Gospel Advocate
Encyclopedia
The Gospel Advocate is a religious magazine
published monthly in Nashville, Tennessee
for members of the Churches of Christ. The Advocate has enjoyed uninterrupted publication since 1866.
The Gospel Advocate was founded by Nashville
-area Restoration Movement
preacher Tolbert Fanning in 1855. Fanning's student, William Lipscomb
, served as co-editor until the American Civil War
forced them to suspend publication in 1861.
After the end of the Civil War, publication resumed in 1866 under the editorship of Fanning and William Lipscomb's younger brother David Lipscomb
; Fanning soon retired and David Lipscomb became the sole editor. The early Advocate included church news, Bible lessons, letters from readers, Bible lessons, book reviews, farm information, rural news, and anything the editors felt would be spiritually helpful. Lipscomb edited the journal for fifty years following the Civil War, making him the most influential spokesman of the time among the Churches of Christ. This was especially true in the South
, because most of the other brotherhood journals were perceived as pro-Union.
While the Advocate has always been conservative and Bible-based, the "tone and direction" has varied as editors have changed. When David Lipscomb was the editor, the focus was on seeking unity by following scripture exactly, and the Advocates editorial position was to reject anything that is not explicitly allowed by scripture. When Foy E. Wallace
was editor the Advocate fought against premillennialism
. Editor B. C. Goodpasture
used the Advocate to oppose the "non-institutional" view
within the Churches of Christ. Despite these differences in editorial focus, throughout its entire history the Advocate has consistently sought to promote a Christianity
based on New Testament
precedents.
In 1884 a Texas preacher named Austin McGary
, who had written some articles in the Gospel Advocate, began publishing the Firm Foundation
, which——in contradistinction to Lipscomb's irenic manner, grace-laden theology, and more-inclusivist concept of fellowship——stridently proclaimed support for rebaptism, McGary's views on that subject being remarkably similar to those of John Thomas
(1805-1871), with whom Alexander Campbell had severed fellowship. Although the controversy animated the difference between the two papers for some time, they closed ranks in opposition to missionary societies and instrumental music in worship, issues which split the churches of the Restoration Movement
officially in 1906.
A controversial front page editor was Robert Henry Boll
, who wrote articles on Biblical prophecy during his tenure beginning in 1909; he was forced to resign in 1915 as the result of a developing controversy over his millennial
views and the importance he placed on biblical prophecy
in the study of the Bible. His eschatological
focus came into conflict with the church-centered
views of other Church of Christ leaders of the time. The reaction to Boll's premillennialism helped to define and solidify the amillennial
view among the mainstream of the Churches of Christ. By the end of the 20th century, however, the divisions caused by this debate were diminishing, and in the 2000 edition of the directory Churches of Christ in the United States, published by Mac Lynn, congregations holding premillennial views were no longer listed separately.
The Gospel Advocate also publishes Sunday School
materials and operates Christian bookstores in Nashville and Mesquite, Texas
.
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
published monthly in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
for members of the Churches of Christ. The Advocate has enjoyed uninterrupted publication since 1866.
The Gospel Advocate was founded by Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
-area Restoration Movement
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
preacher Tolbert Fanning in 1855. Fanning's student, William Lipscomb
William Lipscomb (religion)
William Lipscomb was a leading figure of the American Restoration Movement.Lipscomb was born in Franklin County, Tennessee and is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee....
, served as co-editor until the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
forced them to suspend publication in 1861.
After the end of the Civil War, publication resumed in 1866 under the editorship of Fanning and William Lipscomb's younger brother David Lipscomb
David Lipscomb
Lipscomb's beliefs on government can be classified as a radical theory of religious freedom, classical liberalism, even potentially consistent with fundamental positions of Anarcho-primitivism. Lipscomb believed in creating a peaceful, cooperative, decentralized communion in which freedom,...
; Fanning soon retired and David Lipscomb became the sole editor. The early Advocate included church news, Bible lessons, letters from readers, Bible lessons, book reviews, farm information, rural news, and anything the editors felt would be spiritually helpful. Lipscomb edited the journal for fifty years following the Civil War, making him the most influential spokesman of the time among the Churches of Christ. This was especially true in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, because most of the other brotherhood journals were perceived as pro-Union.
Influence
The Gospel Advocate has long been very influential in the Churches of Christ and was, during much of the twentieth century, the most influential journal within the brotherhood, helping to shape consensus views. As the Churches of Christ have no denominational hierarchy or "official" structures, through much of its history the views of the brotherhood have been heavily influenced by its journals and their editors (although since the 1980s lectureship speakers and university leaders have tended to have more influence than editors).While the Advocate has always been conservative and Bible-based, the "tone and direction" has varied as editors have changed. When David Lipscomb was the editor, the focus was on seeking unity by following scripture exactly, and the Advocates editorial position was to reject anything that is not explicitly allowed by scripture. When Foy E. Wallace
Foy E. Wallace
Foy Esco Wallace was an influential figure among American Churches of Christ in the early to middle 20th century. Through his writing and speaking, Wallace gathered a considerable following among this autonomous group of churches; his combination of the skilled use of logic combined with charisma...
was editor the Advocate fought against premillennialism
Premillennialism
Premillennialism in Christian end-times theology is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming. The doctrine is called premillennialism because it holds that Jesus’ physical return to earth will occur prior to the inauguration...
. Editor B. C. Goodpasture
Benton Cordell Goodpasture
Benton Cordell "B. C." Goodpasture was an influential preacher and writer in the Churches of Christ. A contributing writer to the Gospel Advocate starting in 1920, in 1939 he became the publication's editor, a post he held until his death...
used the Advocate to oppose the "non-institutional" view
The churches of Christ (non-institutional)
The label "non-institutional" refers to a distinct fellowship within the churches of Christ who do not agree with the support of para-church organizations by local congregations. They contend that the New Testament includes no authority for churches' support of such institutions...
within the Churches of Christ. Despite these differences in editorial focus, throughout its entire history the Advocate has consistently sought to promote a Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
based on New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
precedents.
In 1884 a Texas preacher named Austin McGary
Austin McGary
Austin McGary was an American Restoration Movement evangelist and publisher of a periodical entitled Firm Foundation, which was first published on September 1, 1884....
, who had written some articles in the Gospel Advocate, began publishing the Firm Foundation
Firm Foundation
The Firm Foundation was a religious magazine published monthly in Houston, Texas for members of the Churches of Christ. It was established in 1884 by Austin McGary...
, which——in contradistinction to Lipscomb's irenic manner, grace-laden theology, and more-inclusivist concept of fellowship——stridently proclaimed support for rebaptism, McGary's views on that subject being remarkably similar to those of John Thomas
John Thomas (Christadelphian)
Dr. John Thomas was the founder of the Christadelphian movement, a Restorationist religion with doctrines similar in part to some 16th century Antitrinitarian Rationalist Socinians and the 16th century Swiss-German pacifist Anabaptists.-Early life:John Thomas M.D., born in Hoxton Square, Hackney,...
(1805-1871), with whom Alexander Campbell had severed fellowship. Although the controversy animated the difference between the two papers for some time, they closed ranks in opposition to missionary societies and instrumental music in worship, issues which split the churches of the Restoration Movement
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
officially in 1906.
A controversial front page editor was Robert Henry Boll
Robert Henry Boll
Robert Henry Boll was a German-born American preacher in the Churches of Christ. Boll is most known for advancing a premillennialist eschatology within the Churches of Christ, in articles written during his editorship of the front page of the Gospel Advocate from 1909 to 1915 and after 1915 in...
, who wrote articles on Biblical prophecy during his tenure beginning in 1909; he was forced to resign in 1915 as the result of a developing controversy over his millennial
Millennialism
Millennialism , or chiliasm in Greek, is a belief held by some Christian denominations that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth in which "Christ will reign" for 1000 years prior to the final judgment and future eternal state...
views and the importance he placed on biblical prophecy
Bible prophecy
Bible prophecy or biblical prophecy is the prediction of future events based on the action, function, or faculty of a prophet. Such passages are widely distributed throughout the Bible, but those most often cited are from Ezekiel, Daniel, Matthew 24, Matthew 25, and Revelation.Believers in biblical...
in the study of the Bible. His eschatological
Eschatology
Eschatology is a part of theology, philosophy, and futurology concerned with what are believed to be the final events in history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world or the World to Come...
focus came into conflict with the church-centered
Ecclesiology
Today, ecclesiology usually refers to the theological study of the Christian church. However when the word was coined in the late 1830s, it was defined as the science of the building and decoration of churches and it is still, though rarely, used in this sense.In its theological sense, ecclesiology...
views of other Church of Christ leaders of the time. The reaction to Boll's premillennialism helped to define and solidify the amillennial
Amillennialism
Amillennialism is a view in Christian end-times theology named for its rejection of the theory that Jesus Christ will have a thousand-year long, physical reign on the earth...
view among the mainstream of the Churches of Christ. By the end of the 20th century, however, the divisions caused by this debate were diminishing, and in the 2000 edition of the directory Churches of Christ in the United States, published by Mac Lynn, congregations holding premillennial views were no longer listed separately.
The Gospel Advocate also publishes Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
materials and operates Christian bookstores in Nashville and Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite is a city located within the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of Texas. As of the 2010 US Census, the population was 139,824.-History:The city was founded May 22, 1873, by a Texas & Pacific Railway engineer who purchased land along the Texas & Pacific line outside of Dallas...
.