The Purpose Of Gospel Papers
A printed paper is a means of multiplying copies of what someone has written. A gospel paper multiplies the number of copies of what some Christian teacher writes, and thus extends the influence of his teaching, whether it be good or bad. Many papers have been published by our brethren for this purpose. The movement to restore New Testament Christianity, led by Barton W. Stone, the Campbells, and Walter Scott, was extended greatly by the papers they published. And since that day, the spread of truth has been influenced tremendously by the papers which truly great preachers have printed. The churches which stand for the truth today are what they are because of the preaching they have heard. But back of this preaching is easily seen, to a large extent, the influence of the printed teaching of our truly great men.
But, needless to say, every movement in the church away from the truth since 1800, has also been led by some man who extended his influence by the printed page. It is only natural for men who believe something very strongly to desire that others hear his teaching, and read if not near enough to hear. However, it would be just as sensible to try to forbid a preacher to teach by private letter, as to say it is wrong for him to teach the Word of God to those who desire to read his papers.
Some have charged, however, that churches are "controlled" by some papers, and this is what makes the papers wrong. This charge is ridiculous. No church has ever been "controlled" by gospel papers. And the person who doesn't know the difference between "control" and "influence" doesn't need to worry about getting into heaven — God will take him in on a baby ticket. It is true that some churches blindly follow the teaching of men they hear — in gospel papers, in gospel meetings, by elders, by located preachers, etc. But this fault lies in the weakness of men and not in the medium of teaching. On the other hand, most of us are indebted to all these media for our knowledge of what God's Book teaches. If we are sincere men, we will be honest enough to accept the Word of God when we see it or hear it, regardless of who the teacher is or what medium of teaching is used.
But some refuse to read a gospel paper because it contains discussions of honest differences among brethren about Bible teaching. Is this a reasonable attitude to take? Will differences of belief ever be eliminated by pretending they do not exist? Suppose we refuse to hear any preacher preach, or any elder teach, if he has ever had a discussion in a public Bible class with some brother about some difference of belief? Who would be left to teach? Would that be a reasonable attitude? Apparently some people try to think that black is black when it is in their own yard, but black is white if it is in their neighbor's yard.
I will gladly confess that discussions of differences among brethren, either in Bible classes or in papers, usually do not help convert the lost, at least not immediately. Therefore, I try to keep these at a minimum in the classes I teach, and I also read a paper very carefully before I hand it to one who is not a Christian. Some papers are written with the alien sinner specifically in mind. Among these are "Ancient Landmarks," published in Lufkin, Texas, and "20th Century Christian," printed in Nashville, Tennessee. But even these good papers should be constantly watched if they are sent to non-Christians, just as elders and preachers must be watched by churches to see that they remain true to the gospel. Then there are other papers which blandly claim to be good for anyone who reads them, but they proceed to fill themselves with all kinds of teaching. Such a claim is about like saying that Mexican chili is a good food for everybody — even for a one-day-old child! Still other papers are published by brethren specifically for adult Christians, members of the church. Among these is the "Gospel Guardian." Just as there are times when any good family needs to sit down together and discuss its own problems, apart from the ears of its neighbors, so we believe there are problems in the church which need to be discussed fully, freely, and fairly, by able and faithful men, so that all Christians can read and understand. To take the position that it is wrong for a paper to print an article just because it won't convert a sinner (when it wasn't written for him anyhow), is to play the ostrich role, and it will accomplish no good and solve no problems. Now this doesn't mean that I endorse every article which appears in the Gospel Guardian. I do not. Neither do I endorse every position which the Guardian has taken. But I am quite certain that the editors of the Guardian are doing commendable work, and I am also certain that some brethren ought to take a more reasonable attitude toward them.
Gospel papers which teach the truth of God's Book to alien sinners, and papers which teach God's truth to Christians, are both needed. They have been, and can be, very helpful. It is our duty to teach the truth to all men as we have opportunity. By what rule of logic, however, can a Christian justify himself in thinking that he needs no help from the writing of the ablest teachers among his own brethren, but then sit down every week and prepare his Bible lesson from a sectarian commentary?
We firmly believe that control of God's church on earth is vested in the eldership, as they are led by God's word alone. They should not yield their authority or responsibility to any man or paper. But until all men attain a perfect knowledge of the truth, let's not turn the medium of the printed page completely over to those who may misuse it. The printed page is powerful. May we never reach the day when we fail to hold up the hands of those "faithful men, able to teach others also." May they continue to extend the influence of their teaching, both by word of mouth, and also by the printed page.