Monthly Archives: August 2008
New Preacher Training School Up in Leyte
Southern Leyte Congregation Celebrates 3rd Anniversary
HINUNANGAN, SOUTHERN LEYTE- The congregation in Hinunangan celebrated its third founding anniversary on August 10th. Special guests for the occasion were Ken Wilkey and Eusebio Tanicala who also served as speakers in the three night gospel meeting. After the Sunday morning service three elderly people who were taught the gospel submitted themselves to water baptism and were immersed at the ocean which is about 200 meters away from the church meeting place.
Men Who Hate the Church of Christ
Someone recently sent me a copy of Dr. Hugh F. Pyle’s book, “The Truth
About the Church of Christ.” The author is an evangelist among the
Independent Baptists. His venom toward the Church of Christ is
undiluted. His book is full of ridicule, sarcasm and contempt for the
Lord’s church and her members. Among his chapters are “Please Drown
Me in the Baptistry” and “Instrumental Insanity” and “Campbell’s
Soup.” Dr. Pyle is one of a long line of Baptist preachers who have
published vicious attacks against the church. In the early years of
our back to the Bible movement men like Jeremiah Jeter published his
Campbellism Examined. J. R. Graves published Alexander Campbell and
Campbellism. Later, Bob Ross gave us his hateful book on Campbellism.
David Martin continues to circulate his Questions No Church of Christ
Preacher Can Answer.
Although it in no way excuses them, Baptist preachers have some basis
for hating the Church of Christ. When they left the Presbyterian
Church in search of New Testament Christianity, from 1815 to1824
Thomas and Alexander Campbell affiliated with the Red Stone Baptist
Association. In deciding to cast their lots with that association, the
Campbells stated in writing that they would not be bound by the
Philadelphia Confession of Faith (the Baptist creedal statement).
They also insisted that they must be allowed to preach and teach as
they found the Scripture to teach. Young Alexander was a brilliant,
Bible student and preacher. His popularity soon exceeded that of most
of the Baptist preachers of his day. He named his first gospel paper,
“The Christian Baptist.” When he debated the Presbyterian, John
Walker, on the proper mode of baptism, he was the hero of the hour
among the Baptists. However, when he gave his famous Sermon on the
Law at their 1816 association meeting, suspicions were raised.
Later when he debated Wm. McCalla and insisted baptism was for
remission of sins, the love affair ended and the angry Baptist
preachers set out to punish and humiliate him. Knowing they planned
to disfellowship him, Alexander Campbell changed his church membership
to the Wellsburg congregation of the Mahoning Association. Frustrated
that they prey had escaped their snare, those preachers launched a
stream of hate-filled slander toward Campbell and his brethren that
continues to this day. To add insult to their injury, thousands of
Baptists left that denomination to join with Campbell in being Bible
Christians. Most of the Mahoning Baptist Association made that move
as did several others. In the ensuing years the Baptist churches in
the middle states and south suffered great losses as many of their
members chose to be Christians only. Their preachers were bitter about
the loss…and some still are.
But there is a second group of people who likewise hate the Church of
Christ. They too love to call us Campbellites. They ridicule our
emphasis on baptism for remission of sins, our refusal to use
instruments of music in our worship and our firm belief that Christ
has only one church to which he adds all the saved. These critics
likewise resort to hateful sarcasm and ridicule. The difference in
the two groups is astounding. The latter group are disaffected members
of the Church of Christ. Some of these critics have left the Church of
Christ and affiliated themselves with various denominations. Some
have given up all interest in serving God. Many of them preach for
some of our largest churches, others teach in our most prestigious
Christian schools. Some of them are descendants of faithful members
and servants of the church. The most glaring examples of this
anti-Church of Christism is found in the literature of the change
movement. Each year a number of new books of this genera are issued,
written by these unhappy members of the church, most of which are
designed to denigrate and belittle the church, her worship and her
faith. They ridicule those whose loyalty to Christ will not allow
them to embrace their agenda of change.
These are two kindred groups of haters of the Church of Christ. Both
serve the same master. Both walk the same path. Both will have a
common destiny. The day will come when the Lord will come with his
holy ones to “execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the
ungodly of all their works of ungodliness and of all the hard things
which ungodly sinners have spoken against him” (Jude 14-15).
-John Waddey
MODERN MEANING OF THE WORD “SING”
By Eusebio Tanicala
A Baptist author directs his diatribe against Churches of Christ preachers who believe that it is wrong to have instrumental music in Christian congregational worship. He calls our position as “Instrumental Insanity.”
Many instrumental music practioners in congregational worship argue that the term “sing” in its modern meaning automatically calls for an instrumental accompaniment or at least the instrumental accompaniment is not prohibited. It is argued that “where there’s no expressed prohibition a thing or action is allowed.”
The above axiom is a dangerous guide in interpreting the Bible. It opens the gate to virtually any kind of faith and practice in the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. I suggest that we confront this axiom with this illustration.
Step number one: Let’s tell the mechanical instrument user: “Let’s follow your line of argument. You appeal that the modern meaning of ‘sing’ calls for an instrumental accompaniment and anything that’s not expressly prohibited is allowed. Since instrumental accompaniment is not expressly prohibited, there’s freedom to use it.”
Step number two: “Churches believe in celebrating the Lord’s Supper. The modern meaning of ‘Supper’ in the Philippines includes serving a plate of rice for each individual, and participants in the Pinoy supper may be served chicken tinola soup, lechon kawali, chopsuey, sinigang na bangus, a glass of water, and softdrinks. These are not expressly prohibited in the New Testament, do you grant freedom to some who believe that the Lord’s Supper may include these food items? May I know your categorical answer please. #
HINUNANGAN GOSPEL CAMPAIGN
The third founding anniversary of the congregation in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte will be celebrated on August 10th. A gospel campaign will be conducted in the community from the 6th to the 10th with evening Bible seminars.
Eusebio Tanicala has been invited to speak. Ken Wilkey is expected to be there also. Brother Orvin Arago is the area evangelist.
Brother Wilson Arago and sister Jovita Palay-Arago have been involved in planting and nurturing this congregation on the southeastern point of Leyte Island.
JOINT WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP AT AMBIONG
The Centrepoint Church of Christ that meets in downtown Baguio and its outreach congregations: Ambiong Church of Christ, Tacay Church of Christ, Balite Drive Church of Christ held a joint worship anf lunch fellowship on August 3 at the Philippine Missionary Academy Camp at Ambiong, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Ninety four were in attendance. Bal Lagua, Jr. was the song leader, Emilio Panday conducted the Bible Study and John Ray Dayucos gave the sermon.
Brother Emilio Panday reports that their team have taught and baptized 36 from January 1 to August 1, 2008.