Charts on Institutionalism
Sometimes the best way to look at a subject on which there is disagreement is not by showing what that disagreement is OVER, but what the issue IS. The following charts demonstrate the objections to missionary societies and human institutions.
| Then | Then |
|---|---|
| The Issue Was Not: | The Issue Was: |
|
1. Simply a matter of "how". 2. Should the gospel be preached? 3. Is the church obligated? 4. Can churches cooperate? 5. Can the church maintain a "place"? 6. Systematic arrangement. |
Could churches establish and maintain Missionary Societies through which they did the work of Evangelism? |
| Now: | Now: |
|---|---|
| The Issue Is Not: | The Issue Is: |
|
1. Simply a matter of "how". 2. Should the needy receive care? 3. Is the church obligated? 4. Can churches cooperate? 5. Can the church maintain a "home"? 6. Systematic arrangement. |
Can churches establish and maintain Benevolent Societies through which they accomplish the work of Benevolence? |
The Bible clearly teaches that the Lord's church has three areas -- Evangelism, Edification, Benevolence -- of work. "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."{Ephesians 4:11,12}
Any work in which the church engages must fall into one of these three categories. We must preach the gospel. "...Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." {Mark 16:15,16} The question we must address is: HOW should we carry out this work? Those who support ventures involving Orphans' Homes and special types of preaching must produce BOOK, CHAPTER, and VERSE to support the programs or methods they undertake. Smoke-screening our differences doesn't change them. We need a passage, or passages, that support having separate institutions to do God's work. The Bible is SILENT concerning the methods some brethren wish to engage.