By Dr. R.B. Ouellette
There is a tendency to institutionalize. Man is tribal. He likes to belong to a group.
While many fellowships do many good things, they are dangerous when they become more important than the local church. When we only support “our missionaries,” and only send students to “our colleges,” and only want to work together with “our guys,” we have placed a man-made institution over God’s church.
There is a tendency to scrutinize.
(Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” – Romans 14:4)
There have been papers whose main purposes seem to be to “expose the brethren” ever since I’ve been a young man in college. Some of them have provided helpful information and been good resources. However, it has well been said that if the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.
It seems to me that after a while, some of these ministries become more interested in “catching” one of the brethren doing wrong than exhorting and encouraging the brethren to do right. One man recently brought national attention to a church of 400-500 because they had used a song that was thought to be inappropriate. The church in question does not operate a college. It does sponsor a mission board. It does not maintain a national ministry. Why would it be necessary for the rest of us to know what songs that brother sang? Should all of our orders of service be posted so that each of us can investigate the music the other has sung the previous week? I want to take a strong stand. (Please remember that point when I dealt with compromise.) I also want to be sure that my main focus is on winning souls, building Christians, and encouraging the brethren.
Original article can be found at http://rbouellette.com.2fbc.com/?p=93