Christianity in America: Rapid Growth and Division (1850-1906)
Rapid Growth The period of 1830-1860 was a period of rapid growth in the number of Disciples Variously called: Disciples of Christ Christian Church Church of Christ
Old Mulkey Meeting House Originally called Mill Creek Baptist Church Led by Philip Mulkey Built in 1804 In 1809 the church split because Mulkey began preaching the restoration gospel The Division “All of you who believe as I do, follow me out the west door.” 150 of the 200 present followed him out The 50 who remained left and started the second Mill Creek Baptist Church United States in 1860 Civil War The nation was divided over States Rights – as it showed itself over the issue of slavery Many denominations split Southern Baptists (1841-1844) Wesleyan Methodists left Methodist Episcopal Chruch (1843); Free Methodist Church Presbyterians (1861) Disciples Stayed Intact The Disciples survived the Civil War without formal division, though there were tensions throughout the brotherhood Pardee Butler, brother of Ovid Butler, founder of Butler University, advocated withdrawing from southern brethren over slavery Clouds on the Horizon While the church did not divide over slavery, there were threatening clouds on the horizon: The missionary society Instrumental music in worship I: The Missionary Society Honorably motivated: to spread the gospel into mission fields Supported by influential brethren, including Alexander Campbell The Missionary Society Concept American Christian Missionary Society Founded in 1849 in Cincinnati, OH Supported by: Alexander Campbell (First President), Isaac Errett, J.B. Briney, W.K. Pendleton Isaac Errett J. B. Briney W.K. Pendleton 1820-1888 1839-1927 1817-1899
Prominent men supporting the missionary society American Christian Missionary Society Opposition arose Jacob Creath, Moses E. Lard Benjamin Franklin, fourth generation descendant of the inventor of the same name, editor of American Christian Review David Lipscomb, Gospel Advocate Benjamin Franklin Moses E. Lard David Lipscomb 1812-1878 1818-1880 1831-1917
Prominent preachers opposing the missionary society Its Justification It is necessary: the church can do comparatively little w/o organization It is expedient: it works It gives smaller churches opportunity to participate in larger works Those against it are anti-missionary work The Bible doesn’t say not to All-Sufficiency of the NT Church A divine architect (Eph. 3:10-11). A perfect blueprint (Heb. 8:5). A perfect builder (Matt. 16:18). Perfect preparations (Mark 1:14-15; Gal. 4:4). A perfect head (Eph. 1:20-23). A perfect law (Jas. 1:25). A perfect mission (Eph. 4:12). Aguments of Those Against It The church is sufficient to do its own work without the creation of a human institution to do it for it (1 Tim. 3:15) There is no Bible authority for a missionary society – no command, example, or necessary inference It creates an association of churches for which there is no Bible instruction about appointing officers, defining their work, etc. It divides brethren Two Views of the Silence of the Scriptures There were two different interpretations of the church which inevitably came into conflict. There were those who believed the church should move on with the world and adapt the spirit of the New Testament to conditions that were ever changing. They held that, when not forbidden by the New Testament, they were free to adapt their program to changing needs. On the other hand, there were those who believed the pattern of the church was fixed for all time, and the fact that certain things were not sanctioned was sufficient ground for rejecting them (A.W., Fortune, The Disciples in Kentucky, 364-365). Two Views Silence Authorizes Silence Prohibits Illustrate: going to grocery Without divine authority, If silence authorizes: one acts presumptuously Infant baptism to bring something into the work & worship of the Sprinkling church Candles/incense in worship That is why the following Musical instruments in are wrong: worship Papacy Infant baptism, sprinkling Musical instruments Not Beyond What Is Written 1 Cor. 4:6 2 John 9-11 1 Pet. 4:11
The position that silence authorizes destroys the restoration plea! II. Mechanical Instruments of Music in Worship
The melodeon introduced into the worship of the church at Midway, KY in 1859. When Were Instruments Introduced? Pope Vitalian (657-672) Greek Orthodox opposed the IM Break in OT and NT Worship
In view of the controversies over the use of instrumental music in worship which have been so violent in the British and American Protestant churches, it is an interesting question whether instruments were employed by the primitive Christians. We know that instruments performed an important function in the Hebrew temple service and in the ceremonies of the Greeks. At this point, however, a break was made with all previous practice, and although the lyre and flute were sometimes employed by the Greek converts, as a general rule, the use of instruments in worship was condemned. Many of the fathers, speaking of religious song, make no mention of instruments; others like Clement of Alexandria and St. Chrysostom, refer to them only to denounce them (Edwin Dickinson, History of Music in the Western Church 54). An Issue Spreading in the Denominations
John L. Girardeau Not the Reason We have a personal distaste for IM in worship We think singing w/o IM accompaniment is better Cultural reasons Cannot afford a piano No one qualified to play it Worship Is divinely revealed Cain and Abel (Gen. 4) Nadab & Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2) Departures in Samaria (1 Kings 12-13) Worship authorized by man is sinful (Matt. 15:8-9) Will worship honors man instead of God (Col. 3:23) Abide in the Doctrine Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds (2 John 9-11). Do Not Add to the Word For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Rev. 22:18-19). Kind of Music Authorized by God
Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26 Acts 16:25 Rom. 15:9 1 Cor. 14:15 Eph. 5:19 Col. 3:16 Heb. 2:12 James 5:13 Attempts to Justify Instruments
David used IM in OT The Bible does not say “not to” The Greek words psallo and psalmos The piano is an “aid” to worship Instruments in heaven Not Just A Piano Early Childhood ministry Baby Dedication Preschool – High School Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting Men’s Open Gym Adult Volleyball League Kickboxing Class Special Olympics Basketball Overeaters Anonymous Depression Support Group Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace Food Pantry Distribution Girl Scout Troop Meeting, Etc. Christian Church/Disciples of Christ Christian Church/Disciples of Christ Papers: Christian Standard Principle Men: Alexander Campbell W.K. Pendleton Isaac Errett J.B. Briney Colleges: Bethany College in Bethany, WV Butler University, Indianapolis, IN College of the Bible, Lexington, KY Institutions: American Christian Missionary Society Churches of Christ
Papers: American Christian Review Gospel Advocate Lard’s Quarterly Principle Men: Jacob Creath Benjamin Franklin Moses E. Lard David Lipscomb Tolbert Fanning Significant Debates
Otey-Briney Debate between W.W. Otey and J.B. Briney, 1908. Boswell-Hardeman Discussion on Instrumental Music in Worship between Ira M. Boswell and N.B. Hardeman, 1923. Is Instrumental Music in Christian Worship Scriptural? between M.D. Cluff and H. Leo Boles, 1927. The Smith-Hunt Debate between Eugene S. Smith and Julian O. Hunt, 1953. Wallace-Hunt Debate between G.K. Wallace and Julian O. Hunt, 1953. Book-Miller Debate on Instrumental Music in Worship between Morris B. Book and James P. Miller, 1955. Chronology 1849 American Christian Missionary Society Began 1855 Gospel Advocate Began 1859 Instrumental music introduced at Midway, KY 1863-1876 Lard’s Quarterly 1866 Christian Standard Began The Result: Division The 1906 U.S. Census was the first to list separately the Christian Church and the Churches of Christ.