Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0050
W. A. Black vs W. H. Hopper (Missionary Baptist)
January 4, 1940
Berea, near Burnsville, Mississippi
(By Chester Estes)
W. A. Black vs. W. H. Hopper the last of December 1939, at Berea near Burnsville, Mississippi.
Mr. Hopper spent much time ridiculing "Campbellism", misrepresenting the church and dodging arguments. And he 'died hard' on every argument. Black asked for one translation that rendered 'eis' 'because of'. He pointed to a book lying on the table and said: "There's one". But upon examination of the book it was shown that 'eis' was rendered "unto" every time. Hopper said he was reading the man's notes at the bottom of the page. Black then read the notes before the audience, which did not say "because of". Hopper finally said, "I am not going to refer to the book any more." The book was a Baptist translation which follows the first Bible Union Translation before it was revised. The book did not even have the term "Baptist" in it, as was pointed out to the audience by Bro. Black, for it was translated "John the immerser." He is an easy speaker.
Black forced Hopper to admit that a child of God could get drunk, die drunk, and go to heaven. Hopper took the position that the soul did not sin. When asked if the blood of Christ was applied to the soul or body, he said: "Not the body." Then Bro. Black quoted and kept before the audience the passage: "The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin." This sounded his "death knell," for, according to his position, there was no cleansing, for the soul does not sin. Bro. Black is fully capable of handling any circumstance that may arise. The truth does not suffer in his hands.
The "Bogard" type of Baptist furnish an opportunity of getting the truth before the people. The truth concerning the plan of salvation is often learned in debate by those too prejudiced to hear a gospel preacher otherwise. The 'Board Baptist' learned a long time ago not to debate. Some day the 'Bogard' type will learn the same lesson. When Baptist debaters act ugly and gospel preachers act nice we gain ground.
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