Thomas N. Thrasher

Controversies among people of different religious persuasions have occurred throughout history, even in New Testament times (e.g., Acts 6 and Acts 15). At one time, most religious groups had representatives who participated in public debates defending their various viewpoints, including Universalists. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. Today, the vast majority of religious leaders disapprove of debates for various reasons. Of course, this viewpoint stands in contrast to the examples of men such as the apostle Paul (Acts 19), Stephen (Acts 6), Jesus (Matthew 22), and others who are "set for the defense of the gospel" (Philippians 1:7, 17). This book preserves the record of a debate on the issue of universal salvation. The publisher recommends that the reader study this material by "searching the Scriptures" to determine whether these things presented by Myles Davis and Thomas N. Thrasher are so (Acts 17:11).

Oral and written debates have contributed to the development and refinement of important ideas throughout human history. In the realm of politics and government, debates continue to provide a means of presenting and contrasting conflicting views. Although debating religious issues is far less common than it was a century ago, interest in religious debates seems to have increased somewhat in recent years despite the aversion of most denominational preachers to participation in them. The author has collected the data in volumes 1-6 of The Encyclopedia of Religious Debates over a period of more than 50 years from countless books, periodicals, letters, announcements, websites, emails, and personal conversations.

Evolutionary theory and speculation dominate much of our world today. One can scarcely watch movies or television programs, read magazines or newspapers, visit amusement parks or museums, or attend school without being bombarded, sometimes subtly, at other times explicitly and unquestioningly, with the idea of the evolution of all things by entirely naturalistic processes over a very long period of time. Consequently, one of the most fundamental and important issues confronting people in today's world is deciding what is the most rational explanation for the origin and development of all things. Numerous arguments and sources of evidence have been submitted in favor of divergent viewpoints. This book presents both scriptural and scientific evidence for rejecting the wholly naturalistic view of origins in favor of the view that God created the universe by supernatural actions. The bulk of the material presented was originally the body of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Christian Apologetics, awarded in 2015.

Practically from the beginning of the church, there have been controversies (e.g., Acts 6 and Acts 15). At one time, most religious groups had representatives who participated in public debates defending their various viewpoints. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. Thousands of books have been published on the various issues dividing those who claim to be the followers of Jesus Christ, including numerous published debates. This book preserves the record of such a debate. The publisher recommends that the reader study this material by "searching the Scriptures" to determine whether these things presented by John Martignoni and Thomas N. Thrasher are so (Acts 17:11).

The issue of the participation of a Christian in functions relating to the civil government has been a matter of controversy among God's people for a long time. Most frequently discussed, often with highly emotional appeals and heated exchanges, is the question of whether or not a Christian may scripturally act as a punitive agent of the government. On December 19, 1970, brethren Ken Green and Thomas N. Thrasher began a written debate on this particular issue. In December 1989 they participated in an oral debate in Huntsville, Alabama on the same issue. Their written debate was published by the Gospel Defender Publishing Company in 1973. This volume has been out of print for many years. The present volume is a new edition of that debate.

Thomas N. Thrasher and Pat S. Coleman debated the nature of the Lord's Supper: whether it involves a literal partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine or figuratively communing by studying the Scriptures, and also the frequency for eating the Lord's Supper. This abbreviated debate ended when Mr. Coleman, after repeated encouragement, failed to respond to Mr. Thrasher's second affirmative speech.

Baptism has been a subject of discussion among professing Christians since the first century. Differences in belief and practice now exist concerning its element, action, candidate, purpose, and administrator. Some also teach that the Scriptures specify certain words to be spoken by the administrator at the time of water baptism. All of these ideas are worthy of study and discussion so that we may come to a knowledge of the truth revealed by God. This volume contains the debate between Mr. D. L. Welch (of the United Pentecostal Church) and Mr. Thomas N. Thrasher (of the church of Christ) on "the baptismal formula" issue. These men served as moderators during the Falls-Tubbs debate held in Jasper, Alabama in February, 1972. They agreed to discuss this question through an exchange of written articles. Upon completion, the debate was published in book form by the Gospel Defender Publishing Company in 1973.

Several hundred religious debates have been published in book form since the commencement of controversies during the Reformation. However, no debate is known to have been published on the issue discussed by Eddie K. Garrett, Sr., of the Primitive Baptist Church and Thomas N. Thrasher, Sr., of the church of Christ. Mr. Garrett affirmed the following proposition: "The 'Great Commission' recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18 was given to the apostles alone, and expired when they expired."

On July 15, 1977, Dan Mayo wrote a letter to Thomas N. Thrasher inquiring about the possibility of a written debate between them. Mr. Thrasher then sent an agreement for a written discussion on the impossibility of apostasy. The proposition and agreement were accepted. This book contains the full record of that debate. The publisher's desire is that good may result from the reading and study of this discussion in book form. This debate demonstrates that men can discuss their differences in a gentlemanly way, without being hateful toward each other. Let us approach the study of religious questions with the attitude of the noble Bereans, who "searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:10-11).

Practically from the beginning of the church, there have been controversies (e.g., Acts 6 and Acts 15). Among the most controversial issues discussed among Christians today are those involving marriage, divorce, and re-marriage. Many books have been published on these issues, including numerous debates. We should study these materials cautiously, "searching the Scriptures" to determine whether these things are so (Acts 17:11).