Seventh story
Alexander Campbell, one of the founders of the Restoration Movement, is noted for many things. A couple of things that are rarely commented on, but very important to my point of view, are his attitudes toward his debate opponents and toward those who disagreed with his writings in his periodicals.
Campbell engaged in a series of debates over the course of his career, some with national notoriety. One was moderated by Henry Clay himself. And he managed to get through each of these without personal invective and often forming a close, personal bond with his opponent. Campbell felt that it was critical to treat his opponents as well as he wished to be treated.
One of his most important debates was against a famous atheist, Robert Owen, and Campbell had Owen has a house guest at his farm. They remained friends afterwards, despite their fundamental disagreements.
As editor of the Christian Baptist and later the Millennial Harbinger, Campbell had an open editorial policy, that is, he published articles that he disagreed with. And while he often published his reply as well, he didn’t always. He commented that he saw no reason for the Movement to have multiple publications, as he happily published all views!
Campbell was not unique in this regard, but he was rare. David Lipscomb maintained the same attitude in publishing the Gospel Advocate in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. But very few see any sense in publishing what they consider error.
Eighth story
In early 2008, the Quail Springs Church of Christ added a second service — an instrumental one — and this is how two preachers of the gospel responded —
The church of Christ, planned by the Father (Eph. 3:10), purchased by the Son (Acts 20:28), and pattern perfected by the Holy Spirit (Jho. 16:13; Acts 2:42) is described by deity as a monogamous marriage to Christ our Lord (Eph. 5:23-25). Thus spiritual whoredom, adultery and fornication are words often used to describe those who would depart God’s covenant for another (cf. Hos. 9:1; Jas. 4:4). My friend, when God calls you a whore, you a whore! …
The heated passion between Mark Henderson and Baptist doctrine continued to ignite further apostasy with each passing day. These two adulterers found it hard to even be apart one single day. This ongoing whorish activity by Mark and his followers resulted in illegitimate children. These twin demons known as Bootlegger and Innovator caused so much havoc at QS that many of the brethren called for his firing. The power of politics and cowardly leaders tolerated Mark, his spiritual affair, and his twins, to reside all the while despite brethren in and out of the congregation calling for his termination. Embarrassment swept over the entire brotherhood that a congregation would allow a so-called minister to have a spiritual affair and give him a pay raise for doing so. The denomination now known as The Family of God at Quail Springs has joined with Mark in this affair.
How tragic it is that dirty rendezvous has ended in the death the Quail Springs Church of Christ. Some sought to use the electric paddles repeatedly in hopes of shocking the life back into this church. After several attempts many recognized that the QS had indeed flat lined and no life was left. After a long and intense disease, the attending physician officially pronounced the QS dead. Today, we wear black, as we sit and mourn the loss of an entire congregation to death by spiritual suicide. One unnamed spectator reported that as the body lay in the emergency room grasping for any hopes of life that it was Mark Henderson, known spiritual adulterer that was grinning ear to ear, as he gently pressed his foot on the oxygen supply cord until the very end. …
In a related story, Mark Henderson, has been charged by the Holy Spirit for bootlegging Baptist doctrine and sneaking it into the church of Christ without permission. Evidently Mark has now fired his famous lawyer and will be representing himself at the Judgment (cf. 1 Jho. 2:1-2). His former lawyer wrote, “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, [QS] because thou sufferest that [man, Henderson], which calleth [himself a pastor], to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave [him] space to repent of [his] fornication; and [he] repented not. Behold, I will cast [him] into a bed, and them that commit adultery with [him] into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill [his] children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works” (Rev. 2:20-23).
Sounds positively medieval, doesn’t it? Not only is Quail Springs in error, it seems that they are beyond any requirement that we love them. I guess this makes them worse than enemies.
Jay,
I was once one of these people. I am a graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching. I know many of the men who continue their efforts to defame and deface those whom they differ with. Even before I left their company it was a sticking point with me. While I always wanted to understand my opponent and have a fair debate with them, many of them would prefer to use any means at their disposal to appear right regardless of whether the person's character was maligned or doctrine distorted.
I believe much of this goes back to the first generation of ultra-conservatives and to one man more than many others: Ira Rice Jr., founding editor of "Contending for the Faith." He never fought fair and was gleeful about it. The ultra-conservative movement has taken his spirit and drank from it freely.
I can only be grateful to God for showing me the error of my ways and leading me to some rather unorthodox Christian Church brethren that allowed me to heal from the attitude that permeates their movement.
Joe,
I remember Ira Rice well. He used to write that Lipscomb University taught students how to speak in tongues — which was a total lie. The man was utterly without scruples — and honored by many for it.