THE PARTY ANTHEM

Are you in this picture? The chances are that you are. If you are not, then your role is to help the many of us that are in it to get out. So this picture has something to say to us all.

 It is an amusing picture in a way, isn’t it? They all seem to be talking or singing the party theme song, which might be entitled The Loyal Church Anthem. Perhaps they should do more listening, but none seems to be doing that. It is difficult for the listening man to be a party man. He has to keep talking — or singing — for otherwise he might do some thinking.

And they are in darkness, though they appear to be oblivious to it, except the poor jerk who cries out, “My!

 

it’s DARK in here!” Something good might happen to him — or will it be something bad? — now that he sees the way things really are. He looks troubled, doesn’t he? The others appear happy and contented. Is it not better to be at ease than troubled? The brother might save himself a lot of grief if he will join the others in the party anthem and forget about how dark it is. If he starts thinking, he might start asking questions, and then he’ll be in real trouble. Socrates told us that “The unexamined life is not worth living,” and he could have added that the examined life, though worth living, is realized only through painful ordeal.

They appear to ignore each other, even if they are aware of each other’s presence, as they sing along in the party chorus. The words of the anthem are the same — and how often we have all heard each stanza! You know, “the Lord’s people, loyal church, the Truth, faithful congregation, gospel preacher, and many other pleasant phrases are given the party slant. And each faction is in proper tune — within that particular faction at least, for no dissonant notes are allowed within the party: all must be of the same mind and speak the same thing. That is scripture, and the party says that means that all the members have to see everything alike. (That brother down in the southwestern part of the country had better get back in line and quit talking about how dark it is!)

It is a cheerful picture in a way. They are all religious folk. And they are singing. They are happy — or so it seems. The only one that looks other than happy is that poor brother that has quit singing the party anthem. If he doesn’t watch, the others will be looking at him, wondering what has gotten into him. But he’ll not likely bother those in the other stalls, for he is not one of them!

Really now, is it nice for that fellow to be different like that? Everybody is happy and contented, and he has to go spoiling things. He’s a troublemaker, isn’t he? Why doesn’t he just go on off and not bother the others? Dare he go around spoiling the peace and harmony of “the church” like that! It is a good way to get in trouble. The brethren might rock him to sleep — and he has it coming.

Let’s make a prediction here. Our troubled brother will be tossed out on his ear — unless he lines up, which he isn’t likely to do, startled by the darkness like he is. The charge will, of course, be heresy. Once he’s out he’ll be able to see even better. He will then realize that where he was is even darker than he thought. Then he’ll find all these other brothers that he didn’t realize he had. And those he left will be glad he’s gone — and they’ll go on singing their anthem, hoping that the troublemaker will leave them alone.

Our heretical brother is really a benevolent soul — a bit naive perhaps, but benevolent just the same. Look at him there: he is not really a heretic; he just wonders why it has to be so dark. He doesn’t realize yet that the reason the others are not conscious of the darkness is that they have their eyes closed. Had he just kept his eyes closed he too would have remained oblivious to it all, and he could have continued in the party anthem. But now he sees — at least he has some light. He wants to share it. I told you that he was a benevolent soul even if a bit naive.

He is also an optimistic lad. He has dreams of removing the party barriers, even though he finds them well entrenched. He tries to get the different factions to speak to each other — or even to pay any attention at all to each other. After all, they are all brothers, he reasons, why can’t they treat each other that way. He wants them to stop the party cries long enough to sit down and get acquainted with each other. Perhaps they can pray together — or just sit with each other. Maybe they can learn how to listen . . . and study to be quiet. Yes, all of them, he figures, might refrain from the parry song long enough to wait on the Lord. They’re too noisy!

There they are. It’s disgusting in a way. Each one is the loyal church — each of the others is a faction! They go around debating each other, and even call each other bad names. Each cell has its own “loyal paper” and “loyal colleges”. They are so well fortified against each other. The walls of separation are rather thick as you can see.

And yet they all talk about unity. To be sure, that is part of the party anthem. They talk, pray and sing about unity. Each cell tells the others that unity can be had when they make up their minds to go by the Bible. “Just take the Book for what it says,” they all chime to each other. Each one can’t understand why the others are so blind, for it is all right there in the Bible just as plain as can be!

They talk a lot about “the dividing wedge” — things like organs, societies, premillennialism, institutions, classes, cups, saucers and stuff. But our brother who has opened his eyes is beginning to wonder if these things are the real cause of the separations, for he knows that each clique has its own party squabbles and disagreements. He knows that each cell could multiply its divisions several times if it wanted to. He is suspicious that these brethren separate from each other because they want to - because of their indifference, their lack of love, their jealousy and carnality. Organs and orphanages do not divide brethren who love each other. It is the way brethren feel toward each other that causes them to split.

Our poor, naive brother wanders amongst them all. He finds that they’ll all talk to him more freely than they will those in another cell, even though none will fully accept him. He mixes and mingles with them all, but joins in the parry anthem of none. But he soon discovers that the task is a formidable one. His most sobering realization is that each party is content to remain a party. They have no real interest in unity, for each one is satisfied with the way things are.

And yet there appears to be a gleam of light in each cell, for some are not satisfied with the divided state of affairs. Our naive brother is no longer so naive, for his experience has been both sobering and maturing. He comes to realize that even a divided brotherhood is not formidable to the Holy Spirit of God. He comes to believe that barriers built by hate can be crushed by love. He is convinced that a parry anthem can be stilled by the voice of kindness.

“I can do all things in him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13 ) .