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(Leonard Lee Brigance, 1879 to 1950, was a professor of Bible
at Freed Hardeman College for many years. His logical mind enabled
him to transmit clear, clean-cut thoughts. He was a writer for
the Gospel Advocate and in the early '40s composed a number
of articles titled "Studies in the Restoration. " He
dealt at length with the Christian Church [Disciples of Christ]
and demonstrated its drift into liberalism and oblivion. Since
the church now has a number of capable men who are tracking the
Disciples' disaster, some of the Brigance articles are being reprinted.
It is fabulous that brother Brigance more than 50 years ago described
conditions now evident in the church - Dobbs.)
There was a time when all those who constituted the Restoration
Movement believed that the Bible was inspired of God, that it
was infallibly correct, that it constituted our supreme and sole
authority in spiritual things, that there was revealed in the
New Testament a pattern of the one-and-only church approved of
God, that it was fixed and permanent, that the "plan of salvation"
was explicitly set forth, that it was inflexible - in short, that
we had to find authority in the New Testament for everything we
believed or practiced in religion. But alas! Times have changed.
A part of that movement has abandoned practically every one of
the above propositions. The left wing of the big "D"
Disciples have given up the "back-to-Jerusalem," "back-to-the-apostles"
plea of the pioneers and are now headed toward Rome, Geneva, London,
or some other place unknown to the Bible, unless it be Gehenna.
They have given up the undenominational plea for "unity through
the restoration of the New Testament church," have fraternized
with denominationalism, endorsed it, and, in fact, are one themselves.
DeGroot, in discussing the relation of the Disciples to "church
federation," says:
Whether the Disciples were, or are, a denomination or not (which,
of course, is purely a matter of definition), the fact is that
they soon presented the normal characteristics of a functioning
denomination, with "our" plea, "our" conventions,
and "our" agencies. The Disciples came up in the error
of the federation idea looking and acting (though not talking)
like a denomination.
Thus they are beginning to admit their denominationalism, and
no doubt in a few years they will do it freely and unblushingly.
If they were not speaking the language of Ashdod (denominationalism)
then, they are now, and in all essentials are just another denomination.
The Model Church
Is there a model or pattern of the church that Jesus said he would
build revealed in the Scriptures? Did the apostles through whom
Christ built the church have a blueprint and specifications, figuratively
speaking, to guide them in its erection? Let us see.
The need of patterns in material things. In nearly all
of the relationships of life man must have patterns, models, and
standards to guide and govern him in whatever he does. Is he about
to build a house? He must have a pattern, a blueprint, and specifications
either on paper or in his mind. He cannot build without it. The
garment maker generally has a pattern by which to cut a gown and
then a model on which to shape it. One of the most important workmen
in a foundry is the patternmaker. Every piece of metal must be
molded (modeled) according to the pattern. In buying and selling,
trading and trafficking, there must be standards by which to be
governed. The commerce of the world could not be carried on without
units of measurement - units of length, capacity, value, etc.
They must be authoritative, constant, and permanent.
The need of Patterns in spiritual things. Because of their
greater importance there is more need for models, patterns, and
standards in spiritual things than in material things. There is
need for a model after which each individual Christian can mold
his life - his character and conduct. Then there is need for a
pattern according to which groups of Christians may organize for
work and worship.
Jesus Christ is the model for every Christian life (John 13:15;
Phil 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:21; 4:1). He is a perfect model. His perfection
is the goal that every follower of him must strive to reach. The
fact that no one can imitate him perfectly does not keep him from
being our example, nor does it justify us in not doing our best.
He ever leads the way. We can never overtake him; but, nevertheless,
he calls upon us to follow him.
The church of the New Testament is a divine model or pattern of
what God would have groups of Christians everywhere to be. It
is so clearly outlined that its essential characteristics can
be readily discerned by everyone who is sincerely seeking them.
As a spiritual institution it is perfect. The standard of work,
worship, and conduct of its members is perfect. But because of
the weaknesses of men, this standard will rarely, if ever, be
met. Nevertheless, God cannot lower the standard, else he would
appear to be satisfied with imperfection, which would be incompatible
with his very nature.
The Tabernacle and the Church
It is assumed that the readers of this paper believe the Jewish
tabernacle built by Moses in the wilderness was a type of the
church (Heb. 9:1-10). God gave Moses a pattern of the tabernacle
and the "instruments thereof' (Ex. 25:9) and charged him
to "make them after the pattern, which was shewed thee in
the mount" (v. 40; Heb. 8:5). This charge was emphasized
by several repetitions. The workmen who were to build the tabernacle
were inspired of God (Ex. 31:1-11). In the specifications
the dimensions of the tabernacle and every piece of furniture,
the amount and different kinds of material to be used, with all
necessary instructions, were given to the minutest detail. Moses
did everything as God commanded him. When it was finished and
all things were ready, God took up his abode in it, and his glory
filled it.
Corresponding to all of this is the church. For more than three
years Jesus taught his disciples concerning the kingdom, the church,
the house of God. Even during the 40-day interval between the
resurrection and the ascension, he taught them the things "pertaining
to the kingdom of God." What was he doing? Creating in their
minds a pattern of the church. But he was not willing to risk
them then to follow his instructions without divine assistance.
So he ordered them to wait until they were "endued with power
from on high." So "when the day of Pentecost was fully
come, ... they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began
to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Being baptized in the Holy Spirit, completely under his control,
all that they said and did on that occasion was directed by him.
The gospel was preached; the people heard it; they were pricked
in their hearts - convinced, convicted, made to believe; they
were told to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and they would receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit. As many as received his word were baptized, and
there were added to them that day about three thousand souls;
and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship
and in the breaking of bread and in prayers; and the Lord added
to the church daily such as were being saved (Acts 2).
The Jerusalem Church
Here we have the first church of God on earth. Every step in its
establishment was directed by the Holy Spirit through the apostles.
It continued to be guided by these inspired men throughout its
entire history. It must, therefore, have been perfect except for
human imperfections - they render all man does imperfect, even
his obedience to God. Aside from that, the Jerusalem church must
have been just such a church as God approved - a model church,
so far as its experiences went.
It may be admitted in advance of special examination that the
Jerusalem church did not pass through all the experiences which
congregations have since encountered, and that, therefore, it
had no possible opportunity to set us an example for such experiences;
and yet it may still be for us a perfect model to the extent of
the experiences through which it was called to pass (McGarvey).
Perhaps there is no one church or congregation mentioned in the
New Testament that stands as a complete model of the church, because
its expressed characteristics do not cover the whole ground, but
rather the "model church" is a composite church made
up of all the examples of, and precepts to, the New Testament
churches.
In our next article we will undertake to set forth the essential
characteristics of this "model church."
(Brother Brigance taught Bible at Freed Hardeman College for
42 years. He was a bright star in his generation, though he never
thought of himself as such. His works follow with him. When Brigance
died, Perry Cotham wrote, "He has had a great part in preparing
young men to preach the gospel; I am grateful that I had the opportunity
of being one among that number " Basil Overton called him
"a servant of God of no mean ability. " In future articles
it will be apparent that the fatal direction of the Christian
Church, which brother Brigance so ably and accurately described,
is the same course being stubbornly pursued by a few of our contemporaries
- we do not say colleagues out of respect to the brilliant L.
L. Brigance - Dobbs.)
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