Birmingham Debate

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     The modern denomination, designated "The Church of Christ" is like the veil in the temple -- rent from top to bottom! The cleavage was widened by a recent debate in Birmingham, Alabama. One faction, with headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. and having as its journalistic organ, The Gospel Advocate, espouses the cause of such charitable institutions as Boles Orphan Home, as well as "The Herald of Truth" which is a centralized radio and television propaganda medium. The other faction, with its capital city at Lufkin, Texas, opposes these things through its own paper, The Gospel Guardian. Members of both partisan groups have been bushwhacking and skirmishing with each other all over the country, and in several cases lawsuits over the property have made a shambles

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of the plea for unity which the clergymen of both factions make to other, and less combative, sectarians.

     The disputants in the un-Civil war launched at Birmingham, were two lawyers, Guy N. Woods and Roy E. Cogdill. Bro. Woods is a defender of most of the human organizations fastened like barnacles to the Ship of Zion. In the Alabama foray he was soundly trounced by his opponent. Each man charged and proved the other had changed. It was demonstrated that Cogdill once practiced what he now condemns; while Woods once condemned what he now practices. It was here the great personal difference in the men was revealed. Cogdill admitted his mistake, apologized for his error in patronizing the institutions, and asserted his intention to remain free from such entangling alliances in the future. Bro. Woods was evasive and sought through double-talk to cover up the alterations in his position.

     One of the interesting features of the oral combat was the effect upon related issues. Bro. Cogdill effectively killed the hopes of the Guardian faction of holding on to Bible colleges while sniping at orphan homes. His arguments pulverized the defense of David Lipscomb, Harding, and other "Church of Christ" seminaries. Bro. Woods jerked the rug from under lesser lights who have been trying to prove that Paul, Timothy, and other worthies, were salaried pastors. He flatly declared there is no pattern in the scriptures for "the located minister." However, the discussion will have little effect in halting the drift of the denomination which has fallen a victim to political schemers and big promoters. The Guardian contingent has recently witnessed defections from the ranks as prominent preachers hurried to jump on the Advocate bandwagon, serenely piloted by B.C.Goodpasture.

     Although the Gospel Advocate party long ago called for a quarantine and branding of opposing preachers, the Guardian group has made a pretense of maintaining fellowship, but this has now proven empty, for Cogdill accused Woods of preaching a "perverted gospel" and designated him and his satellites as "the institutional crowd." In every debate which I have recently attended, Brother Woods has consigned his opponent to Ketcherside. He gave me Curtis Porter at Paragould, Arkansas, and Roy Cogdill at Birmingham. Through his kindness I am "collecting" a motley crew of brethren, but it strikes me that when Bro. Woods gets hold of someone he cannot handle, he wants to give him to another!