Eutychus and His Kin: April 12, 1963

Some Visual-Audios

“To whom,” said Elbert, “because he had went to night school.” Dorothy Sayers says somewhere that you can tell a man’s education by how self-conscious he is when he says “whom.” It is an odd twist; we ought to say whom, but our problem is to escape that prissy overtone. Like Churchill’s saying “This is the kind of arrant nonsense up with which I will not put.” I like the little boy who kicked everything away when he asked, “Why did you bring the book I didn’t want to be read to out of up for?” How do we speak good English without “putting it on”?

I have had a long and running fight with the language of public-relations experts. I know that they are trying to be polite, but I keep seeing them sitting around a conference table grinding out the awful word they finally choose. This is not to say that I could think of better ones, but I must say that I am getting sick of “motion sickness” for whatever it is that afflicts me in a plane, and “turbulence” for what makes us go ups-a-daisy, and “custom-coach” for what I know is cheaper seating, strictly second-class.

“Should the pressure system malfunction …”—who dreamed up that word “malfunction”? I do wish air hostesses would quit telling me they were glad to have me aboard, which in many cases they definitely were not. And closing off our trip with “good-bye now”—that extra word “now” bothers me for the next hour. One bright young thing said, “Bye-bye, now,” and we had reached the end of the line.

Balliett has written a marvelous review of Henry Miller’s Tropic of Capricorn (in passing he calls Miller a “surrealistic Edgar Guest”—isn’t that wonderful?) in which he defines H. W. Fowler’s word “genteelism” as “the substitution in self-conscious circles of antimacassar synonyms for daily bread words.”

It will take no great detective work to dig up the antimacassar words on your own local church scene—not to mention a few in your own vocabulary. They are especially rich and fervent in table blessings, sentence prayers, introductions of moderators, and so on.

EUTYCHUS II

Regarding Walhout, Fallout

Re Edwin Walhout’s article (“The Liberal-Fundamentalist Debate,” Mar. 1 issue): … How is it possible for a movement which denies the inspiration of the Word and its consequent historicity and authority to have an “emphasis … solidly rooted in God’s command”?…

We shall not properly harness the “resources of the Church” by attempting to combine or synthesize the “glory” of liberalism and fundamentalism. The power of the Spirit is most fully expressed where men disown liberalism, move beyond fundamentalism, and bring themselves into obedience to the whole Word of God and all its implications.

Trinity Chapel

Broomall, Pa.

Liberalism has, by deceptive infiltration and subversion, largely wrecked the Protestant denominations—some attack on evil! On the other hand, it is the downgraded “Fundamentalists” who are trying to raise a standard against the “be soft on Communism” policy of the NCC; and who are most concerned about religious, political, economic, national and racial integrity. Let’s quit calling the subverters of Christianity promoters, in any sense, of the biblical ethic.

Artas and Herreid Reformed Churches

Artas, S. Dak.

Jesus and the Apostles were not politicians. They did not lobby at Jerusalem and Rome for slum clearance, for the end of slavery, for tax reform, for the end of the social and political evils of their day. They preached the Word of God. They called men to faith and repentance, to a commitment to Jesus Christ. They stressed the spiritual.… The liberals preach the message of the Sadducees.…

The teacher might as well teach without books and the doctor might as well practice without medicine and the lawyer … without laws. The liberal seeks the byproducts of Christianity without Christ. We cannot have brotherhood, equality, social justice, Christian education, elimination of evils, until the heart is right and until the person is converted to Jesus Christ and indwelt and taught by the Spirit.… Get millions of converts all over the world and in all walks of life, and we will have salt, and we will have Christian ethic, we will have an impact on the ills of the world.… Liberalism would perish if God’s people stopped supporting it.

Lakebay Community Church

Lakebay, Wash.

What struck me was the subtle way he had of getting across his liberal ideas.…

I would like to quote from an article … in the March issue of Moody Monthly [discussing] the false millennium that the great deceiver is bringing about through the efforts of misguided men, who “by education, ventilation, sanitation, legislation are going to bring in the new earth.…”

“Better environment is not enough. Adam was in Paradise when he fell! If better conditions were the answer Adam would never have sinned.…”

Sayler, Calif.

The Doctrine Of Christ

Your issue for March 1 presents Dr. Harold Lindsell’s review of my book, Another Look at Seventh-day Adventism. Its third paragraph contains two serious errors, one relative to Adventist doctrine, and the other to my own.

First, Lindsell says that I “establish that there are Adventist writings which teach … the incompleteness of Christ’s work because of the investigative-judgment sequence and Adventist eschatology.” His words, “the incompleteness of Christ’s work” are indefinite, but I suppose him to mean “the incompleteness of Christ’s work on the cross.” If this is his meaning, he is mistaken in his assertion, for I have said, instead, that “in no case does Adventism formally deny the perfection of Christ’s sacrifice for sin” (p. 114). It does, indeed, teach the incompleteness of Christ’s atonement on the cross, but it commonly uses the word “atonement” for the effect rather than for the act of atonement, and it would be unfair for us to read our meaning of words into their use of them.

Secondly, Lindsell says that I fail “to distinguish Christ as one person in two natures.” What he means, I suppose, is that I fail “to distinguish two natures in Christ’s own Person.” Accordingly, he adds that I had “better reflect on the Monophysite and Monothelite controversies of the early church centuries”—inasmuch as these heresies taught, respectively, that Christ’s two natures were blended into one, and that He did not have two wills.

Lindsell bases this criticism on my words: “Inasmuch as it is the personality that is the responsible agent in sinning, then seeing that the personality of Christ is Divine, to say that He could have sinned is to say that Deity could have done so” (p. 50). But these words merely say that the divine personality of Christ could not sin. They do not say, nor do they even remotely imply, that Christ’s two natures are not forever distinct. Moreover, my very next paragraph consists of confirmatory quotations from Edersheim and Moule, wherein the truth of the one person and the two natures is plainly declared. Finally, in the first full paragraph on the same page appear these words: “The correct view of Christ’s Person grows out of a correct view of human nature. Since human nature consists of a rational spirit as well as of a physical body and its vital principle, Christ’s Person consisted of these same elements in conjunction with His eternal personality and the divine nature.”

East Lansing, Mich.

Life Is An Art

It is with a profound sense of gratitude that I express appreciation for the issue of March 1. The deeply moving and perceptive article “Art as Incarnation” by James Wesley Ingles alone would have made the issue distinguished. The irenic article by Edwin Walhout “The Liberal-Fundamentalist Debate” and “Biblical Faith and History” by Bernard Ramm make the issue memorable.…

[Ingles] grasps the inner core of religion from within and art becomes a form of revelation as it surely is if God is creator. He is the true reconciler of those who range themselves in the spent battle between liberalism and fundamentalism.

God has his own way of saying things to every age. Imperative as science is, life is an art and the inner core of things must become flesh. God must be bored with our silly pretensions and posturings. Were it not for His infinite mercy we would be dust. The age calls for a rebirth of spiritual insight that is a form of art expressing God’s intention and purpose in service as compassionate love.

Calvary Baptist

Lowell, Mass.

While I do not always agree with the theological stance of CHRISTIANITY TODAY, I do read it with profit. This last issue was excellent. The analysis of the liberal-fundamentalist debate was objective, creative, and abundantly documented.

There was some solid biblical and theological thinking in the other articles. There was little sentimental pietism, but a healthy effort to help your readers know and confront the issues. I particularly appreciated the discussion of the creative arts in our total culture. And then, how disappointing to find an entire page devoted to selling a book whose title is blasphemy and a contradiction of the Gospel: “Soul Winning Made Easy.”

Hyde Park Community Methodist

Cincinnati, Ohio

Garbc And Bgea

Your issue … for February 1 … carries a duo of letters from a Ramon Baker and a Robert Greaves writing about the GARBC versus Dr. Graham.…

I deny categorically that they or anyone else … have heard Graham criticized from this pulpit “many times.” Graham presents neither problem nor concern to me.…

In discussing polemical subjects I may have referred to ecumenical versus biblical evangelism. If so, I have undoubtedly mentioned his name as the popular exponent of the former. Even so, I have no apologies to make, and especially since he … [gives] plenty of space to criticizing those who identify with the separatist movement of our times.

First Baptist

Johnson City, N. Y.

… What they both fail to do is to distinguish between a personal attack against Mr. Graham as an individual, and an attack against … his methods.…

I too attended the chapel services at the seminary, but never once did I hear Dr. Graham attacked as a person. In fact, frequently, when anything was said about Mr. Graham either in the chapel services or from the First Baptist Church pulpit, it was made very clear that the issue was over principles rather than personalities.…

Calvary Baptist Church

Massillon, Ohio

It must be noted that Dr. Jackson stated that it is GARBC policy not to attack Dr. Graham. This is a true statement. That some men ministering in GARBC churches and schools have “attacked” Dr. Graham may be true (I, myself, have regretted hearing of isolated cases), but policy in a loose fellowship of churches is not equivalent to or even remotely related to an absolute command issued in a religious autocracy.… Certainly the GARBC differs with Dr. Graham in regard to methods and would like to have him “come … apart and join us,” and prayer is offered with that result in view. How foolish it would be not to pray according to conviction!

North Baptist

Indianapolis, Ind.

I, as Mr. Greaves and Mr. Baker, am a graduate of Baptist Bible Seminary.… While I was in seminary it was the policy and also the practice not to attack Billy Graham.

South Haven, Mich.

I want to go on record as a pastor of a GARBC church who is too busy serving the Lord to waste his time running down Billy Graham. I do not agree with him on the issue of separation, but he is a servant of the Lord and, as such, my prayer is that God may continue to use him to win souls. No preacher of the Gospel is without fault, but “to disagree” does not have to be interpreted to mean “to attack” by any stretch of the imagination.…

Grace Baptist Church

Sioux City, Iowa

Chaplain’S Response

I have just read the article by the Rev. Lon Woodrum on “Give Him the Word!” in the February 1 issue.…

While I cannot contend I did the right thing for Richard Cooper during those last minutes of his life, I suspect that he had the “Word” thrust at him by aggressive evangelists repeatedly during his earlier years. This is possibly the reason he had developed an antipathy to “religion” which restrained him from a surrender of his life to the undergirding arms of God. Having this avenue of salvation closed off by the harsh, judgmental denouncements of self-righteous proclaimers of “the Word,” he had taken refuge in the tavern and became an alcoholic who strangled two women during a drunken orgy.

Not all who say “Lord, Lord” are proclaiming “the Word.”

Richard Cooper ministered to me as much as I to him during those last minutes.… His dignity, his calmness, his humor and his acceptance of me comforted and consoled me in a lonely hour. God speaks in unexpected places and through unexpected lips and by unexpected words.

Chaplain

San Quentin Prison

San Ouentin, Calif.

Lon Woodrum … chose a very vivid situation to drive home a sense of urgency and the basic purpose for which we live. Truly, God’s Word is exactly what we need to speak, and Mr. Woodrum said so, pointedly and enthusiastically.…

Church of God

Fairfax, Va.

Promotion

I would appreciate your advising me where I may obtain a copy of the brochure Called to Responsible Freedom: The Meaning of Sex in the Christian Life written by William Graham Cole, as mentioned in the editorial section of your February 15 issue.

Also, you made some reference to another publication of the National Council of Churches promoting the reading of obscene literature. I would appreciate your advising the name of this, too, and where it may be obtained.…

Ingleside Methodist Church

Baton Rouge, La.

• The pamphlet The Negro American, as well as Called to Responsible Freedom: The Meaning of Sex in the Christian Life, has been available from The National Council of Churches, 475 Riverside Drive, New York 27, N. Y.—ED.

It is time someone commented objectively upon the fact that the National Council of Churches has promoted reading of obscene literature. However, why did you not go on to give the reader the facts in the case? The facts should be known by the Christian public particularly since the NCC purports to speak for some 34 million Protestants.

In 1957 the NCC’s Department of Racial and Cultural Relations published The Negro American—a reading list designed “to supplant … fictions with the facts about” one-tenth of their number who are Negro (p. 5). The foreword indicates that the recommended books were selected because in the NCC’s opinion they are “books which might benefit church people” (p. 4). The list was also recommended for distribution to “children’s teachers and to librarians.” The NCC also suggested the Christians “share your copy of this list with friends … urge church, PTA and other organizations to circulate copies” (p. 5).

This NCC endorsement of the list Would be virtually unimportant if all the literature were decent and truly representative of the American Negro in the context of our Republic. But it is not. From the standpoint of decency and morality for example the book Without Magnolias which appeared on the list was classified as “obscene and unmailable” under section 1461, title 18, U.S. code governing the distribution of filthy literature. The book Color Blind also contains obscene passages but for sheer unmitigated pornography Without Magnolias qualifies nicely. This is literature the NCC recommended to churches, PTA and “your friends”!

In addition, 34 books recommended by the list were written by either Communists or Communist front authors.

Langston Hughes (membership in about 50 Communist front organizations) wrote nine of the books, yet admitted in 1953 that some of his works reflected Communist influence and should not be in U.S. Information Service Libraries in foreign countries.

W. E. DuBois and Shirley Graham wrote seven books recommended on the list. He is an admitted “fellow traveler with the Communists,” and she was identified as a Communist party member. DuBois defended the Rosenbergs (convicted Communist spies), the Communists in North Korea and in 1953 received the Stalin prize ($7,000) for his efforts.

Are books by people like this truly representative of the American Negro? Will they help Americans to “know the facts” as the NCC foreward to its list maintains?

Recognizing that they would not, and that there can be no excuse for a professedly Christian council recommending obscene, filthy and Communist-influenced literature to the public, the late Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse determined to deal with this. Shortly before his death in 1960 Dr. Barnhouse authored an article for publication in Eternity magazine titled “The National Council and Obscene Literature”; it was a devastating critique of the NCC’s action and called for the resignation of those responsible for the list’s publication and an apology from the Council. It was one of Dr. Barnhouse’s best efforts and demonstrated that he was not so committed to the ecumenical movement that he could see no wrong in its actions. In fact he told me his article reflected that he was appalled by it.

For reasons unknown the article unfortunately was never printed. My request for a copy promised to me by Dr. Barnhouse was ignored. However, I still have all the research notes I compiled and upon which it was based.

The NCC’s publication of such unbiblical works as Called to Responsible Freedom upon which your editorial was based confirms Dr. Barnhouse’s judgment. He strongly felt that unless the public was made aware of “The NCC Reading List Fiasco” as he termed it, other such perversions would be forthcoming and he was certainly correct, as your editorial demonstrates.

Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies

The King’s College

Briarcliff Manor, N. Y.

Could you be more specific …? I would also need to know your definition of “obscene.”

I realize that your theological point of view differs from that of many of the churches in the National Council. But does this make it right to make such allegations? And is this done in the name of Christ?…

Harvey, Ill

The National Council of Churches, in a printed booklet, distributed by them and recommended by them, called The Negro American, lists books containing the filthiest, most obscene and pornographic material ever printed and these books are in public school libraries all across the nation.

One such book … The Last Temptation of Christ … portrays Christ as a whoremonger and Mary and Martha as whores.

Committee of Christian Laymen

Savannah, Ga.

This sounds a little incredible to me. Can you give me the name of this pamphlet?

Berkeley Springs Methodist Church

Berkeley Springs, W. Va.

Your editorial … sounds an alarm on a topic which has been bothering me for some time. Would it be possible for you to give me complete ordering information …?

Presbyterian Churches

Chateaugay, Burke Center and North Burke, N. Y.

O.K., I give up. What publication of the National Council of Churches promotes the reading of obscene literature?

First Baptist Church

Inglewood, Calif.

Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.