Back Page: summer 1993 do not debate the inerrancy issue in order to educate my opponents,

Back Page: summer 1993

do not debate the inerrancy issue in order to educate my opponents,  because  their  minds  are  almost  always
anesthetized to reason and logic.  I debate them in hopes of reaching some in the  audiences  whose  minds  are
still open to honest inquiry.  

         If you are so certain that the truth is on your side, should you not consider my proposal as an  oppor
tunity not to reach me but to reach some in the audience who are not presently believers in Bible inerrancy but
whose minds might still be open to the "many infallible proofs of the truth of Scripture," which  you  referred
to in your letter?  Viewed in this way, wouldn't a debate serve some  "useful  purpose"?   Shouldn't  you  also
consider the students at your seminary?  I suppose that they are taught in their classes that the Bible is  the
inerrant "word of God," but you surely know that when they leave they will be exposed to other opinions of  the
scriptures.  If while they are yet students, you should demonstrate to them in public debate that  my  position
is completely absurd, which you could surely do if there are indeed "many infallible proofs  of  the  truth  of
Scripture," would you not be strengthening their faith and preparing them for what they  will  encounter  after
they leave the seminary?  Viewed in this way, wouldn't a debate serve some "useful purpose"?

         I trust that you were sincere when you said that you would happily accept my  debate  proposal  if  it
would serve "any useful purpose."  I have indicated to you at least two useful purposes  that  a  debate  would
have, so I hope to receive an acceptance from you by return mail.

                                                                                                 Farrell Till


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        ET TU, McDOWELL?

   A letter similar to the one written to Archer was also sent to Josh 
McDowell, suggesting that a public forum on the issue of biblical inerrancy 
would be a practical way for an inerrantist of his reputation to demonstrate 
that his position is as sound as he claims.  As this issue goes to press, 
McDowell has not acknowledged the challenge, which was mailed to him early 
in February.  Could it be that McDowell isn't nearly as confident of his posi-
tion as he appears to be in the books that he writes primarily for partisan 
audiences?                                                         


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MYTH...
prophesied in the Old Testament, we will publish his article simultaneously 
with ourresponse.  I am going to prophesy that this will never happen.   


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               DOBBS-TILL DEBATE 

     As this issue of TSR is making its way to you through the slow process 
of bulk mail, editor Farrell Till will be on his way to Portland, Texas, for a 
debate on the issue of prophecy fulfillment. His opponent will be H. A. 
"Buster" Dobbs, editor of The Firm Foundation, a monthly fundamentalist 
publication from which we reprinted Clarence Lavender's article "Was It Moral-
ly Right for God to Order the Killing of the Canaanites" (Winter 1993, pp. 6-
7).

     Mr. Dobbs is reputed to be one of the ablest debaters in the Church of 
Christ.  He will affirm that fulfillments of Old Testament prophecies prove 
that Jesus of Nazareth was the son of God.  Till will affirm that New Testa-
ment claims of prophecy fulfillment in the person and deeds of Jesus of 
Nazareth were fabrications or misrepresentations of Old Testament Scriptures. 


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Scheduled for May 23-26, 1993, as part of the Gulf Coast Lectureship spon-
sored by the Portland Church of Christ, the debate will consist of four two-
hour sessions.

     All four sessions will be recorded on both audio and video tapes.  For 
information on cost and distribution, interested readers should contact Thomas 
Gardner, 441 Souder, Hurst, TX 76111 (Tel. 817-282-2745).                                 

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