Goodbye, Cherokee, Iowa

Before Buff Scott, Jr. left Cherokee, Iowa for Phoenix he took out an ad in the local newspaper. Published in 1988, his words still ring true today.

INTRODUCTION

The story has been told that American missionaries, upon reaching foreign soil, are confronted with barriers such as: “If you have come here to unite us, go home and unite yourselves, and then return and we will listen to you.”

“If this doctrine of yours is so pure, why are you so divided? Is it not able to unite you?”

“Our people were united before you missionaries came. They are now divided.”

“Is the religion you espouse like the others, the kind that divides?”

These statements should not be taken lightly. They issue from the mouths of those we seek to convert. Missionary number one endeavors to enjoin upon his listeners certain tenets and creeds, and his address is no more than completed when missionary number two, whose affiliation is with a different and distinct sect, begins to address the same listeners with a message which conflicts with the message of missionary number one. Missionaries three and four five, six, seven, and eight under their creedal bosoms carry messages which run counter with and contradict the orthodox messages of each other, as well as with the messages of missionaries one and two.

Surely something is wrong. This regrettable condition not only prevails across the oceans and beyond our borders, but it also rules in this land of freedom, America. Is it impossible to obtain that for which Jesus prayed? He made it clear that unity among his followers is necessary so that “the world. might know that you sent me” (John 17:23). Religiously, no country is more divided than America. Who is to blame for our divided dilemma, Jesus or man? Did Jesus introduce a principle that can not be adhered to? If human creeds have divided us, and they have, do we possess enough courage to abandon them? Which should become our polar star, the divine testimony or creeds created and enacted by man? The divine testimony originated in heaven and was passed on to us by the envoys of Jesus Christ. Human dogmas proceeded from earth and were passed on to us by the envoys of sectarianism. And because human creeds have so influenced us, we could not be divided more even if our Lord had commanded it.

In this Plea and Address, I wish to submit for your consideration some possible solutions to our divided state. I do not claim to know all of the answers. Nor do I feel I have a monopoly on truth. I am simply a servant of God who has a strong desire to share a few of my views with you. You are free to either agree or disagree. Under God, you are free to choose or at liberty to decide for yourself to reject. No system, whether spiritual or political, has the power to enslave your mind. In Jesus, you can read, study, investigate, and reach your own conclusions. It has been said that the spirit of man can expand and grow only in the atmosphere of freedom. We need, then, to read, to study, to investigate, and to decide without the presence of spiritual and political shackles. To permit any system to control our minds and sway our decisions, is to place ourselves under bondage.

OBSERVATIONS

Denominationalism has not solved our splintered estate. Factionalism has not solved our ruptured community. Catholicism, even though one of our oldest sects, has not resolved our problems. Protestantism is not the solution. These religious systems, in fact, have created more divisions. No human system of religion, no matter how large or
prominent, will ever solve the many problems we face. We either allow our allegiance to Jesus and to the divine testimony to supersede our divisions or we will go on dividing until we become extinct.

PROPOSALS

1. That the sacred writings, our oldest source of written documentation, become our guide in matters pertaining to deity and unity. Our respect for them gives us hope. “That by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). Human creeds and catechisms do not generate hope. The authors of the holy scriptures wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit of God (John 16:13; 1 Pet. 1:21). It was Jesus who declared: “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28). He made no reference to human creeds and dogmas.
2. That all human creeds and catechisms, written or unwritten, be abandoned and abolished, and that the holy scriptures replace them. Human creeds are filled with error. This is because they were made and established by human intellect. Each creed differs with each respective sect. They are changed to coincide with the changing of time. The scriptures contain the mind of God. They were given to cope with the changing of time (Please read I Pet. 1:25). When a human creed is elevated above God’s written revelation, division results. This is because those who made it endeavor to enjoin it upon others.
3. That we acknowledge and embrace all Christians as brothers. All who have surrendered to Jesus and experienced the new birth, as Jesus himself expressed it in John 3:5, are children of God and fellow believers. Wherever God has a child, we have either a brother or a sister – regardless of what he calls himself, if anything.
4. That we be Christians only – not Christians plus Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Catholics, Episcopals, or any other pluses, but simply Christians only. Was Paul Presbyterian? Was Peter Lutheran? Was Mark Roman Catholic? Of course not.
5. That all of us who have been born anew not enforce our opinions upon others. If the new covenant scriptures teach a certain principle, we should welcome it into our lives and persuade others to do likewise. But if our conviction is nothing more than a mere human opinion, we should not make such a term of communion or a test of brotherhood. In matters that are clearly and plainly enjoined upon us by the holy scriptures, we ask for unity. In matters that are in the realm of speculation and judgment, we ask for freedom and tolerance. Christians will naturally disagree on occasions. This is because we are frail, imperfect humans, and no two of us have the same level of knowledge. Citizens of the Christian community may retain their various opinions while acknowledging the supreme authority of Jesus their King. We must accept and embrace our fellow believers irrespective of doubtful points (Rom. 14:1). However, a believer who becomes heretical by becoming factional is to be rejected (Titus 3:10). Such a man is vested of the “party spirit” of Galatians 5:20. The party spirit is at work when a man attempts to form a party or following around his particular view or views and then separates himself and his followers from his other brethren when they refuse to become his disciples.

CONCLUSION

Reformation and unity will become realities when we give ourselves to Jesus Christ in humble submission. We must be willing to permit God to guide us, direct us, govern us, and lead us in the paths of righteousness. Human paths are filled with obstacles, thorns, discouragements, disunity, and frustrations. God’s way is filled with love, unity, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness. We either leave human creeds and catechisms by the wayside or we will simply multiply our divisions until the world looks upon us as weaklings in need of healing.

You can find out more about Buff Scott, Jr. by clicking here.

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