The Sunday School is purely an invention of man. There is no divine authority back of the Sunday School in the days of the apostles. Robert Raikes, of London, England, founded the first Sunday School in 1771; thereby, making it 1780 years too late to be by divine authority. Those who practice the Sunday School class system do so by the authority of Robert Raikes, and not by divine authority.

There is no example in the divine record of the apostles having ever used the Sunday school class system; and for that reason, the system is only a tradition of men, and not a divine example. If a congregation of Christians can do their whole duty and be saved in the end without the use of the Sunday school class system, then it must be nonessential, and if non-essential, it is not needed; if it is not needed, it is not commanded; if not commanded, it is not a duty, for we read: "The whole duty of man is to fear God, and keep His commandments" (EccI. 12:13). "When the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth" (Jno. 16:13). But the Holy Spirit did not guide the apostles into the Sunday school.

Does believing a thing to be right, make it right? If you believe a thing to be wrong, would the doing of it be wrong to you? The Sunday school is a modern invention, and too late to have a place in the New Testament record, and therefore, not divinely authorized.

Is the church apostolic today?’ No, far from it. Wouldn’t it be a good, great, grand, and glorious thing if the Church of Christ were apostolic today? What is it to be apostolic? Isn’t it to preach and practice the same things that were practiced in the days of the apostles, in the same way preached and practiced then? Was there a church or Sunday school entertainment, picnic, supper, festival, parade, bazar, or anything of the kind then?

Is the church apostolic today, when it does a thing just because it is popular and pleasing, modern and up-to-date, but not divinely authorized? Some say it is all right to do a thing just because God has not said not to do it. If that is true, why wouldn’t it be all right to come waltzing down the aisle arm in arm to the Lord’s table, to the music of some jazz tune? God has not said not do it.

I want the Bible taught every day in the week; every week in the year; every year till Jesus comes again. Jesus said teach all nations (Matt. 28:19); "Go preach the gospel. to every creature" (Mark 16:15). In 2 Tim. 4:1, 2, the Apostle Paul said, "Preach the word, in season and out of season," and that means all the time. Every congregation of Christians in the world today, could teach the Bible one hour every day in the week; every week in the year; every year until Jesus comes again; but they are not interested enough to do it. They think if they teach it thirty minutes on Sunday morning, and in a way not divinely authorized, they have done their duty. But thinking a thing is right does not make it right.

Has God told us to do a certain thing, but has not told us how to do it? Do you believe in a God of that kind? The Bible is my standard and guide to go by. I care nothing for the opinion, theory, or think-so, of any uninspired human being, concerning God’s word. If you give me your opinion of God’s word, I will throw it to the four winds. All I want is chapter and verse.

Faithfully,

W.A. Ethridge

425 Commerce St.

Nashville, Tenn.

I am informed that the above writer is Field Editor of the Apostolic Times, Nashville, Tenn. Can it be possible that this "darling idol" known as the Sunday school, or class system of teaching has become too much grown up for some of our brethren, and they are about to give it up? Let us hope and pray to this end. If some of their own preachers and prominent leaders denounce the thing, it is possible that some may come back to the "old paths and walk therein." I urge that all our readers make a special effort to put this in the hands of all the S. S. brethren you can reach: