Notes from Norman

History of the Churches of Christ in Texas (6)

Eckstein, Stephen Daniel, Jr. History of the Churches of Christ in Texas: 1824-1950 Austin, Texas: Firm Foundation Publishing House. 1963. hardcover 378 pages.

I’m a little embarrassed. I’ve left you hanging with the book reviews. I was doing chapter-by-chapter reviews, but I’ve encountered a couple of problems (1) time constraints and (2) I can’t put my hand on the book right now. So I’m going bring this series to an abrupt and unceremonious conclusion with some of my thoughts on the rest of the book. I want to do this before my recollection completely passes completely out of my mind.

Today’s review covers significant historical developments that affected the Churches of Christ from approximately 1875 to 1950

The first was the “organ question.” Eckstein presents a good bit of anecdotal history from that period of time. There’s a cartoon depicting a zealous sister chopping up an organ with an axe. Another is the oft-repeated story of the introduction of the organ and Add-Ran College in Thorp Spring, Texas, which led to a mass exit from the building by opponents of the organ.

I thought some his insights on the conflict are interesting in light of our current situation. Some people actually tried to find a way to work together. A few churches were able to remain under the same roof for awhile by using the organ at one service and conducting a second service without it later in the day. I thought of the current practice of many contemporary churches to schedule a “contemporary” service and a “traditional” service on the same day. The pro-instrument people were quite willing to accept to “anti-organ” group, but the more conservative group was faced with the same problem that always occurs when people are faced with the prospect of reaching out to those on their left. Sometimes the left can give way to the right, but the right cannot give way to the left because they view it is as a compromise of their values.

Ultimately the unity efforts failed. The debates because more intense, even vitriolic at times, and division was inevitable. While some people attempt to establish the division at 1906, it was probably in place at least twenty years prior to that, which is long enough for an entire generation to come and go. It is well known that J. W. Shepherd identified the “Churches of Christ” as a separate entity from the “Disciples of Christ” in 1906 in a report to the United States Census Bureau. In so doing he was simply recognizing a condition that already existed and had been in existence for some time.

Eckstein provides some interesting insights regarding the decision to call the fellowship “Churches of Christ.” Prior to that time, some churches were called “Churches of Christ” while others were called “Christian Churches.” Those who contended for the name “Church of Christ” noted that it is a Biblical name based on Romans 16:16. Apparently they didn’t think of other Biblical usages like “Church of God,” “Church of the Firstborn” etc. Some others, including David Lipscomb, who was probably influences Shepherd’s actions more than anyone else, said those who favored “Church of Christ” as the sole designation were essentially admitting their denomination status even as they proclaimed themselves to be undenominational. It’s obvious that Lipscomb’s view did not prevail.

The second development was the growth of the Churches of Christ after 1906. The organ question had all but destroyed church growth. That should remind us how futile our efforts become when we focus on each other and take our focus away from Jesus. Once the churches freed themselves from the organ struggle, they began to think more positively about their mission. Eckstein underplays the significance of the conflicts that continued to plague the churches after 1906 – the Sunday School issue, the located preacher controversy, the cup controversy, and premillennialism. He gives scant attention to the ministry of Foy E. Wallace, Jr. who had incredible influence in the thirties either for good or bad according to one’s point of view. His attitudes still affect the church today. The congregational cooperation issue was in its infancy in 1950, so that was really outside the scope of his study.

He gives more attention to the growth of the churches in Texas during that period. It was during that period of time that the Churches of Christ in Texas reached the point of having the largest concentration of member in any state of the union.

We need to remain in touch with our history. Eckstein’s book is not a perfect, nor complete document, but it is a good place to go if you want to know how we got where we are.

End of series.

posted by Norman @ 7:06 AM