Herald Of Truth Versus Bible Classes
I humbly submit this study of the "expedient-position" that the Herald of Truth radio program is parallel with the Bible classes of any church. I do not believe this to be a scriptural position, and therefore I am compelled to present my reasons.
I now use some of the arguments for classes in teaching the Bible which were used in the Brownfield, Texas, debate. I believe these arguments are scriptural, and I must accept them. With this statement preceding them, I do not believe it to be unfair to employ them and use some of their words without citing page and paragraph.
To prophesy is to teach, and certainly the church of the Lord was given authority to engage in teaching. Teaching the word of God is the responsibility of the church, as "the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15.) "The manifold wisdom of God" is to be made known by the church. (Eph. 3:10.)
The church of the Lord, God's teaching institution, therefore has imposed upon it the privilege and the obligation to teach "the truth," "the manifold wisdom of God." The church which fails is a derelict to duty, a pillager of privileges!
Pursuing the arguments of the above mentioned debate, 2 Timothy 2:2 is a divine command to train teachers. "And the things which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." A "Teachers' Training Class" obeys this command. They are thus trained to teach others. But remember, friendly reader, the obligation to teach lies squarely upon God's teaching institution, "the pillar and ground of the truth."
I therefore conclude that the church which is fully developed must carry out this command to teach teachers! I believe a church, like an individual member of a church, will be suffered a period of time through which to pass on the way to this development, but the ultimate program of a church must include obedience to this command. If you cavil through the catacombs of dead and dying evasions relative to this deduction, and in seeming insincerity try to fasten error to it because a period of time is "suffered"; then turn your cavilings toward your own position regarding the eldership of a church. If you demand a definite time as to when the Lord expects a church to be developed to this position, I gladly set it for you at exactly the time you set for the same church to include elders in its organization!
I continue by way of an argument offered for class teaching in the aforementioned debate. First Peter 3:15 is a divine command to men and women. "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you." This commandment to be ready implies the getting ready to answer questions, by study of both the questions and the answers.
Again, gentle readers, this scripturally authorizes the church, "the pillar and ground of the truth," to teach. Thus we must emphasize the need for the church to fulfill its obligation.
We offer still another argument for the church teaching in classes in the above mentioned debate. Titus 2:3, 4 is a divine command for Christian women to be "teachers of good things" and says "that they may teach."
Remember, the church has the responsibility to do this teaching. Then in the church as such the only place a woman cannot teach is where she "usurps authority over the man." (1 Tim. 2:12.) Friends, I believe I church might exist without having female members, but where they do exist as members, and where they have opportunity to teach other women, that church has imposed upon it the obligation and privilege to make plans for such instruction. The church which has such opportunities and refuses to accept them violates this divine injunction.
My gentle readers, the force of these scriptural arguments places these obligations upon each church of the Lord. These obligations are not "expedients"; but exist by reason of plain, positive commands. Teaching the Bible in classes is not an "expedient," as we use this word to frazzling effects, but is obedience to divine commands. As a definite illustration, "the pillar and ground of the truth" cannot provide for a woman to teach other women without providing a class. Yet, the church cannot be completely obedient to God without obedience to this command. I thus conclude that Bible classes are not to be classified as "expedients."
Now, my truth-seeking friends, which of you is still willing to say that the Herald of Truth and teaching the Bible in classes are exactly alike in principle? If Herald of Truth is parallel with teaching the Bible in classes, then without a shadow of doubt, in order to be completely obedient to the Lord's commands, each church on this earth must strive toward the sponsorship of a Herald of Truth, and none will ever be entirely complete without it. Who is ready to accept it?
My friends, any church on earth may grow to highest maturity, be completely organized and pass through time correctly discharging its every responsibility without going beyond its organizational bounds in setting up a super-organized "Sunday School" or Herald of Truth; but no church on earth can develop to highest maturity and correctly discharge its responsibilities without teaching the Bible in classes! 0 wizened wonders of "Expediency"!