Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 10
March 19, 1959
NUMBER 45, PAGE 2-3b

An Offer Of Help

W. Gayle Poplin, Santa Rosa, California

In the Gospel Advocate for October 16, 1958, an article appeared under the title "Will Someone Please Help Me? written by Brother Oscar L Hayes of Senath, Missouri. I do not know Brother Hayes, but gather from his article that he is a veteran gospel preacher. As such I honor him, and sincerely wish to be of help to both him and the entire brotherhood of the Lord's people. Because of that desire, I am writing this in the form of an article, for publication in case any editor should judge it worthy of space. A copy of it goes directly to Brother Hayes, and a copy each to the Gospel Advocate and the Gospel Guardian.

Brother Hayes says, "There are some boys scattered around in this country who think they are very smart. Will some of them try?" Having passed the half century mark, I cannot claim to be a boy any longer; and having been trying to preach for over thirty years, I have learned that I am not very smart. I hope that I shall therefore be spared the danger of some one despising my youth, or thinking that I am wise in my own conceits.

Brother Hayes asks for book, chapter, and verse for a number of things, the most of which we all agree are authorized upon the principle of necessary inference. Then he says, If those things are according to New Testament principles, why raise a fuss about building and maintaining a home for orphans and widows?" I hope to answer that question, but first, let us notice his requests. He wants book, chapter, and verse:

1. "Where the church is commanded to build and maintain a meeting house " Answer: I know of no verse specifically commanding such. But the meeting house is authorized by necessary inference in the command to "assemble."

2. "For employing a preacher full time at a stipulated salary.' Answer: I Corinthians 9:14.

3. "For building and maintaining a house for the preacher." Answer. I know of no verse specifying such; but it is included in passages such as the above which authorize support of a preacher.

4. "For dividing the congregation into age groups for Bible study on the Lord's day." Answer: There is no verse specifying this manner of teaching, but the practice is authorized in the command to "teach"

5. "For singing a song of invitation at the close of a sermon." Answer: Colossians 3:16.

6. "For passing the collection plate." I know of no verse specifying this method; but the practice is authorized in I Corinthians 16:1,2.

7. "For using literature put out by man in the classes on the Lord's day." Answer: I know of no verse specifying that such literature shall be used; its use is authorized by the command to teach, and by the impossibility of an uninspired man teaching or preaching without using some uninspired words.

8. "For buying and using song-books." Answer: By necessary inference from the command to sing.

10. "Where elders are authorized to oversee anything but the congregation where they are members."

There is no such verse. Furthermore, such a practice violates every passage that defines the elders' work and authority. I was amazed to read from Brother Hayes the following statement: "I do not oppose any of the things mentioned above." I don't think he could have meant that. Brother Guy N. Woods could help him here. Brother Woods denies that elders "as elders" can oversee anything except the congregation where they are members. And that is right. That is exactly why I do not believe that elders can oversee a brotherhood project of any kind, be it a radio program, a mission work, or an orphans' home. They can oversee their own congregation, and all the work of their congregation, but no other congregation, nor the work of any other congregation. They oversee the mission work that their congregation does, the radio work that their congregation does, and the benevolent work that their congregation does.

11. "When Paul described the widow that the church cares for, what church did he refer to?" Answer: The church of which she is a member.

12. "When James said to go visit the widows and orphans, how did he say to do it?" Answer: In such a way as to keep one's self unspotted from the world. I believe that the authority of elders is limited to the work of their own congregation. I believe that the only organization authorized by Scripture is the congregation. I believe that anything other than that, by way of organization, had its origin in the world, and not in inspiration. I believe then that when one church undertakes to do the work of all, or of a number of congregations, of whatever nature it may be, benevolent or evangelistic, they have become "spotted" by the world. Hence, when churches build benevolent institutions, they violate the "how" of James 1:27. I marvel that some of my brethren cannot see that the objection is not to the "method" used in caring for orphans. The objection is to churches building organizations that violate the principles of congregational autonomy.

Now, back to Brother Hayes' question: "If those things are according to New Testament principles, why raise a fuss about building and maintaining a home for orphans and widows?" I do not object to building a home for orphans and for "widows indeed", provided the church does it to carry on its own work. Referring back to Question Number 4: I do not object to "dividing the congregation into age groups for Bible study on the Lord's Day." But I would strongly object to the churches establishing a general board to make and enforce rules and regulations for such division... I object to a Sunday School organization that transcends the congregation. Referring to Question Number 6: I do not object to a collection plate; but I would object to the churches establishing a financial board (organization) to collect and disburse the money for all the churches.

If it is too much to ask my brethren to agree with Me that these things destroy congregational autonomy, it ought not to be too much to ask them to see that this is my view and the basis of my objection. I do not care what 'method" is used in taking the collection; but I would object to a United Financial Society using it. I do not care what "method" a congregation may use in caring for its needy; but I do object to a united benevolent society taking the church's money to employ that method. I am unable to make the fine distinction some brethren seem to be making which would rule out the financial society yet would allow the benevolent society.