LectureshipIssue.com

Does The Guardian Of Truth Foundation Have A Right To Conduct Gospel Meetings?

by Aaron Erhardt

For those who do not know, the Guardian of Truth Foundation is a secular business operated by brethren. For years this business has supplied churches and individuals with tracts, songbooks, workbooks, and other study tools. They also publish a magazine.

Unfortunately, the Guardian of Truth Foundation has become a missionary society. They have started conducting gospel meetings each year in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

In the New Testament I read about individuals (Acts 8:4) and local churches (1 Thessalonians 1:8) propagating the gospel. But where do I read about a secular business doing that spiritual work? Is there such a passage? The answer is no.

God’s plan is for local churches to propagate the gospel, not secular businesses (1 Timothy 3:15). God’s plan is for elders to oversee gospel meetings, not human boards (1 Peter 5:2). Surely faithful brethren know that to be true.

Some have argued that the Guardian of Truth Foundation is equivalent to individuals working together to preach the gospel. Is that true? Sometimes the best way to answer a question is to ask one. Would it be okay for churches to send the Guardian of Truth Foundation money? Then it is not equivalent to individuals working together, for they can be supported by churches!

The Guardian of Truth Foundation has labeled those who oppose them doing the work of the church as “Sommerites.” This label is designed to prejudice peoples’ minds so they will not listen to the truth. It is no different than the Baptists calling us “Campbellites” or the liberals calling us “Antis.”

Friends, there is no authority whatsoever for a secular business to conduct gospel meetings. The very thought denies the completeness and sufficiency of God’s plan. I will conclude with a quote from Ron Daly:

"Why is it that some evidently believe that an unauthorized missionary society consists of an organization that receives contributions from congregations to preach the gospel, but the same organization doing the same work is not an unauthorized missionary society if it is supported by individuals? Have we become so unidirectional in our spiritual vision, that in the sphere of evangelistic work we are only able to see that there is no authority for congregational contributions to fund religious missionary organizations so that they may proclaim the message of salvation, but we give a nod of approval to individually funded human organizations to do the same inherently religious and spiritual work of proclaiming the message of salvation? The fact is, God has specified only one organization in the sacred writings that is to be supported by the voluntary contributions of individuals in order to fulfill its mission or preaching the gospel. It, as nearly all of God’s people once believed, is the exclusive organization that God gave the work of preaching the gospel of Christ. The local congregation is the body of disciples that God, through the Holy Spirit, by the pen of Paul says is the 'pillar and support of the truth' (1 Timothy 3:15)."