The Kingdom of Promise and ProphecyWhiteside, Robertson L.
Religion
The Kingdom of Promise and Prophecy
Whiteside, Robertson L.
Bible -- Prophecies
these brethren have marked out for him? And herein is another danger to
these brethren. Before Jesus came to earth, the learned Jews had things
mapped out; and because Jesus did not follow their program, they
believed him to be an imposter. Yes, there were program makers for his
first coming, and there are program makers for his second coming; and
the fatal blunder of the first program makers should be a warning to the
present program makers.
But Brother Chambers thinks that neither “pre” nor “post” should be made
a test of fellowship. There is something pitiful and shaky about a plea
that one’s teaching or practice be not made a test of fellowship. The
plea itself is a confession of divergence. We have often heard that same
plea from the “progressives.” No matter from whom it comes, it sounds
like a plea for forbearance and mercy. The Gospel Advocate has never, in
its long history, felt the least need of making such a plea. Can you
imagine J. C. McQuiddy, T. B. Larimore, E. G. Sewell, or David Lipscomb
begging the brethren not to make some theory or practice of theirs a
test of fellowship?
There has been a good deal of loose talk about tests of fellowship. To
raise the question as to an opinion or theory without giving any
attention to what is done with the opinion or theory does not meet the
issue. An opinion or practice might be very innocent, and yet a man
might make a great deal of trouble with it. It is not then his opinion
you must consider, but the use he makes of it. Suppose some man should
decide that dark clothing is conducive to piety and sober-mindedness,
and that light clothing makes the wearer light-hearted and gay, and that
flashy dress makes the wearer frivolous and giddy. Would you feel
disposed to make his notion or his practice a test of fellowship? But
suppose that peculiar notion of his becomes such an obsession with him
that he feels that he must advocate it everywhere? He becomes so carried
away with the idea that he becomes a nuisance, a trouble maker, and a
divider of churches; what then? What would Brother Chambers do about it?
Suppose he, while dividing churches with his peculiar theory, pleads
that the sort of dress a fellow wears should not be made a test of
fellowship; how would Brother Chambers answer him? It is supposed, of
course, that Brother Chambers cares enough for the peace and unity of
churches to do something about such a situation, but what would he do?
Would he fellowship the fellow, bid him Godspeed, and call him to hold
meetings? And it would be much worse if the fellow divided churches by
preaching hurtful and untrue theories.
If brethren press a theory to the dividing of churches and then tell us
that we must let them alone, else they will have no fellowship with us,
what can we do about it? They have drawn the line, and issued a
“manifesto.” And yet they keep talking about tests of fellowship.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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