That They All May Be One
W. Carl Ketcherside
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All who could do so worked on it day and night, thoroughly renovating it, and making such repairs as were requisite. On Saturday night all assembled in it, and the evangelist suggested that they express their gratitude unto God for the grace which had bestowed upon them the greater responsibility and enlarged opportunities of the new location. The entire group kneeled and one after another the brethren voiced their thanksgivings.
When the prayers were concluded and all were again seated, the evangelist stated that there were practical matters which needed attention. While the building was in no sense the house of God, since God's house was composed of living stones, it would reflect to the community the attitude of those who used it. If the place could be kept neat and attractive, it would have a salutary effect. He said that slovenliness was not simplicity, nor was slouchiness humility.
Since every member would derive equal benefit from use of the property, each should share in the responsibility of upkeep. Accordingly, he suggested that each spring and autumn, on a day appointed, all gather to thoroughly clean the premises. In the meantime, he had prepared a list of the twelve months, and he desired that each one affix his name to one of those months, and during the month selected, he would be responsible for upkeep of the building. He pointed out that since all service was ministry, that all could minister in this regard.
A brother then asked about securing an appropriate sign for the front of the building. The evangelist asked for an expression from the body and a majority indicated that they favored it. A brother then asked what wording should appear upon it. To this, another replied that after hearing the discussion with the Methodist preacher, he had done a lot of thinking, and he was convinced that the word "church" did not correctly represent the original, and he felt that if we were going to try and restore the primitive order of things, we ought to have the courage to break with tradition and not try to perpetuate another sect. He further
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A brother who had formerly been a member in a southern state said he thought we ought to put up a sign saying "The Church of Christ" because that was the way they always did it where he came from. The previous speaker said that expression was not in the Bible at all, although in some versions certain congregations were several times called "the churches of Christ," just as the same congregations were several times called "the churches of God" and once, "the churches of the saints." In view of this, he felt that to select one designation and copyright it as an exclusive title, would be to sectarianize it, and brand us as just another denomination.
A sister said that if they put "Church of God" on the sign, they would be confused with another organization by the same name. A brother replied that recently two groups had united under the title "United Church of Christ" so if we used the title "Church of Christ" there would be more confusion, and moreover, he did not want to always be answering the question as to whether we were "united" or not.
The evangelist listened quietly while the exchange was going on, until a brother asked him how the early congregations met this problem. He replied that the primitive communities of the saints did not exhibit such signs for several reasons. In the first place, they were looked upon as enemies of the state, to be persecuted and hounded to death. Instead of marking their places of assembly, they did their best to keep them secret, stealing away under cover of darkness, to caves and dens, or to underground catacombs, to worship among the skeletons of the dead.
Moreover, the early Christians had not yet made the error of erecting buildings in which to proclaim the gospel to the world. Their homes and upper rooms were for the edification of the body. They met to worship, and scattered to preach the gospel, so it was not necessary that the public know where they met.
A sister asked how one from a distant nation would locate the meeting place of Christians in such a large city as Rome or Ephesus, where the place must be kept secret through fear of death. The evangelist said that one of the earliest symbols of direction was the figure of a fish. Even before the apostles died, it is apparent that the Christians were chalking the figure of a fish on walls and fences, and by following the direction in which the head of the fish pointed, one might discover the secret place of assembly. He pointed out that the fish was connected with the life of Jesus and the apostles in many ways and upon many occasions, and Christianity was viewed as a life promoted by fishermen who had been made "fishers of men." Another thing which popularized the fish as a symbol was the fact that "fish" was spelled in the Greek with five letters, and these formed an acrostic with the initial letters of the words "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour." The sign of the fish can still be seen on the walls of the cavernous catacombs, drawn there by the hands of Christians during the Roman persecutions.
One of the brethren remarked that conditions had certainly changed when the congregation could now meet openly under protection of the government, and discuss putting up a sign to inform the world where Christians met. He felt they might make the most of such an opportunity to let men know that there still existed those who were one in spirit with the saints of the catacombs, and he suggested that the evangelist express his idea of how a sign might be worded. The evangelist said he did not wish to force his ideas upon the brethren. He quoted, "Not that we are masters of your faith, but we are helpers of your joy; for by faith you stand." The little group unanimously requested him to give his ideas.
The evangelist said that it was what the congregation did when they assembled at the place, which would merit the approval or disapprobation of God, and that God would not look at a sign on the building to determine if the congregation was his or not. However, it would not
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He had listened with interest to the discussion, but so far the brethren had missed the whole point. They had been discussing not a designation for the building, but for the congregation. He held that the congregation of the saints had no official name. He asked them to think of these statements:
The congregation of saints, popularly referred to as "the church" is composed of living stones, the members of the body. The congregation is in the city seven days per week. It is just as much the body of the Christ on Wednesday morning, when some of its members are at school, others in offices, shops, homes, or filling stations, as when met together. We do not destroy, disband or divide the body of God's Son, when we dismiss them from the assembly. They are as much a unit after they are dispersed to their several homes as when sitting together in the meeting place. To put such a term as "Church of Christ" on a meeting house, must mean one of two things: either the building of wood or stone is the "church"; or else the members only constitute the body when in that building, thus Jesus is left without a body most of the time. Either position is grossly misleading.
The evangelist pointed out that it was not our business to select a designation for the congregation. The Holy Spirit had already used all such terms as were divinely authorized, and we should neither add others to them, nor subtract any from them. But we might well select a designation for the building in which the congregation would assemble, and in doing so we ought first to consider what information a sign should convey. He believed it might designate the building so it could be easily located, give its nature, use, and the purpose of those who met there. Under no circumstance should a sign make it appear that any child of God was excluded. It should convey no sense of sectarian bigotry and intolerance.
One of the sisters said that such a sign as suggested would have to be quite large. The evangelist replied that was not required. Insofar as location was concerned, the building was located on Walnut Street. The word "chapel" means "a place of worship, especially Christian worship." By calling the place "Walnut Street Chapel" it would be easily located. He suggested the words, "A congregation of Christians meet here for worship" would specify the use of the building, and the quotation from Paul, "We are your servants for Jesus' sake" would indicate the brethren were there to serve and not to be served. The evangelist sketched the sign on the blackboard:
The members of the body studied it carefully. One brother said he liked it because it had no sectarian implications at all, and no one could brand those who met as anything except "a congregation of Christians." This would be no reflection against any person on earth. Another brother said he could see the wisdom of designating the place without trying to name the congregation. You do not direct strangers to the congregation but to the place where they meet. He said he was thinking that the apostle Paul could have put under the sign "School of Tyrannus" the words, "A congregation of Christians meets here for worship." It was agreed to post a neatly painted sign with this wording.