13 LTHE LAW AND CIRCUMSTANCES, OR THE ESSENTIALS AND INCIDENTALS

LTHE LAW AND CIRCUMSTANCES, OR THE ESSENTIALS AND INCIDENTALS THE LAW AND CIRCUMSTANCES, OR THE ESSENTIALS AND INCIDENTALS

R. L. Whiteside—The Bible is our law, our guide. We may learn our duty from both the precepts and examples of this book. Paul says, “The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do” (Php 4:9). But in learning our duty from example, great care must be taken so that we may discriminate between the law and that which is merely circumstantial; between the essential and the incidental. The law is permanent; circumstances are transcient. No command was ever obeyed, even by an inspired man, but that some circumstances, or incidents, were connected with that act of obedience that were no part of the law, and that may or may not be connected with obedience to this law at another time. Let us enlarge:

1. The law of pardon to the alien may be found in the great commission and in such passages asActs 2:38. Examples, tire conversion of the eunuch, Saul, etc. Some circumstances are present in each case that are not present in any other. That the eunuch confessed his faith in a certain form of words at the water, is only an incident, a mere circumstance. Yet these circumstances are exalted into law by some. Why does not some one draw further on the circumstances, and argue that for a conversion to be Scriptural, the sinner must be preached  to while riding in a chariot! Saul saw a light, saw the Lord, still he had to believe and be baptized, as any other sinner.

2. The Lord’s supper. This is composed of the loaf and the fruit of the vine, and is to be observed in the proper frame of mind on the first day of the week. In the institution and observance of this institution, some circumstances or incidents were of necessity connected with it. It had to be instituted at some time, under some circumstances, in some place. These were merely incidentals. Yet some think the supper must be observed at night, and others, in an upper room. One congregation uses a little teacup. All such will not have the supper if they can not have these circumstances. I wonder why they do not recline around the table and confine the number of communicants to one dozen?

3. The contribution (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). In this we are confined to the bare law, for nowhere in the New Testament do we have the details connected with a single contribution. We have only the law, not an example, to go by. It looks like we would have no trouble here with the circumstance hunter. But wait! Has not this deluded brother seen the money put on the table all his life? Tradition becomes sacred to him, and if the congregation does not follow this tradition, he will not contribute; will sometimes even quit the church; all of which shows that he has more regard for tradition than for God’s law. He thus makes void the law of God by tradition.

4. Teaching, Preach to every creature, is the law. An evangelist may remain at one place, or may travel. Teaching may be done to a congregation as a whole, or to separate classes. A woman may, in a quiet way, teach a class of children. Frequently she is better qualified than any other. I am persuaded that a woman may teach the Bible under any circumstances, un-der which she may teach anything else.

G. W. Cypert—Where to leave off, if we begin on incidentals, is the question. Must not violate a principle. I believe in teaching children on Lord’s day. A woman may teach till she violates a principle. The Bible says, “Go,” but not how to go. God says, “sing,” but not what to sing.

Lee P. Mansfield—I endorse Brother Whiteside. To adopt a rule and make it a law, is speaking where God is silent. It is not right for me to force my opinion on any one. In going out to preach, the apostles adopted the most convenient way of travel.

J. W. Kelley—I have been incorrectly represented as anti- Sunday school. We some times gnaw on an old dry bone, while others starve in our presence. Set a different time of day for the Bible study. Do not interfere with the hour of worship.

A. B. Lawrence—The law or command is the essential; incidentals are the things necessary to carry out the essentials. No difference how the teaching is done; the command is “teach.” If a brother opposes, leave off the classes; take some other hour. Who knows how they took the communion? Could I not divide the fruit of the vine into as many cups as there are communicants present?

W. E. Morgan--We should sing with the spirit and the understanding. That is worship. We have many extremes. In the contribution there is confusion when every one walks up and puts his money on the table. I used to think that was the only way. We should not make a law where God has made none.

J. C. White—Is kneeling the only posture of prayer? Why stand to give thanks? Where is your scripture for singing evangelist, chapter before prayer, etc.?

U. G. Wilkinson—Women should not follow modern fashions. The essential items of worship are, the contribution, communion, teaching, prayers.

G. H. P. Showalter—When I was a boy the negroes in our country all walked up and put the money on the table. The white folks thought they did it for a show. It seems strange to me that some brethren want to do that way to keep from making a show. Bight to place the money on the table if orderly and agreeable to all. The obligation to teach binds us to teach any way we can, so the way does not conflict with moral obligations or other duties. Loyal churches have no unscriptural organizations to do this work. Women should teach, especially should they teach children. I think it is right for a woman to teach the Bible at any time or under any circumstances, that she can teach any thing else.

G. W. Harvey—I endorse what has been said. Teach in your homes; everywhere you can.

R. L. Whiteside—We are cursed with foolish ideas. These things are driving more people to the progressives than anything they are doing. You can’t meet folly with argument. I am glad I learned from Brother Shciwalter where we got our custom of putting the money on the table. Some brethren think we got it from the Bible, but we got it from the negroes. Leave it with them. Strictly speaking, incidentals are not helps in doing a thing; that is an expedient. We do not divide people into classes to teach them. By nature and degrees of de-velopment,, they are already divided into classes. We simply recognize this and seek to suit our teaching to the different classes, or capacities.

J. W. Kelley—I object to confusion. Frequently there is great confusion when we are teaching, by people coming in.

C. R. Nichol—Paul did not refer to brethren coming in. That is not the confusion he spoke of.