A FRESH STUDY OF CHRISTIAN ORDINANCES

A FRESH STUDY OF CHRISTIAN ORDINANCES

lb. Every generation must face anew the problems of the past. This is true because every man is a free moral agent.

Investigation alone will enable the younger generations to do this. Then too, new light is always coming to the front. And this always makes it possible that old positions may be altered.
Of course, the rock foundation truths of Scripture do not change, but men live in a changing world, and because they do, they regard every thing under the principle of change.

2b. Emphasis on truth and forms runs in cycles, and what one generation emphasizes another ignores.

One generation arouses to defend the attacks on fundamentals, and allows practices and forms to fall by the wayside.
The next generation must emphasize forms and practices to the exclusion of fundamentals.
The swing in this past generation has been away from forms to doctrine. Thus, a reason for emphasizing again the forms.

3b. The Brethren with others have lost sight of the practices and forms in their emphasis on doctrine.

Liberal and modernistic forces have called forth the best in defense of the faith.
Because dead formalism and legalism have been closely associated with practices, many have veered far away from the forms.
The cycle has reached the place where it is now necessary to turn again to the presentation and defense of the ordinances.