The Indianapolis Debate

Editorial

Of considerable interest to many brethren will be the debate between Charles A. Holt of Franklin, Tennessee, and W. L. Totty of Indianapolis, Indiana, which is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis the week of October 18-22. The discussion will be conducted in the auditorium of the Garfield Heights Church of Christ in Indianapolis, the congregation for which Brother Totty labors.

Propositions are as follows:

1. It is scripturally right for churches to contribute money from the church treasuries to support what is commonly called a Bible College in its work.
2. It is scriptural for churches of Christ as such to build and, or maintain such benevolent institutions as Boles Orphan Home, Potter Orphan Home, and such Homes for the Aged as at Gunter, Texas.
3. The system and methods of evangelism, and the methods of raising the funds for said evangelism, as have been and are now being employed by some churches, such as the Highland Avenue Church in Abilene, Texas (in the Herald of Truth radio program), the Broadway Church in Lubbock, Texas, and the Union Avenue Church in Memphis, Tennessee, arc scriptural.

Each of the above propositions is affirmed by Brother Totty and denied by Brother Holt. Their agreement declares, "The session each night shall last for two hours, with each speaker being given two thirty minute speeches. The disputants agree to abide by Hedge's rules of honorable controversy, to act as gentlemen and to treat each other as brethren in the Lord." We understand there has been a later mutual agreement that instead of two thirty minute speeches each night there will be three speeches by each disputant, each speech twenty minutes in duration.

The discussion of differences in free and open debate has long been an accepted and cardinal characteristic of disciples of the Lord. Even in the days of the apostles the precedent was set in such actions as Paul's resisting Peter 'to the face" when Peter's course of action had been contrary to gospel teaching (Gal. 2:11-21), his controversy with the "false brethren" of Galatians 2:4,5, and the numerous incidents and teachings in which both Paul and the other brethren had contact with, or referred to, teachers of error — whether in the church or out of it. In more modern times it has been demonstrated that the very heart and soul of faithful and aggressive propagation of the teachings of Christ lies in free discussion. From the lays of Alexander Campbell, on through Fanning, Lipscomb, and McGary, those who "searched for the ancient order" recognized the value of discussions.

That churches of the Lord have been disturbed for a number of years over the matters to be considered in Indianapolis is a matter of common knowledge. Gospel journals have carried articles from preachers, elders, college presidents, orphan home superintendents, and proponents or opponents of institutions in one guise or mother for many years. Indeed, it is the considered judgment of competent students of the Restoration movement that the matter of "church cooperation" has been a question never yet fully resolved in the thinking of the disciples, and that the same basic concepts which led to the original organization of the Missionary Societies have kept cropping up, in one form or another, for a hundred years. These things will no doubt be discussed in the Indianapolis sessions.

For many years it has been generally recognized that Brother G. C. Brewer was probably the ablest man among us in the promotion and advocacy of the things to be affirmed in Indianapolis by Brother Totty. Of late years it has been apparent that the Gospel Advocate has been swinging increasingly in that direction, and away from David Lipscomb's unyielding and adamant opposition to the kind of "cooperation" now being promoted. While Brother Brewer would have been the most natural choice to defend the propositions to be discussed, he excused himself from such a discussion, and stated that he was entrusting the task to Brother Totty. Brother Totty has written repeatedly in the Gospel Advocate in defense of these matters, and will no doubt be accepted by all who favor the "institutions" as a worthy champion of their cause.

It will be the sincere hope and prayer of all right thinking brethren that the Indianapolis debate may go a long way toward bringing unity among Christ's followers on these grave questions. If a careful and prayerful study of BIBLE TEACHING is to characterize the sessions. then all of us can thank God for them. Such can result in nothing but good. If there is any disposition on the part of either man to drag the discussion down to the low level of personal feuds and bickerings, seeking to gain advantage by discrediting one another, or other brethren, the debate would far better never be held.

This discussion came about as a result of a challenge issued by the Garfield Heights congregation last spring. There are twelve churches in Indianapolis; ten of them are in full and complete fellowship with one another, but two of the congregations (Blaine Avenue an old-time "Sommerite" congregation — the only one left in Indianapolis — and Garfield Heights Church where Brother Totty preaches) refuse to recognize the ten congregations as faithful churches; they also refuse to recognize one another. Ordinarily it would have been the policy of the Indianapolis brethren to ignore the challenge; but inasmuch as Brother Totty has the backing and endorsement of Brother Brewer, has his articles featured by the Gospel Advocate, and along with Brother Goodpasture and Brother E. R. Harper has come to be recognized as a leader of the "institutional" minded brethren, the Belmont congregation accepted his challenge, and invited Brother Charles A. Holt, Jr., to represent them in the discussion. Don't forget the date — October 18-22.

— F. Y. T.