CRISIS AND CONTROVERSY
Restoration History #10

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Growth 1906-1946

• 1906 - 159,658
• 1916 - 317,937
• 1926 - 435,714
• 1936 - 309,551
• 1946 - 682,172

Aftermath of 1906

• Debate
  - Controversy was the only way to reach consensus without creeds or conventions
• Dissension
  - Congregational division over various issues was common before 1930’s
• Disempowerment
  - Afraid to do anything for fear of doing something wrong

Trivia or Truth?

• Baptistery or Running River?
• A plate for the bread or not?
• Extend an invitation or wait for the question?
• Elders or no elders?
• Any song or just those addresses to the Lord?

The Sunday School Issue

• Opposition to Sunday Schools
  - Unauthorized [silence of Scripture]
  - Biblical pattern instructed parents to teach children
• 1925 - Directory of Non-Class churches assembled
• The Apostolic Way listed the faithful preachers and churches.

The Cup Question

• In the 1920’s multiple containers for the communion became common
• At issue was the pattern of the Lord’s Supper prescribed in Scripture
  - Multiple cups were unauthorized
  - The one cup was an element of the communion pattern
• The faithful were listed in the Old Paths Advocate.

Millennial Controversy

• R. H. Boll - 1915 Gospel Advocate articles
• Believed the prophetic sections of Scripture should be examined
• Was told to quit writing. He then started a new journal, Word and Work.

• H. Leo Boles, Pres. Nashville Bible School
• 1927 Boll-Boles debate in Gospel Advocate (May-November)
• After debate Boles invited Boll to speak at NBS Chapel service

• 1933 Neal-Wallace debate; Wallace suggested the issue threatened fellowship.
• Wallace not only condemned Boll, but also those he considered sympathetic with Boll.

• Criticism of Wallace’s crusade
• J. N. Armstrong:
  - Premillennialism was a personal conviction
  - Minority view should be treated graciously

Dynamics of Division

• Focus on observable practice.
• List of “the faithful”
• No fellowship with error
• Methodology more important that theology
• One side opposes divergence from the pattern, the other is indifferent.
  - Silence of Scripture

“Accept the Right, Reject the Left”

Chris Benjamin

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Evening Sermon, 11 May 2008

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