We Are Here, Why?

We Are Here, Why?

WE ARE HERE, WHY?
By G. F. MICKEY

(In January, 1920, at Clovis, New Mexico, there was held a series of special, gospel meetings during which Brother T. Smith delivered an address on the above subject. From that discourse I borrowed Valuable materials which I have woven into the fabric of this sermon.)

Out of the ignorance, superstition, and intolerance, away from the confusion, turmoil, and strife of one hundred years ago, there came a devout people who were dominated by peculiar religious views, doctrines, and practices. The movement grew rapidly into a multitude of zealous souls)' and today they wield a tremendous influence over the religious life, and thought of the world. This people profess an unwavering faith in the being of God, the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth, the power of the Holy Spirit, the inspiration of the Bible, and the sufficiency of the church. They discard all sectarian names, reject all man made creeds, throw away all for-mulated confessions of faith, and steadfastly refuse ex-tensive affiliation with contemporary religious orders as being established by men. In their service to others, these workers preach the gospel at home, ano abroad, without organized mission! ary societies, and take care of the needy without estab* lishing benevolent associations. Their worship is as simple as the plan of their work. They disregard all pomp, develop no ritual, employ ho select choirs, and use no mechanical musical instruments in divine service. They are an active, thriving, growing brotherhood, and are the folks to be dealt with in this discourse.

Now since the inspired Peter exhorted disciples to “be ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope, that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15); and since we are here, especially in the Southland, and more than a half million strong, demanding an earnest hearing from a long-suffering people, it is imperative that we be always ready to give answer to those who ask us a reason for our peculiar existence. To begin with, it is well to observe that no establish-ment of whatever nature, whether it be secular or religi-ous, human or divine, has any moral, physical, of spiritual right to maintain its organization unless there are good, sufficient, and logical reasons for so doing. And furthermore, no establishment of any kind ought to expect recognition, and support from a much harassed people unless it can offer happy relief from some of the burdens of life.

Then too, those reasons for existence ought also to satisfy the requirements of the following postulates: (1) The purposes of the institution must be both lawful, and laudable. If they be not so, then its existence immediately becomes a menace to society; (2) The efforts of the institution should be both unique and different ; directed toward virgin fields, satisfying long felt necessity, and utilizing long wasted energies. If not, then the institution can only eouflict hurtfully with other worthy establishments; (8) The methods of the institution must be both practical, and worth while. If they be otherwise, then can the institution avail nothing, and its organization will come to naught.

Moreover, ir order to arrive at a workable understand-ing of this significant proposition, and definite answers thereto, the question should first be studied negatively. Find reasons for which we do not exist, and state them pungently. In this way much error can be eliminated, and misunderstandings removed. Therefore, we are here not for the sake of oddity. We are not a generation of freaks, nor do we maintain our identity in order to be whimsical. We do not proscribe the piano just because our religious neighbors beat us to it. It is not our intention to reject a beautiful symbol, or exclude a profitable expedient simply because it has fallen into denominational hands.

Neither are we here to build up an exclusive social order for pleasure, or diversion;- nor do We seek to hesr from novel fraternal societies for physical protection. The field for these temporal benefits is already well occupied. We consider that it is not the business of churches to stress the protection of the perishable body for the neglect of imperishable souls. Furthermore, We are here not to compete with theaters, and moving pictures. We are not in the entertainment business, nor do we seek to please the crowd. It is not our purpose, intention, or desire to engage in such exer eises as will attract mere numbers. Our heartfelt conviction is, “too many are even now seeking to satisfy immortal souls by feeding the material husks of carnal pleasure."

Then again, we are here not to develop new doctrines, formulate new articles of faith, or found new religious orders. Already the world is over-supplied with sectarian, notions, and denominational institutions. Novelty may stimulate inquisitiveness, and inquisitiveness may result in new discoveries; yet no improvement has been found, nor can be found for the simple doctrine, faith, and institutions of the New Testament. But we are here, Why? What is the stir all about? We are actively engaged in a multitudinous endeavor.

We constantly push our peculiarities upon'the citizens of the land; we send missionaries to foreign fields, build church houses at home and abroad, establish schools, maintain orphan homes, and minister to the sick. Why this independent feverish activity? Men and women have a right to demand a clear cut answer to this pertinent question, and we ought to satisfy that reasonable demand. We should count ourselves happy to be able to answer for ourselves before the whole world, touching these things whereof we have been accused. We can give good, sufficient, and logical reasons for our peculiar, bold, and rather exclusive existence; therefore let us to the question,

Paul, in Ephesians 4:3-6, states the Great Christian Funda-mentals, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in the one hope of you calling, one Lbrd, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in you all.” From these fundamentals the religious world has drifted far. True, religionists profess to honor one God, acknowledge one Lord, speak of one Spirit, and confess but one hope; yet they make void their claims by contending for many faiths, practicing many baptisms, and recognizing many bodies. We humbly assume the grave responsibility to reaffirm these great and vital truths, and call men back to God. We insist that to honor God all must walk by the same rule, and have the same ''faith that to acknowledge" the one Lord is to obey him in the one baptism; that to know the one Spirit, and partake of the one hope is to become members of the one body which is the church of the. Lord Jesus Christ. Read Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:19-22.

Then in the shadow of the cross Jesus prayed, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us: that the world may believe that; thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21). But professed followers of Jesus ignore this prayer. They are divided into numerous hostile camps, vigorously contend about sectarian dogmas, and rigidly uphold unscriptural practices. But we have conceived an earnest zeal for Christian unity. We are here with the practical plea, and worth while message that all who love the Lord, and delight in his truth should unite upon the ‘‘one tradition," and take the Holy Bible as the only "infallible'' guide in things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Timothy 3:16).

Moreover, the Spirit-filled apostles fully carried out the requirements of Christ’s ‘‘Great Commission” (Luke 24:46; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). They gave to sin burdened souls a definite answer to the question, ‘‘What must T do to be saved?” (Acts 2:38). Modern religious teachers have for the most part lost sight of these simple and easy terms of pardon. They have substituted the requirements of their various creeds, and have given assurance upon false premises. We make no new proclamation, but are here to declare in boldness, in clearness, and in love,, the New Testament answer to that all important question, "What must I do to be saved?” We are not afraid to quote anywhere, and in full, the language of the “Great Commission,’’ nor are we ashamed to tell inquiring souls just what Peter told the heart-stricken Pentecostans.

Then again, the churches of the New Testament period were each an independent unit. They performed their several work without the interference of an overhead organization. But place-seeking men have organized gigantic ecclesiastical machines which rob congregations of their autonomy, create positions of tyranny, and suppress the spirit of real Christian service. We are here with the avowed purpose to restore the rugged independence of the first century church, and give back to each congregation their New Testament liberties. In so doing, we can recognize no head but the Christ, no rule but the Bible, no institution hut the church, and no organization but the local congregation.

Finally, the worship in those primitive days was sub- litne in its utter simplicity. Christians met to teach the word of God, to sing praises, and pray unto God, to have fellowship in every good work, ail'd to break bread and drink wine in memory of Christ’s suffering (Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7;1 Corinthians 11:23-30). But this unadorned worship has been corrupted. Pompous men have supplanted it with elaborate programs, worldly entertainments, and dignified ritual. We are here to protest such sacrilege, and earnestly seek to eliminate all gross humanisms from Christian worship. Ve desire to restore in practice, and in reality, the ancient beauty, simplicity, and effective-ness of pure gospel ministries. For these reasons we feel that we have a place under the sun, and that our efforts will not only meet the approval of Almighty God, but will also merit the support of honest souls among the children of men. Realizing that the days of life are short, that death is inevitable* that judgment is sure, and that eternity is long, we hum-bly pray that the Lord will give us wisdom to use his word, and faith to practice it.