In Response To An "Answer"
Brother Elliott Hill has answered brother Harold Fite on A very fine article called, "Give Me Liberty Or a Secular Job." This is no answer — just a response. Brother Hill seems to have the idea that it should be required of preachers to report to the elders or the church as to their activities. They should keep office hours, report times spent in studies, visiting and general "pastoral" work. He seemed to consider it quite right and required for a preacher to account to the elders for his time and to inform the elders when he was leaving town. Some of these things might be all right, but it provokes me to consider another phase of this matter.
If a preacher be considered as a secular worker, salesman or laborer, then there are other aspects of this matter that need consideration. If "office hours" are going to be required and if a preacher is to account for his time, then perhaps it might be a good idea to install a time-clock on the church study door that can be punched. However, after the preacher has satisfied the requirements laid down by the elders, then he is off. Frankly, if the time ever came, and I were the preacher, I would feel like telling such elders, "When I am through for the day, I do not want to be called. If someone wants to learn the truth of the gospel — tell them to wait for my office hours. Should a person want to be baptized, tell him to come back when I am in and not during my `off hours.' If someone wants counseling, funeral preached or wedding performed, they will have to wait until I 'punch-in' in the morning."
I doubt that I will ever tell elders that — I doubt that I could ever be associated with such "elders." But, with brother Fite, should that time ever come, "Give me liberty or give me a secular job." 3105 N. W. 35th Place, Oklahoma City, Okla.73112