David P. Brown
P.O. Box 2357
Spring, TX 77383-2357

10/12/2001

Brother Brown:

    First, let me say that I too am saddened by the loss of brother Ira Rice realizing that the two of you labored together and I will pray for his family.

    Secondly, I read your article titled “Brian Yeager Goes ‘Anti’”.  I appreciate you helping to let brethren know that I am no longer under the Institutional practices that I once believed and taught.  I however, do not appreciate the misrepresentations that are in your article about what you termed as my views and the implications of those views.  You listed 8 points and I will respond to ALL 8 points and ask you to publish this letter to clarify exactly what I do believe and teach.  Please refer back to your article for what you wrote as I will answer each point below by number.

1.  Your attempt to cloud the minds of those studying the issue of benevolence lead you to state that I believe if one dime is taken from the Lord’s money to feed a starving infant one would go to hell unless he repented of such action.  Brother Brown, the issue is not can we help a starving infant.  The issue is to whom may the church help with the Lord’s money.  You and I both know that if an infant was starving the brethren here in Butler, PA would not allow that infant to go any longer in hunger.  We would feed him out of our own pockets and care for him in the same way as long as we needed to.  The New Testament not once states that benevolence from the church to the alien is scriptural.  Are we not supposed to do all things by the authority of Christ (Colossians 3:17)?  I can find cases in which the church helped saints (II Corinthians chapters 8-9, Romans 15:25-26, etc.).  I cannot find one time in which the church helped a non-Christian.  Can you?

2.  Christians eat every first day of the week in the building (Acts 20:7 and I Corinthians 11:23-26).  Again, you are trying to cloud the minds of those that may be willing to study the issue.  The issue has nothing to do with “eating in the building”, but rather is it the work of the church to sponsor “church socials”.  Do you have a passage that would permit the practicing of the “Social Gospel”?

3.  I agree!  It is not a sin to have something purchased with the Lord’s money that will aid the Christian in attending the services.  Faithful attendance is a command (Hebrews 10:25).  A toilet would be one of several possible expediencies.  By way of example: we have a woman here in Butler that cannot make it more the one half hour at times without having to use the “restroom facilities”.  A toilet permits her to attend.  Do you have a problem with that?

4.  Brother, you lost it here.  I have no idea what you were attempting.  I do see that you have no scriptures to argue with so you are trying to make brethren think things that are not true.  I do not believe your charge that a woman cannot feed an infant in the building.

5.  If I believed this, then I have sinned almost every service.  I take a drink between class and the worship most weeks to help that dry mouth problem.

6.  Could you please show where I have stated that it is a sin to have a water fountain in the building where the saints assemble?

7.  I agree.  A urinal can be in the building same reason stated in number three.

8.  Again, can you show where I have stated that an “anti” preacher could eat his lunch in his office as long as no non-family members ate with him?  Again, see point number two.

    Brother Brown, you stated that on and on you could go.  I do wish that you would have gone on and on, maybe to the point where you would have started using some scriptures to support your beliefs.

    I am enclosing an article in which I use plenty of scripture to back up what I believe.  Are we not supposed to speak as the oracles of God (I Peter 4:11)?  The division between “Institutional” and “non-Institutional” brethren is on the matter of bible authority and the application of bible authority.  The issues are not as you make them in your publications.  I use to do the same thing that you are doing until I studied the issues without blinders on (Jeremiah 5:21).  [Link to article]

    Lastly brother Brown, I believe because of the great ignorance of the issues that surrounds us today, it would be beneficial to have a public discussion on some of these issues.  Would you agree?  I am going to have a proposition for you, but before I get to that I want to tell you why I am going to ask you to debate me on the issues.  Cleary in the bible there are times in which many did not understand properly.  The Lord used parables as he tells us for this very reason (Matthew 13:10-17).  When brethren meet on the polemic platform of debate their goal should be to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).  If the goal is to devour one another, as you attempted in your article, then Satan has already won.  My goal would be to teach and learn.  If I am wrong I want to know that.  I want to make my calling and election sure (II Peter 1:10).  I pray that this will be your goal as well.  It did seem to me that you article was not intended to help me in any way, but rather to make me look as though I am a fool to your readers.  Is this brotherly love?  What would the world think if they read this?  I too, use to use the same tactics.  I pray that when we meet in debate that the Bible will be our only source (Revelation 22:18-19 and Deuteronomy 4:2), and that our hearts will be right.  Our goal should be to dwell together in unity not division (Psalms 133:1 and I Corinthians 1:10).  Having said that, there is also the need to “earnestly contend for the faith” – Jude verse 3.

I propose:

The New Testament authorizes the local church to provide relief to needy saints alone.
 

Affirm – Brian A. Yeager   _____Signed 10/12/2001___
 

Deny – David P. Brown      _________________________
 

The New Testament teaches that the local church has authority to provide benevolence to both the saint and the sinner.
 

Affirm – David P. Brown    __________________________
 

Deny – Brian A. Yeager     _____Signed 10/12/2001____
 

There is no authority in the New Testament for the local church to donate to human organizations such as Boles home.
 

Affirm – Brian A. Yeager   _____Signed 10/12/2001____
 

Deny – David P. Brown      __________________________

There is authority in the New Testament for the local church to donate to human organizations such as Boles home.
 

Affirm – David P. Brown    __________________________
 

Deny – Brian A. Yeager     _____Signed 10/12/2001____

Brother Brown, I am only 26 years old and I have very little debate experience with no schooling on debate.  Surely, if you have the truth it would be a simple thing for you to show that in front of an audience.  I propose meeting you in Spring, TX in front of a large audience.  Are you willing to defend your position?  I am!  (I Peter 3:15) “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

I pray that in the mean time you will study these issues and see the truth, for only the truth will make one free (John 8:32). Please contact me in writing to let me know if you will accept the propositions.  You may print this letter if you wish, but only if you print the whole letter.
 

In Christian Love,
 
 

Brian A. Yeager