Robert Woodknow's difficulties in finding a church home

Front matter

Class _iiX_: \._

Book..

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Introduction

By C. H. Forney, D. D.

The author of this book is favorably known as a pious, devoted and earnest minister, of methodical and studious habits, a diligent searcher after truth, whose chief weapon is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Just as a Christian man knows God in his own experience, so the author of these pages speaks out of his personal experience as a student of God's word. The spontaneous religious beliefs of men in the ruder ages rest on what they have felt and known of the presence and power of the supernatural in and about them, so our young brother's faith rests on the testimony of God in his word. This fact is forcibly evinced all through this book.

And yet there are two other appropriate reflections in order here. The one is, that as demonstrative proof is not expected as to many well-founded beliefs of the world, so it is not peculiar that positions taken on questions discussed in this book are open to a variety of objections which are difficult to answer. This is in a measure due to a misleading tendency in modern thought to set up an unreasonable standard of proof as necessary for active belief. But the rigid adherence to the inspired testimony throughout this book corrects this tendency and brings the reader to face a "thus saith the Lord" on every point.

The other thought is, that there is no more inspiring reflection that can animate an upright and conscien-

4 Introduction

tious minister in the fulfilment of a great mission than the consideration that he is in a sense delegated of God to the work he is doing, and that he must one day appear before him to give an account of his work. Such an inspiration pervades this book. It is the author's burden, so that his words burn as with sacred fire.

The style of the book is colloquial, and is throughout natural and fascinating. The writer has a clear, strong grip of his characters. As one reads along its pregnant pages he feels himself in the presence of two character's admirably described in their respective names. This book evidently was burned into the author's heart by a supernatural fire. The author is a Bible student. He leads his inquiring friend not to the intricate logical formulas of Whately, or Hamilton, or Aristotle ; but invariably to the more sure word of the Lord. No one can err in taking up this book for prayerful, conscientious study. It can be earnestly commended to all who are inquiring for the old paths and who seek for the good way that they may walk therein, and who have conscientious scruples against removing the ancient landmarks which the fathers have set. For its clearness of thought, its perspicuity of expression and for its prevailing scripturalism it deserves high praise.

The Church Advocate Office, Harrisburg, Pa.

Chapter I

"This is none other but the house of God. * * And he called the name of that place Bethel." — Gen. 28:17, 19.

ONE evening while Pastor Lovetruth, of Ismville, was sitting in his study, meditating upon his w r ork of the day, a sharp ring of the door bell was heard, as if the caller had some matter of unusual importance. In answering the call he found at the door a neatly dressed young man of some marks of intelligence. The minister's first thought was that the young man was contemplating matrimony and was in search of some one to tie the nuptial knot. The thought is pardonable on the part of Pastor Lovetruth. Ministers are only human. After the usual words of greeting the young man was invited in and taken to the sitting room.

"You do not know T me, I presume," the stranger said, as he took a seat and leisurely laid his hat by the side of the chair.

"No, I do not," replied Pastor Lovetruth. ''However, I am always ready to form new acquaintances. May I inquire your name?"

"Robert Woodknow is what they call me. I am an employe of the Union Iron Works of this place. I am a stranger here, having been in your town but a little more than two months. I am trying to live a Christian life and find that the influences about public works are distinctively bad, which makes the effort very difficult. I feel that I need help."

6 Robert Woodkturufs Difficulties

"In what respect do you feel the need of help ?" inquired Pastor Lovetruth.

"I feel I ought to have a church home. I was always taught to go to church and Sunday-school, and now since away from home, and among strangers, I feel the need of these influences more than ever. But I cannot satisfy myself what church I ought to join/'

"I admire your spirit, Mr. Woodknow, very much."

"Don't call me Mr. Woodknow/' retorted Pastor Lovetruth's visitor; "just call me Robert; it will seem more home-like."

"If it is no offense, I will do so. And your desire in seeking a church home is a most noble one. After Paul was converted he went to Jerusalem and joined himself to the disciples of the Jerusalem church. A religious life independent of the church has been compared to buying a ticket for Chicago and then riding on the platform. It would be more pleasant for the passenger holding the ticket to go inside."

"I should think so," said Robert. "For myself," he added, "I have looked upon my present experience as similar to that of the fruit tree by the roadside. It is the property of everybody and nobody. You can never pass it but what its branches are literally filled with bats, clubs and palings. Every boy in the community feels free to do as he pleases with it. But how great the care of the trees in the orchard."

"What an apt illustration; Robert," added Pastor Lovetruth. "I can find use for your figure some time in a sermon. I shall remember it."

"Thank you. But what church am I to join ? They all claim to be right, yet each seemingly, is going in a different direction. I have tried ever since here to decide which church to join, but for the life of me I cannot. Being somewhat impressed with the Bethel church, I felt that I should like to know more about it. I am more or less acquainted with the teachings of the other churches in this place."

"Excuse me, Robert/' retorted Pastor Lovetruth, just a little agitated at Robert's one remark; "if you are seeking information about the Bethel church you must go elsewhere for it. I know of no such church."

That was a revelation to Robert Woodknow of a most mysterious type. He thought a moment, but the words of the minister only grew more mysterious. Finally he said, "That's strange, I don't understand you. Are you not the minister of the Bethel church over on Elm street ?"

"No, Robert, I am not."

"The people so inform me. If I mistake not I saw the word Bethel on the church in which I heard you preach the few times I attended your services."

"That might all be. You will find the word Bethel on nearly all our houses of worship."

"Why is it, then, that you say you are not the Bethel minister? Some of your members speak of you as such. Are not Mr. Littleknow and Mr. Seldomthink members of your church? Mr. Littleknow works with me in the shops."

"Yes, both are members. Mr. Littleknow is one of my elders. But it is not a rare thing for persons either by word or deed to misrepresent the body of Christ. Do you remember of ever reading (I think it is in the latter part of the seventeenth chapter of Matthew) how Peter misrepresented his Master to the collector at Capernaum in the matter of paying tribute for the maintenance of the Temple services ?"

"No, I do not; how was it?"

"Peter told the collector that the Master paid tribute. He forgot that Jesus was the Son of God, a thing he had confessed only a short time before, and how, that since the Temple was the Father's house, that like the children of the kings of the earth who pay no tribute to their father, it would be absurd for Jesus to pay tribute for the use of the Temple."

But such a digression could not divert Robert's thoughts from Pastor Lovetruth's strange remarks.

"If you are not pastor of the Bethel church, what then ?" queried Robert.

"I am pastor of the 'church of God/ You are not the only person who has asked for an explanation of this matter. The two names have confused many. Even my own people are not clear on the subject, as shown by what you said about my elder, Mr. Littleknow."

Robert confessed that Pastor Lovetruth's use of the two terms puzzled him, and asked for a still further explanation.

"It is this way, Robert; we apply the name Bethel to the house of worship and the name 'church of God' to the people who worship in it. Just as you would speak of a home and family as two. I think I can make this clear to your mind if you will take my Bible for a moment."

Robert knew what was coming. He took the Book hesitatingly, as though he feared he might show some ignorance of its contents in not being able to turn to the references promptly.

"We will soon see/' said Pastor Lovetruth, "whether the church is a living, spiritual body of men, or a dead, inanimate structure of wood, brick or stone. Suppose, Robert, you turn to Acts the 14th chapter and 27th verse and tell me, in your own words, what is said of the church there."

He turned to the place, and said, "The church was 'gathered together/ "

"Very well. Now, could that mean the building or the people?"

"The people, of course."

"The church, then, is the people. They don't gather buildings together. They build them together. Jerusalem, it is said, was builded as a city that was compact together. But suppose you get Acts 20:28 and see what was done with the church there."

"The church was fed."

"Now, what did they feed, the people or the building?"

"Why, the people. A fool would know that."

"Not too hasty, Robert; you might make the large majority of Christendom fools, as few religious bodies discriminate between the people of God and the house of God. But, once more, get Matthew 18:17. What is the action there ?"

"They 'tell the church/ "

"Now, what did they tell, the people or the buildins?"

"The people, as before."

"Then, Robert, you have gathering, feeding, telling, all of which ought to make it clear to your mind that the word church, as used in the Scriptures, always refers to the people of God and never to the house of God. Furthermore, Robert, at a number of places* it can be found where the church is spoken of as being inside of houses, which also goes to show that the church is one thing, and the house in which the church meets quite another. "

"But why do you use the name 'Bethel?' " inquired Robert.

"That is easily answered. If you will turn to the book of Genesis at the 28th chapter you will find that Jacob said of the place in which he had the vision of the ladder: 'Surely the Lord is in this place. This is none other but the house of God * * * And he called the name of that place Bethel/ Now, Robert, what is a Bethel ?"

"None other but a house of God, I presume, according to Jacob's statement."

"Now, then, if Bethel is none other but the house ■of God I have no right whatever to apply it to anything else; no right to make Bethel mean both the house of God and the people of God. So when I speak of a Bethel I can speak of only the house of God and must never apply it to the people of God. If some one should ask me what the White House at Washington is I could very consistently say, It is none other but the house of the President. If I attempted in Finding a Church Home n

to widen its meaning and should call the president's family by the name of the house I would make a most ludicrous blunder. Roosevelt is the name of the President and his family and White House the name of the building in which the Roosevelt family reside. It that not clear enough ?"

"I think I see it now."

"It is provokingly amusing, Robert, to see how ignorantly people speak of these things, even some who ought to be better informed. It is not a rare thing to find in the local items of the daily and weekly papers items such as, The church of God received a coat of paint recently, which zvas much admired; or The church of God was burned dozen last night, or The church of God zvas damaged by the recent heavy storm. Now, wouldn't it be a horrible sight to see the people of God walking about daubed with a coat of paint, or to see them burned as in the Dark Ages. They don't mean the church of God at all. It was a Bethel that was painted, a Bethel that was burned, a Bethel that was damaged by the storm. When the Pennsylvania State Capitol was burned in 1897 they didn't say the State Legislature was burned. On the other hand, they are apt to call the people of God by the name of the house of God. For instance, they say, The Bethel church picnicked last zveek and had an enjoyable time ; or, The Bethel church decided to begin a protracted vi ee ting next Sunday. Just think of a large church building going off on a picnic excursion ! or a building making up its mind to hold a protracted meeting. It was the church that picnicked, and the church that decided to hold a series of meetings."

12 Robert Woodknovfs Difficulties

"Then every house of worship you call a Bethel church ?"

"No, not a Bethel church, only a Bethel. To say Bethel church would be equivalent to saying, house of God church, for Bethel means house of God. Or you might with the same propriety speak of a school building as a school-house school. Yet if the buildings dedicated to God for his worship are churches, then they are churches of God.'''

"How clear it is," said Robert, "when a person once fully understands it."

"Yes," replied Pastor Lovetruth, "if only more would make this matter a subject of careful study. I shall never forget the day when my mind was changed on these things. It was some years ago. I was listening to a sermon by Mr. Dauntless. It was a powerful exposition of the church ; her origin, her name, her mission, and her future glory. I shall never forget it. Incidentally he said, 'It impresses me that some of the churches are grossly inconsistent in their severe denunciations of the Roman Catholics because they deify the Virgin Mary and make the Apostle Peter the vicegerent of Jesus Christ.'' He then grew eloquent, as he continued, 'If Jesus should come into one of our large cities some Sunday morning and seek for a house of his Father's in which to worship, what would be the result ? I fancy I see him as he enters the city. He walks up to a beautiful church building, expecting it to be his Father's house, but is suddenly and painfully disappointed to find it St. Peter's, so marked on the corner-stone. He starts off for another street. In the distance is another church building. Says he within himself, "Surely this is my Father's house." But how keen again the disappointment to find on a tablet of marble over the main entrance, "St. Paul's/' He goes in a different direction. Several squares before him rises the spire of a building which fairly kisses the sky. The thought comes to his mind. What devotion ! What sacrifice ! What a grand and full expression of love for my Father ! Surely all this could be for none less worthy than He. But alas ! he finds that cathedrallike structure built to the memory of "St. John/' He travels till night-fall, but finds not one house built in the name of his Father. The creature is magnified more than the Creator. The childen are honored more than the parent. Foot-sore and tired he turns from the great metropolis. A tear drops from his cheek as he says, "The strength of the hills is my Father's/' And in the twilight he goes to the mountain to pray. On his way to the mountain he sees before him a small, unpretentious, frame structure built on a little plot of ground a short distance in from the roadside. In the homely little building were gathered the little flock of the Lord's people of that community. They were singing, "I'm the child of a King." As Jesus arrived at the door he heard,

A tent or a cottage, why should I care, They're building a palace for me over there ; Though exiled from home, yet still I may sing, All glory to God, I'm the child of a King.

A glance above the door of that eye which never slumbers or sleeps, revealed a tablet of wood on which was painted, in faded black letters, the word Bethel.

14 Robert Woodknozris Difficulties

"House of God," said Jesus, as he interpreted the meaning of the word Bethel. He went in and worshiped with his disciples who had met in the house of their Father. The hearts of the worshipers strangely burned within them, though none knew that the visitor was the King eternal/ "

"No wonder, Mr. Lovetruth," said Robert, "that you never torgot those words. Such a burning picture is enough to put any one to thinking."

"And, Robert, it is not overdrawn, either. If we could look into the heart of Jesus and read his feelings we would see just such a picture as that described by Mr. Dauntless. Imagine the three thousand believers of Pentecost building houses of worship in different parts of Jerusalem and naming them after the Apostles. It would have been but little less than idolatry. It is no better now. Peter once suggested building tabernacles* for Moses and Elias, but the Lord never allowed it to get beyond a suggestion."

But Robert Woodknow has another query for Pastor Lovetruth. Says he, "But what right have you people to call yourselves the 'church of God?' Is not every church a church of God ?"

"We do not call ourselves the 'church of God;' the Lord does that. All Christians are alike entitled to the name. We have no copyright on it. We accept it as our privilege; other believers have the same right.''*

"But isn't it presumption to assume such liberty?"

"I think not. When Jesus was offered to you as your Savior from sin, was it presumption on your part in accepting him, when so many refused to take the same liberty ?"

"Certainly not. I dare not be governed in my religious liberties by what others do and do not do. Must I go to hell because some will not go to heaven?"

"Well, then, if you accept the Lord for such reasons, why should I hesitate to accept his name for the same reasons? Ethnologically I call myself a Caucasian, because I am such; other white men have the same privilege. But if they choose to call themselves something else, and persist in it, it is no fault of mine. But by what name would you call the church, Robert ?"

"I h-a-r-d-1-y know/' he said, with just a little stammer in his speech. "There are so many names."

"But do you know, Robert. Does not the church belong to God? Whose church, then, is it?"

"The church of God, I guess."

"No guess about it. It is God's church and you can not make anything else out of it. We are like the Prodigal. In his family relation he asked to be a hired servant, which w T as the same as being another man's son, but in his prayer he was fully orthodox, for he said 'Father,' etc., which was an admission of his sonship. One place he used a name that denied his sonship, but in prayer a name that emphasized it. And do we not say 'Abba, Father' over and over again in our devotions, which is only another way of confessing that we are God's children. But when we speak of the family, the church, we use names which make us the children of Wesley, Calvin, Luther, Otterbein and others. If we speak of God as our Father in prayer we ought also to speak of him as our Father in i6 Robert Woodknou/s Difficulties

relation to the family, the church. If he is the head of the individual he is also the head of the family, the church."

Just then Mr. Lovetruth's little daughter, Alia, a tot of no more than three summers, entered the room. "Papa, kiss baby good-night," she said as she ran into the minister's arms. As she left Robert said,

"Is it so late? I'm sorry I have taken so much of your valuable time. These few hours could have been spent to better advantage. They could have been given to work in behalf of your entire congregation."

"The time, I trust, has been well spent. Jesus held extended conversations with single individuals. He never considered the time lost that he spent with Nicodemus and the woman at the well."

Robert saw his opportunity and said, "If agreeable to you, Mr. Lovetruth, I should like to make an engagement with you for some other evening."

Monday evening was set.

"But before you go, Robert, let me read you a clipping from the Christian Standard, the organ of the Disciples or Christian Church. You may think over it until next Monday evening. It shows how religious bodies are being agitated over the subject we have just been discussing."

Pastor Lovetruth read the clipping with expression. Few ministers are good readers.

Within the past year numerous articles have been written regarding this subject and no doubt they have done good, for we are noticing the scriptural name — church of Christ — more frequently in our papers than formerly. Some writers have expended much thought on the name "Christian," saying truthfully that the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. That fact is not under discussion, for no one denies that it is correct to speak of individuals as Christians. But the name of the church is another question, which many writers in their labored articles seem to overlook. The Methodists name their Church after the actions or methods of men ; the Presbyterians after the rulers or presbytery; the Baptists after John the Baptist or the ordinance of baptism; the Congregationalists after the form of government of their bodies. So we see that these names are purely human names, of human origin, and they place men, methods, government and ordinances above Christ, the founder of the body known as his church, for he said, "On this rock I will build my church." Were I to ask any reader of this article whether Christ is a Christian, you would all answer no, because he is the Christ; and you would also say that believing, obedient men and women are Christians. That being true it logically follows that whenever any person speaks of the Christian Church, he takes the name from the individuals composing the body. * * * Don't you think it is high time that we are willing to give the founder — the head of the church — the honor of naming it after him, and not after the men and women who compose it? My position on this question can not be successfully contradicted. Then why should our preachers and editors continue to use the unscriptural and human name "Christian Church ?" thereby teaching the people an error. The church of Christ is scriptural, and gives the honor to Christ who is its founder and its head. Many are wishing and hoping for a reformation in this matter.

Robert listened attentively to every word. After thanking Mr. Lovetruth for his interest in him he passed out into the street to meditate upon the new revelations concerning the church. Pastor Lovetruth retired that night, thanking God that the Spirit had led one sincere inquirer after a better understanding of the. church.

R W— 2

Chapter II

"Thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name." — Isaiah 62:2.

THE appointed hour of Monday evening came, but Robert Woodknow failed to appear. "Was the young man not sincere in his promise? Has he really deceived me? Would the Lord allow his servant to be thus vexed by an imposter?" Pastor Lovetruth soliloquized, as he impatiently waited. Half an hour passed and Robert was still an unknown quantity. But hark! there are footfalls. They proved to be those of Robert Woodknow's.

"What kept you so long, Robert ?" inquired Pastor Lovetruth, somewhat chidingly.

"I met Everett Knowall on my way here, who inquired where I was going. I told him and tried to explain to him what you told me one week ago."

"What did you tell him, Robert?"

"Why, I told him that you said the Church of God was the only church that was right, at which saying he became very indignant and said some very harsh things about you."

"I dto't hope, Robert, that you told him such a thing?"

"Of course I did ; isn't that what you have been trying to teach me ?"

"No, no, Robert ; I never said anything of the kind. I'm sorry you talked on the subject at all. Your action is as bad as that of the disciples of John, who got into a dispute with the Jews on the question* of purifying. They confounded baptism with the Jewish washings and then claimed superiority for it. Baptism was no washing at all. It was an ordinance of different and higher significance than the Jewish washings. The Lord's supper, or the eating of bread and the drinking of wine, could be abused in the same way ; it could be classed with an after-supper lunch. The fact is that the truth has suffered much by novices who have more zeal than knowledge and who run off with a half truth. I regret exceedingly, Robert, that you have done this/'

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Lovetruth. I did not mean to misrepresent you. I did it ignorantly."

"Pardon is granted. My position is this, Robert : the church is a divine institution and should be called by the divine name, the Church of God. Bible things should be called by Bible names and non-biblical things should be called by non-biblical names."

"But what is there in a name anyhow ? I don't think that we ought to make so much fuss about a name."

"You may not think so, Robert, but your Bible does. It lays special emphasis on names. Jesus was so named because he was to ( saze his people from their sins/ He was also called Emanuel because he was 'God with us/ Moses was so named because he was 'taken out of the zcater/ Simon was called Cephas, meaning a stone. Luz was called Bethel after the Lord's presence had made it a house of God. Jacob, whose name meant supplanter, or cheat, was called Israel or prince of God after his conflict with the angel. Nothing in a name ! you say. We pray in a name. We were saved by the only name given under heaven

2o Robert Woodknoufs Difficulties

among men. When every knee shall bow it will be at that name which is above every name. Why, Robert, if you do away with names you will rob the Bible of its beauty and our religion of its sweetness. And, Robert, what gives such hymns as 'His name dispels my guilt and fear/ 'How sweet the name of Jesus sounds' and 'Take the name of Jesus with you/ sentiment and beauty ?"

"I don't know, unless it is the name of Jesus found in them. The first hymn that you mentioned was my mother's favorite. It was an unseen solace to her in times of trouble.''

"No doubt of that. But strike the name Jesus from the hymns and you will have nothing but chaff left. They would go out of use at once. The name Jesus is to our hymnology what the tree shown to Moses by the Lord was to the bitter waters of Marah. The tree sweetened the waters.* There must be something in a name after all."

Robert's face took a serious expression. The hymn took his mind back to his home. The angelic form of his dear mother came up before him.

"Robert/' continued Pastor Lovetruth, "why did Jesus give no answer to the Syrophonecian woman when she appealed to him in behalf of her daughter who was sorely vexed with a devil?"

"I suppose to try her faith."

"No, not to try her faith ; it was because of a name. She addressed Jesus as the 'Son of David/ Son of David was his Jewish title and she, being a Gentile, had no right to use it. As a result Jesus answered her not a word. No Gentile could possibly have intercourse with Jesus under that title. And when the disciples took up the woman's cause and asked for her a blessing, to them Jesus said, 'I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel/ The woman, overheard the words. Her keen, far-sighted, intelli^ gent faith at once saw in those words the utter impossibility of securing help for her daughter from Jesus as the 'Son of David/ The blessings of the 'Son of David' were for David's sons, the Jews. She dropped that part of his title, worshiped him and said, 'Lord, help me.' She was now near a blessing. She then placed herself in right relation to Jesus under that name and got more than she asked for. Don't say, then, Robert, that Jesus did it to try the woman's faith. It would have been cruel on the part of Jesus to say the least of it. And how 7 almost brutal for him to answer her not a word if it was only to try her faith. But not so. It is a dreadful illustration of the absolute inflexibility of the laws of the spiritual world. Jesus' names and titles stand for something and dare not be prostituted to improper uses. It may seem a hard saying, Robert, but if the poor woman had persisted in the use of the Jewish title the help of Christ for her daughter would have been impossible."