Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 8
May 24, 1956
NUMBER 4, PAGE 12

Prejudiced Papers

Vaughn D. Shofner, Camden, Arkansas

It is a sad, heart-rending fact that the oldest papers among the members of the church today are betraying the trust which the steadfast pioneers earned by "contending for the faith." The simple human respect one should show for those who were so valiant in the battles against sin in high and low places demands much more of the sons of men. But, viewing it from the exalted aspect of spirituality, fraught as it is with the destiny of millions of souls now living and the millions of unborn souls which the future may hold, brings a sense of shame that cuts a path a weeping hearts across the footstool of God.

The Gospel Advocate was founded upon the honorable platform that allows all matters of controversy the right to be considered from all viewpoints. Its years of carrying a successful campaign against all kinds of error gave it the place of high regard which now is being betrayed. Its pages are no longer allowed to echo the beliefs of anyone unless those convictions acquiesce in its editorial policy and position. It no longer lives and breathes devotion to the propagation of the truths of heaven above the opinions of men, and it no longer carries the unsheathed sword of the Spirit against all innovations and errors. It no longer stand's against the principles of the Missionary Society, where once it stood and saw the foes fall at its feet. Its militant voice of "thus saith the Lord" is now silenced by anesthetic desires to become a material power instead of a spiritual soldier of the cross. It now rides the incoming tides of innovational ideas and fanciful dreams, and will soon be dashed to bits against the shoals of spiritual decadence. Its promotional program is headed toward trying to place its editorial positions in the hands of so many people that its opposers, silenced by unfair policy, will not be heard widely enough to even slow down its schemes. From its editorial position, some of its writers, unable to be touched by the opposers' pens, wax brave, berate, demean and belittle those who call for scriptural precedent in all things. Why, the courts of worldlings will allow a higher degree of justice! Even the criminal is allowed to speak his piece!

In the world of material things, such refusal to allow any opposer of anything the right to voice his opposition by the same medium which publicizes the thing opposed is classified as violation of the constitutional right of freedom of speech, and surely the standards in the church of the Lord are as high or higher. Such action is the reason for war and division. The first element of peace is the genuine desire to be fair. When brethren are led by the spirit of justice they do not desire to claim anything which does not really belong to them; the spirit of justice will not withhold anything that is their due from those who might oppose their positions. The first step in any dispute, therefore, should be a calm and careful examination of the facts of the case. Christians will remember that their opponents have equal rights with themselves. A fair and impartial examination of the facts of the case is the first step that must be taken in any controversy; and that the examination may be fair, Christians must patiently allow their opponent to state his own case in his own way. It is as humiliating to Christian character as it is prejudicial to the real interests of religion, when men approach religious questions in a spirit of heated partisanship, seeking only to crush their opponents in defeat. No religious paper has a right to life in the sight of God and Christianity, unless the evident object of it is to vindicate the glory of God and the truth of his word. It is fair and just to expect a place to express convictions against any questionable action of churches.

I therefore sincerely conclude that the Gospel Advocate is no longer fair. As long as the policy of the present exists, publishing only one side and refusing a single word that questions its positions, it is the enemy of peace. And as long as it takes this position it is the enemy of New Testament principles. Beyond this, it cannot stand where it does and oppose the principles of the Missionary Society, and therefore it must endorse those man-made principles. I challenge anyone to show where it now stands for New Testament teaching regarding these matters.

The Firm Foundation is in exactly the same unscriptural, anti-scriptural positions. It is another paper which grew to high respect and esteem by the many battles it waged against the evils of another day, which now is without spiritual stamina to stand by New Testament teaching. Its editorials wisely warn against "vilification, abuse, and 'sarcasm," and then from the security of the heritage it cries from the other side of its editorial mouth about those who oppose the sponsoring, institutional, centralized arrangements abroad today as being the very spirit of "anti-ism," which "appeals to churches without vision and to men whose interests are selfish and introverted." Now this double-minded editorial policy will not allow anyone the right to point out an editorial error, yet it whines to the brotherhood, who doesn't know those facts, about certain opposition being "anti-ism." If this is ignorance, may the Lord help this paper. If it's meanness, may the devil have it.

There are some papers with editorial policies which accept the fact that the first element of peace is the genuine desire to be fair. These papers make mistakes, and their writers may sometimes fail to present the real intention of their heart. But they are trying to please God first. You are now reading one of these papers which is eager to have all positions considered. I believe the continued growth of their reading list will be seen. I believe that multitudes will revolt further from the prejudiced principles which are so popular today, and that the future will see thousands led by the spirit of fairness in religious journalism by their efforts. Gentle reader, consider both sides! Subscribe for a paper that allows such to exist, and reach your honest decisions in the light of God's word!