Today marks the start of our thirty-second lectureship here at Garfield. Looking back over the years, some of the most faithful gospel preachers anywhere have stood and presented lectures at the lectureship. Truth has never been compromised and the tools to build faith in God have been presented with great zeal and love for the Lord and His people. I have been blessed to hear many of these good men who have since left this life to meet with God. The means of taping, provided by brother Jim Green over the years, has provided a great library that allows us to go back and both see and hear the “giants” of bygone eras.
We must hasten to add that, likewise, over the years some of those good men could no longer work together and, hence, cease to speak on the program here. Though each side in different problems in the brotherhood away from Garfield, would claim it was over doctrinal issues. I do not claim to have the inside track on some of these problems that have occurred in other places. Though faithful men could not and cannot work together in such efforts, I have never known of any on our programs who completely ceased to preach the truth of Jesus Christ. Yes, some have left the faith but I am speaking about the majority who have preached in our lectureship. They still preach the same Jesus and offer the same gospel as they always have. It is the matter of attitude that prevents some of them from working together as they once did.
At one time we had a spacious building, large foyer and great facilities. We have now moved into a rather small rented building. We do not have enough classroom space or bathroom facilities. When everyone is here we have to really sit close to each other. The blessing to this arrangement is that people are talking to each other that we rarely had time to speak to before. In our old auditorium that would seat about 800, the people in different parts of the building did not get to meet with each other. We today enjoy the blessing of being close, distance wise, to each other and hopefully growing to know more about each other.
Each year at the lectureship, our women worked harder physically than any man in the congregation. They planned meals, provided the food and offered genuine hospitality to all who came. We were able because of their efforts to sit down and enjoy meals with each other. We would leave the tables and go back to the auditorium for more spiritual food from faithful preachers. As we made our way back down, the ladies began the process of cleaning up and getting things ready for the next day. We have always been blessed by good women who saw their efforts as a “labor of love”. By the close of the lectureship, they would be tired and worn out and feeling good inside for all the good they accomplished.
We have had those who acted in an adverse way. Writing letters to us and telling us that we would lose our souls for eating in the building. I tried to answer those arguments by showing that from Acts 20:11, that the brethren in Troas, after reviving Eutychus, returned to the same place where they had been worshipping and had a common meal together. Likewise from Jude verse 12, Jude warned of those who were taking advantage of Christians in their love feast. Since I am not told where the love feasts were conducted, it is moving away from Christian compassion and love of the truth to consign people to hell who eat in the building. I have never understood if 10 or so Christians meet at a restaurant following worship, that is alright. If, however, you meet in the building where worship took place (past tense), this is sinful.
We have lost many friends and family due to death. They, therefore, will never see the “new building”. Here is a vital lesson for all of us here at Garfield Heights. The church may meet at a given location for the purpose of worship and encouraging each other in the pursuit of our faith. The church of Christ is the body of Christ that is made up of individual members. Those who have left us via the call of death, always saw the church of Christ at Garfield Heights. We ask it to be the Lord’s will that we move to better surroundings in the near future, but as we do move, it must remain as it always has, the church of Christ.