The Gospel Press And Church Contributions
With the inception of the Gospel Press the announcement was made that "Contributions will be solicited from individual Christians only. They will not be accepted from churches." But several months ago a letter was mailed to churches stating: "In our fall campaign we are asking every congregation to give the fifth Sunday contribution in October, or give all over regular expenses one Sunday in October or take a special contribution one Sunday in October." This letter was signed by Paul Hunton, Vice-President. He was forthrightly appealing for every congregation to make a contribution to the Gospel Press.
However, even after this plain statement from Vice-President Hunton, many are still denying that the Gospel Press receives contributions from churches. A few weeks ago a brochure was mailed out by the Gospel Press with a mimeographed note attached saying: "The Gospel Press is supported entirely by contributions from individuals. Churches are allowed to buy space in national magazines with the understanding that no church contribution goes to support the Gospel Press."
But on opening the brochure it was evident that the mimeographed note was just a camouflage to pacify the ones who still believe that the church should not support the Gospel Press. For inside was found: "The Gospel Press carries the truth to millions of homes through national magazines such as Life, Coronet, 15. S. News and World Report, and others. The space for these ads is paid for by churches and individual Christians." (Emphasis mine, JGJ) Actually the church does the same thing the individual does when it sends money to the Gospel Press. The truth is that both the church and the individual contribute to the Gospel Press that it can preach the Gospel by way of the printed page. If the church wants to help pay for these ads, it has to send its money to the Gospel Press. And when the church sends its money to the Gospel Press, it is put into the treasury and is used to pay for the ads. If an individual wants to help pay for these ads, he has to send his money to the Gospel Press. And when an individual sends money to the Gospel Press, it is put into the treasury and is used to pay for the ads.
In the Gospel Advocate of March 9, 1961, there was a report from C. E. McCamie, 201 24th St., East, Bradenton, Fla., which stated: "Our budget calls for $11,060 and includes the Herald of Truth, Gospel Press, Christian Home and Bible School, Mission Work abroad, and at home." This church in Bradenton contributes to the Gospel Press just exactly like it contributes to the Herald of Truth, Christian Home and School, mission work abroad, and mission work at home. With all the evidence in there is but one conclusion, i.e., the Gospel Press does receive contributions from congregations.
The Individual And The Church Argument
One of the arguments most frequently heard from those who insist that the church should send contributions to the orphan home is: "Anything the individual does because he is a Christian, the church can also do." We do not here introduce the argument to discuss its merits, but to make application to the Gospel Press. Put in the form of a syllogism we have:
Major Premise: Anything the individual does because he is a Christian, the church can also do.
Minor Premise: The individual contributes to the Gospel Press because he is a Christian.
Conclusion: The church can also contribute to the Gospel Press.
The major premise is their own statement. The minor premise is admitted by them to be true; they do not appeal to non-Christians for support of the Gospel Press, but to individuals because they consider them to be Christians. The brochure put it in these words: "This man (with picture) has not heard the Gospel and may never hear it unless Christians like you make it possible."
As long as they hold on to the major and minor premises, the conclusion is inevitable; in fact, according to Tom Warren and Roy Deaver, it amounts to a demonstration! Why then will not the promoters of the Gospel Press in this area as forthrightly as Paul Hunton and C. E. McCamie admit that they believe the church can contribute to the Gospel Press? There is more respect due the man that practices error and has courage to uphold it because he believes it than there is due the man who practices a thing but for some reason refuses to admit it!
Therefore, the honorable thing for the promoters of the Gospel Press to do is to either admit that it receives church contributions or change their practice.