A New Kind of Sin. . .

WHAT WE ARE TO PREACH AND WHERE?

There is a new kind of sin going on among us. I say new in that it is new for sin, which has a way of being ancient, while this sin is of this generation. It is a special kind of sin committed by an occasional Church of Christ minister, the sin of preaching to a Christian Church. It is an odd kind of sin, for one would suppose that anyone who dares to preach could preach anywhere, and I do mean anywhere, with no exceptions, including a Christian Church, or a Church of Christ for that matter.

But not so according to one “conservative” journal that comes to our house. The offender this time is one William S. Banowsky, one-time president of Pepperdine and now president of Oklahoma University. Bill is guilty of preaching to a Christian Church, and he did not, according to the editor, “discuss the difference between the teaching and practice of Christian Churches and churches of Christ.”

This is an interesting kind of transgression in the light of scripture, for there the dean of all gospel preachers says, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). Again he says, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16), and in Gal. 1:8 he says that even an angel of heaven would be accursed if he preached any gospel other than what had been proclaimed by the apostles.

Now what about this business of preaching on the difference between the Christian Church and Church of Christ? What kind of gospel is that? How many souls will it save? How many hurting people will it lift up? Besides, which Christian Church and which Church of Christ, and what differences? Why bother people with all that?

Our brother editor needs to consider the greatest story ever told, Jesus Christ and him crucified. When any of his brothers is sharing the good news with anybody anywhere, he should rejoice, even if it is done in strife (see Philip. 1:18 where Paul says Christ is proclaimed and I rejoice, even when preached in pretense). Our brother needs to count his blessings, for Bill Banowsky almost certainly does not preach in pretense.

The Texas editor complains because Bill did not preach against instrumental music and the missionary society, at least one of which “corrupts the worship,” which is a rather severe judgment. My study of scripture indicates that it is a corrupt heart that makes for corrupt worship, such as in Jer. 7.

For one to “preach” on things like organs and societies is to go beyond what is written. Since when is a man’s loyalty to be measured by what the scriptures say nothing about? Why not judge a man on the grounds that Paul would judge him: Christ is proclaimed and I rejoice! Behind some editorial desks men rejoice only if a “thing” is condemned --- an organ, or communion cups, or Sunday School classes.

When Bill Banowsky, or anybody else, preaches Christ, I will join Paul and rejoice. Lifting up Jesus is the best way to set all things right, for all change must begin in the heart. I have no interest in being anti-liberal, anti-Communism, anti-denominational, or anti anything else in the pulpit. Let us give the people the scriptures. To the word and to the testimony! is still a worthy cry.

But the editor puts Banowsky in the worst possible light, in the same class with Carl Ketcherside and Leroy Garrett, who have been doing this kind of sin all along. If we are condemned for it, as we are, being “untouchables” as the editor puts it, then Bill Banowsky ought not be allowed to get by with it. “Do you have one standard by which you measure Ketcherside and Garrett,” asks the editor, “and another by which you measure Dr. Banowsky?” Then he lays it on, revealing that he really means business: “Either embrace Ketcherside and Garrett and quit looking down your self-righteous noses at them, or repudiate Dr. William S. Banowsky and relegate him as you have Ketcherside and Garrett to the realm of ‘untouchables.’”

I do not take this to mean that he wants Carl and me to be embraced, but Banowsky to be repudiated. There is one thing that he clears up for me. I was aware that there are some “who are somewhat” who look down their noses at us. But I did not know what kind of noses they were.

But it really does not matter all that much. Noses or not, if he who was dead and now lives reaches forth and touches me, that is enough. And noses or not, if our brothers preach the gospel and teach the healthful words of the Lord Jesus we should rejoice.

And anywhere! --- the Editor

Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. To be great is to be misunderstood.  --- Emerson