The Gospel Advocate's Confession Column
One of the outstanding features of the Gospel Advocate these days is the confession column. The editor seems to be pressed for time. First, he indicated his approval of the proposed "yellow tag" quarantine, urging churches to refrain from using any of us who oppose centralized control and church supported benevolent institutions. Now, he is publishing the confessions of a few brethren who have changed to the Advocate's position, apparently with the view in mind to quickly turn others to espouse the cause of that journal.
The type of propaganda being employed by the Gospel Advocate reminds us of the old mourner's bench type of religion that appeals to the emotions of the audience. Mourners are called to the bench to make a confession of sins and to pray for pardon. As the mourners begin to come, exhortations are made such as: "Here's one. Is there another? Who'll be next?" The Advocate's appeal so far has not done so well for it, though, because the confessions have been slow and few. It may be too that the editor has learned that not so many brethren as he might have thought are swayed on the issues by who believes what. One thing that we have noticed in the Advocate's confession column is the conspicuous absence of a passage of scripture that will justify the Herald of Truth and church supported benevolent societies.
It is easily observed that a free, open discussion of scripture has no place in the columns of a journal whose editorial policy is to force upon its readers its human reasoning by emotional appeal and other methods of high pressure propaganda. One does not need to wonder any as to why the Advocate has assumed the attitude of papal infallibility, that its editor speaks with final authority from his editorial chair, and the columns are strictly closed to anyone who would dare differ with its position. Take a lesson from Brother Roy H. Lanier.
This past summer a few of us gospel preachers visited a service of the United Pentecostal people here in Lufkin. Amidst the hullabaloo that accompanies such meetings while the mourners are at the bench, we asked one of their preachers who was in charge if we might read a passage of scripture without comment to the mourners. When he asked which one, we suggested Acts 22:16. He refused us that opportunity on the ground that it would disturb the service. Neither would we be allowed to present the scriptures on the organization and function of the church in matters of evangelization, edification, and benevolence in the columns of the Gospel Advocate because that too would be "disturbing the service." Yea, verily, it might break up the "meetin'."
Since Brother Goodpasture seems to be so interested in stirring emotions in this crucial hour, he might include himself in the confession column; that is, of course, when he has run out of subjects. As an editorial in the Gospel Advocate, September 28, 1939, Brother Goodpasture reprinted an article by Foy E. Wallace Jr. entitled: "The Truth Between Extremes," in which the organization and work of the church is discussed. The teaching set forth in that article is contradictory to that now being promoted by the Gospel Advocate editor, yet in 1939 B. C. Goodpasture reprinted the article by Brother Wallace with the following commendation: "The foregoing articles reflect our present sentiments on the matters in question. — Editor." What was the sentiment of the editor at that time which was reflected in the articles by Brother Wallace? The following is one good example: "The disciples at Antioch cooperated with the c h u r c h es in Judea THROUGH THE ELDERS in relieving an emergency in Judea. For one church to help another bear its own burdens, therefore, has Scriptural precedent. But for one church to solicit funds from other churches for general distribution in other fields or places, thus becoming the treasury of other churches, is quite a different question. Such procedure makes a sort of SOCIETY out of the elders of a local church, and for such there is no Scriptural precedent or example." Brother Goodpasture needs to kneel down at his own mourner bench and make a confession that. he has changed.
And we cannot think of any man who is more qualified to make a confession in the Gospel Advocate's confession column than is Brother Guy N. Woods. Let us again look at some of those past statements of Brother Woods:
On Organizations
"The ship of Zion has floundered more than once on the sandbar of institutionalism. The tendency to organize is a characteristic of the age. On the theory that the end justifies the means, brethren have not scrupled to form organizations in the church to do the work the church itself was designed to do. All such organizations usurp the work of the church, and are unnecessary and sinful." — A.C.C. Lectures, 1939, page 53.
"This writer has ever been unable to appreciate the logic of those who affect to see grave danger in Missionary Societies, but scruple not to form a similar organization for the purpose of caring for orphans and teaching young men to be gospel preachers. Of course it is right for the church to care for the 'fatherless and widows in their affliction,' but this work should be done by and through the church, with the elders having the oversight thereof, and not through boards and conclaves unknown to the New Testament." — A.C.C. Lectures, 1939, pages 53, 54.
"For another such contribution for the poor in Jerusalem, see Acts 11:27-30. It should be noted that there was no elaborate organization for the discharge of these charitable functions. The contributions were sent directly to the elders by the churches who raised the offering. This is the New Testament method of functioning. We should be highly suspicious of any scheme that requires the setting up of an organization independent of the church in order to accomplish its work." — Annual Lesson Commentary, 1946, page 338.
"In line with the fact that our lesson today deals with the autonomy of the church, we point out that the contribution here alluded to was raised wholly without the high pressure organizational methods characteristic of today. There was no organization at all; the churches, in their own capacity, raised the funds, and they were gathered by brethren specially appointed for the purpose. This is the Lord's method of raising money, and it will suffice in any case. There is no place for charitable organizations in the work of the New Testament church. It is the only charitable organization that the Lord authorizes or that is needed to do the work the Lord expects his people to do." — Annual Lesson Commentary, 1946, page 340.
Brother Goodpasture does not have to make such an extensive search for candidates to write in his confession column as he might suppose. He and Brother Guy N. Woods would make as good a pair as any that we know. When may we expect to see their confessions along with the others in the Gospel Advocate's confession column?