving the organization existence to control and direct its work -- and, hence, it was entirely removed from any supervision or control by any church -- they had to surrender this contention. They argued that it was ``kingdom business,'' the actual work of the church being done by the church; and that the organization was only a method employed by the church by which to do its work, such as the Bible classes on the Lord's Day. It was shown in answer to this that an organization is not a method, but that an organization employs or uses methods. It was further pointed out that if the church can charter a human institution to do its work of benevolence and such an organization was merely the work of the church in the field of benevolence, like the Bible classes are the work of the church in the field of teaching, then the Bible classes could be incorporated under a Board of Directors just like the benevolent organization, and that such a board could be scripturally authorized to carry on and direct the work of teaching. This obviously got them in trouble with the brethren who charge that the Bible classes are a separate organization from the church and delivered these institutional brethren into their hands so they had to abandon that contention. In the evolution of their attempts to defend these human benevolent societies, they eventually got around to the argument that such institutions are actually and only ``homes''; and that the ``home'' is a divine organization --separate from the church -- and that its function cannot be a part of the work of the church; and, therefore, elders cannot oversee such an institution or work. Therefore, it must be under a Board of Directors. They further argued that such Board of Directors were actually the parents, in fact, of the children cared for. But they have found this position just as indefensible as all of the others. In answer to this sophistry, it has been clearly established that such institutions or organizations are not a ``home'' in any Bible sense, even though they may be known by such names. The English word ``home'' comes from different words in the original language of the Bible, but in all of their usage there are only four senses: a. a place of residence; b. figuratively the family living in such a place of residence; c. the family plus the household servants living in such a place of residence; and d. the estate of such a family. It should be easily discerned that any kind of a ``benevolent organization'' is not a ``home'' in either of these senses. The organization is not a ``place of residence.'' The charters of every one of these institutions state that such organization is formed in order to ``provide a home'' or place of residence for orphan or destitute children. Surely in no sense is the organization or Board of Directors a ``place'' of any kind. Furthermore, such an organization is in no sense a family. God, who ordained marriage and the family relationship, gave it form just like He did the church. That is the husband and wife relationship, out of which grows the parent and child relationship. This ``benevolent organization'' does not even generally resemble such a relationship. Who ever heard of a family with a ``Board of Directors'' organized into the form of ``President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer,'' etc.? When it was argued that under the law the Board of Directors of such an organization are ``en loco parentis'' -- and that such constituted a parent and child relationship -- it was pointed out that such is purely a fictitious relationship. This board does not live with the children. They do not even live in close proximity to them. They have no common place of residence. More than that, the board only infrequently visits the children. They do not themselves provide for the children of whom they are supposedly the ``parents.'' They beg others to provide for them. They do not teach, train, care for the children; but hire others to do so. They do not perform the function of ``parents'' in any sense actually, but are the ``legal guardians'' of these children and that is all. More than all that, by the very expression ``en loco parentis'' is meant not ``parents'' but in the stead or place of ``parents.'' Many, in fact most of these children, have living parents who either have deserted them, refused to care for them, or in some other way have failed in duty. Such organizations are not churches of Christ in any sense. Neither are they ``homes'' in any sense. What are they? They are humanly designed, state authorized, statute controlled, benevolent societies run by a Board of Directors. They have the same status with reference to the work God has given the church to do as the missionary society. If churches can build and maintain such benevolent organizations, there is no rule or reason that would make it wrong for them to build such organizations to do their work of evangelism. The missionary society is just as scriptural and for the same reasons that make the benevolent society scriptural. It is a package deal -- swallow one and you cannot ``gag'' at the other! -- February 24, 1966 ___________________________________________ THE TINY, UNTAMEABLE TONGUE by Dee Bowman James says, ``If any man among you seemeth to be religious and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain'' (1:26). A man may by great diligence be able to do all the right things in his religion but if he does not control his tongue, he distorts every bit of the good he has done. One loose statement, one irreverent word, one misnomer in speech and all the things he has labored to do are tarnished, sometimes irreparably so. ``He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life,'' Solomon said (Prov. 13:3). So important is the control of the tongue that it is equal to keeping the entirety of one's life. ``Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath'' (Jas. 1:19). How often we reverse the order. I tell you, it's easy to be swift to speak and slow to listen; but it's hard to turn that around. And the result is oftentimes devastating, full of wrath. Trouble can often be avoided if one party has the wisdom to remain hushed. ``Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles'' (Prov. 21:23). To tame the tongue is hard. I mean hard. In fact, James tells us (3:7-8), ``For every kind of beasts and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.'' This is an interesting observation and a timely admonition. It compares the tongue to some kind of wild animal that has, by perseverance and training, been tamed. Suddenly and without warning, the animal reverts to the wild. Leaving it's instruction and forgetting its training, it lunges at its trainer, often inflicting severe injury and sometimes even fatality. This timely admonition warns about how the tongue, thought to be ``tamed'' and under control, suddenly reverts to its ``wild'' state and, running savagely around, causes injuries which can never be repaired, attacking everything and everyone in its path. What to do? Good question. Is there anything we can do? It seems so hopeless, so inevitable. Is there any way to control the tongue? I believe James gives us at least a plan for such control in verses 13 and 14 of Chapter 3. He says, ``Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness and wisdom. But if ye have bitter envyings and strife in your hearts, glory not and lie not against the truth.'' First, we must become wise. And he says, in the same sentence, a wise man is ``one endued with knowledge.'' There is no such thing as wisdom without knowledge. So it all begins with a knowledge of God's word. This knowledge is designed to show us that ``there is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak'' (Eccl. 3:7) and when that time is. Second, we are to ``show out of a good conversation (good conduct, NKJV) his works with meekness and wisdom.'' Good conduct is achieved by ``meekness of wisdom,'' that is, by having wisdom under control. This subtle little phrase is most difficult to achieve, for you see, there is a wisdom--a way that works--which is worldly, sensual, devilish (vs. 15). It is based on ``envying and strife,'' and creates ``confusion and every evil work.'' That does not say, I remind you, that it doesn't work, but that it bears the fruit of the attitudes which precipitated it. James then advises us about the ``wisdom that is from above.'' It is described as ``pure,'' or without alloy, ``peaceable,'' or devoid of conflict, ``gentle,'' or without malice, ``easy to be entreated,'' or approachable, ``full of mercy,'' or impregnated with compassion, ``without partiality,'' or not biased, and ``without hypocrisy,'' or not having duplicity. Look carefully at each of these descriptions of wisdom. Each in its own way has something to do with the proper use of the tongue. If every person could employ these attributes before he speaks what a different world it would be. More than that, how different brethren would be. The conclusion is simple, but powerful. ``And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace'' (Jas. 3:18), or as the NIV says, ``Peacemakers who sow in peace make a harvest of righteousness.'' -- Via Online Southside Reminder, April 12, 1995 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES We were privileged to have Bill McIlvain (Erin Thomas' father) preach for us recently when he and his wife were visiting with us. He did a fine job -- and with much enthusiasm and encouragement -- even though he wasn't feeling well that day, which later turned out to be the flu. We look forward to his next visit with us. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________