institutionalism – Page 2 – La Vista Church of Christ

The Organization of the Church

December 3, 2010

by Earl Kimbrough via Searching the Scriptures, August 1978, Volume 19, Number 8 The Lord designed the church according to his own will and circumscribed it with certain distinguishing marks that are clearly set forth in the Scriptures. No one of these essential features of the church is more important than any other. “All things”…

The Autonomy of the Local Church

September 8, 2010

by Keith Sharp Introduction Several years ago I spoke by phone to a preacher who works with a large congregation in South Texas. As we conversed he asked if I was “anti-cooperation.” I told him I knew what he was talking about, but that I advocated scriptural cooperation between churches of Christ. He changed the…

Is our college Bible study group operating in a scriptural manner?

November 17, 2009

Question: I recently was baptized into the church of Christ. I have been attending services at a local church of Christ for over three years, but being raised in a Catholic environment I wanted to learn more before being baptized. Within the past year I joined the Christian Student Center at the college I attend,…

Can those who teach institutionalism or liberalism be called brethren?

June 22, 2009

Question: Can you please help me? I am a preacher of the gospel who is striving to teach and practice the truth. I respect the God-given work of the church and I do have a problem with churches doing what is not authorized in the Bible as far as using the church funds. Is it…

James 1:27 and the Orphan Home

January 3, 2009

by Jimmy Mickells When I obeyed the gospel in 1974, the issue of church-supported orphan homes had been debated among brethren for a good number of years. This subject, along with a discussion of colleges being supported from the treasury of the church, had already caused a great division among the Lord’s people. It was…

Is the Sunset International Bible Institute a trustworthy organization?

August 31, 2008

Question: Someone has invited me to study at a satellite school at Sunset International Bible Institute. Do you happen to know this Sunset International Bible Institute? Is it a trustworthy organization? Answer: I have heard of this organization for a number of years. It is a man-made institution operated by members of the more liberal…

Quotes on Institutionalism

February 12, 2008

Excerpt from an article by David Lipscomb Gospel Advocate, August 29, 1907 The following article was sent to me with the request that I comment on it. Bathurst St. Church of Christ To the Church of Christ at Beamsville — Greetings: At a meeting of the officers of the congregation, held on June 2, a…

What do you think about the World Bible School?

December 11, 2007

Question: I am currently taking an introductory lesson from the World Bible School. Can you tell me what your opinion is regarding their lessons, if you have encountered them, or you can tell me what you think of the World Bible School itself? Do you find them helpful? If not, why not? Thank you, sir.…

The College Issue

November 28, 2007

(Six articles were published in Preceptor magazine by brother Robert F. Turner between April and October of 1962. They are presented here as one continuous thesis.) Educational Institutions Among the Brethren by Robert F. Turner (Preceptor, April 1962) Educational projects among members of the church of Christ began in the same way any other private enterprise…

The Truth About Error

November 2, 2007

by Kenneth E. Thomas Often one will read an article or hear a sermon and immediately think or say, “I wish I had written or preached that.” When this is the case I often do a lesson with the same title or a modified one with some of the same points, giving it my style…

I was once in an orphans’ home

May 21, 2007

Question: Thank you for your answer. It has helped to clarify those ‘ideas’ that I asked about. But, in truth, I have to say that this is just downright scary. When someone talks about ‘anti’ and ‘liberal’ and ‘sound’, it doesn’t make me think of worshiping my God, but it does make me think that…

What is this business about “anti,” “liberal,” and “sound?”

May 13, 2007

Question: Mr. Hamilton, in the last day or so, you received a question concerning congregations. The writer spoke about ‘anti’ and ‘liberal’ congregations. What does this mean? What is meant by a sound church? I find all this to be very confusing. Jesus didn’t want us to be divided, so what is this anti, and liberal,…

Congregational Independence

August 24, 2006

by Harris J. Dark via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 2, Dec. 1951. via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 3, Jan. 1952. (Note: The following was electrically recorded when delivered as a sermon by the author at the Chapel Avenue Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee in the spring of 1950 and is reproduced here…

Orphan Institution in Search of Family Homes

January 28, 2006

by Dennis Carrow From the sponsoring church arrangement in the effort of evangelism, (i.e., the missionary society), grew the same carnal diversion from the divine pattern in the realm of benevolence. Brethren were not content with following the simple arrangement of the giver sending directly to the needy. The claim was made that we are…

Are you “anti” or “liberal”?

March 11, 2005

Question: Wow! I am so happy to see a site that holds to sound doctrine. There is only one thing that I don’t see much written on Institutionalism. I do see the article on church spending which is correct. I was wondering though if you all were “anti” or “liberal” as many like to say…

Plural Personal Pronouns in Galatians

February 7, 2005

by Bob Myhan Is Paul writing to a collectivity of “churches” or to a plurality of “churches”? The plural “you” [as opposed to “thee”] indicates the latter. Jesus “gave Himself for our sins.” Did Jesus give Himself for the sins of the churches or for the sins of the individuals who make up the churches?…

Is there any spiritual work that an individual Christian may do that the church may not?

December 15, 2004

Comment: The following is taken from a list of questions sent to me by my request. The author is from a more liberally-minded group who is preparing lessons on the issues that separate some churches of Christ. He was interested in the other side’s point of view and I was interested in how he would…

Slip-Sliding Away

February 28, 2004

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton When changes occur, it is common for those who bring in new ideas to reinterpret past events to prove that their ideas are really what people thought and wanted all along. Even when the changes are recent and people still remember what life was like before the changes, they just…

New Carts

January 23, 2004

by Homer Hailey via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 6, April 1952. A constant threat to man’s spiritual life in every age has been the disposition to substitute human wisdom for the divine and to do God’s work in man’s way. When God tells man what to do, but does not tell him how to do…

The Lord’s Church: Means or Result of Salvation?

January 14, 2004

by Robert F. Turner via Plain Talk About God’s Church, pages 77-80 When followers of Christ are likened to a physical body, Christ is the head and the saints are the members of that body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). All who are in Christ are, by this figure, considered members of His body. We ignore priorities…