The Simple Gospel: A Literal and Narrow Interpretation
From time to time I will read through journals from years gone by to glean benefits of mature and experienced brethren. Often in the writings of yesteryear, one can find excellent examples of men fighting for truth during times of controversy. And, inasmuch as the arguments are the same with only the surface elements changing, one will find “jewels” that can be applied to current controversies. Note the following gem, spoken in 1966 by brother David Edwin Harrell, Jr.
- …I believe in a literal and narrow interpretation of the Bible as the Word of God. My aim is the exact restoration of the ancient order of things…the Bible should be, can be, and is literally understandable and …it should lead all men to the same conclusions. “Any man who believes that he can find literal truth in the Scriptures must also believe that those who do not find the same truth are wrong. What follows is that such people are sinful. The next logical conclusion is that they will go to hell. The most onerous charge leveled against those who are members of the Churches of Christ is that they are bigots. It is frequently assumed that they believe that all who do not accept the truths which they find in the Bible will be lost. All members of the Churches of Christ do not have such an attitude, but I do.” (Robert O. Fife, David Edwin Harrell, Jr., Ronald E. Osborn, Disciples and The Church Universal, pp. 34-35 [ as quoted in Truth Magazine, Nov. 21, 1974 p. 4--emp. mine, sfd]).

