A FOUNTAINHEAD OF APOSTASY

A flood of apostasy is sweeping across our brotherhood, taking with it numerous preachers and congregations. The fountainhead of this movement to reconstruct and change the faith, worship and practice of our brethren is Abilene Christian University.  Some other schools are not far behind them.  The compelling evidence of this is the fact that from her Bible Department is flowing an unceasing series of books promoting these changes. The University Press is issuing a series of books specifically designed to implement these changes.  The first two volumes, The Crux of the Matter and God’s Holy Fire are sufficient to convince all but the blind.  They are highly endorsed by Bro. Royce Money, president of the university.

As the battle for the soul of the church unfolds, we do not expect the leaders of this school to renounce the course they have taken. They have not only embraced the agenda of the change agents, they are the leadership for that movement.
When apostasy swept through the brotherhood at the end of the 19th and the open decades of the 20th centuries, most of the Christian Schools associated with the Restoration Movement followed the pipers of error: Bethany, Columbia Christian College, Culver-Stockton, Kentucky University, Northwestern University,  Drake University, Texas Christian University. All of these schools abandoned the authority of Christ for the “progressive” teachings and practices of that generation of change agents.

Most of the schools of higher education among us began and flourished in the 20th century. All were founded, funded and nurtured to success by faithful members of Churches of Christ. They were intended to be safe havens for educating and training young people and in particular gospel preachers.  One of their major purposes was to prepare young men to be faithful preachers of God’s Word who would go forth to bless our congregations, teaching them the unadulterated truth of God.

As older generations have passed on, a new breed of disciples have emerged to lead our schools. In some notable cases, the results have not been beneficial for the church. Once men of corrupt faith gain control of a school, the likelihood of them repenting and turning back to the Biblical standard is remote. Neither is there much likelihood that they will relinquish their control of the institution they have captured. Once the position, power and wealth are in their hands, they will not be easily surrendered. The president and board of a university have control of the wealth that past generations of Christians invested in their schools. In the case of Abilene, many millions of dollars are laid up in endowments.  They control the property of the school, again worth millions.  They enjoy a high measure of local, state and even national recognition and honor.  They have found acceptance in the heady world of academia by distancing themselves from the old-fashion, simple faith of their founders and the churches they were intended to serve.

Like a hundred other institutions of higher learning, they are ready to abandon their religious heritage for a bowl of pottage.  When you hear the names of Princeton, Yale, Vanderbilt and other great universities, remember that they were once “Christian Schools” of various denominations.  Shall this be the end of ACU and other of the Christian Schools among us?