Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 14
July 12, 1962
NUMBER 10, PAGE 14a

The Value Of A Report

Marvin Kelley

This is certainly a vital subject to those of us so far from home. There are many who have gone to the mission fields who have little if any contact with the church at home, except that that comes through the church bulletins and papers we receive. All of us surely recognize the fact that new truths may be discovered that will cast light on some of the difficult passages and issues facing the church and it is with hungry eyes that we carefully read all of the articles and comments that appear in either the papers or the bulletins.

It is my persuasion that every article written should be written with these thoughts in mind. If an article is written to bemean or belittle the person or character of someone striving for the truth, then the space of the paper is wasted and the time of the reader has been ill-spent. Not only is this so, but there is also encouragement to hold in scorn and contempt a brother in Christ.

I was amazed this past week when I read an article written by brother Tommy Warren relative to the debate between brothers Woods and Cogdill in Tennessee. When I saw the caption "Review of the Tennessee Debate, I was thrilled because I was hoping new truths had been learned and were to be revealed in the article. To my disappointment I learned absolutely nothing except Brother Cogdill had charts that were nearly the size of a bed sheet and that it took too long to put them up. I learned that Brother Woods used an opaque and took less time to display his charts than Cogdill.

I personally have enough time to spend listening or writing for some one to put up a chart when my soul's salvation is at stake. If I am in too big a hurry to wait, I am in too big a hurry to reach heaven, I think.

I hope the rest of the report on the debate will say, "Brother Woods presented the verse that teaches one church is to send money to another church for the purpose of doing a good work. This will prove the Herald of Truth is scriptural. I hope there are verses presented that say either that we are left to our own discretion in caring for the orphan or that it is scriptural for a church to operate through an institution brought into existence to do this work.

A Christian who closes his mind to God's truth is a fool and the man who listens to the rationalizing of man's word where God has not legislated is also a fool. Please, when you brethren write reports in the future, submit the arguments and leave the childish bickering off. Those who are away from home are waiting eagerly for any new light that may be east on these difficult matters.

— Agana, Guam, M. I.