Gospel Advocate

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.Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004, , , 854 pages, entry on ''Gospel Advocate'' 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. In 1869 the ''Advocate'' was published weekly on Thursdays and reported a circulation of 1850."NASHVILLE, GOSPEL ADVOCATE. Frequency 52 issues per year. Thursdays. Church of Christ. Length thirty-two pages. Size 6x9. Subscription $3. Established 1854. David Lipscomb, editor and publisher. Claims 1,850 circulation." Rowell, G. P. (Ed.). (n.d.). George P. Rowell and Company’s American Newspaper Directory, 1869 (p. 106). Medford, MA: Perseus Digital Library. 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.

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.Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, , , 854 pages, entry on ''Churches of Christ'' 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 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.Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, , , 854 pages, entry on ''Boll, Robert Henry'' His eschatological focus came into conflict with the church-centered views of other Church of Christ leaders of the time.Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, , , 854 pages, entry on ''Eschatology'' 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.

References

External links

Gospel Advocate Company

{{Restoration Movement

Restoration Movement
Churches of Christ
Christian magazines
Publications established in 1855
1855 establishments in Tennessee