Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0241
Roy C. Deaver vs Charles A. Holt (Benevolent Work)
September 12, 1963
Jacksonville, Florida
(By Thomas B. Warren)
June 25-28 at Jacksonville, Florida.
It is usual for both sides to claim victory, but in my sincere opinion this was a very one-sided debate. Holt was either unwilling or unable to deal in a logical, scriptural way with Bro. Deaver's arguments. Deaver presented his arguments in a logical, reasonable way based upon the scriptures. He thoroughly explained why. Holt's arguments were so clearly out of harmony with Bible teaching.
Holt's tactics were very similar to those usually employed by debaters of the no-class, no-women teachers faction. Their appeal goes like this: "All of you ignorant people agree with me." It is a terrible failure in meeting responsibility to ridicule logic and the principles of sound reasoning. During the debate, Holt occupied such ridiculous anti-Christian positions as to cause the movement he represents to be self-destructive. He took this position, the Bible authorized a church to take money from its treasury to buy poison to kill termites in the preacher's house, he thinks the church cannot buy a bottle of milk for a starving baby or every member would go to hell unless they repent. These scriptures destroy that doctrine: (Matthew 5:43-8; Luke 6:27-36; Romans 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10). The preachers who teach this ungodly doctrine did not start with such a view, but, being soundly defeated in debate after debate, they constantly shifted their positions while they sought to find some ground upon which they could maintain some semblance of consistency while continuing to oppose the orphan home among us.
Deaver gave a masterful presentation of the proof that the orphan homes among us are authorized by the scriptures. Boles Home was the one specified.
Thomas B. Warren moderated for Deaver; Mr. Brock moderated for Holt.
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