Front Matter – Why We Left

Table of Contents

Why I Left

The Nine Speeches of the Vickery Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas, Lectureship of October 25 to 29 and November 1 to 4, 1948.

Editors:
Guy V. Caskey—Thos. L. Campbell

Order From
Thomas L. Campbell, Publisher
Pepperdine College — Box 237
1121 W. 79th St.
Los Angeles 44, Calif.

Printed and Bound by
The Manney Company
1041 Isbell Road — Fort Worth 14, Texas

Introduction to Lectures

Every year many individuals leave denominational affiliations and become members of the church of Christ. The church of Christ must possess something which no other church can claim for many to forsake their former teaching and associates and cleave to a different doctrine and a new people. That “something” is the doctrine of Christ. If other religious bodies had “it,” they, too, would be absorbed into the church of Christ. We are not a great people for pomp, ceremony, affectation, or emotionalism; on the contrary we shun the very appearance of these things. Sectarian preachers can equal or surpass our brethren when preaching on morality, but in doctrine we have no equal. There is our strength! Shorn of doctrine we are as helpless as Samson in the hands of the Philistines, we become as weak as the sects and head pell-mell for the temple of Dagon.

Because denominationalism has softened its doctrinal teaching, there is a breakdown in the moral and religious fiber of the people. This is to be expected. If God’s Word is not authoritative on religious issues, it is useless in the moral as well. One hole in the dike invites destruction of the whole dam.

Believing that we should keep these truths always squarely before the church, I suggested this type of lectureship program to the elders of the Vickery Boulevard congregation. They consented, and asked me to arrange the program. With the help of various preachers of the gospel in the city of Fort Worth, I eventually evolved the nine speech lectureship for October 25 to November 4, 1948.

The house was filled every night during the series, and on the last night when Brother Malone spoke on Catholicism people had to be turned away. Many who attended spoke words of commendation of the spirit and lessons delivered. Never before did we realize the fight that goes on within those who leave earthly institutions to become a part of the kingdom of heaven. May God bless this book to stir our hearts into the direction of appreciation for the Lamb’s bride, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thomas L. Campbell, Minister
Vickery Blvd., Church of Christ
Fort Worth, Texas

Why This Book?

This book proposes to present the deep, emotional conflicts and personal struggles of these men (the speakers) in leaving denominationalism for the truth of God. Those of us who have been “reared in the church,” so to speak, taught the scriptures from childhood, can scarcely appreciate the problems and emotional encounters arising in the process of such changes. We have heard about these problems, but because we have not experienced them, it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, for us to know the tumult of feelings as well as the sacrifices involved.

In making these changes, many former impressions, stamped almost indelibly from early youth, had to be erased completely. This was not easy. Their sacrifices were varied and numerous, and this was no light matter.

But these men were not unduly disturbed; they had reasons—very sound reasons. They did not change because they were desirous of adventure, nor because they were fascinated by something that was new to them. Had it been a matter of personal preference, doubtless, not one of them would have left his former relationship. They changed, but WHY? This book proceeds to answer that question.

It was not the aim of the speakers to present and refute all the false doctrines of the denominations from which they came, but to give you the reasons why they left. But we believe that each speaker presented sufficient and irrefutable reasons to convince the judgment and convert the sinner.

We sincerely hope that you will read this book with pleasure and profit, and when you have done with it, pass it to some friend, who, by the careful reading of its pages, may be turned from darkness to light.

Guy V. Caskey, Minister
South Summit Church of Christ
Fort Worth, Texas

Why I Left the Christian Church — Floyd A. Decker · 7
Why I Left the Presbyterian Church — Horace W. Busby · 31
Why I Left the Baptist Church — Grover Stevens · 53
Why I Left the Methodist Church — Claude B. Holcomb · 93
Why I Left the Nazarene Church — Waymon D. Miller · 117
Why I Left the Lutheran Church — Claude Guild · 141
Why I Left the World — Luther Blackmon · 163
Why I Left the Catholic Church — Joe Malone · 181
Why I Left the Anti-Class Position — L. W. Hayhurst · 223

Biographies

Floyd A. Decker · 6
Horace W. Busby · 30
Grover Stevens · 52
Claude B. Holcomb · 92
Waymon D. Miller · 116
Claude Guild · 140
Luther Blackmon · 162
Joe Malone · 180
L. W. Hayhurst · 222