 DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN
To folks who are unfamiliar with our brotherhood's history, the current clamor for change emanating from the halls of our Christian Collages and Universities may seem new, strange and different. But for those who have studied the history of our movement from 1850-1925 know that today's events are a virtual replay of brotherhood events in that distant generation. As Yoggie Bera, that famed philosopher of New York use to say, "It's deja vu all over again."
- In 1849 D. S. Burnett of Cincinnati, Ohio let a drive to persuade our brethren to create a Missionary Society to do the mission work of the church.
- In 1859 Dr. L. L. Pinkerton of Midway, Kentucky introduced the first musical instrument into a church of the Restoration Movement.
- In 18 Bro. Isaac Errett of Michigan was being addressed as reverend.
- By 1880 Sis. Emma Babcock was preaching among the "progressive" churches.
- Bro. J. H. Garrison and others progressives began to speak of our denomination.
- the disciples Divinity House at the University of Chicago was a generating plant for liberal thought. They indoctrinated a multitude of young preachers and educators who moved into our churches and schools with the message of skepticism.
Religious paper, such as the Christian Standard, the Christian, The Christian Quarterly and the Disciple kept up a continual drumbeat for progressive change in our faith, worship and practice. - Congregations were convinced that to grow and prosper, to compete with heir denominational neighbors they had to embrace the change and the vast majority joined the progression away from the simple faith of the new Testament Christianity.
A few lonely voices were raised against that tidal wave of apostasy. Noble sons of God such s Jacob Creath, Jr., Tolbert Fanning Benjamin Franklin protested but to no avail.
It was Fanning's pupil and protege David Lipscomb, an humble farmer from rural Tennessee who dug in his heels, rallied a small but determined band of courageous men and drew a line in the sand. The progressives swept away some 85 percent of our people, all of our schools, and most of our mission work.
Our forefathers in the faith had to start over again, virtually from scratch to rebuild the body of disciples known as the Church of Christ.
What is being promoted among our universities and churches today is "deja vu all over again." Pray that God will raise up a courageous band of Creaths, Fanning, Franklins and Lipscomb to lead his church in this mortal struggle against the progressive of our day. They identify themselves as agents of change. In reality they are apostates, kin to those Paul warned would depart from the faith in later times (I Tim. 4:1). JHW |
