In recent years, the churches of Christ have built all kinds of organizations and establishments. I recently read ROLL JORDAN ROLL, the biography of Marshall Keeble, written by David Lipscomb College Professor, J. E. Choate. Choate relates a 1962 trip to Nigeria by Keeble, during which Keeble promised the Nigerian brethren that he would attempt to raise the money for a hospital.

Choate said, "On this second trip the natives were begging Keeble for a hospital, and he told them that he would see about it . . . .. And when Keeble got back to the states, he started riding his brethren about that hospital. The first stages of that hospital are now in operation in Nigeria, and it is the only hospital in the world operated by members of the churches of Christ." (p. 136).

This church of Christ "hospital complex comprises a maternity clinic, operating amphitheater, two ward buildings for men and women, kitchen and laundry, and a morgue" (pp. 136-138). We have everything now a maternity ward, a hospital, and a church of Christ morgue. We can offer complete service - from the maternity room to the grave. But what about a church of Christ cemetery? You mean we don't have a one??? Just wait!

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A Liberal

Some overtures have recently been made by some of the liberals to try to get us to stop calling them "liberal." However, they are more prolifically using the word themselves. In the May 23, 1968 issue of GOSPEL ADVOCATE, Basil Overton reported a meeting held in Lexington, Kentucky by B. C. Goodpasture, editor of the GOSPEL ADVOCATE.

Brother Overton, for some reason, felt the necessity to state, "Brother Goodpasture is not a liberal, but very conservative and true to the Book in his preaching." Ha! If Goodpasture is not a liberal, I wonder who Overton would call one. Brother Goodpasture has spent twenty-five years preparing the seed-beds for the sowing of liberalism. I do not see why he now would be so squeamish about wearing the label himself. Nor do I see why Overton and Goodpasture would whine so when some of us call them "liberal" when they use the term so readily in describing others.

I guess Overton means that Goodpasture is not a classical modernist, but at least he has prepared the way for a generation of classical modernists who are just beginning to show their strength among liberal Churches of Christ. Their positions will be such that Goodpasture and others will try hard to deny any kinship with these young liberals. But no man in modern times has done more to promote liberalism than B. C. Goodpasture. At this late date it will take a lot more than a one-line disavowal to clear his name of blame.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XII: 11, pp. 22
August 1968