MISSIONARY SOCIETIES

1.     Evolution of the societies

a.     Cooperative meetings (1831)

                                                    i.     Started as evangelistic meetings

                                                   ii.     Then they became business meetings

b.     State meetings

                                                    i.     Delegates from each congregation were selected

                                                   ii.     They began to:

1.     Establish policy for all congregations

2.     Assign financial support

c.     National organization (1849)

                                                    i.     Began to oversee state organizations

                                                   ii.     Churches were “taxed” – choice was removed

                                                 iii.     The American Christian Missionary Society was organized, October 23, 1849.
 

2.     Since then:

a.     Foreign Christian Missionary Society

b.     Christian Women’s Board of Missions

c.     National Benevolent Association

d.     Board of Ministerial Relief

e.     Board of Extension

f.      National Temperance Board

g.     Each of these sought to control churches, demand financial support
 

3.     Objectors to the Missionary Society

a.     Opposition came early. Alexander Campbell denounced them in 1823. But, he supported them in 1849.

b.     The strongest opposition came from Jacob Creath, Jr., Tolbert Fanning, David Lipscomb, and Benjamin Franklin.
 

4.     Objections to the Missionary Society

a.     It appropriates to itself the duty which rightfully belongs to the church.

                                                    i.     Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16

                                                   ii.     Ephesians 3:10; 1 Timothy 3:15

b.     It violates local church autonomy. The societies had become legislative bodies. They controlled churches. The only choice was to withdraw from the society. They could not obtain preacher to hold a meeting or preach for them if they withdrew.

c.     It violates the principle of respect for authority. Did God authorize the Missionary Society? Here is a basic issue. Societies challenged the motto; “Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.” It was argued, “By what canon of interpretation does one make silence prohibitory?”

d.     This opened the door for instrumental music and other inventions.
 

5.     Does the Missionary Society help the church to grow?

a.     Here are the facts.

                                                    i.     In 1906 – Churches of Christ – 160,000, Christian Church – 982,000

                                                   ii.     In 1970 – Churches of Christ – 2,500,000, Christian Church – 1,900,000