Carrol Trent,

Wilson, Oklahoma

Dear Brother Trent:

I have been receiving your little bulletin "Gems of Truth," and have been especially interested in your article, "Is it Right to Teach the Word of God?" I find that after having read all five articles that your little sheet is not true to name. In fact, except for the Scriptures you used in this article, I found very little truth in it.

I will not say that you did it willfully, for I do not know your heart, but I will say that you have either been misinformed concerning our worship, or purposely perpetrated a plan to injure those who are conscientious enough to want to walk by the rule laid down in the word of God (Phil 3:15-16).

I heard you preach not long ago on unity, and thought it was a good lesson, but you have certainly not manifested the unity of the Spirit in this article.

I shall notice a few of your main points in this article, and try to point out your errors and hope that you will be willing to correct the mistakes you have made in a future article.

First, you say "There are some who believe it is wrong to teach the Word of God as we do." I judge you mean the class system of teaching, with men and women taking part in the public teaching. Yes, I am among those who oppose such teaching, and give as my reason for opposing such teaching, 1 Cor 14:31-34, 1 Tim 2:9-12, and shall introduce more as I progress.

Again, "Those who oppose Bible study - teaching the Bible, follow a peculiar idea, they meet together on Lord's Day Morning usually about 10:30 or 11:00 o'clock. They sing three songs (usually) have prayer, sing another song, then one man preaches or teaches. Following this, they have communion, give of their means, and are then dismissed."

First, I want to say that I do not know of any one who does not believe in Bible study or teaching the Bible. As to our peculiarity, we are a peculiar people (1 Pet 2:9). And I see that you counted the number of songs that were sung. I have never done that, since I enjoy every spiritual song that is sung, and try to sing with the spirit and understanding, hence I usually notice the sentiment of the song instead of the number of songs sung. You asked if there is any scripture against these things and answer your own question by saying "No None," and state the Word of God teaches that all of these things should be done. You then state "There is not, however, a precedent in the Word of God, that all the teaching in a public way is to be done in that one hour."

I have counted the times that you referred to this teaching being done by one man, one hour, one day a week, and found you mentioned it eight times if I make no mistake. First, I will say just here that our teaching is not usually done by one man but a number of brethren take part in the teaching service. In fact, we encourage all male members who have the ability, to take part in the teaching service as far as time will permit, and I challenge you to produce one of our brethren that contend that all the teaching should be done by one man in one hour on Lord's Day.

Again you say "We are agreed that we should speak where the Bible speaks and keep silent where the Bible is silent" (1 Pet 4:11). Then since you admit our practice is scriptural and you admit that the Word of God teaches that all of these things should be done, and since you can not give a thus saith the Lord for your classes and women teachers, why not give them up so we could have unity? I believe all those scriptures you mention concerning Christ teaching such as Matt 4:22, Matt 28:19-20, Chapters 5-7 etc. I agree he used different methods of teaching, but you cannot for your life find classes in any of them. You say "We could say that he taught in classes;" yes you could say it but you can not prove it by the Word of God.

You state that "In every age teaching has been enjoined upon Gods people" and you give as proof Deut 4:9-10, 6:4-9, 11:18-20. "It was also found in the days of the prophets" (Ezra 7:10-25, Isa 54:13). I agree with you but no classes in these scriptures. (See also Ezra 10:1).

You say "In the commission Jesus has given the charge to teach but has left the method of how it should be done to us." I deny this. (See Jno 16:13, 1 Cor 11:1, 1 Pet 2:21, 1 Tim 3:16). You could just as well say that Christ gave the charge to baptize but left the method of how it should be done to us. You ask then "Do you think it is wrong to use the best method of teaching the Word of God?" Certainly not, but God has the best system. (See Proverbs 13:12). Again, "Do you think Jesus would command us to teach and then turn around and condemn us when we use every available method of teaching?" Certainly I believe he would condemn us for using any system of teaching that was not authorized by the New Testament.

You say "Christ has left it up to us to use any method we see fit to use in teaching." Then why do you oppose the Missionary Society? The modem movement of Protestant Missionary effort began in the year 1793, thirteen years after the modern Sunday School, once best known as Bible Schools in Europe was organized by Robert Raiks in 1789 (See World Book). You again ask "Do you believe it is sinful for people to assemble for the purpose of studying God's Word." Of course not.

Then you ask "Do you believe it is wrong for Christian men and women to teach other men and women?" Not if they do it according to God's Word.

You also mention our object in teaching. I say our object, for I think we both have the same objective in view. 1. That children may be properly nurtured and brought up (Prov 22:6, Eph 6:4). Any child capable of learning can be taught effectively by God's method. See Isa 55:10-11. 2. That individuals taught of God may learn and come to Jesus. (Jno 6:44-45) 3. That babies requiring milk may come to be full grown men capable of discerning good and evil (1 Pet 2:1-2, Heb 2:14). But of course, these are not the little 4 or 5-year-olds in the card class, but babes in Christ, those who had purified their souls in obeying the truth (1 Pet 1:22-23). 4. That all may be built up unto the inheritance among all them that are sanctified (Jas 1:21, Acts 20:32). We are agreed so far as our objectives are concerned but our difference arises from the system used.

You say any system is all right. I say God gave precept and example of how the teaching should be done, and it is wrong to do it any other way. See again 2 Jno. 9.

You have a lot to say about what the scriptures command us relative to our teaching God's Word, and about Jesus teaching in restricted groups, etc. We believe and teach all of those scriptures. But in all of my study on these passages, I have never found the Sunday School system of teaching.

Your last array of scriptures dated 3-10-44, are all true. I believe all of these, but none of them bear you out in your system of teaching. For instance, those under No. 8 concerning who should teach, you have six scriptures as proof that women should teach. No one has ever denied this. But we do object to her teaching in a public capacity in the assembly for the simple reason that Paul by inspiration was the first one to raise the objection. See 1 Cor 14:34, 1 Tim 2:12-15.

This is rather a lengthy letter, but I hope when you are through reading it that you will never again make the false charges against us you made in your bulletin.