A Line in the Sand

Posted by on May 4, 2008 under Sermons

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Why Did We Divide?

  • The Issues:
    1. Missionary Society
    2. Musical Instruments in Worship
    3. Professional Ministers

American Christian Missionary Society

  • During the war, Southerners were unable to attend the national meetings in Ohio.
  • October 1861 – The ACMS considered a resolution to support the Union.

ACMS Statement of 1863

“We unqualifiedly declare our allegiance to the U.S. government … We tender our sympathies to our brave and noble soldiers in the field.”

Southern Reaction

  • Tolbert Fanning
      – Nashville, TN
      – Editor, Gospel Advocate
  • ACMS authorized Disciples to join the Union army in the murder of the Southern people.
  • David Lipscomb demanded the ACMS repent
  • Restarted the Gospel Advocate:
      “… not a single paper known to us that Southern people could read without having their feelings wounded by political insinuations and slurs …” (1866).

The “Old Fogy”

“We are not at home in a fine editorial chair, with a cigar or pipe in our mouth, opening the letters and telling others how and where to work, but we are in the field.” — Ben Franklin (1867), editor of American Christian Review

Ye Shall Know Them By Their Periodicals

  • Christian Standard, edited by Isaac Erret.
  • Progressive paper for the post-war support of the Union.
  • “Standard Men” vs. “Advocate Men”

Class and Culture

  • Central Christian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Built new French Gothic style building in 1872
  • Seated 2000, stained glass, organ, choir pit
  • Cost = $140,000
  • “It is finished” – John 19:30

  • “We know the doctrine advocated by [the writers in the Christian Standard] comes from the North. It is neither scriptural nor Southern, and it is not suited to Southern people.” – T. R. Burnett (1892)

Musical Instruments in Worship

  • Not an issue in frontier churches
  • Visible point of separation
  • Economic and social arguments
  • Use of Scripture arguments
  • Legal battles over church property

Alexander Campbell in 1851

“But I presume, to all spiritually-minded Christians such aids would be as a cow bell in a concert.”

An Aid to Singing

  • Midway, Kentucky, in 1859
  • L. L. Pinkerton brought in a melodeon to help the singing that was so bad it “scared even the rats from worship.”

“Refined Ears”

“These refined gentlemen have refined ears and enjoy fine music manufactured for French theaters, interspersed with short prayers and very short sermons.” – Ben Franklin (1860)

The Arguments Form

  • Pro-Instrument
  • Expediency
  • Silence of Scripture allows use
  • Issue of freedom
  • Progressive
      
  • Anti-Instrument
  • Worldliness
  • Silence of Scripture prohibits use
  • Issue of principle
  • Digressive

Mediating Position

“We shall advise our brethren everywhere, for the sake of peace … To discard the use of instruments …” – Isaac Errett, 1870

A Line in the Sand

  • Opposed those who advocated “innovations”
  • Called for separation in Sand Creek [Illinois] “Address and Declaration” of 1889 by Daniel Sommer

  • Thomas Campbell – “Declaration and Address” [for unity]
  • Daniel Sommer – “Address and Declaration” [for division]
      “We cannot and will not regard them as brethren.”

Division Shaped our Identity into the 20th Century

The 1906 Admission

“There is a distinct people taking the word of God as their only sufficient rule of faith, calling their churches ?churches of Christ’ or ?churches of God,’ … “ – David Lipscomb