Thinking Out Loud
By Lee Carter Maynard
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I have been a part of the restoration movement for many years, and have witnessed the "downsitting and the uprising." I confess that I have not always understood those thoughts advanced by brethren, which have been made creedal and divisive. By some subtle method I was taught that we were the "true church" of Christ. We had the truth in perfection. All who differed were off the strait and narrow. When pushed too hard, we tried to deny that we were the one and only, but way down deep, we still believed it.
We preached that there was one church. It was the body of Christ and he was the head. In the next breath we talked about building "another church" in a locality where we said the true church was unknown. I wondered how we could build "another church" if there was only one. How could we build another church if Jesus built the church, and we were simply built upon a foundation of which he is the chief cornerstone.
Then it dawned upon me that there is only one church, but there are many congregations, communions or assemblies. If our translators had recognized this distinction we would be much closer to the union for which our Lord prayed. There is very little disagreement about how we become members of the body. We all believe that the Bible is the word of God. We all stand in the true grace. All who sincerely believe, who repent, and are prayerful, forgiving, loving, and who confess their Lord and their sins, and are
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Is it possible for a person to be a member of the body of Christ and not belong to a congregation. The eunuch, baptized by Philip, returned to dark Africa where there were no congregations. Man is a gregarious creature, and it is only natural for those of like faith in Christ to assemble, even if there are but two or three of them. These come together for mutual edification, help to the needy and to join in teaching others the way of the Lord. But so far as I know, there is no pattern by which these can organize, give themselves an official name, make a membership book, appoint trustees, adopt by-laws, and set up an order of service.
Jesus Christ builds the church, and men form their organizations, assemblies, or congregations. It is here the disturbance starts which ends up in division and separated sects. Where the word is believed, and the fruits of the Spirit are possessed, the world will know there is a reality in the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ. When men take things into their own hands, envy, strife and bitter contentions produce division.
Tradition often rules. A young lady wished to be married in her home congregation, and wanted an organ moved in for the wedding. There was strong objection because of a clause in the original deed which provided that if any instrument of music was brought into the building, it would revert to the original heirs of the property.
A wise elder told me of an experience in their services one morning when the invitation was given. A lady, well-known by the people, came forward for membership. They all knew she had not been immersed. The preacher knew it also and was at a loss as to how to handle it, without causing trouble. The minute the benediction was said, a dear old lady in the congregation made a bee-line for the preacher to inform him he was practicing open membership, and it was not permitted there. The elder stopped her by saying, "Please do not create a scene. Just give the elders time to visit in her home and teach her the things we think she should know." It all worked out to the glory of God and the peace of the brethren.
In Romans 14:1, Paul says, "Him that is weak in the faith, receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations." The verses immediately before show that they were having moral problems with some, and the verses following show that they were confused over meats and days. But they were to be received as brethren so that good teaching and godly examples could "convict the gainsayers."
Our organized congregations have done just the opposite. We have laws, some written and some unwritten, that no one is accepted for membership unless they conform to our rules and regulations. I have read by-laws which stated, "No one will be accepted as a member of this congregation who has not been immersed." We are quick to preach that the congregation saves no one. Having your name on the church book is no guarantee that it is in God's Book. Most congregations have names on their book of those who seldom darken their doors. Many live lives that would shame a pagan, but they are considered members.
We have bragged of our hospitality to visitors and encouraged them to partake of just about every part of the service, except they cannot have their names on our book unless they let us baptize them. We have criticized other groups for baptizing people into the congregation, yet that is exactly what we have done in all too many cases.
A telegrapher moved into a certain city and attended the local congregation with his family. One Sunday morning they answered the invitation, and repeated the confession as was the custom. Then the preacher learned the man had not been immersed. He omitted the usual words of welcome into the congregation for obvious reasons. He visited their home in the afternoon and explained that they would accept the wife as a member, but would not accept the husband.
The man said he was not opposed to immersion, but had not considered it, and would have to be given additional teaching. The preacher said, "I would love to accept you and teach you, but if I took you in without being immersed, the whole brotherhood would condemn me as an open membership advocate, so I do not dare have your name placed on the books." The family did not return, but placed their membership at another place in the city. The three children left with their parents and grew up with ugly notions about the "True New Testament Church." If membership in the local congregation does not equate salvation, why have we not used it as a teaching agency where kindness, love and peace convict the multitudes?
Membership with Christ is all-important. The Bible clearly teaches that immersion is essential. Membership in a local congregation is a great privilege. I have traveled among congregations all over the country. I feel perfectly at home among brethren whether my name is on their book or not. God adds to the church. Is it God's way, or man's way, that to become a member of the congregation, a baptized believer must answer an invitation, shake the preacher's hand, repeat a formula and then have his name inscribed on the roll? I believe that Paul felt just as much a member of the congregation at Lystra as he did at Corinth. He was at home among the members of the body anywhere and anytime.
If we are truly Christian, and are led by the Spirit, and guided by the Word of love, we do not need to run to the Bible for a prooftext on how to handle every little affair in the congregation. Our restoration ideals are high and holy, but the way we have acted toward one another has canceled the effect of our unity efforts. Therefore, we ought to receive such as are weak in the faith, not for arguing with them how right we are, but to teach the way of the Lord more perfectly. Instead of slamming the door in the face of the weak until they surrender, we should open the doors of love and friendship.