MONEY & EDUCATION ESSENTIAL TO THE GOSPEL

"We find ourselves limited to the many visions and dreams that God has given us to touch the world for Christ in our generation. Calls are coming from every part of the world for us to come and proclaim the Gospel and to help in various ways. Unfortunately, we have to write hundreds of letters each year turning down worthy requests. We are limited because of physical strength, time, and finances."  Billy Graham

[Does this sound familiar?  Well, nothing has changed, except for the nuance.  Beebe quoted an article from a New School Baptist paper named, The Religious Herald.  It is blunt but adequate and honest. ed.]

There are two means. By which the gospel is to be spread in America. Money and education. Both are inefficient without God. I do not think that education. Has done as much for us as it should have done. When we have exhausted every cent of our money. We should then use education as far as we can.

From the Gospel Coalition (TCG) Click to enlarge

If there are fifty towns in Virginia destitute of Baptist preaching, and our money can only supply 30. Then we can supply the others by education. When Doctor John H Rice began to preach for the Presbyterian Church in Richmond, VA, in 1812. He taught a school. When I was in Fredericksburg, VA. I learned that the Presbyterian Church there in its infancy was supplied by a minister who taught school in the week. Errol there. William Peachy came to Greensboro, NC about 1820. He taught in the week and preached on Sabbath. He has raised up a large and flourishing Presbyterian Church in that place, able to give a salary of $800 to their pastor. Doctor Dane, an Episcopal minister in Danville, VA, has planted a church in that place by teaching during the week and by preaching on the Sabbath.

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When I went from Virginia to Mississippi. I passed numerous towns where the Pedal Baptist friends were employing their education for the same purpose and admired their wisdom. If they make schools an auxiliary to the gospel. Why shall we not do the same? Our powerful influence in the country would feed those schools everywhere. It is true that the New Testament says to give thyself holy to these things. But when our pecuniary means are exhausted and the ground can't be occupied in two or three generations. I believe it is as ripe for a minister to teach school for his support as it is for Paul to make tents. Our denomination is so large that self-respect should induce us to create schools to supply our own wants.

Elias Dodson.

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The reader is new school Baptist doctrine, written by, as we presume, a new school Baptist. And published to a new school Baptist denomination in a new periodical. Next paragraph. Money and education are two means by which the gospel is to be spread in America. But money is to be the printable agent. Having efficiency over education in the proportion of 30 to 20. Of 50 towns to be infested this description of religious stock jobbers. 30 are to be supplied by money. And education can supply the other twenty. Education is the only efficient as far as it will procure money by coloring the preacher to keep school until he can raise up a church able to give him $800 a year.

[Beebe's response]:

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Mr. Dotson. Gives the public a reason for the faith that is in him. For he knows of instances where money and education have raised Presbyterian and Episcopalian churches, and he very rationally concludes that the same means which will produce Presbyterians and Episcopalians will also produce new school Baptists. His reasoning is quite Concise to that effect. Money and education had raised up Catholic. And Islamic interests in many portions of the Earth. As it has produced Presbyterian and Episcopalians in North Carolina. And in the Western states? This matter has been tested and demonstrated. And we will not dispute that money and education will produce Presbyterians and Episcopalians. We have been told that nothing was required to make Presbyterians and Appscan Palins, but babies and water? But we are inclined, after reading Mr. Dotsons's very sensible remarks, to believe that money and education are also necessary ingredients.

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But this we know from divine revelation that neither money, education, babies nor water can build up that Kingdom which the God of heaven has set up. Nor enable one unregenerate Sinner to see or enter into it. Except the man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. And except the man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. John 3.3-5.