Church of Christ Studies

Theory and Practice

I must express the very deep and genuine appreciation that I have, not only because of the presence of this magnificent audience, but because of the many things Brother Acuff has stated, some of which were quite a surprise to me; and while it is truly appreciated, the trust shall be cared for in harmony with the thought that prompted the action taken.

 

To those of you in the rear who cannot be seated I pledge my word not to speak at length on this last occasion.

 

You have listened to Brother Acuff's splendid review of this meeting and to his suggestions so well made, and now I hope to have your usual attention at this last effort on my part.

 

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit." That is from the sixth chapter of the book of Hebrews, first to the third verses.

 

The suggestions here made are applicable to any company or organization. "Let us go on unto perfection." The Bible is a wonderfully simple book in so many respects, especially those parts that have directly to do with man's duty. From first to last, throughout its sacred pages, every phase and condition of life is presented to us under such pictures as carry but two points therewith. In fact, in the final reduction of the complexities of our existence, there are but two things that ought to challenge and interest mankind. I suggest them for your consideration. One is the proper conception, the right theory; the other, the correct practice. It is unfortunate that people launch out into the activities of life, conscious of their responsibility unto God, without having thoroughly studied the principles and the theory of our existence among men. When that has been mastered and thoroughly comprehended, there is but one other duty, and that is to fill our obligations, to carry the correct theory into practice, and thereby discharge the duties binding upon us. Therefore the statement in the old terms, "Theory and practice."

 

It is not only true of our religion and of our Christianity, but it is true of every occupation and every endeavor of life. If a man be a farmer, first of all, he needs to learn the theory of agriculture; he needs to understand the elements that go to make up the fertility of the soil; he needs to understand the nature of plants and the character of seeds and the processes by which certain things are developed according to natural laws. After that he only needs to rise with the voice of the birds and earnestly till the earth and cultivate the crop to insure a bountiful harvest.

 

If a man wants to be a lawyer, I have an idea that those same two things are true. First, he needs to become acquainted with the common principles of law and to learn the very foundation upon which the laws of our great republic are based. After that he needs to be able to apply the facts of the law and the principles thereof unto the many and varied conditions of our relationships here.

 

Just so, my friends, to-night, in the proclamation of the word of God, I need to study God's word; I need to understand, as much as possible, the human family; I need to know the way, the path, the outline, that has been left by the matchless Leader of humanity. When these things are thoroughly learned, I should preach the word, contend for the faith, and shun not to declare the whole counsel of God.

 

I say it to you candidly that I came to you as a stranger from the country and from a small town; but to-night, after thirty and nine addresses in your midst, I would be ashamed to go back home unto those with whom I mix and mingle if I were conscious of the fact that in the presence of any living man I had failed to tell the story of the cross. Hence, in living a Christian life, I have tried to insist upon but two things that you understand what the terms of salvation are and that you be led by the full appreciation thereof out of darkness into the marvelous light of the kingdom of God. After that, you take up the line of march and faithfully discharge the duties all along the pathway of life till, worn and weary, He shall touch you as one of His jewels of earth and bid you come home to all the joys of "over there."

 

Now, in the pictures presented in the New Testament, life has these two scenes: For instance, in the sixth chapter of the book of Ephesians, Paul pictures our career as one of a great warfare, in which he said: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." That is the theory, that is the preparation. Then what? "Unsheathe the sword of the Spirit." March out under Heaven's flag, true to the command of Him who is our leader, and fight the battle until He bids us stack arms on fairer fields and in brighter climes.

 

In the twelfth chapter of the book of Hebrews life is pictured as if it were a great race track, upon which we enter at the beginning with all our impediments and hindrances laid aside. We are washed and cleansed as a new-born babe. This is the preparation, the theory. Then run in the straight and narrow path that leads from this to the pilgrim's home beyond, until at last we pass under the wire in the final home stretch and receive the crown that fades not away.

 

But in the lesson of tonight it is not that of warfare, nor​ yet that of a race; but, as the matchless apostle said, I want you to view life in the likeness of a great building, in which there are just two parts—first, the foundation, laid wide, broad, deep, safe, and secure upon the rock of eternal ages. Having done that, he said: "Brethren, let us then go on unto perfection." Let us erect the corner posts, then put up the studs, then the siding, then the roof, and at last adorn it and make it ready for God's acceptance in the by and by.

 

When Paul said, "Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ," I am quire sure he did not mean in the sense of denying or minimizing or repudiating, but simply the application of these foundation principles unto the higher problems of life.

 

When boys and girls come to school, if as yet they are unlearned and untutored, we begin with the foundation principles of mathematics and teach them to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. When these are thoroughly mastered, we say: "Let us leave these principles." That does not mean that we are never to add any more. That does not mean to deny or make less of multiplication, but it does mean: "Let us leave those principles as such." Let us go on and apply them to compound numbers, fractions, interest, bank discount, partial payments, and the higher problems in mathematical lines. So when Paul said, "Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ," he surely meant for those Hebrews to go on and apply those principles to the duties and obligations of life. Think on his suggestion: "Let us go on unto perfection."

 

Every word is of easy origin, and yet laden with such splendid meaning. When Paul said, "Let us go on unto perfection," it means an encouragement, admonition, and exhortation. When I say to you, "Brethren and friends, let us- do it," I mean to imply that I am in; that I will help. Let me say to you that men differ not from other animals of the earth in that they need encouragement all along the pathway of life. The boy out in the field with his favorite dog understands the philosophy thereof; and when on the trail of the rabbit, he encourages, admonishes, and exhorts him to do his best. The dog, the ox, the horse—every animal, including man—responds to proper encouragement.

 

I am sure that numbers of us have made various mistakes along the pathway of life. Hundreds of fine boys and girls--diamonds in the rough, perhaps—only need some man to give them the proper encouragement. They, perhaps, need only the spark of their ambition to be touched. After a while, though from a humble log cabin they came, the world will make a beaten path to their door; for, regardless of ancestry and surroundings, "if a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, though he live in the forest, the world will make a beaten path to his door."

 

I think many times that we have the wrong philosophy of life. We wait too often until some poor fellow has ceased to be, until his tongue is still in death; then we begin to sing his praises and cover his casket with sweet-scented flowers. When no longer we can obstruct and hinder, we are ready to sing praises.

 

My friends, I need no special encouragement then. I know the problems of life. I have been against the difficulties. I have seen mountains rise as almost impossible barriers. In passing along life's way, I need the sunshine and showers; I need the sweet-scented flowers and the encouragement of those who want me to succeed and accomplish humbly that which is greatest and best.

 

Paul comes as a friend to the Hebrews that were downcast, that were almost ready to give up their following after Christ, that were longing to go back unto the old form of Jewish worship. Paul said: "Brethren, let us not do that. You have laid the foundation; let us go on to perfection." He did not say: "Let me and mine, or my son and his wife, us four and no more, thus do." That kind of a thought never entered his mind. In this world we have our relationships one toward another. In the body of Christ I have never seen the man as yet from whom I wanted to be separate and distinct. I know that in the gospel of Christ and the church of God there are no distinctions.

 

Paul said: "If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." (Phil. 3:4-11.)

 

Ladies and gentlemen, in the church of God there is no place for class distinction, no place for social distinction. "Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." That is the relationship that exists in the church of God to-night. I submit, therefore, that it is not "my Father who art in heaven," but every child of God can voice the sentiment, "our Father"—not "my church," not yours. It is the church of Jesus Christ, in which all of God's children are standing upon equal terms. There is no such thing in the church as a distinction between the clergyman and the layman. I am not one whit better by virtue of the fact that I try to preach than the humblest and most insignificant member of the church of God unless I do better, and that does not always happen. I want no honor other than simply that of being a Christian. Sometimes people (and I appreciate their motive to give me honor) speak to me as "Doctor." Friends, I am no doctor. Sometimes they say "Reverend." My name is not "reverend." That word is found only one time in all God's book, and David says: "Holy and reverend is his name." Mine is not. And if I shall even merit the simple term "brother," I count myself fortunate in such recognition and such relationship.

 

"Let us go on unto perfection." There are brethren in the city of Nashville men whom I love, but whom I think to be in error on some points. They claim simply to be Christians. They claim the Bible, and the Bible alone, as their sole guide. They claim Jesus Christ as the sole leader. Let me plead with them in persuasive terms from the very depths of my heart, "Brethren, let us unitedly go on unto perfection;" and when we kneel by our bedside tonight, shall we assume unto ourselves anything that tends to divide the body of Christ unless we are ready to announce openly that God demands such matters at our hands? We have the grandest platform upon which any people ever stood. Let us be unhampered, unbound by creeds, unbound by denominational or sectarian ties, members of the church, and that alone, with God's word, and that alone, as our creed. We ought to rejoice and be glad because of such a foundation. Let us, as a solid band, march out under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel and pass from victory unto victory.

 

But Paul said: "Let us go." I am glad my brethren, as well as others, are learning some things. We used to read that scripture quite different. We never did know until recently what the word "go" spelled. We thought that it meant "drag," but it does not. We thought when it comes to business, we must be fervent; but when it comes to religion, let's "poke along" and drag our days by.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, I submit, as a matter of fact, the church of God demands the greatest activity, the greatest enthusiasm, and the most fervor that men can possibly put forth. I ought not, therefore, be on hand Monday morning and be active until Saturday night, and then drag around on Sunday like I did not have a friend on earth. That belongs to the heathen world, and not to the Christianity of the Bible, concerning which Paul arid: "Let us go on unto perfection."

 

I never did like to drive a horse that it took a fifty-cent whip every trip to get him along. I like to get in a buggy behind a horse full of life, so that all you need to do is to pull up the lines and give him the word. I like to see him pick up his feet and "burn the wind" down the pike. Somehow or other, I like automobiles, and the best thing about them is that they go—most of the time. We live at a time that demands action, that demands life, energy, thought, and carrying into effect. Paul said, "Brethren, in the religious relationship, simply as members of the church of God, let us go ;" and the congregation or the Christian that does not have that element in his nature is out of line with the main thought of gospel truth.

 

But note the next. Paul said, "Let us go on"— indicative of the direction in which we are to move. It is not a question of your having gone, but a question of direction. I never have liked a crawfish, and one reason is that he travels in the wrong direction. I like the fish that has gameness about it, that goes up the stream or down the stream or across the stream—that can stem the tide. "Let us go on." But note the next: "Unto perfection." "Unto" is a word of stickability. It is a word of perseverance, a word that means staying on the job, a word of tenacity—that, when once a firm hold is fixed, knows no let-up until the goal is reached.

 

Let me tell you that all the progress, achievement, and advancement of the world is due to the fact that men and women have gone on unto the accomplishment of their ideals.

 

I think schoolboys and schoolgirls to-night will remember that Columbus, with a firm conviction of the rotundity of the earth, toiled and met with disappointments one after another for eighteen years; but he was determined to stay with it. He believed in the correctness of a theory, and he worked at it until at last a new world lay smiling out before him.

 

Cyrus W. Field conceived the idea of laying the Atlantic cable, by means of which we might communicate with another continent. He went at it~with all the power of a being. Three different companies were organized, with millions of dollars, and all failed. It is arid that fifty times he crossed the Atlantic, and met with failure on every hand. But he had that characteristic, as did David and Paul, that "none of these failures move me." He had that element of perseverance, tenacity, and wonderful "stick-to-it-iveness," and success crowned his efforts at last.

 

Young man, there is but one thing under heaven that ought to challenge your concern, and that is for you to determine what is right and what duty demands. When this is correctly settled, let me say that there are not enough demons in hell or powers on earth to prevent the accomplishment thereof. We have just begun to explore the great fields of activity round about us. Progress and science are as yet in their swaddling clothes, and a half century hence will reveal matters of which the geniuses of today have not dreamed.

 

Paul said: "Let us go on unto perfection." At this time he was in prison at Rome. His case was undecided. His destiny was unknown, and yet he said: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3: 13, 14.) Friends, that is the sentiment that must be ours if success would crown our efforts.

 

But the last word, briefly put: "Let us go on unto perfect~on." I do not know what that means. It is superior to the things of earth. It- is the objective and the goal and the star toward which we ought to be moving. It means the summoning up of all our powers, the consecration thereof, and the concentration upon one sublime fact—that ideal that determines my success or failure, that toward which all other things are but supplementary and subsidiary. Far away, like some distant star upon the troubled waters of life, the light of that perfection shines, and for its final and full realization all can well afford to labor and to patiently wait. After we lay aside this earthly tabernacle in which we now dwell and launch out across the stream we style "death" unto the grandeurs and effulgent glory of that eternal home, clothed upon with our house which is from heaven—when this mortal shall have put on immortality and this corruption shall have put on incorruption—then we will enter into that state of perfection characteristic of the heavenly home in the by and by.

 

Let me, therefore, leave this thought with you to-night: Unto this Christian people, members of the body of Christ, that have laid the foundation according to Heaven's terms, that have believed the gospel with all your' hears, that have genuinely and sincerely repented of all of your sins, that have publicly confessed your faith in the Lord, that have been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and have arisen to walk in newness of life having thus laid the foundation, friends, "let us go on unto perfection."

 

God will help those who help themselves; and if they bear fruit, he will purge them and cleanse them that they may bring forth more fruit—rich, ripened, golden grain, after the sheaves of earth have been gathered in.

 

I want to ask, therefore, in conclusion, again, are there any in this company tonight that want to acknowledge the Lord as your Savior? Will you lay that foundation, the basis of a Christian character, by obedience to his will? Those of you that have gone in a wrong direction, won't you halt and come back into the fold ? Those that have not in any sense rendered obedience to the gospel of Christ and wish or desire to take your stand upon God's word, and that alone, live in his church, and that alone, I bid you likewise to come to-night. Therefore, whosoever in any sense whatsoever considers himself a subject of the gospel call, while together we stand and sing, it is your privilege to respond to-night, if you find it in your heart so to do.