New Local Church In Dallas
Progress toward righteous ends is always a cause for rejoicing. Particularly is this so with reference to the establishment of congregations of the Lord. We have no interest in their multiplying for comparative purposes or for the reason that large numbers might seem impressive and command attention, but we have a very intense interest, because of our love for the souls of men, in the gospel of Christ being preached into the edification of saints and the salvation of sinners. It is our firm conviction that two congregations of a certain number of members will teach more people, convert more sinners to the Lord, and otherwise exert more influence for good than will one congregation with a membership equal to the sum of the two. By reason of their being two, their opportunities will be multiplied and their field of activity broadened. The pattern for enlarging the kingdom of Christ was laid when Jesus told the apostles that they should be "witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" — Acts 1:8. It is the responsibility of Christians to plant the church in every place where possible (Eph. 4:12), being careful, of course, to observe divine principles while so doing.
For this cause we rejoice that a new congregation has begun in the great city of Dallas. This new church meets temporarily in the Stonewall Jackson School auditorium located on Mockingbird Lane and Delmar Street.
It is hoped that this new congregation will afford members of the church, who have been inactive in larger congregations, an opportunity to be exercised in the Lord's work.
This new local church shall be unashamed to emphasize the restoration slogan that "we speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent," which is but the restatement of a divine principle that "if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" — 1 Pet. 4:11 .
It is dedicated to the preservation of New Testament Christianity in a changing world. The necessity to be not fashioned according to this world but transformed by the renewing of the mind through denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, shall be made prominent.
Forceful expression shall be given to the fundamental truth that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the only means which the Lord has of attracting sinners. This church shall humbly proclaim and be satisfied with the gospel in its purity and completeness, stripped of all human entanglements that appeal to false pride and free from all showy encumbrances necessary to the flagging spiritual interests of the worldly minded.
The fact of the all sufficiency of the church to do all that God has assigned it to do, without its building and maintaining human organizations through which to do it, shall be stressed. In this congregation's efforts to "make it as sure as you can," its activities shall be limited to that which is written and circumscribed by divine examples.
It shall respect the simple organization of the New Testament local church as set forth upon the pages of inspiration and shall forcibly declare its own independence and autonomy.
The New Testament pattern of worship and the simplicity thereof shall be maintained.
It shall be unafraid and unashamed to declare the whole counsel of God unto the edification of saints and the instruction of sinners on what to do to be saved.
Its whole purpose shall be to serve and please Him from whom all blessings flow, who has the right to all our affections, and to whom we pledge our whole allegiance.
Dallasites, especially those of like common faith and conviction, are urged to investigate this church in the light of the New Testament, and are extended a warm welcome to all of our services.