The Church Against Human Innovations Tim Haile The

The Church Against Human Innovations Tim Haile

• The Church Against Human Innovations The Word “Church” (Gr. Ekklesia) Is Used In The New Testament Of: • • • The “(Jewish) Assembly In The Wilderness” (Acts 7: 38) A Legal “Assembly” (Acts 19: 39) The Universal “Church” (Body of Saved Individuals - Hebrews 12: 23) The Local “Church” (Saved Individuals Of A Certain Locale - Romans 16: 1, 16) ONE Universal Church (Eph. 4: 4) | MANY Local Churches (Rom. 16: 16; 1 Cor. 16: 19; Gal. 1: 2)

• The Church Against Human Innovations Individual Saints Are To Be: • “Set For The Defense Of The Gospel” (Phil. 1: 17 - v. 16 in ASV) • “Always Prepared To Make A Defense To Anyone Who Asks You For A Reason For The Hope That Is In You” (1 Peter 3: 15) • Able And Willing To “Earnestly Contend For The Faith That Was Once Delivered To The Saints” (Jude 3) • However, LOCAL CHURCHES Are Typically The Targets & Implements Of Error

• The Church Against Human Innovations In The First Century, Local Churches Faced and Addressed Various Sins & Errors: • • Unscrupulous (Lying) Church Members (Acts 5: 1 -10 - NOTE: God Personally Intervened & Administered Punishment, Thus Establishing A Precedent That Sin Was Not To Be Tolerated In The Local Church) An Immoral Church Member (Fornicator, 1 Cor. 5), And A Liberal Attitude Towards Him By The Church, Both Of Which Were Condemned By Paul (1 Cor. 5: 1 -6)

• The Church Against Human Innovations In The First Century, Local Churches Faced and Addressed Various Sins & Errors: • • • Liberals Who Believed That They Could Remain In God’s Grace (Favor) While Practicing Sin (Romans 6: 1 -2) Liberals Who Believed That They Could Retain Fellowship With God While Practicing Sin (1 John 1: 5 -10; 3: 9) Various Errors Regarding The Second Coming Of Christ (“No Resurrection” - 1 Cor. 15: 12; “Resurrection Past Already” - 2 Tim. 2: 18)

• The Church Against Human Innovations The Restoration Movement Reintroduced The Concept Of Sola Scriptura - Bible Only: • • 1731(Long Before The Campbells) - John Glas Wrote, “We do not read of any other evangelist or officer left there but Titus alone, and where the Scripture is silent, so must we. . . Be you silent where the Scripture-history is silent; let what it says not be nothing to you. ” 1760 -1770 - Robert Sandeman, Glas’ Son-In. Law, Continued Glas’ Legacy, Establishing Churches In England & the American Colonies (3 survived to become affiliated with Barton Stone)

• The Church Against Human Innovations The Restoration Movement Reintroduced The Concept Of Sola Scriptura - Bible Only: • • 1791 - Cane Ridge Meeting House Built By Scotch Presbyterians (6 miles from Paris, KY “Cane Ridge” Plot Named By Daniel Boone) 1801 - Barton W. Stone, Having Previously Stated That He Accepted The Westminster Confession of Faith “Insofar As It Was Consistent With The Word Of God, ” Preached The Famous “Cane Ridge Revival, ” Aug, 7 -12 (20, 000 -30, 000 Attended)

• The Church Against Human Innovations The Restoration Movement Reintroduced The Concept Of Sola Scriptura - Bible Only: • • • Stone Denounced Creeds And Was Subsequently Rejected By The Kentucky Synod of the Presbyterian Church The Cane Ridge Church Became Known As The Cane Ridge Church of Christ: “The church of Christ at Cane Ridge and other generous friends in Kentucky have caused this monument to be erected as a tribute of affection and gratitude to Barton W. Stone, minister of the gospel of Christ and the distinguished reformer of the nineteenth century. Born December 24, 1772: Died November 9, 1844. His remains lie here. This monument erected in 1847. ” (Inscription)

The Church Against Human Innovations Barton Stone Monument Cane Ridge, KY Cemetary

• The Church Against Human Innovations 1849 - The Missionary Society • • • The American Christian Missionary Society Was Formed In Cincinnati, OH In 1849 Under The Following Resolution: “Resolved: That the ‘Missionary Society, ’ as a means to concentrate and disperse the wealth and benevolence of the brethren of this Reformation in an effort to convert the world, is both Scriptural and expedient. ” Through A Process Of Church Delegates, Society Meetings, And Church Agreement, The Society Gained Control Of Local Churches

• The Church Against Human Innovations 1849 - The Missionary Society WAS RIGHTLY OPPOSED: • • • The Local Church Is God’s Evangelistic Agency (Acts 13: 1 -4; 1 Thess. 1: 7, 8; 1 Tim. 3: 15) Local Churches Are Overseen By Specially Qualified Elders (Acts 20: 28; 1 Pet. 5: 2) - No Passage Authorizes Such Oversight To Be Relinquished To Human Boards Or Delegates Local Churches Are Autonomous (Self. Governing) And Independent: Not Bound To Other Churches Or Controlled By Other Institutions

• The Church Against Human Innovations 1860 - Instrumental Music: • • • L. L. Pinkerton, Preacher For The Church In Midway, KY, Described The Singing Of The Church As Being So Bad That It Would “Scare Even The Rats From Worship” The Instrument Was Not Immediately Brought In To Worship: First, A Melodeon Was Used In Home Practice Singings Just To Establish Pitch Next, The Melodeon Was Used In Homes To Accompany Singing Last, A Melodeon Was Moved Into Assembly

• The Church Against Human Innovations 1860 - Instrumental Music: (OPPOSED, AT LEAST BY SOME) • • • Adam Hibler, An Elder, With His Slave (pre-civil war, but NOTE that slavery was opposed by the Cane Ridge Church in 1795!) Took The Instrument Out Of The Building And Chopped It Into Pieces With An Axe 2 nd Instrument Was Removed By Hibler And Stored In His Barn 3 rd Instrument Remained In The Building Until It Later Burned - Instrument Gradually Accepted!

• The Church Against Human Innovations 1889 - Daniel Sommer’s “Address and Declaration” At Sand Creek, Shelby Co. , IL, (August 18, 1889) - Sommer Condemned: • • • Use Of “Christian” To Describe Anything Except Baptized Believers The Denominational One Man Preacher. Pastor System Of Church Governance The Missionary Society Church “Festivals, ” Auctions & Money Raising Schemes Instrumental Music In Worship

• The Church Against Human Innovations 1900 - Churches of Christ Largely Separated From Christian Churches • • • Several “Christian” or “Church of Christ” Colleges Were Established (Lipscomb, Abilene, Pepperdine, Harding) Several “Christian” Homes Established (Tennessee Orphan Home - 1909, Potter Orphan Home - 1914, Boles Home - 1927, Tipton Orphan Home - 1928) Calls Were Issued For Churches To Fund These And Other Institutions - Hence, The Rise Of Institutionalism

• The Church Against Human Innovations 1900 -1950’s - Many Had Obviously Not Fully Rejected The Faulty Hermeneutic Of The Earlier “Disciples” Of The “Christian” Church: • • • “Disciples of Christ” (In Defense of MS and IM) Argued That Practices Were Authorized Where Explicit Divine Prohibition Was Absent This Is An Argument From The Silence of God HOWEVER. . . Hebrews 7: 11 -14; Acts 15: 24 Rejected The Notion That BCV Had To Be Found For All Religious Practices HOWEVER. . . 1 Peter 4: 11; 2 John 9

• The Church Against Human Innovations 1950 To Present: “Institutionalism” Bonded With A General Liberalism, Thus Producing: • • • Church Funding Of Orphanages, Widowages, Retirement Homes, Unwed Mother’s Homes, Schools, Colleges, Hospitals. . . etc Sponsoring Church Arrangements (Herald of Truth, World Radio. . . etc) “Fellowship Halls” Church Sponsored Recreation & Entertainment Church Support Non-Saints