Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 6
May 20, 1954
NUMBER 3, PAGE 13b

"There Is Nothing That Hurts A Baptist Preacher As Much As Being Ignored"

James P. Needham, Haynesville, Louisiana

So said the editor of the Independent Baptist Voice in the April issue. I have often wondered why Baptist preachers say some of the things they often say in debates, and why they act as they do sometimes too. I have the answer now: They are hurt when ignored! This, I suppose, is the reason why the writers in the Independent Voice continue to slur, ridicule, and misrepresent the people they are pleased to call the "Campbellites." They are hurt when ignored! And they know that as long as they misrepresent the people they call the "Campbellites" just that long they are not going to be ignored.

No doubt they really think they are hurt the worst when they are ignored, but I don't think so. If they are hurt any worse when ignored, than when one of our brethren is working them over in a debate, I don't see how they could bear it. For instance, last summer I was engaged in a debate with C. L. Long, Missionary Baptist preacher of Ridgely, Tennessee. W. C. Nevil was his so-called moderator. In my first affirmative speech I displayed my affirmative arguments on large charts, and pressed them hard. As I began to press them, Mr. Nevil's seat got so hot that he couldn't stay on it. I was interrupted about seven times during that speech by Mr. Nevil. I don't see how ignoring him could have hurt him worse.

If it is true that they are hurt the worst when ignored — so let it be. As Christians we should be very compassionate toward those that suffer, so let us not make it so terribly hard on Baptist preachers by ignoring them!