Truth Magazine

By Frank Jarnerson

A book by the above title was written in 1979 by Jerry Sholes, who had been an associate of Oral Roberts for three and a half years. The sub-title is “an insider’s report on the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association.”

Mr. Sholes worked with Oral Roberts from 1975 until 1979 and said that Oral’s mail room is equipped to handle over 20,000 letters per day, and ninety percent of those envelopes have money in them. “The average gift is $5.00. Now, an average gift of $5.00 isn’t very much . . . unless you’re getting 18,000 gifts like that per day” (8).

It is no wonder that Mr. Roberts says, “I love your letters, I love to get them . . . I love to pray over them.” Actually, Mr. Sholes points out that Oral cannot read that many letters per day, and he only sees a computer printout of names and requests.

In addition to the millions of dollars sent to Mr. Roberts, the writer of this book reveals that he also makes millions from his seminars each year. He conducts six to nine of these, composed of about 2,500 people in each, and the “take” from each of these “would be in the neighborhood of $1.5 to $3 million” (33).

Mr. Sholes said, “Usually, during a seminar, there were participants who were in wheelchairs. I never saw anyone healed of anything and that bothered me. I saw people who had come expecting a healing and I saw the raw hope and desire in their eyes. If faith could have brought them up out of those wheelchairs, they would have come out and been ready to run a 50yard dash, on the spot! It never happened” (p.34). The thing that really shook his faith was when a faculty member at Oral Robets University had a baby who became ill. The man decided to really put the power of prayer to the test and began praying for the child rather than taking it to the hospital. Their baby died, and “the couple decided to begin praying and fasting to bring the infant back to life.” They requested that Oral come to their house and pray for the child, but his reaction was that he “wouldn’t touch that with a ten-foot pole.” Mr. Sholes said: “If God ever had spoken to me and had told me to take his healing power to my generation, I’d have gone into that home and prayed for that baby, dead or not” (39).

Mr. Sholes discussed the “City of Faith,” and showed that Oral deliberately lied about God speaking to him. On September 7, 1977, Oral announced that “he had experienced a vision in the desert in August, 1977, and that God had spoken to him and had given him all the details for a three building complex which comprised the City of Faith.” Sholes said, “However, in January, 1977, Oral Roberts and Ron Smith, Oral’s Executive Vice President, met in MY OFFICE and discussed WITH ME a three building complex which would include a clinic, a research center and a hotel . . . which would eventually be converted into a hospital. That discussion took place BEFORE Oral’s announcement and 7 months BEFORE he had his ‘vision’ in the desert” (192).

Oral also said that in his August, 1977 vision, “Suddenly God gave me a new name for the Health Care and Research Center I am to build in His name. You shall call it the City of Faith.” Mr. Sholes then documents the fact that in 1955, Coronet magazine published an article about Oral Roberts purchasing 175 acres in Tulsa for the purpose of erecting “The City of Faith.” In May, 1956 an article in American magazine revealed the same fact. “If God didn’t reveal the name ‘City of Faith’ until August, ’77, why was he using it in 1956?” (194)

One of the stories that Oral often tells is about his healing from tuberculosis. “His past stories and autobiographies have always indicated that he was instantly healed,” says Mr. Sholes, but after Oral announced plans to build the City of Faith, in 1978, his story began to vary a bit. “He stated on several TV programs (after the City of Faith announcement) that it took him over a year to recuperate from his illness. His message on those programs implied that it took prayer and medicine to heal him of tuberculosis . . . a variation of the story that fits in rather well with the role which the City of Faith is supposed to play in the delivery of holistic health care! In other words, as late as 1961, Oral was stating that tests taken within two months after his healing indicated that his lungs were absolutely clear of TB. In 1978, however, he stated on television that it took a year for his total healing to occur” (96).

Mr. Sholes said, “Because of personal involvement on my part in the promotion of the City of Faith, and because of my participation in various planning and strategy sessions relating to the City of Faith, I know and am witness to the fact that Oral Roberts has personally lied about the City of Faith. Those lies and the nature of them . . . Oral telling millions of people that God told him to do something are what made me decide to write this book” (191).

Oral Roberts has “milked” the American public for millions of dollars, and though his City of Faith has folded (evidently God did not foresee the cost of running a hospital!) he continues to thrive on contributions from poor people vainly hoping for healing or material prosperity.

The only power Oral, or any other faith-healer has, is the power of suggestion (“mind over matter”), and the only ones getting prosperous are those receiving the contributions!

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 6, p. 165
March 19, 1992

By Dennis Abernathy

The night of December 29, 1876, marks one of the most tragic wrecks in the history of American railroading. On that bitter cold night a west bound express train crashed through a trestle over a swollen stream near Ashtabula, Ohio, caught fire, and carried a hundred passengers to a burning death. On board the ill-fated Chicago-bound train was Philip Bliss, beloved and famous gospel song composer and singer.

Born in rural Pennsylvania, Philip Bliss was reared in abject poverty. In his teens he worked at a country sawmill for ten dollars a month and attended a singing school conducted by William Bradbury, who greatly encouraged young Bliss.

In his early twenties he married, bought a ramshackle buggy and a horse he named “Fanny,” and went about the countryside with his wife, teaching music. His average income was thirteen dollars a month.

At twenty-six, Bliss wrote a secular song he called “Lora Vale.” Having learned his first notes on a homemade flute whittled from a cane, he sent his song to a Chicago firm by the name of Root and Cady, music publishers, with the request that if his composition were acceptable, he would appreciate a real flute in exchange. Reading the manuscript, George Frederick Root sent Bliss the finest flute that he could find, along with a note that a job with the firm of Root and Cady was waiting for him if he wanted to come to Chicago.

At thirty-two, Philip Bliss was director of music at Chicago’s First Congregational Church, editor of hymnals for Root and Cady, and composed both words and music for his gospel songs.

Bliss was ever alert for themes. One Sunday night, while waiting for a train in Ohio, Bliss slipped into a church and took a rear seat. The minister, a Mr. Brundage, was reading from the Acts of the Apostles: “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, ‘Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”‘ During his sermon Mr. Brundage said, “To be almost saved is to be entirely lost.” And Philip Bliss had the theme for one of his famous gospel songs.

After spending Christmas with his mother in Pennsylvania, Bliss and his wife were returning to Chicago when their train plunged through the trestle. Bliss tore his way from the burning cars. Unable to find his wife, he fought his way back through the flames. In a vain effort to save her, he died at her side. His trunk was salvaged and in it was found an unfinished hymn. It began: “I know not what awaits me, God kindly veils my eyes.

Let us now turn our attention to the hymn Philip Bliss wrote after hearing a sermon while waiting for a train.

The almost persuaded are looking for a convenient season (Read Acts 26:24-29).

“Almost persuaded, now to believe;

Almost persuaded, Christ to receive;

Seems now some soul to say,

Go, Spirit, go thy way;

Some more convenient day,

On Thee I’ll call.”

1. Agrippa was almost persuaded to believe. The word “believe” is used here in the sense of a synecdoche. That is, a part standing for the whole. Hence, the word believe here encompasses all the steps of salvation. A good example of this is Acts 2:44. “And all that believed were together, and had all things common.” The believers were those who heeded the apostle Peter’s command to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. They were those who were added by Christ to the church (see Acts 2:38,41,47). (See also Acts 4:4; 5:14; 8:12,13; 16:30-34).

2. Agrippa was almost persuaded to receive Christ (Jn. 1:11-13). How does one receive Christ? According to John 1:12, one must believe on his name. How does one believe? James 1:21 says: “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your soul.” So, one must receive the word! “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Acts 2:41 says: “They therefore that gladly received his word, were baptized, and there were added unto them in that day,. about three thousand souls.” Thus, when one receives the Word in obedience he receives Christ. How sad to hear many say: “Just receive Christ into your heart” and then never hear them say what is involved in taking that important action.

3. 1 think the song writer was right when he wrote, “seems now some soul to say, go, Spirit, go thy way, some more convenient day, on Thee I’ll call.” There are a lot of people who are almost ready to obey the gospel, then someone discourages them. Maybe it is the Devil saying: “You have plenty of time, don’t get in such a hurry.” And so the lost soul tells the Holy Spirit to go away. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts men of sin, righteousness, and the judgment to come. This is accomplished through the preaching of the gospel. Remember, the sword of the spirit is the Word of God (see Jn. 16:7-8; Eph. 6:17). We have the example of a man by the name of Felix, who told the Spirit to go away, when he said to Paul: “Go thy way for now, and when I have a more convenient season, I will call on thee” (Acts 24:25).

I’m afraid this is true of many today. They are looking for “convenient” religion. “I’ll study the Bible, work for the Lord, and attend the church services, etc., when it is convenient!” How sad!

The time to become a Christian is now! The time to set your life right is now!

“Almost persuaded, come, come today;

Almost persuaded, turn not away;

Jesus invites you here,

Angels are lingering near,

Prayers rise from hearts so dear,

O wanderer, come.”

1. The biblical emphasis on obedience has always been now! “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Eccl. 12:1). “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). “Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart as in the day of provocation” (Heb. 3:15).

2. All of the examples of conversion in the book of Acts indicate that the day the people found out they were lost and understood the truth was the day they obeyed the gospel. Consider the Philippian jailor, for example. The text says: “And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” (Acts 16:33). (See also Acts 2:37,38,41; 8:35-39.)

3. The message and plea of the song is “turn not away.

As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die? (Ezek. 33:11)

The word of God pleads with men to turn to God. “Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).

Jesus does invite you to come to him (Matt. 11:28-30; Jn. 6:37). Jesus’ message to the lost today is: “all things are ready, come to the feast” (Lk. 14:17).

Dear friend, Jesus loves your soul. He cares about your redemption.

“Angels are lingering near.” They care too. There is joy among the angels of heaven over one sinner that repenteth (Lk. 15:7).

“Prayers do indeed rise from hearts so dear.” Your relatives and friends and even Christians who do not even know you, pray for your soul’s redemption. May we never discount the power of prayer because nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer, except that which lies beyond the will of God. Truly, “the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much” (Jas. 5:16).

Christ, the angels, and Christians who love you dearly, want you, if you have wandered into the wilderness of sin, to come home. Isaiah 53:6 says that all we like sheep have gone astray. The gospel (the good news) of Christ, like Jesus before Lazarus’ grave, cries out, “Sinner come forth!” The good news is that God will grant full sonship to all those who will come out of the far country of sin. So, there is hope for all prodigals. But you must take advantage of the opportunity that presents itself now! (Gal. 6:1; Jas. 5:19-20)

The time will come when it will be too late to be born again.

“Almost persuaded, harvest is past.

Almost persuaded, doom comes at last!

Almost cannot avail;

Almost is but to fail.

Sad, sad, that bitter wail Almost – but lost!”

1, The harvest time will pass. Jeremiah said: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jer. 8:20). If there is one thing we can be certain of, it is the fact that doom comes at last to the unsaved.

2. Procrastination is so deceptive. It is the thief of time. It is the grave in which opportunity is buried. We are all guilty to some extent. If one waits too long to go to the doctor, he may die. You can wait too long and miss your plane or train. You can remain in sin until you are past feeling or until you lose all sensitivity.

So, I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more (Eph. 4:17-19). Your conscience will cease to bother you, becoming seared as with a hot iron (1 Tim. 4:2). So, in view of these grave warnings, “Be very careful then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity” (Eph. 5:15).

3. Almost a Christian doesn’t count. Almost a faithful Christian doesn’t count. We often say, “Almost, or close, only counts in horseshoes.” I have preached several funerals of people who “leaned toward the church of Christ.” What a meaningless expression! I remember Jesus telling a teacher of the law that he was not far from the kingdom. But, friend, please remember: Almost is but to fail, and near, or “not far” from the kingdom, is not there! Many give thought to becoming a Christian. They talk about being born again. Many erring brethren think and talk about coming back to the Lord. Listen! That simply is not good enough. You must do it! James said: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (Jas. 1:22). Jesus’ mother Mary said: “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it!” (Jn. 2:5) Amen!

4. Waiting too long will bring sadness, bitterness and weeping. Don’t allow the trivial things of life to cause you to miss salvation. Don’t let salvation’s opportunity pass you by.

Many of us have heard opportunity knocking at our door, But by the time we unhooked the chain, pushed back the bolt, turned two locks, and shut off the burglar alarm – it was gone!

“How shall we escape if we neglect (ignore) such a great salvation” (Heb. 2:3). The sad truth is, dear reader, we won’t escape!

“There’s a line that is drawn by rejecting our Lord,

While the call of His Spirit is lost,

And you hurry along with the pleasure-mad throng.

Have you counted, have you counted the cost?

You may barter your hope of eternity’s morn,

For a moment of joy at the most,

For the glitter of sin and the things it will win

Have you counted, Have you counted the cost?

While the door of his mercy is open to you,

Ere the depth of His love you exhaust,

Won’t you come and be healed, won’t you whisper, I yield

I have counted, I have counted the cost.

Have you counted the cost, if your soul should be lost?

Tho’ you gain the whole world for your own?

Even now it may be that the line you have crossed,

Have you counted, have you counted the cost?

How sad it will be to be “almost persuaded,” and in the end be lost! How sad it will be “to be near the kingdom of God,” but in the end hear the Lord say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” Almost persuaded is not enough. Why not become fully persuaded of your need to obey the Lord of Glory. If you need help in understanding what to do, seek for it. Don’t miss heaven! (See Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 8:37; 22:16 Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Pet. 3:21).

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 6, pp. 170-172
March 19, 1992

By Dick Blackford

Dear Brother Kearley,

I was perplexed at your November, 1991 editorial in which you praised and thanked the 4000 congregations which participated in the “One Nation Under God” Campaign.

First, you said it was a success because it has stirred our minds to remember the Great Commission. I suppose one should say the same about the Boston and Crossroads movements, the missionary society, and the Billy Graham Campaigns. But we don’t need these or the “O.N.U.G.” Campaign to remind us of our duty.

Second, you said the campaign did more to unite the “fiercely independent” churches of Christ throughout the nation. “I believe the Bible teaches congregational autonomy and that each is to be independent from the other.” The Sycamore church and the contributing congregations are practicing the opposite of what you say you believe. When the contributing congregations joined the campaign, they delegated a portion of the oversight of their work and resources to the Sycamore elders. God has limited the oversight of elders to “the flock which is among you” (1 Pet. 5:2; Acts 20:28). Whatever pertains to the local flock (its work resources, worship, edification, discipline), is what they oversee.

What would have been readily recognized as a society had the overseers of the campaign identified themselves separate from the church, was obscured by the fact that they assumed the title of “elders” in both roles. To call themselves elders in both the role of overseeing a local church and overseeing a multi-church or churchhood project is deceptive, whether intentional or not. They were already overseeing the local work at Sycamore. But when they took control of a National Campaign through which all other churches function, they assumed a dual role and became more than local elders. To refer to themselves as “elders” in a role God never gave elders (overseeing a churchhood function) is a misnomer. When the scope of their oversight became larger than a local church they overstepped God’s boundaries for oversight. They corrupted the organization of the church and have developed a “brotherhood” (churchhood) oversight. This is the point at which they sinned, and so did the contributing churches. Regardless of anyone’s sincerity, we can only know them by their fruit.

Third, you said the benefit of the campaign was related to unity and brotherhood. “Tragically, a sense of fragmentation has been running throughout our brotherhood for a number of years.” Yet you said the 4000 contributing churches comprised only 33 percent of all congregations. So which is the fragment? Your 33 percent, or the 67 percent that did not participate in this corruption of the organization of the church?

Continuing your quote: “Some have been moving toward liberalism, while others have moved toward . . . Legalism. ” The focus of too many has been upon agitation, argumentation, and hostility.” Brother Kearley, were you agitating, argumentative, hostile, and being legalistic when you opposed the Boston/Crossroads Movement in the pages of the Gospel Advocate? What is legalism except insisting that we do all things according to the pattern?

Fourth, you called the campaign a “positive effort. ” Is it positive to violate the limitations God has placed on the scope of elders? No, a person is being positive when he is moving along the lines of scriptural authority, not when he disregards God’s will and involves a sizable segment of God’s people in error.

The Herald of Truth has split the brotherhood twice. The “O.N.U.G. ” Campaign not only maintains a division over the sponsoring church but has divided institutional brethren, some of whom have spoken and written against it. Is this positive? Is this expedient?

Fifth, you said “visible results demonstrate success. ” But they don’t demonstrate that the “Sponsoring Church” concept is scriptural. Again, one could say the same about the Boston/Crossroads Movement, the Missionary Society, and the Billy Graham Campaigns. You told us that more than 250 baptisms have been reported. Since $10,000,000 was the amount needed, that figures to approximately $40,000 per baptism. We can do better than that in gospel meetings for a lot less than $40,000! Many of the responses may have obeyed anyway as a result of some of the local churches conducting their gospel meetings in conjunction with the campaign. I suspect 4000 congregations could each conduct a gospel meeting and have as many baptisms without having to corrupt the organization of the church. Further, $10,000,000 will support 357 American preachers for a whole year (at an average of $28,000 annually). Surely, each of them could convert one person in a year’s time! That’s more than 250 even if they convert a minimum of one per year. The “O.N.U.G.” Campaign was not expedient even from a financial point of view.

Brother F.B. Shepherd said, “There is absolutely no precept or example in the Holy Scripture for the existence of any organization, federation, or society which embraces more or less than one local congregation through which to perform the work of the Lord in the furtherance of the gospel” (Gospel Advocate, 2/25/32).

Foy E. Wallace, Jr. said, “For one church to help another church bear its own burdens, therefore, has scriptural precedent. But for one church to solicit funds from other churches for general distribution in other fields or places, thus becoming the treasury for other churches, is quite a different question. Such procedure makes a sort of society out of the elders of a local church, and for such there is no scriptural precedent or example” (Gospel Advocate, 5/14/31).

F.B. Syrgley said, “The agency system of collecting funds from many churches, even if it is done under some eldership, is without authority, ties churches together and has a tendency to destroy the initiative and independence of the local church. . . . The greatest objection to the whole scheme is that it is not in the New Testament” (Gospel Advocate, 11/1/34).

Numerous and similar quotes can be produced from H. Leo Boles and several others, all from the pages of the Advocate. It was known as “The Old Reliable.” But what must be said of the Advocate, brother Kearley, now that you are teaching that all congregations may do evangelistic work under the oversight of one centralized eldership? Does this not make them a “churchhood” eldership? You say churches of Christ are “fiercely independent” and you believe that they should be. But there is a vast different between what you preach and in what you praise and practice. It is similar to the Southern Baptists who claim to be fiercely independent while promoting the Southern Baptist Convention. You bemoan that some have been moving toward liberalism. Brother Kearley, “thou art the man.”

For the sake of truth above all else, Dick Blackford.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 6, pp. 166-167
March 19, 1992

By Clark C. Buzbee

“These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:8-9). Isaiah first said it, and Jesus quoted it, making application of it to those who had nullified the word of God by what they “said” when compared with what they “did.”

The application of this Scripture is very simple. When we honor God’s commandment with our mouth but practice something else, we are guilty of sin in that we make null and void the word of God. There are several Scriptures that relate to this sin, and there are numerous Bible examples of those who were guilty of this sin.

This article will deal with specific examples of this sin as it is practiced today. As noted in the title of this article, this is a common sin in the denominational world. It is also true that some of my own brethren in the Lord in this area have failed to keep what they say consistent with what they do; therefore their flagrant inconsistency will be pointed out in these studies also.

We must teach the truth (Jn. 8:32; 17:17), and our practice must be consistent with that truth (Matt. 23:1-3). Otherwise, we will be eternally separated from God (Matt. 7:21-23). With these facts in mind, all of us should be able to see the importance of striving to keep our activities consistent with God’s word!

An example of an individual who “said” that he had “done” the will of God when in fact he had not, is found in 1 Samuel 15. Saul said, “I have performed the commandment of the Lord,” but the noise of the animals was compelling evidence to the contrary. The bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen stood in district contrast to what Saul was saying.

Likewise, today, the “noise” of what some are doing stands in sharp contrast to what they are saying.

The Scriptures Are Complete

The words used to express it may be different, but most religious people who may be called “conservative” claim to believe the Bible to be a “complete rule of faith and practice.” Therefore it is common for preachers to say, “The scriptures are complete and contain everything necessary for us to please God in this life and live in eternity with Him.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17, Jude 3, and 2 Peter 1:1-3 certainly establish the truthfulness of the above statement. The Bible is complete! It does furnish everything necessary for us to please God!

When we “say” this, we are also saying that God concluded his revelation with the giving of the New Testament. We must therefore reject all claims to any “new” revelation today. This is where “lip service” enters the picture.

While claiming to believe the Bible to be God’s complete revelation to mankind, many preachers (without so much as a blush) are constantly claiming that “God spoke to my heart and said” thus and so. Just a few days ago I heard a “preacher” say, “The Lord said to me, there is someone watching today who . . .” Then he continued by saying, “The Lord spoke to me, and told me to tell that person . . .” Such claims as this to direct communication with God, and God telling these various preachers what to say and do have become all too common.

These men are either self-deluded or outright deceivers, or both! They “say” they believe the Bible is complete, but what they are claiming and doing speak to the contrary! I would walk twenty miles, barefoot, to hear these men explain why we are to heed the things they claim God has said to them, and not listen to the claims of men like Joseph Smith who “said” that God spoke to him!

Every single one of these people who “claim” God has spoken to them are much like the prophets of whom God spoke when he said in Jeremiah 23:21, “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.”

Saul said, “I have done what the Lord said.” Samuel said, “What is all that noise I hear?” Men say, “I believe the Bible is complete.” We need to ask, “What are all those claims to current revelation I hear?”

Congregational Independence

The scribes and Pharisees said they honored their parents, but what they did was disregard the needs of their parents (Matt. 15:1-9). They, by a deceitful “explanation” of God’s commandement, taught that you did not actually have to honor your father and mother.

Let us focus on the Bible fact that each local church of Christ is to be independent and autonomous. Some brethren say they believe this, but what they have done compares to the noise of thousands of sheep and oxen!

What is meant by the term “autonomy”? I once read what I believe is an excellent description of this Bible principle. There were six points. A congregation of God’s people is authorized by God to: (1) control its own resources; (2) control its own work and worship (within the doctrine of Christ); (3) manage its own affairs; (4) exercise congregational discipline; (5) provide for its own; and (6) govern itself in matters of judgment. All of the above are to be done under the oversight of a plurality of elders when and if men are qualified (scripturally).

In the New Testament each congregation was indeed independent and autonomous. No congregation was ever authorized by God to become involved in the affairs of another congregation. God limited the oversight of a group of elders to the local church of which they are a part. There is no Bible authority for elders of one congregation to exercise oversight of another congregation; there is no authoritry for them to control the resources of another congregation; there is no authority for them to own and control the property of another congregation; there is no authority for them to transfer ownership of that property to a third congregation; and there is no authority for that congregation to sell the property and thereby force the church meeting on the property to leave their place of assembly.

But, all of this was done, and it was done by those who say that they believe in the independence and autonomy of each local church. No wonder Jesus said, “These people . . . honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Matt. 15:8)”

I would walk twenty miles, barefoot, to hear someone try to scripturally “justify” such control and “oversight” of elders. I would walk a second twenty miles, still barefoot, to hear a preacher seek to give Bible authority for a church to receive and dispose of another congregation’s property!

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 6, pp. 163-164
March 19, 1992