"The Pattern -- Again" -- And Again
In the Gospel Advocate of August 23, 1956, Brother G. K. Wallace writes an article under the title of "The Pattern — Again." A few of the things suggested by Brother Wallace will be noticed. Those things noticed, however, will not include any of the appeals to prejudice. I don't know how to answer prejudice — I can only deplore it.
Brother Wallace writes, "Please name the orphan's home among us you endorse." In an effort to bring the issue into sharper focus I raise the question, "Which Missionary Society, the 'United Christian Missionary Society' or 'The Restoration Association' do you endorse?" If neither of these please name the one. The question of Brother Wallace has to do with endorsement of benevolent societies while mine has to do with endorsement of evangelistic societies. In his article Brother Wallace says, "I had suggested that since there were several ways by which fellowship was carried out in the New Testament period that no one way formed a pattern and that no uniform method was used." Now if this be true, then we can "have fellowship in the furtherance of the gospel" through any arrangement we please. If we grant that there is no pattern of fellowship between churches and if we can prove that it is the will of God that congregations "cooperate" then any arrangement is acceptable.
Another thing — Brother Wallace writes, "We find where saints sent to a church. We find where churches sent to saints. We find where a church sent to an individual. We do not find where a church sent to a church, so according to him it would be sinful for one church to help another church." Here Brother Wallace's conclusion is that the scriptures do not teach by example that "a church sent to a church." He further comments "if that becomes a settled and fixed pattern then fellowship between congregations is ruled out altogether." (Fellowship as here used by Brother Wallace is the sending of help from one congregation to another.) Now brethren, if "congregational cooperation" is not taught in the New Testament by example how is it taught? Our appeal is not what some man, whether he be "giant" or runt, endorses but what does the New Testament endorse. I have been teaching that congregational cooperation is authorized by the New Testament in the approved examples of such actions. Where is the express statement (command) requiring such action??? Brother Wallace failed to give the reference for the command when he made his argument based on the command for "congregational cooperation." He just says, "Why then would three different ways of fellowship preclude another way of carrying out the command of Christ?" Where in the New Testament does Christ command the fellowship which involves one church sending to another church? If authority for such action is not found in the teaching of examples, I don't know where to find it. And if such action is not taught by the scriptures then we must depend on the silence of the scriptures for authority. I can't believe that my brethren are ready for that.