What About the Florida College Lectures?
Lately, brethren have been discussing the issue of human organizations engaging in spiritual works. Much of the discussion has centered on the Truth Magazine Lectures. But there is another lectureship that in many ways is similar to the one hosted by Truth Magazine. This, of course, is the Florida College Lectureship. Some may wonder why the Truth Magazine Lectures have attracted so much scrutiny and the Florida College Lectures have been somewhat ignored.
We must understand that if the practice of Truth Magazine hosting a lectureship is the same as Florida College doing so, they stand or fall together. It does not matter what our personal feelings are towards either of these institutions or the men associated with them. If they are parallel and one is wrong, then both are wrong. Whether or not one is being questioned more than the other is irrelevant.
Reasons for the Focus on the Truth Magazine Lectures
There are a few reasons why the Truth Magazine Lectures are getting more attention than the Florida College Lectures at this point in time. One reason is that the Truth Magazine Lectureship is relatively new. These issues have been discussed in the past. But when the practice begins in a different place by different people, naturally the issue will be examined again. The Florida College Lectureship is an established practice. Most people have already decided whether or not they will support it, often for reasons other than this issue. When Truth Magazine began in 2004, many brethren who would not support the Florida College Lectures (again, for various reasons), now found themselves in the position of needing to decide whether or not to support the Truth Magazine Lectures. The examination of this issue once again became important. Naturally, the focus would be on the new case -- the Truth Magazine Lectures.
Another reason why the Truth Magazine Lectureship has received the bulk of the attention is because of who is involved. Generally, those involved with Truth Magazine are perceived as more conservative than those involved with Florida College (though this may not be true across the board). Various controversies in the last few years involving Florida College have resulted in or reinforced some brethren's lack of confidence in the soundness of those associated with the school (controversies over the days of Creation, the serpent in Genesis 3, divorce and remarriage, the canonicity of 2 Peter and Jude, etc.). Since moving to Bowling Green, the congregation of which I am a member has had several men come in and preach who were connected with Truth Magazine and none who were with Florida College. When we have fellowship with brethren like this in the work of preaching the gospel, we had better be sure we are not violating Paul's instruction to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness" (Eph. 5:11). For some brethren, the Florida College Lectures would be a non-issue in this regard, but an important issue with the Truth Magazine Lectures because of who is involved.
A third reason why there has been a focus on the Truth Magazine Lectureship is because of the simple fact that it has been defended. The Florida College Lectures have gone on with, to my knowledge, no real effort to defend the practice and show from the New Testament that it is authorized. Some of those who are a part of the Guardian of Truth Foundation have made it a point to show why they believe the lectureship is authorized. The principal example of this is the book by Mike Willis and Dan King -- We Have A Right: Studies In Religious Collectivities. Those who love the truth will be like the Bereans and search the Scriptures to see if their claims and arguments are valid before accepting them (Acts 17:11). We must not put so much trust in men that we simply believe what they are saying because they said it was true. Hence, the reason for this material.
Possible Defense of the Florida College Lectures
As a side note, I believe it is important to at least mention that the claim could be made that the Florida College Lectures are authorized even if the Truth Magazine Lectures are not. This would be based on the fact that there is a difference between preaching the gospel and selling a product or service. (I won't take time to discuss this point in this article. If you're interested in a further examination of this point, read Tim Haile's article, Preaching the Gospel Versus Selling Gospel Materials.)
Florida College is an institution that is in business to educate students. The school charges thousands of dollars in tuition to those who choose to attend and be taught. Students (and/or their parents) pay for a service -- college instruction. It could be argued that the lectureship is simply an extension of the instruction that students receive in the classroom, that it is part of the service that is being paid for. This way, one could argue that there is a distinction between the Florida College Lectures and the Truth Magazine Lectures. However, I do not believe a distinction is justified. Both organizations extend an invitation to brethren all over the country to attend their lectureship and hear the lessons on various Bible topics. Therefore, these organizations are engaged in the work of evangelism and edification. Yet the only organization mentioned in the New Testament that engaged in these works is the local church. The Florida College Lectures and Truth Magazine Lectures fall together.
Conclusion
Some may believe there is undue attention being given to the Truth Magazine Lectures in comparison with the Florida College Lectures. But whether one is being scrutinized and the other ignored is really immaterial. They are both simply examples of the larger issue we need to consider. Whether it is Truth Magazine or Florida College, where is the authority for such organizations to conduct worship services and engage in evangelism and edification? That is the question we must consider.
