CO-OPERATION

1.     The basic proposition: One church may (has the right) to contribute (send funds to, render assistance to) another church which has assumed (or undertaken) the oversight of a work to which both churches sustain the same relationship.

a.     This focus of this discussion was about the support or even the existence of works larger than one congregation.

b.     These would include – Orphan homes, homes for the elderly, area-wide meetings, sponsoring of missionaries, Radio or TV programs, etc.)
 

2.     What I am NOT saying:

a.     A church can forfeit its independence or autonomy.

b.     One church can have oversight of another church or the work of another church.

c.     All work of the church must be done by cooperation.

d.     A church can oversee a “diocese.”

e.     There should be centralized control or oversight.
 

3.     What I AM saying:

a.     A church may assist another church by loaning and/or giving equipment.

b.     One church may assist another church by sending money to be used in a work of the church.

c.     A church may provide assistance with Bibles, books, teaching materials, tracts, etc.

d.     One congregation may help pay for the radio or TV time so that the gospel can be preached.
 

4.     Elements to consider

a.     Evangelism is a required work of the church

                                                    i.     Mark 16:15

                                                   ii.     Matthew 28:18-20

                                                 iii.     Luke 24:47

b.     Benevolence is a required work of the church

                                                    i.     Galatians 6:10

                                                   ii.     1 Timothy 5:16

c.     Edification is a required work of the church

                                                    i.     Ephesians 4:11-13

                                                   ii.     Hebrews 10:24-25

d.     Each church has the right to find the best way

                                                    i.     Philippians 2:13

                                                   ii.     2 Corinthians 8:10-11

e.     Each church should be equally related to the work

                                                    i.     Both churches should have the same goals

                                                   ii.     Both churches should have the same purpose

                                                 iii.     1 Corinthians 1:10

f.      One eldership can be responsible

                                                    i.     Romans 15:25-27

                                                   ii.     Acts 11:27-30
 

5.     Terms which need to be defined:

a.     Autonomy – Self-government, the right of self-government. This pattern of local congregational autonomy excludes any form of government which supersedes the authority of the local eldership

b.     Institutionalism – A legal entity incorporated with by-laws and a governing board.

c.     Human organization – A body of persons formed into a whole, consisting of independent or coordinated parts, especially for harmonious or united action.

6.     Areas to be considered

a.     Orphan homes, homes for the elderly (benevolent works)

b.     World Radio, Search for the Lord’s Way (evangelistic works)

c.     Colleges, schools of preaching (edification works)

d.     A missionary, a mission effort (evangelistic works)
 

7.     History of the struggle

a.     Early in the restoration movement this was not a problem. Through associations and the societies several orphan homes and homes for the elderly were operated.

b.     With dissention over Missionary Societies came an extreme element which taught that no organization other than the church could exist.

                                                    i.     This was a failure to understand that there are three “God ordained” institutions.

1.     Home

2.     Church

3.     Civil Government

                                                   ii.     The church could support a home; it could not become a home.

c.     Hard economic times were a factor. The crash of 1939 and the depression that followed had an impact.

d.     Pressure tactics (guilt, humiliation, shame) were used by these organizations to raise money. This pressure was resented.

e.     The opposition began as local churches struggled to decide where their money should go.

f.      It deepened into a heated debate which centered on the issues of:

                                                    i.     What organization(s) are to do the work of God?

                                                   ii.     Local autonomy vs. centralized control.

                                                 iii.     Allowed vs. forbidden.

                                                 iv.     Expedient vs. sinful.

                                                  v.     THUS – A test of fellowship.

g.     OBSERVATION: Had it remained a matter of personal opinion, it would have never caused division. When it became a matter of fellowship – it divided churches.

                                                    i.     Then the issue of “Who is the cause of the division?” was raised.

                                                   ii.     Most of the debates focused on personalities and mud-slinging rather than the Biblical issues.