Bulletin Articles
REVISITING SOME OLD ISSUES AMONG CHURCHES OF CHRIST
REVISITING SOME OLD ISSUES AMONG CHURCHES OF CHRIST
In this article, I will provide a brief study of some old issues among churches of Christ. These things were commonly discussed twenty or thirty years ago, but not so much today. This does not mean these problems no longer exist, or are no longer important! But our ever-changing culture has dictated that other, more pressing issues, be moved to the front burner. Nevertheless, it is important that we be reminded of these old issues, lest we repeat some of the mistakes of the past. Specifically, I refer to what has been traditionally called “institutionalism;” or what is sometimes described as “liberal versus conservative” churches of Christ. I will try to briefly summarize these basic issues below. Each of these issues is a study in itself; but due to space considerations, I can only give a brief summary here.
1. Local churches subsidizing other organizations. To subsidize is “to grant or give money.” So, we are talking about whether or not a church can give money to other organizations, such as benevolent homes, colleges, or missionary societies. The issue is NOT whether it is right to purchase a service (electric bill, water bill, etc.); but whether a church can simply DONATE money to an organization. There is clearly a difference between a church paying its own electric bill, or the electric bill of a needy member, and simply giving a donation to the electric company! When we look at the Bible, the ONLY organization a church can subsidize is another church; and ONLY when the receiving church is in financial need (Ac.11:27-30; Rm.15:25-31; 1Cor.16:1-4; 2Cor.8-9).
2. The proper subjects of benevolence from a local church. Right on the heels of the above is the issue of “who” a church may help. Some say that a church may help “all men” – but the Bible says otherwise! For example, a church may ONLY help “the poor among the saints” (Rm.15:26; 1Cor.16:1-2). Such would exclude the rich, as well as those who are not Christians. Further, a church has no obligation to help one who “will not work” (as opposed to one who cannot work, cf. 2Th.3:10-12). Finally, a church cannot help ALL widows (1Tm.5:3-16). In fact, there is a clear distinction between what a local church may do, and what an individual Christian may do (v.16).
3. The limits of cooperation between local churches. To cooperate is simply to operate (or work) together. But there are two kinds of cooperation; and only ONE kind is authorized in Scripture! One kind of cooperation is where independent entities work toward a common goal. For example, if I keep my area of the neighborhood clean, and you keep your area of the neighborhood clean, we are, in fact, cooperating to keep the neighborhood clean! As this applies to local churches, if one church supports a preacher, and another church supports the same preacher, they are, in fact, cooperating in that work (2Cor.11:8)! But another form of cooperation is when two or more entities act collectively (i.e., as one). Using my neighborhood cleanup example, if two families pooled their funds and formed a “neighborhood cleanup organization,” they are cooperating collectively. But this kind of cooperation is a problem for local churches, because each church is required to be an independent and autonomous organization (Ac.14:23; 1Pt.5:1-3). Simply put, multiple churches are not authorized to act collectively! There is no authority for the oversight of such an entity; and there is no authority for the funding of such an entity. As a matter of fact, a collective of churches is, by definition, a “denomination” (see Webster). Churches which cooperate via a “sponsoring church” have actually embraced denominational organization, whether they realize it or not!
4. Local churches which provide for social or recreational activities. In the Bible, local churches did NOT provide for such things! As a matter of fact, when the church at Corinth exchanged “the Lord’s Supper” for their “own supper,” they were condemned for it (1Cor.11:17-22). The issue is not whether INDIVIDUALS may gather socially (cf. Ac.2:46, “breaking bread from house to house”). Nor is the issue about “eating in the church building.” The issue is: May a local church PROVIDE for such activities? There is NO authorization for a church to provide for social or recreational activities. Local church dining halls, basketball courts, “and such like” are simply not authorized (cf. 2Jn.9).
I know this study has been brief; but I hope it serves to remind you about some old issues among churches of Christ.
--Lanny Smith
