Hello Folks,
I have been reading a book titled: "The Riggle-Kesler Debate" which is an word for word reporting of a debate engaged in by H.M. Riggle, an early Church of God leader, and Elder B.E. Kessler, a leader of the Church of the Brethren. The debate took place in North Webster, In. from Sept 15-26, 1915. They held it in a large tent with an average attendance of 1200 people. This was a real debate with each person being given 30 minutes twice each night for a total of 2 hours. There were assigned subjects and moderators were present. This was not a time where the strongest voice or quickest wit could win but where a subject was dealt with in front of the entire audience.
H.M Riggle on the night of Sept. 17th in that debate said this: "If you are a tarue Christain and belong to the Methodist, Baptist, Evangelical or any other institution, you are my brother. Through salvation we all belong to the one fold. It is that extra soceity, inot which you have been led without Scriptural authority, that I oppose. The institutions of men that have scattered and divided the peole of God."
It would appear to me that in our day we want to emphasize the idea of "we reach our hands in fellowship to every blood washed one" but that we no longer want to declare the freedom from mans control that God calls us from.--"Come out of her my people" REV 18:4. It seems that many merely want to preach the portion of truth that suits them best and leave out the things that are difficult. I wonder what God has to say about that? Maybe part of the problem is that many of those who should lead the church body have failed to see the truth of the Word? I wonder what God will say to us if we neglect to preach all the truth?
This is just something that has come to my mind and I thought I would share it with you.

May He Bless You,

HGRudd