20th Century church History
• Men who established their own agenda and
pushed it around the country to anyone who
would listen.
• Their rhetoric was persuasive and many
followed.
• Acts 18:24-28 – Apollos was persuasive with
his rhetoric but Aquila and Priscilla still saw
they need for correction
• Gal. 2:11-21 – Paul confronts Peter and his
example of hypocrisy
20th Century church History
What it was not:
• Mechanical instruments and fellowship halls.
This was a battle for the church but this
battle was fought first in the 1880’s and 90’s
and then again later in the 1960’s for the
fellowship halls and the 1990’s for the
mechanical instrument.
• The social gospel was a Protestant movement
in the early 20th century and was not really
picked up by the church until the 1960’s.
20th Century church History
Other issues that arose early in the 20th century:
1. The no Bible class/one cup division of 1925.
The major contention was that it was unscriptural to
divide the assembly for study.
2. The pacifism controversy.
The pacifistic position was not concerned with the taking
of life, per se, but was an outgrowth of a view that all
governmental participation was evil including voting,
holding office and serving in the military.
3. The premillennial controversy.
It may surprise those who are not students of history
to learn that a significant premillennial controversy
raged among churches of Christ from 1915 into the 1940s.
20th Century church History
One of the things that the 20th century church
almost universally participated in without
question was the support of orphan homes.
Before 1940 orphan homes were supported
either directly or indirectly by churches.
20th Century church History
The first orphan seems to have been the
Tennessee Orphan Home in Columbia,
Tennessee. It was chartered in 1909 and began
operations in 1910.
• James 1:27 – visit orphans and widows in their
trouble
This was the go to passage for authorizing the
support of orphan homes. The statement was
made by the proponents of orphanages
20th Century church History
The appeal for support was made on an
emotional basis. Sympathy and compassion
were used to authorize the aid and support of
the little helpless children who were starving.
This support would come back to haunt the
church.
20th Century church History
While anyone can see the impact of James 1:27 but
we must understand its meaning and the context
of the passage.
• The word translated visit means to inspect, to
oversee.
To understand the context of the passage we must
go back up to verse 21.
• James 1:21-27 – It seems that the individual is
being spoken of here. It does not indicate by
context that a local church is under consideration
here. To insert the church into the passage is an
abuse of scripture.
20th Century church History
The fatherless and the widows have always
been a concern for the people of God. Under
the Old Law the Israelites had responsibilities
toward the fatherless and the widows, Deut.
24:17, 21. Under the law of Christ we should
understand our responsibilities also.
20th Century church History
• 1 Tim. 5:3-16 – the family of the widow has
primary responsibility, the church has
secondary responsibility but only if the widow
meets the criteria
The principle established here can be applied to
the care of orphans also.
20th Century church History
Nowhere in the Old Law or the Gospel of Christ
do we find the authority to establish an outside
organization to take care of what is the
individual’s responsibility. Additionally even if
the church is the caregiver there is still not and
institution established. The scripture is silent
upon this while it specifically tells the individual
his responsibility.
20th Century church History
End Pt. 1
20th Century church History
The division of the church that occurred during
the 50’s can be attributed to one thing,
institutionalism.
Institutionalism involves financially and
politically burdening local churches to regularly
support various human institutions such as
colleges, missionary societies, and orphanages. It
is claimed that these institutions can perform
specific work of the church better than the local
church.
20th Century church History
During the late 40’s and early 50’s three
institutional ideas came forth;
1. Support of colleges.
2. Sponsoring church arrangement:
• missionary aid to Europe
• radio and television evangelism
20th Century church History
After WW2 institutionalism grew in the church
and it was pushed and promoted by noted
preachers. B.C. Goodpasture was a leading
voice in the progressive, liberal movement.
In Dec. of 1954 he called for the quarantine of
preachers who opposed the institutional
movement of the day.
20th Century church History
The support of colleges:
• The support of colleges was brought up
because of the number of servicemen who
returned home after the war and began to
flood our nation’s colleges and universities. It
was stated that because of the vast number
of attendees the colleges would not have the
resources necessary to support a growing
student population.
20th Century church History
The rational used was the previously
unquestioned support of orphanages.
If the church can support orphanages then the
church can support colleges.
20th Century church History
Sponsoring church arrangement:
This idea came into prominence during the
same period. The idea was that one
congregation would be the focal point of a
particular work and congregations and
individuals could participate in that work
simply by sending the church money. The elders
at the clearinghouse church would oversee the
work.
This was prominently seen in two institutions.
20th Century church History
Mission trips to Europe:
• After the war many reconstruction efforts
began in Europe. Beginning in 1947 the
Broadway church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas
became a major player in the mission work
conducted in Europe. The church established
itself as the clearing house to receive funds
from other congregations to aid in their
missionary efforts.
20th Century church History
• Phil. 4:15-16 – the church at Philippi
supported Paul even while he was in
Thessalonica
• 1 Thess. 1:8 – Paul praises their efforts at
proclaiming the word
There are no instructions for a centrally
localized church to be a clearinghouse for
anything.
20th Century church History
Radio and television evangelism:
• In 1952 the Highland church of Christ in Abilene,
TX began a radio program called the Herald of
Truth. This program expanded to television in
1954. Due to the production cost of radio and
television programs it was understood that most
congregations would not be able to do this type
of evangelizing. The elders at Highland sent out
word that they would oversee the work of
evangelizing in this method and they
encouraged other congregations to send money
to participate in this effort.
20th Century church History
Men such as Roy Deaver, Tom Warren, Ruell
Lemmons, and Guy N. Woods went around the
country proclaiming the merits of this type of
hierarchy.
As a result, many congregations agreed to
support the Highland work. At the high point
of its existence there were some 3000
congregations sending money to Highland.
20th Century church History
Again there is no command, example, or
inference that local congregations are to or can
work in this manner.
20th Century church History
The division of the church grew ever greater
during the 60’s due to a couple of factors.
First, the counter culture movement that came
into vogue during the sixties.
Second, the war in Vietnam.
During the sixties the culture movement was
especially seen on the college and university
campuses around the country.
20th Century church History
While at college, many young people became
influenced by the world and the various
turmoil’s that were present in the sixties. They
would come under the spell of the professors,
student activists, and societal changes of the
day and try to bring those ideas back into the
church.
20th Century church History
Preachers such as Carl Ketcherside and Leroy
Garrett were instrumental in changing the
attitude of preaching during this time. Instead
of preaching on doctrinal issues the preaching
took on a more social aspect, relating to the
times, instead of teaching that would help
Christians see through the times.
20th Century church History
Carl Ketcherside was infamous for his
statement,
“fellowship all Christians in all denominations”.
They were instrumental in an ecumenical
movement that spread throughout the church.
20th Century church History
Today the results of these divisions and turning
from the truth are evident in the various
“mainstream Churches of Christ” around the
nation and world.
Many of the “mainstream” churches are so large
with numerous missions, ministries, and
outreach programs that
the must be wholly supported at all
costs.
20th Century church History
1 Peter 4:11 – we are admonished to speak as
the oracles of God.
If we change God’s word to fit our thoughts, are
we speaking as the oracles of God?
If we speak where God hasn't spoken, are we
speaking as the oracles of God?
Do we continue to abide in Christ if we change
His word? 2 John 9