Big and Little Organizations   
 

by Morris D. Norman

 

One of the first things that I learned when I first began preaching the gospel over thirty years ago was that any organization smaller or larger than the local church was unscriptural. The church with its bishops, deacons and saints, through its collective treasury, was sufficient to do everything that God had commanded it. Back then, the issue involved the missionary society and the denominational Sunday School. Sending men to preach the gospel was not the issue, but for the local church to send funds to a missionary society to select, send, support and supervise "missionaries" involved an organization larger than the local church, was without scriptural precedent and had to be opposed. Bible classes, as a part of the local teaching program under elders, were not the issue. But  to have a Sunday School which had an entity apart from the local church with officers, membership and a treasury was another organization; or for the various classes to have officers and a treasury, was an organization smaller than the local church and was unscriptural. For the most part, those who were involved in these big and little organizations also used instrumental music, so they caused little problem among "us," especially the missionary society. Oh, there were a few churches which had collection in the Bible classes, and some classes had projects (generally benevolent), but, in most instances, the teaching done solved the problem, at least among the church with which I worked. I can remember only one church that had a collection in classes and that was with the little folks "to teach them to give," and the few pennies collected went in the collection plate. I would have preferred that not even this be done but that the children learn by giving during the worship hour just like everyone else. I saw danger in the practice. But the battle lines changed to the edification society (schools) and then benevolent societies (orphan and old folks homes). What brethren could see in reference to the missionary society, they could not apply to the other two. So a large number of local churches that once stood opposed to an organization larger than the local church began to contribute to one, not seeming to realize that what was true of one organization separate and apart from the church through which the local church did her work was also true of any other such organization. But what about the smaller organizations? It seems some never learn. Recently, I received a list of donors to an orphan home, among which there were individuals, churches and, you guessed it, Bible classes from local churches. Hence, local churches are giving to organizations larger than the local church; and organizations smaller than the local church (without going through the local treasury) giving to an organization larger than the local church. Those who will be ignorant, let them be ignorant still, but for those who want to do the will of the Lord, let them be warned and build according to the pattern.     For Past Auburn Beacons go to: www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm   Anyone can join the mailing list for the Auburn Beacon! Send your request to: larryrouse@aubeacon.com

 Other Articles by Morris D. Norman

Courtesy
How to Avoid a Divorce
Self-Conscious
I Hate Sin
A Matter of Choice