Old Paths Advocate - Church of Christ

. -3 ;2. ‘ JANUARY, 1946 THE OLD PATHS ADVOCATE
PAGE THREE
-PAGE TWO . THE OLD PATHS ADVOCATE JANUARY, 1946
Hto grane vinepar and that . this _____ in ___ hrn _---- wnnld .. ---- other time. Bro. Waters showed that it was not
it. ‘ He was not made better in character during
TAKING YOU TO RECORD
oxidize. Bro.. Wkers asked Bro. Worsham where stated in Lk. 22 :19 that Christ told his disciples to
His stay with men.
But in the face of all of this it remains that the
. By Clovis T. Cook
the line was to be drawn, and if vinegar were,the eat, but that what he had done he commanded
product of the vine, and if vinegar could be used
apostle in the Hebrew letter says He was “made When Bro. Ervin Waters held a meeting at Mc-
them to do when he said, “This do.” Bro. Worperfect”
(Heb. 5:9) and that “it became him, for Kinney, Texas, in 1944, he was challenged for
on the Lord’s table. Bro. Worsham replied &hat
a
sham was either too ignorant to know or too unvinegar
was the product of the vine but he never
whom are all things, and by whom are all things, discussion by the cups brethren. Negotiations
fair to admit that the antecedent of “this” in Lk.
would say whether or not it could be used as the
in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the concerning propositions were finally completed
22:19 was the action of Christ described by the
drink element in the communion.
captain of their salvation perfect through suf- with Bro. C. R. Worsham, the man selected by
verb “brake.” To have admitted it would have
Bro. Waters conceded that wine might have made it much more embarrassing for Bro. Worferings”
(Heb. 2:lO). The word “perfect” signi- the cups brethren to represent them. The time some medicinal value and stated that he did not
fies completion. It comes from a word that means and the place was chosen. Bro. Wayne Enix
sham in explaining the extra breaking that his
oppose its use as a medicine; but he challenged
going on unto the end, i. e., completing or per- moderated for Bro. Worsham and Bro. Waters
proposition called for and his practice demands.
Bro. Worsham to show where the Scriptures au- We are still waiting for Bro. Worsham to tell us
fecting a work or a journey. Christ completed asked me to moderate for him. The debate was
the work for which He came to do. It was only held as has been previously reported.
thorized the use of it in the communion. This what the antecedent of “this” is.
Bro. Worsham never did.
‘ Bro. Worsham could not show any reason,
after He completed His work that He was pre- Bro. Waters asked me to report the debate Bro. Worsham admitted that he did not teach Scripture or example for his extra breaking. He
pared to offer salvation unto the world. And the since it would be improper for him to report it. his children against wine drinking! He then took had an ultra special act of breaking which Christ
Hebrew writer says that He was made perfect We decided not to attempt to report the pro and the position that the deacons could drink a little and the disciples did not have.
through sufferings, i. e., He had broght to a com- con arguments because we knew that justice wine (1 Tim. 3:8),but that the elders could not Wayne in his report accused us of claimng
pletion His work through sufferings.
could not be given in a brief article to an eikht drink any (1 Tim. 3 :3). Bro. Waters replied that that “an empty container is the cup of the Lord.”
These sufferings were endured on the cross ; nights debate or over sixteen hours of speaking. if this be true then the elders could not commune This is as false and untrue as it can be. I have
and when Christ died on the cross, He brought to We were willing to let the debate rest on its own if fermented wine were used. The next night Bro. never heard one of my brethren make this statea
completion the work which He came to do. It merits and let the efforts be judged by those pres- Worsham changed and said 1 Tim. 3:3 did not ment, and I do not believe Wayne has either. Bro.
was only after the completion of this work that ent. But Bro. Worsham made an egotistical re- mean that the elders could not drink wine. “He Waters repeatedly stated that he did not teach
He could offer salvation unto the world. The port in his paper and Bro. Enix made one in the who digs a pit sometimes falls into it himself.” that an empty cup was the cup of the Lord but
great commission was given after he said, “It is Church Messenger. I-shall only reply to the gar- Bro. Worsham took the position that the Jews that the cup of the Lord was a cup containing
finished” (Jno. 19:30), on the cross. Jesus said bled report given by Bro. Enix. I kept notes dur- began to use wine in the Passover but admitted the fruit of the vine in an assembly for the comto
His Father, “I have finished the work which ing this debate and it is my impression that these that God did not put it there; and then he rea- munion. The person or persons who assisted
thou gavest me to do” (Jno. 17:4). It was only brethren knew it. I am striving to “take you to soned that Christ used what the Jews had, i. e., Wayne in making this report surely knew better.
in the finishing of His work on the earth that the record this day” and not given an array of mis- fermented wine. Bro. Waters exposed this by If he had no help, you cups brethren should caution
fullness of the gospel could be preached in all the representations to make it appear that there was showing that Bro. Worsham had Christ keeping the boy about such loose statements.
world. He then sent His apostles into all the only one speaker.
the traditions of the Jews rather than what God Brother Worsham accused some of our congreworld
to bring to them the perfect plan of salva- The opening night found Bro. Waters in the delivered, for Bro. Worsham admitted that God gation of using a glass instead of a cup, as if he
tion.
affirmative and according to the rules of honor- never put fermented wine in the passover. did not know that a glass is a drinking vessel and
We are told to “be perfect” (2 Cor. 13:11), and able discussion I, as his moderator, was to open Bro. Worsham tried to leave the impression as if he thought a cup had to have a handle on
Paul exhorts us to “go on unto perfection” (Heb. and close the service. Ignoring this fact Bro. that the Lord commanded the Jews to drink wine it to be a cup. He tried to make a point on this
6:l). Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even Enix came to me to ask if he could speak. Through by referring to the wine commanded to be used by setting a pitcher, a glass, and a tea cup on the
as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” sympathy we granted his request and let him have as a drink offering with their sacrifices. Bro. step approaching the rostrum and asking a little
(Matt. 5:4.8). A11 of this means that we should the opening words. Then Bro. Enix also request- Waters read Num. 2817 .and showed that this boy to come up and get the cup. Naturally, the
go on unto the completion of the work which we ed that we have no “doorstep” arguments. When wine was to be poured out unto the Lord for a little boy picked up the container with a handle
have begun as the children of God; it means the I took the stand to read the propositions, I re- drink offering. Bro. Waters insisted that if Bro. because he only was familiar with the colloquial
same as being faithful unto dea’th. One of the minded the audience that there were to be no Worsham would pour his strong wine out instead usage. Bro. Waters replied by saying that Bro.
greatest mistakes of men is that they may start “doorstep” arguments. On the third or fourth of drinking it, we would have unity.
Worsham had contended throughout the debate
a good work and fail to finish it. Many of them night Bro. Enix started an argument on the out- Bro. Waters showed that the Lord rebuked Is- that the liquid or contents was the cup. So Bro.
return to the weak and beggerly elements of the side after the session, thus becoming the first and rael because they desired prophets who would Waters poured some of the contents of the cup
world. God and Christ always. completed the only man, as far as I know, to break his own rule. prophesy unto them of wine and strong drink” out upon a piece of paper, saying that this is
work which they began. In the creation it is said It was bad to lose the argument with Bro. Paul (Micah 2 :11), and he showed that the Lord said what Bro. Worsham called the cup, and then he
that God’s work was finished.
Nichols, but it was still worse to be th2 first man those prophets walked in falsehood and did lie. set the cup beside it on the step. Bro. Waters
Christ finished what He undertook to perform. to break his own rule. When I asked him about Bro. Waters admitted that the Jews began to use asked the same little boy tcr come and pick up
Men may fail to complete a good work or a good it later; he admitted his guilt. It was HIS rule wine in their feasts and showed that the Lord re- the cup; and the little boy unhesitatingly came
character. We are perfect as our Heavenly Fa- and not OURS.
buked them for it (Isa 5:12) and that it was one forward and picked up the cup (vessel), leaving
ther is perfect when we complete our Christian Bro. Waters began his affirmative on the wine of the reaeons Israel went into captivity (Isa. 5: the liquid on the paper where it was. Bro. Waters
race on‘- earth. We can understand the terms question Sunday, June 24, at 8:45 P. M., by show- 13) and that its usage - caused hell to enlarge - it- turned to Bro. Worsham and said, “Even the lit-
“perfect,” “perfection” or “completion” when we ing from Matt. 26:27-29 and Mk. 14:23-25 that self (Isa. 5:14).
tle boy knows that the liquid is not the cup.” Why
properly understand the significance of finishing the “fruit of the vine” was the drink element Bro. Worsham in his affirmative on the bread did not either Bro. Worsham or Bro. Enix report
a work that we have begun. God and Christ Christ used when He instituted His supper. Bro. argued that Christ broke bread (Matt. 26:26: this incident in their reports?
finished every work that they undertook. As Waters read from the following translations ; a. 14:22) but that we did not know how to break Bro. Worsham kept talking about large crowds
humble followers of Christ we must adopt the Moffat’s, Weymouth’s, Sawyer’s and Worrell’s. the bread. Bro. Waters replied by showing that and asking Bro. Waters how to commune them.
right course of life and then bring it to a success- Bro. Waters showed that the fruit of a vine or the breaking of bread was an individual act per- Bro. Waters replied by asking Bro. Worsham if
ful consummation by continuing to walk in the tree is actually produced by that vine or tree, re- formed by every communication (Acts 2 :42 ; Acts he went to hypothetical and suppositional crowds
paths of righteousness until we are called away ferring to God’s natural law as proof (Gen. 1:12, 20:7; 1 Cor. 10:16-17). Bro. Waters showed that for authority or to the Bible, and he challenged
to glory. This is perfection.
29; Jno. 15:4), and that since fermented alcoholic there was only one kind of breaking performed Bro. Worsham to find an assembly for the com-
-Ceres, Calif. wine was not produced by any vine under heaven, by every communicant. Bro. Waters insisted that munion in the Bible that used more than one
fermented alcoholic wine was not the product or Bro. Worsham tell what the antecedent of “this” cup. And Bro. Waters said that if Bro. Worsham
Churches of Christ are independent congrega- fruit of the vine. Bro. Worsham was never able was in “this do” (Lk. 22 :19). Bro. Worsham read could imagine big crowds, then he could imagine
tions bearing no denominational name, subscrib- to meet this argument.
1 Cor. 11:24-25, but Bro. Waters showed that the still bigger crowds. He asked Bro. Worsham how
ing to no creed, accepting the Bible as the Word Bro. Waters showed that if nature is allowecl antecedent of “this” in Lk. 22:19 cannot be found he would teach a crowd of fifty million people
of God and the one authority in matters of faith to run its destructive course in fermentation, the in another book written by another writer at an-
(Continued on page twelve)
and practice.
ascetic fermentation.would change the grape wine