K. C. Moser and Churches of Christ
Kenney Carl Moser (1893-1976) was one of the most significant players in the theological arena of Churches of Christ in the twentieth century.
My friend Bobby Valentine has recently demonstrated in a paper delivered at the 2007 Christian Scholar’s Conference at Rochester College (entitled “In with Wallace, Out with Brewer: K. C. Moser in the 1920s”) that K. C. Moser grew up in a solidly Texas tradition which was the right wing of Southern Churches of Christ at the turn of the century. I was uncertain of this in my original material and speculative about when he might have undergone a significant shift, but Bobby has convinced me. He discovered Moser’s contributions to a small periodical entitled the Herald of Truth in the early 1920s that clearly locates him in the Firm Foundation theological orbit.
[In my original articles, I use the language of “Texas” and “Tennessee” to describe two distinct theological traditions within Southern Churches of Christ. Texas refers to a hardline, rightist tradition (demanding rebaptism for those immersed among Baptists, for example) while Tennessee refers to the tradition that was shaped by the Nashville Bible School–particularly David Lipscomb and James A. Harding. Bobby and I defend this reading of history in our recent book Kingdom Come: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy of David Lipscomb and James Harding.]
Moser was born and bred in the Texas tradition, but he began to shift to a more gracious position. Bobby has further convinced me that this movement toward the Tennessee tradition was directly related to his changing understanding of spirituality, particularly the presence and function of the Spirit of God in the believer. This underlies his shifts on grace, faith, justification and sanctification. By the early 1930s Moser was no longer writing for the Firm Foundation but was a weekly contributor (even on staff for a while) to the Gospel Advocate. Bobby’s work, which I hope he will soon publish, clarifies Moser’s theological shifting in the 1920s and prepares us to better understand the controveries of the 1930s and 1950s. This shift was even unwelcome at the Advocate in 1933 as Foy E. Wallace (a Texas advocate and one time cohort of Moser) removed Moser from the staff of the Advocate.
Moser was regarded as a traitor to his old haunts. He was regarded as no better than a Baptist in Church of Christ clothing, especially in the light of his 1932 book The Way of Salvation. He was definitely an “outsider” in many ways in the 1930s and 1940s though befriended by key persons such as G. C. Brewer. By the 1950s, however, he was a breath of fresh air in the midst of ecclesiological fights over institutionalism (e.g., may churches support human institutions out of their treasuries?). His tract Christ Versus a “Plan” (1952) would set an agenda for future discussion that ultimately culminated in Moser’s theological commentary on Romans entitled The Gist of Romans (1957). The perfectionistic disputes of the 1950s disillusioned some and Moser’s theology of grace began to resonate with younger ministers. By the early 1960s Moser’s views were most characteristically described as an emphasis on the man (Jesus) rather than the plan (the five steps of salvation). He even taught at Lubbock Christian College from 1964-1972 where he had a tremendous impact on some young minds–both pro (scroll down to the letter from an elder in Texas) and con (scroll down to Tommy Hicks’ article). His influence continued into the 1970s and 1980s–even among young non-institutional ministers.
Moser, I believe, was one of the key players–if not the most important one–in renewing a theology of grace among Churches of Christ in the midst of polemical exchanges that amounted to ecclesiological perfectionism. Contemporary ministers within Churches of Christ owe a great debt to the perseverance and courage of K. C. Moser who taught a theology of grace when it was quite unpopular and regarded as treason.
I have uploaded to my Academics page my three major contributions to the study of K. C. Moser. The foundational document is my lecture for the 18th Annual W. B. West, Jr. Lectures for the Advancement of Christian Scholarship in October, 1993, at Harding University Graduate School of Religion entitled The Man or the Plan? K. C. Moser and the Theology of Grace Among Mid-Twentieth Century Churches of Christ (also available at Hans Rollmann’s Restoration Movement webstite). From this material I subsequently published two articles in the 1995 Restoration Quarterly. The first provided the historical context of Moser’s ministry and writing. The second article offered a theological assessment of the significance of Moser’s perspectives.
I recently put some additional material together about Moser in the context of his “man or the plan” controversy. I prepared some handouts for a seminar on Restoration Preaching at Lipscomb University’s Center for Spiritual Renewal. You can find them here: Moser Lectures at Lipscomb Handout. (Unfortunately some of the links in this piece are dead, and when they are up again, I will renew them.)
Not everyone, of course, agrees with my positive assessment of Moser. Just as the Texas Tradition opposed Moser in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and then opposed his reemergence in the late 1950s and 1960s, many continue the opposition today. Some even place him at the center of the disintegration of unity (read: conformity) among Churches of Christ. The Firm Foundation, in an article by Joseph A. Meador, parallels Moser’s supposedly divisive teaching with contemporary change agents and Dub McClish recently noted that that Moser’s “dormant seeds” have again sprouted. The cleavage between the Texas and Tennessee traditions still exists within Churches of Christ.
I believe the life and theology of this godly man is worth careful consideration–not simply from a mere historical vantage point but more importantly from the need to recontexualize his Christ-centered theology for the present. We stand on his shoulders and I am grateful for his life-long struggle to proclaim the gospel of grace in the midst of a people who resisted his message.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:23 am
In a class I had with Jimmy Allen during my undergraduate studies, he credited K.C. Moser and his book “The Gist of Romans” with having the biggest influence upon his understanding of God’s grace.
Rex
May 15th, 2008 at 9:46 am
a new artical title?
the tunnel vision of the 20th. cent. restoration.
the way that this man was treated was shameful.
boy.
blessings rich in ca
May 15th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Thanks for the kindness …
Bobby V
May 15th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Actually it was a grudging acknowledgement offered without pleasure and with great envy….
John Mark
🙂
May 15th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I will second CONSTANT’s sentiment – it was and continues to be a disgrace how those who break with tradition are treated throughout our fellowship.
November 17th, 2017 at 9:55 pm
Excellent reading and I wonder 9 years later when people speak about the way Moser was treated is shameful, its a disgrace, etc, that many people have broken away from CoC right wing traditions.
This has unfortunately happened to many times, that great Christians who decide to buck the traditions of the right wing churches are ostracised.
In effect, displays that many lack to renew their minds and rely on their traditions as the truth. Just a great pity.
May 15th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
At 34 years old, I am just now discovering Moser and the history around the COC in his day. Faith shifting it is indeed. I had heard of him growing up as a preachers kid, but did not realize his significance untill a few yrs ago.
The journey continues……
May 15th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Question
when you take perfect law of liberty and use it as a tool of judgment, do you not set yourself up to be a hypocrite.
And in so doing become counterproductive to the unity that God expects us to find in the love of Christ.
Obedience of faith: the faithfulness of Christ.
The divine nature, the new creation.
I will say one thing I am learning not to throw rocks because I know I in a glass house.
Blessings
rich in California
May 16th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Antinomianism what a word John Mark,
it’s time for the Neoplatonist’s to come out of the cave and start asking the right questions the way Socrates told everybody to do.
I decided to delete the question. The answers are there, if our hearts in the right place.
Blessings rich in California
May 16th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Throwing rocks and glass houses is a good analogy for the hermeneutical process in which we are all engaged. As we seek to understand, enjoy and proclaim the grace of God, we need to demonstrate grace to others who have the same goal in mind.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Moser’s two books were foundational to me back in the late 60’s and early 70’s. I credit him with my earliest understanding of Grace and the beginning of my journey out of legalism..
May 24th, 2008 at 12:09 am
As a firm C-L-P evangelist (conservative in theology, liberal in love, progressive in ministry) who has worked among Stone-Campbell churches since early teenage years and went to one of the “brotherhood’s” more conservative schools, I am sad to say I found out about Brewer only through him being treated as the enemy and a change agent of the distant past. When you read his work, however, he was years ahead (or should we say 1850 years behind) his time. God bless his legacy among us and all believers who seek unity and salvation in grace through faith.
-Will (raised in the rural West TN tradition)…:)
May 24th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Brewer, in many ways, fits the CLP categorization. He was quite conservative on most ecclesial issues, but quite progressive in methods (multiple cups, located-salaried preachers, sponsoring churches for missions, large building programs, etc.). He and Moser were quite a pair. They were both conservative, but conservatives with a strong theology of grace though both held a strong ecclesial patternism that did not give much room for grace at the corporate level.
Thanks for chiming in. I, too, had not heard much of Brewer in my conservative training which was soaked in the Texas tradition.
November 20th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Thanks for your work on K.C. Moser, he happens to be my great grandfather. Unfortunately, I’m just now learning of his great influence. I’m proud to continue in the tradition of his theology of grace, and I’m eager to learn more. Any other resources are appreciated.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Adam, I am happy to meet you. Bobby Valentine…check out his blog on your great grandfather….knows much more than I. Blessings, JMH
March 27th, 2012 at 8:31 am
I was a student of Brother Moser’s at LCC (now LCU). I was also blessed to be befriended by him at a personal level. Both experiences were monumental in my development as a young minister, and continue to largely shape my thinking today.
As many of you probably know, Christian college Bible classes can be rather tedious (dare I say it, boring) … but I found his classes to be rich and inspiring, especially one on the Gospel of John.
Keith S. Hodges, Marshall, TX
March 27th, 2012 at 8:34 am
Thanks, Keith, for your comment. It is good to hear from those personally impacted by Moser.
May 16th, 2015 at 10:17 pm
hey, brother. just doing some late night reading on “unity” and ran across a quote from K.C. Moser, and ended up here! will have to read more on KCM. He sounds like somebody I’d like to read. Knew his name, but that was about it. Thanks. Jerry.
November 27th, 2017 at 7:21 am
Jim Massey was a student of Moser. I was graced to be a student of Massey. His class on Romans saved me.
February 21st, 2024 at 12:38 pm
I appreciate the courage and wisdom of FW Mattox who brought KC Moser to be a part of the Bible faculty at Lubbock Christian College. I’m sure there were many who criticized Dr. Mattox for this decision.