Voice Of The Valley Volume 2 Issue 1 January, 1996

The Good Old Days!! by Paul Rockwell

We often speak of years and times gone by as 'the good old days". When groceries were much cheaper than they are now. When houses and cars were sold for hundreds of dollars instead of thousands of dollars. In this article, we want to speak of "the good old days" of the church. Here in the valley when I was a boy (I am now 68 years old) there was peace in the valley. Brethren from all up and down the valley attended each others meetings. There was a feeling of love and concern for all members of the Lord's church. When there was a gospel meeting, the house was filled every night. There were singings on Sunday afternoons, the houses were full. God's praises filled the air, preacher would have sermons and brethren would go home ready to fight the good fight of faith, opposing denominationalism, Catholicism, evolution, worldliness of all kinds. It was not uncommon to have 25-40 people respond to the gospel call. I remember Tom Butterfield holding a meeting at Middlebourne, W.V. and 26 responded to the Lord's invitation to change their lives in one evening service. Meetings sometimes lasted for 3-4 weeks because the interest was such that it demanded the effort. Although brethren supported and co-operated in these gospel efforts, each congregation maintained its autonomous nature. The peace and harmony of the churches began to be broken in the 1950's when an effort was made by some preachers to introduce human institutions and sponsoring church arrangements to be supported from church treasuries. Highland Avenue church in Abilene, TX sent preachers all over the nation to talk churches into sending funds to the Highland Avenue church that they may put on the air a program called "The Herald of Truth". After brethren thought this arrangement through, opposition began to arise and division followed. Other efforts were made to put the college into the budget of the church, opposition arose and to overcome this opposition preachers introduced the emotional plea to support orphan homes, and old peoples homes. When brethren were opposed to the church, building, owning and operating any kind of a human institution from the money of the treasury that was contributed to the Lord for preaching the gospel, edifying saints, caring for the needy saints, they were labeled "orphan haters", "opposed to preaching the gospel", "anti-cooperation brethren" and further division occurred. To breakdown and uphold these unscriptural arrangements, brethren who used to preach and practice the doctrine of speaking where the scriptures speak and remaining silent where the scriptures are silent, doing things in Bible ways, using Bible terms to speak of Bible things, calling upon people to go back to the Bible, give us book, chapter, and verse to the law and testimony, establishing authority by command, approved example, or necessary inference, changed their preaching to "there are many things we do without Bible authority and indeed we don't need any", what the individual can do the church can do, "Let us have unity in diversity." Let us establish a new way of establishing authority, "a new Hermeneutics." Let the elders decide what is right or wrong for a church to practice and further division and innovations rapidly followed. Church sponsored youth camps, youth ministers, social suppers, recreation, multipurpose rooms, youth rallies followed the doctrine of ministering to the whole man. The fight of truth shifted from fighting denominationalism, Catholicism, evolution, and worldliness to fighting the unscriptural doctrines and practices of liberalism in the church. In the late 1950's, Jacob Lee Himes and W.L. Toty debated these issues at Paden City, W.V. Later, brother Cecil Willis and Clifton Inman debated the Herald of Truth program at Parkersburg, W.V. Following this debate Connie Adams and Clifton Inman debated these issues at Middlebourne, W.V. Much good was accomplished and truth was upheld. Some congregations were turned away from transgression. Some younger men began to call brethren back to scriptural authority for all that is done and taught. These young men were told by some of the older preachers to hold to that position. We would be left behind, black balled and would not be used as preachers, others such as C.D. Plum were encouraged to hold fast to the faith, many held their ground, rooted in the faith. As a result, many congregations here in the valley are upholding truth, doing the Lord's work in a scriptural way, having reverence for the head of the church, recognizing the authority of Jesus Christ in all that they do, glorifying God through him. They are at peace and are growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Many of us who are now older in years still long for another time in history for "The good old days" when brethren can be unified. All walking by the same rule, having love and concern for each other and supporting each others work. Striving to reverence Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior, and glorifying God through him. We believe this time will never be if there is compromise and indifference on the part of the faithful, but holding fast, receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and walking in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, not allowing ourselves to be spoiled by philosophy and vain deceit and traditions of men. Recognizing that in Christ dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead and we are complete in Christ, who is the head of all principality and power. Perhaps sometime in the future, our children or grandchildren will enjoy a similar time in their history as "The Good Old Days."