The New Index Librorum Prohibitorum
For many years the Roman Catholic Church had had a list commonly called the "Index" which consists of a list of books prohibited for Catholic readers. Collier's Encyclopedia, Vol. 10, pg. 391, defines the Index as "A published catalog of books, the reading of which, without leave, is forbidden Roman Catholics by the highest ecclesiastical authority." At the Council of Trent, the Catholics decreed that no one could interpret the scriptures in a manner so as to differ with the Catholic interpretation. The decree passed reads: "That in matters of faith and matters which concern Christian doctrine, no one, relying on his own judgment, shall wrest the Holy Spirit to his particular sense, or interpret it contrary to the sense which the Church has always followed or contrary to the unanimous opinion of the Fathers." Fremantle, The Papal Encyclicals in their Historical Context, pg. 123. Of course, this decree falsely assumes that the Catholic Church has always followed but one interpretation, and that the opinion of the Fathers has always been unanimous.
Of course, not all books are put on the index of prohibited reading for Catholics. Only those books that they deem to be destructive of Catholic faith and morality are entered into the index. Some books are so destructive of Catholic faith, and so detrimental to Catholic purposes that the hierarchy will not permit Catholics to read them at all, without special dispensation. This "special dispensation" is only granted if the officials think the person is strong enough to withstand the forbidden reading. The Catholics also have an Expurgatory Index. This consists of a list of those books which are not totally bad, but which have some bad sections in them. They "expunge" the objectionable section, sometime by pasting a paper over the objectionable section, or by marking it out. Then with the objectionable section obliterated, the book may be read by Catholics.
The Catholics state that "The science of theology which treats of the vital matters of religious doctrine and morals is profound and extensive and few of us have the time, aptitude or training to be experts in it. That's why the Catholic Church provides her faithful with guides whom they can trust and handy checklists like the Index which they can consult." Speaking of Tolerance, (a Knights of Columbus Publication), p. 19. In other words, the Catholics are told that the ordinary Catholic does not have sense enough to know the truth when he sees it. Therefore, the priests will tell him what he can read and what he cannot read.
In The Miniature Question Box, by Conway, another Catholic publication, we are told "Experience has taught her (i.e. The Roman Catholic Church — CW) that many make shipwreck of their faith, and give themselves over to uncleanness on account of their indiscriminate reading." p. 113. The Catholics undertake to keep their people in the fold by not letting them read anything that would try to lead them out of Catholicism. Teach them only Catholic doctrine, never let them read anything Anti-Catholic, and they will always be Catholics — so reason the priests: Conway states, "The Church is bound to protect her children from the poisoning influence of the perverted written word." Now, what attitude does the "good Catholic" have toward the Index? Conway tells us: "But the true Catholic will obey the laws of the Index . . ."
We have always felt and taught that this attitude on the part of the Catholic hierarchy is indicative of the fact that they themselves feel there are weaknesses in their position. They attempt to hold their people by keeping them unaware of any criticisms that can be made of the Catholic position. So long as they can keep their people ignorant of certain truths, they feel they will remain good Catholics. We all have deplored this attitude on the part of the Catholics.
But you notice that we titled this article "The New Index Librorum Prohibitorum." We did so because there are certain tendencies in the body of Christ today that exemplify the same spirit that prompted the Catholics to start the Index Prohibitory. Brethren have imitated the Catholics in many other ways thus far, and now are imitating them by trying to hold certain ones in "their fold" by keeping them ignorant of any criticisms that can be made of their position.
For a good many years now, through the pages of some of the religious journals our brethren publish, we have seen the spirit of the Index manifested. Certain editors have begun with the same assumptions as those with the Catholic hierarchy began. The Catholics assume that the laity cannot discern the truth from error. They must be told what it is. So they make official pronouncements that the Catholics may know what they must believe. The editor of the Gospel Advocate is proud of the fact that before an article goes into the pages of the Advocate, it must first get his pontifical endorsement. He brags that nothing goes into the Advocate that he does not endorse — as though this fact should endear the GA to everyone, and make significant every article in it.
The readers of the Advocate are not permitted to see the weaknesses in the Advocate position exposed. The ram - rodders must think like the Catholics do, that "theology" is such a difficult field that only those who are especially "apt" and "trained" are capable of discerning the truth. So they reason, once we decide what the truth is, we will tell the people what they must believe. And they further reason, that if we should permit someone else to criticize what we have declared to be the truth, the blind, ignorant "laity" might get confused. So we do not permit them to read the other side of a controversial point, lest they by "indiscriminate reading" "make shipwreck of their (Gospel Advocate) faith." So for more than a decade, the Advocate has been open only to one side of any controversial issue. Is this not the saint spirit as that of the Index?
But the Index-spirit has not existed only in editorial chairs. It has recently begun to creep into the positions occupied by elders. Somewhere elders have gotten the idea that they have a right to tell people what they can read. Elders are given certain authorities in the scriptures, but the authority to censor your reading is not one of those powers. An elder has no more authority to tell you what you can and cannot read than does the pope. And when he tries to tell you what you are to read, he is acting just like the pope, and his decree ought to be treated just like all freedom-loving people treat the decrees of the pope.
I was recently told that an elder in one of the churches got up before the congregation and threatened (He did not say what they would do about it) all those who read or distributed the Gospel Guardian or The Contender. Have not the Guardian and the Contender then been added to this lording elder's Index Prohibitory? Does this elder have any more right to form such a list than the other overgrown elder (the Roman Pope) has to form such a list? Not one bit. A brother recently wrote: "The elders here have instructed the congregation not to read your paper, but to throw it in the waste-basket when it comes." However, the brother said: "I am disobeying them, as I think they have no right to try to censor what I read." And he is exactly right. The elders or any other brother have the right to answer any man they wish to answer. But they have no right to forbid the people to listen to him when he does speak. Instead of silencing one they consider to be a "gain-sayer" by the Word of God, some elders just swing their authoritarian ax a bit and say "Don't listen to him." A few of these elders are learning that this is working for them no better than it has worked for the Catholics. People read about what they want to read. When people are told "Don't read this or that," sometimes they rightly conclude "He must be trying to hide something from me. Maybe I had better check into it." My brother, do not let some other brother, regardless of who he may be, decide for you what is the truth. You are going to bear the consequences of the decision, so you had better make the decision yourself. I do not care which "side" you are on, you had better study all that is available on both "sides." You might learn something that when you get to the judgment you will wish you had known beforehand.
Editors and elders have tried to form their own Index Librorum, and so have some preachers. They announce to the congregation, "Don't you read this paper or that paper. Don't listen to this preacher or that preacher." Who does he think he is anyway? The pope of Rome? If not, he should quit acting like the pope of Rome does. Recently subscriptions to the Gospel Guardian were sent for a number of brethren in a congregation. The local preacher tried to cancel the subscriptions of all the brethren where he preached. He had nothing to do with sending in the subscriptions, and he had no right to try to cancel the subscriptions of other brethren. What was he trying to do? He was trying to exercise his "pastoral" duty of "protecting his flock." He did not have the truth to answer what the people were reading, so he tried to exercise his authority. It did not work either. Some good brethren have actually cancelled subscriptions to papers because some lording elder or presumptuous preacher told them to do so.
My brethren, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." For many years we have objected to the Roman Catholic priests telling the Catholics what they can read. If we have been right in doing this, then do not now permit some brother, whether he be editor, elder, or preacher to tell you what you can read. Instead, "Study to show thyself approved unto God."