(See notes at the conclusion of this article.  What is written by brother Martin is the Truth on the matter – B.A.Y.)

     It is amazing how a matter is often a source of delight to some and at the same time, a cause of shame to others. There are many brethren who are very elated regarding the "First Annual Truth Magazine Lectures" planned for July 12-15 of this year (2004). Those who were invited to speak for this historic event are very pleased, I am sure (I do understand that two of these speakers have now withdrawn their participation). At first glance, even, thinking Christians ought to ask themselves a number of questions about the, "First Annual Truth Magazine Lectures."

     Before we raise some questions, please consider this: We all know that God has set up an organization through and in which Christians pool their resources and that He has assigned certain work to this organization, the local church. It is clear that the preaching of the gospel, both to the lost and for the edification of the saved is the permanent and regular work of the local church (I Tim. 3: 15, Acts 13, etc., benevolence for needy saints is also seen when there is the need, I Tim. 5:16, please be informed that when I use the word "church" in this vein, I am referring to the collectivity function that automatically involves the activation of the treasury). There is no question, then, as to the collectivity (the organization functioning as an entity) performing in such a way as to support, both financially and by way of encouragement, men in the proclamation of the gospel (Phil. 4: 15-19). Men were "sent out" by and reported back to the local functioning entity (the local church) in Antioch of Syria (Acts 13: 1-3, 14: 26-28). It is apparent that when elders were present within the fully organized structure of the local church that they superintended such work and preachers (cp. Acts 14: 23, I Pet. 5: 1ff.).

     While the local church thus worked as a functioning entity in the area of preaching the gospel, there is a total and noticeable absence of any other performing organization (it does appear that godly and able men separately financially assisted preachers, Gal. 6: 6). In other words, we do not read of brethren organizing themselves by setting up a treasury, hierarchy, and statement of mission, etc., outside of the local church in Antioch. All we read is that the local church in Antioch sent out men to preach. Since we are in the business of replicating and duplicating New Testament Christianity today, we are perfectly safe and correct in teaching Christians to geographically organize themselves as to constitute local churches and that these entities (collective work involving the treasury, etc.) engage in the precise same work as the churches of which we read in the New Testament.

     Having said this, consider some simple but relevant questions regarding the, "First Annual Truth Magazine Lectures."
 

(1). Has "Truth Magazine" now come to think of itself as a local church?
(2). Where is the authority of such an organization of Christians functioning as a local church?
(3) What does the future hold for this "new"- "church/magazine", Truth Magazine, and their "First" annual Lectures?

    I worked extensively back in the seventies in battling the privately funded missionary societies mentality among us. "Don, we believe such organizations can and do perform a better job under the oversight of their board of directors in preaching the gospel than local churches do under their elderships," I was told by society promoters. The issue of privately funded (they accept no monies from churches) societies seem to die down during the middle eighties and through the nineties, as far as I could tell.  However, such societies are now back in force. It is contented that a society comprised of Christians with full structure, a board of directors, treasury, etc., outside of the local church can preach to the lost, edify the saved, and relieve needy saints and just so long as they do not solicit or accept monies from local churches, what they do is not to be questioned. Notwithstanding, we still are faced with the fundamental questions of, "Where in the scriptures is the authority for Christians thus banding themselves together and performing the work of preaching to the lost, and/or edifying the saved, and/or relieving needy saints other than in the local church arrangement, under the oversight of elders?

    The March 4, 2004 issue of Truth Magazine proudly advertises this "First Annual Truth Magazine Lectures," listing about 20 men and women who shall be preaching at the event. Many of these people I personally know and I would have thought that they had more conviction that to be a part of such a human enterprise and endeavor. It comes as no surprise that the lectureship (gospel meeting) will be held at the Convention Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

    In the past, some have used the rationale that a school may sponsor a lectureship (for some reason, they see significant difference between a "lectureship" and a "gospel meeting") if they do so in the climate of "education" and charging a fee. I wonder what the offered justification of Truth Magazine is going to be?  Perhaps these brethren have arrived at the point of experiencing no need to provide an answer for their practices (I Thess. 5: 21, I Pet. 3: 15). I know this, many are deeply in love with their organizations and unquestionably loyal to their clique affiliations.

    Yes, societies among us are on the march and gaining momentum. Brethren, we
are drifting!

Email: dmartin5@concentric.net

     Brethren, as Don Martin concluded in his article above, many are drifting.  You see brethren (such as the Guardian of Truth clique) warning against Institutionalism on one hand, and then practicing it on the other.  This is somewhat reminiscent to me of Guy N. Woods.  In 1939 Guy N. Woods warned about aspects of Institutionalism by saying the following: “The ship of Zion has floundered more than once on the sand-bar of institutionalism. The tendency to organize is characteristic of the age. This writer has ever been unable to appreciate the logic of those who affect to see grave danger in the missionary society but scruple not to form organizations for the purpose of caring for orphans, and teaching young men to be gospel preachers.”  18 years later in the Gogdill – Woods debate (November 1957) Guy N. Woods said: “It is in harmony with the scriptures for churches of Christ to contribute funds from their treasuries in support of the Herald of Truth Radio Program, conducted by means of cooperating in accomplishing the mission of the church of our Lord.”  Later (20 years - 1977) in the Britnell – Woods debate he affirmed: “The scriptures teach that pure and undefiled religion may be done by the church in caring for widows and orphans in an organization such as Mount Dora or like facilities when they are properly supervised by Christians.”  Guy N. Woods changed, just as we see others are doing today.

     Words such as those written by Don Martin need to be expressed as words of warning.  Many brethren become attached to “Brotherhood Publications” (I am not speaking of works done by individuals – though following those papers is equally dangerous if done blindly, but I am writing of those produced by a board of directors, etc.) or “Brotherhood Schools”.  They become so attached to these unauthorized works that they fail to examine what those human institutions are doing.  Had the Lord intended for brethren to organize works as a collective, beyond the local church, He would have specified that to us giving us the ability to provide biblical authority for their existence (Colossians 3:17, II Timothy 3:16-17, and I Peter 4:11).  As the evil spirit is quoted in answering the vagabond Jews, I must say to the Guardian of Truth Foundation, Florida College, and any other human institution attempting to do the work of a local church: (Acts 19:15) “…Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?”

     Brethren who are primarily opposed to human institutions are hypocrites when they support things like the “Truth Magazine Lectures” or the “Florida College Lectures”.  These human institutions are taking on the work of evangelism and edification without authority to do so.  Some may argue that the “Guardian of Truth Foundation” does not claim to preach the Gospel as a human organization (though their lectureship proves otherwise).  To that I must reply in conclusion with the words of Ron Halbrook (who is currently a Guardian of Truth Board of Directors member) on this matter: “If the Guardian of Truth continues in its heritage of boldly proclaiming the gospel of Christ without compromise, may God bless its efforts and extend its usefulness.”  (Guardian of Truth Magazine; “Gospel Preaching, Gospel Preachers, Gospel Papers”; The Heritage of the Guardian of Truth; July 20, 1995; pages 433-436).

– Brian A. Yeager