"For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him. . ." Numbers 23:9

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THE MOUNTAIN MESSENGER

January 2005
Volume 2..........................Number 1
Crum, West Virginia

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"WITHOUT DENOMINATIONAL DOCTRINE

By James E. Farley

I received an ad in the mail concerning a privately operated "Christian School" in our area. The school, called "Christ Academy," is affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The envelope that I received contained several pamphlets concerning "Christian Education" in general, and "Christ Academy" in particular. Included also was a paper entitled, "Questions & Answers About A Quality Education In A Christian Environment." This covered things such as how long the academy has been in operation, what kind of curriculum the school offers, how qualified the teachers are, etc. One question was, "Will Christ Academy teach the Episcopal doctrine in Bible classes?" The answer given was, "No, the scripture as contained in the Bible will be taught without denominational doctrine so as to be acceptable to all Christian denominations."

I find it very interesting that, even though the school is associated with the Episcopal Church, its brochure clearly stated that "Episcopal doctrine" will not be taught in Bible classes. Instead, it said that "the scripture as contained in the Bible will be taught without denominational doctrine. . ." Is this not an amazing and wonderful admission from our friends in this particular denomination? There is a clear distinction made by these folks between "Episcopal doctrine" and "the scripture as contained in the Bible"!

Of course, this is true. One cannot go to the Bible only and apply it, alone, to one's life and become an Episcopalian . . . nor, for that matter, a member of any other denomination! For one to be an Episcopalian he must submit to Episcopal doctrine; for one to be a Presbyterian he must subscribe to one form or another of the Westminster Confession of Faith; to become a Methodist a person must adhere to the Methodist Discipline; to become a Lutheran he must submit to the Augsburg Confession of Faith; etc. Denominationalism is not a product of people's submitting to "the scripture as contained in the Bible . . .without denominational doctrine. . ."!

God's Word is called "the seed" (Luke 8:11). A seed will produce only what the "information" within it "says". For instance, a State Half-Runner bean seed will produce only a State Half-Runner bean plant, and nothing else. Why? This is what the "information" within the seed "says". There is nothing within that bean seed that "says" anything at all about pumpkins, eggplant, beets, or cucumbers. The same is true with God's "seed," the Bible. It will produce only what the information within it says. There is nothing within God's "seed" about becoming Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, or Catholics. You have to plant different "seeds" to get these different kinds of "plants".

By the way, what was it that God's "seed" says about "plants" which the heavenly Father has not planted? Compare Luke 8:11 with Matthew 15:7-13. THE BIBLE ONLY MAKES CHRISTIANS ONLY. The creeds and traditions of men are what have caused divisions and denominationalism. (2 Timothy 4:1-4).

(The above article first appeared in WEST VIRGINIA CHRISTIAN, Vol. 4, No. 8, August, 1997. Albert E. Farley serves well as the editor of that paper and as the preacher for the Salem church of Christ, in Salem, WV. You may contact him at: WEST VIRGINIA CHRISTIAN, Rt. 5, Box 1468, Salem, West Virginia 26426. The WVC is an 8 page, monthly paper with an individual subscription rate of $10 per year. It is well worth that cost. Subscribe today.)

DAD SANG "FARTHER ALONG" IN HIS SLEEP

by James E. Farley

My Dad would sometimes sing in his sleep. Really! We would all be in the kitchen or in the living room and we would hear him start. Then we would all go to his bedroom door and crack it open just enough to hear well, and we would hear Dad singing.

What songs would he sing? ALWAYS HYMNS! Sometimes he would first call out the number as if he was leading singing and then he would begin; always slowly, always with long pauses.

"Rock of ages . . . (pause) . . . cleft for me . . . (pause) . . . let me hide . . . (pause) . . . myself in thee."

We kids would giggle and smile at one another. You see, this is not just something that Dad developed in his old age. He did this for as long as I can remember. Mom told me that one night he said in his sleep, "I like a song with some zip in it," but then he sang one as slowly as usual.

On another occasion, Mom said that Dad sang several songs in a row. On and on he went, singing hymns in his sleep. Finally Mom said she reached over and shook Dad, and said, "Howard, we've sung every song in the book. Now, let's have a prayer and go to sleep!"

A few years before Dad passed on to his reward, brother Rick Tincher, a good friend and faithful gospel preacher, was visiting me at Dad's and Mom's home. We were up late, sitting in the dining room talking with Mom when Dad started out with one of his favorites . . . "Farther Along." Rick was surprised, but became more so when we explained that Dad was asleep. Rick said, "You know, a lot of people might be ashamed of what is in their subconscious mind. But brother Farley's subconscious is flooded with spiritual thoughts!"

I don't believe I ever thought of Dad's "sleep-singing" in that light until then, but it is a good point, isn't it? How about us? What is on our minds when we pillow our heads for a night's rest?

As I said, one of Dad's favorite hymns (awake or asleep) was "Farther Along." It is a beautiful song, is it not?

Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long,
While there are others living about us
Never molested, tho' in the wrong.
Farther along we'll know all about it,
Farther along we'll understand why;
Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,
We'll understand it all by and by.

The congregation was led in that song at my Dad's funeral service on May 3, 1991 by his grandson, Scott Craig Farley. My uncle, Hoover Spence, my brother Albert, and I spoke at the service. Others of his grandsons served as pallbearers as we carried Dad's body to its final resting place, not far from where he first saw the light of day 78 years earlier.

I'll never be able to sing "Farther Along" without thinking of Dad. He was a hard worker, a loving husband, father and grandfather. Dad was a teacher by word and by example. He was a Christian.

When we see Jesus coming in glory,
When He comes from his home in the sky;
Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion,
We'll understand it all by and by.

Please take time to read John 14:3; 2 Corinthians 5:1-11; and I Thessalonians 4:13-18.

(This article first appeared in The Chapel Hill Courier, Gallipolis, Ohio, Vol. 13, No. 21, Nov. 3, 1994, and then in the Sunday Bulletin of the Main Street Church of Christ, Pikeville, Kentucky, December 7, 1997)

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

James E. Farley -To Contact Jim by email, click here