The Overflow
The Work Is "Looking Up"
That's what a certain preacher of our acquaintance told a friend the other day when he asked how the work was going at the place where he preached. Then, in an aside, he remarked, "Of course that's about the only way the work can look when it's flat on its back!"
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That Dallas Blood-Bank Again
We've received some further suggestions on that "Church of Christ Blood Bank" proposed by one of our mass-meeting preachers in Dallas. We advanced the idea that maybe some of the brethren there ought to promote a "Church of Christ Dainty Didee Laundry Service" for Church of Christ mothers with Church of Christ babies. But now comes a letter saying that such a laundry service might well be restricted "washing Church of Christ diapers from Church of Christ babies belonging to Church of Christ mothers—but what if a Church of Christ mother has a Church of Christ baby whose father is not a Church of Christ member? Will the Church of Christ laundry accept their bundle?" Say. . . . hasn't this gone about far enough?
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Officers Of The Church
It may be we're mistaken but it seems there is growing up the practice of referring to the elders and deacons as "the officers of the church," and confining the word "officer" exclusively to such brethren. But Paul certainly implies that all the members have some "office." (Rom. 12:4) Which adds up to the fact that the New Testament usage of the word "office" carries with it the idea of work more than a position. This is evident from, "If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work." (I Tim. 3:1)
Not Unscriptural
Said the editor recently to one of his associate editors, "Doesn't it seem strange that after all their years of being on opposite sides of the fence on the major issues before the church, this prominent educator and this prominent preacher and writer should now be yoked together in their advocacy of the institutional menace to the church?" Replied the associate editor, "Yes, it is strange indeed; but it is certainly not unscriptural for them to be yoked together, for neither of them is an ox."
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"Divinity Was Not Sick"
" 'Rev. E. E. Folk, the handsome and efficient editor of Baptist and Reflector, is now a D. D., having received the degree from Wake Forest College this summer. He will wear the title as worthily as any man, and we tender him our congratulations: — (Baptist Standard). They had no such Folks in the apostolic days. Paul was never congratulated because the degree of D. D. (dead duck) had been conferred upon him. Perhaps the reason was, he was not a Baptist preacher, and there were no Baptist colleges in those days. Or it may be there was no need of doctors of divinity, as the divinity was not sick when Paul was on the earth."
—T. R. Burnett (1895) *
Attention, Hollywood
A Youngstown, Ohio, mother of nine told a census taker she was unmarried. Asked for the name of the father of her children, she read off seven names from a little black book." (Quick Magazine) We respectfully call Hollywood's attention to this fascinating creature. We believe she has at least some of the qualifications of a top-flight movie star—if one is to judge from the publicized activities of many of the Hollywood termites.
Women Preachers
Seems like we are beginning to develop quite a rash of women preachers among the churches lately. They travel about among the congregations ostensibly to teach children and ladies, which certainly is permissible, but more and more the brethren are "listening in" on these sessions, so that, actually the sister may be "preaching" to a dozen or more men while she is trying to teach a class of children or women. A woman preaching always calls to our mind what the fellow said about a dog trying to walk on two legs: "they never do it well; but you are surprised that they can do it at all!"
Letters:
"Dear Brother Tant: Thank you for the recent article in the Gospel Guardian, calling attention to the mistakes, false doctrine, etc., contained in some of the statements in the literature published (edited) by Brother Jesse P. Sewell. I think your article was timely."—C. R. Nichol
"Exposing the modernism in the (Gospel Treasure) literature is important. You should follow it up. The writers enter the field of Higher Criticism, such as dates on John's Gospel, and are unprepared for it—unfit for it. And such is uncalled for in such a series. We are growing some modernists among us rapidly."
—Foy E. Wallace, Jr.
Where To Worship
Thousands of traveling Christians will welcome the service to be rendered by the Gospel Guardian in our new department of "church listings." The lists will vary from week to week, but the simple alphabetical arrangement will enable one to check quickly on the location of a church in the town one may be planning to visit. (See announcement on another page in this issue.)
"He Sounds Like J. D. Tant"
There's a preacher down at Eldorado, Texas, we want to hear one day. He is Marshall Davis, formerly a Baptist, and then an "anti-Sunday school" man; but now a faithful and loyal gospel preacher, working with the Eldorado congregation. And why do we want to hear him? Well, we've had several say to us, "He sounds more like J. D. Tant than any man alive." And that's . recommendation enough for J. D. Tant's son to want to hear the man. Brother Davis would like to hold a few meetings in Texas and the southwest this year. Address him at Eldorado, Texas. And if he is preaching anywhere near to where we are, you'll have some visitors.
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Steady and consistent
We're always skeptical of "mushroom" growth in the churches. But a steady and consistent increase, year after year, reveals a healthy state of affairs. For example, this little item from the Paris, (Tennessee) congregation where E. Ray Jerkins preaches, is the kind of progress that delights every Christian: Average Sunday attendance in 1945 was 105; in 1946 it had climbed to 125; was 140 for the next year; and in 1948 had reached 178. The average for 1949 was 208. Our congratulations to a healthy church and a working preacher!