A look at his use of the 'Notable Data Argument' (NDA)
By Roscoe Barnes III, PhD
By Roscoe Barnes III, PhD
Author, F.F.
Bosworth: The Man Behind "Christ the Healer"
Copyright (c) 2019
Copyright (c) 2019
#FFBosworth
#BosworthMatters |
| The Scranton Republican (Scranton, Pa.) July 29, 1925, page 2 |
Introducing the 'Notable Data Argument' (NDA) Concept
Whenever F.F. Bosworth was challenged on the topic of divine healing, he used Scripture and divine healing cases/testimonials in what I term the “Notable Data Argument” or NDA (taken from Acts 4:16). I define NDA as the Pentecostal method of proving a point, establishing a supernatural claim -- or supporting a position -- by using trusted experiences that are widely accepted and validated by objective sources, such as medical professionals.
The NDA concept, which is based on patterns identified in Bosworth's life history, was inspired by Acts 4:16: "What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can't deny it” (World English Bible).
One of Bosworth’s most famous debates occurred in January 1950 in Houston, Texas, where he debated the Rev. W.E. Best, a local Baptist pastor, on the issue of divine healing. Bosworth defended his position by pointing to the promises of healing in the Bible and the healing cases in the audience. That, I would suggest, was a good example of the NDA in action.
'Apologist on fire'
But long before his time in Houston, Bosworth spent decades taking on critics, answering skeptics and entering debates. It is no secret that he was a staunch and tireless defender of divine healing. His book, Christ the Healer, is his crowning argument and, undoubtedly, his classic manifesto on the subject.
A Pentecostal pioneer, Bosworth believed in the supernatural. He was an apt apologist of healing who seemed to relish a good fight on the issue. He was, if you will, an apologist on fire. To his credit, doctors and other medical professionals have testified to being healed in his meetings. In some services, he would invite physicians to sit on the platform so they could see and help validate the many claims of healing.
In July 1925, about a year after the publication of his book, Christ the Healer, he found himself in another place where he was challenged and called on to defend his ministry of healing. He was holding meetings in Scranton, Pa., a place where people criticized his work, and a preacher wanted to run him out of town.
“I will admit,” Bosworth said in The Scranton Republican (July 29, 1925), “that as far as the ministry of healing is concerned, this has been one of the most difficult fields we have visited. I believe, however, through prayer this will change."
When the Rev. F.E. Lott dared to challenge Bosworth over his theology and claims of healing, Bosworth answered the challenge, but not in the way that Lott expected.
Lott, who was pastor of the Methodist M.E. Church, had asked Bosworth to prove the validity of the healings with a statement from a physician. Bosworth replied by saying it was "unscriptural and against the Lord’s own example for him to accept a challenge for the purpose of convincing by miracles those who are rejecting Christ’s promises and the testimony of His worshippers." Additionally, Bosworth said that Lott should "pick out some who say their healing is complete and produce a doctor’s certificate that they are not healed."
The NDA concept, which is based on patterns identified in Bosworth's life history, was inspired by Acts 4:16: "What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can't deny it” (World English Bible).
One of Bosworth’s most famous debates occurred in January 1950 in Houston, Texas, where he debated the Rev. W.E. Best, a local Baptist pastor, on the issue of divine healing. Bosworth defended his position by pointing to the promises of healing in the Bible and the healing cases in the audience. That, I would suggest, was a good example of the NDA in action.
'Apologist on fire'
But long before his time in Houston, Bosworth spent decades taking on critics, answering skeptics and entering debates. It is no secret that he was a staunch and tireless defender of divine healing. His book, Christ the Healer, is his crowning argument and, undoubtedly, his classic manifesto on the subject.
A Pentecostal pioneer, Bosworth believed in the supernatural. He was an apt apologist of healing who seemed to relish a good fight on the issue. He was, if you will, an apologist on fire. To his credit, doctors and other medical professionals have testified to being healed in his meetings. In some services, he would invite physicians to sit on the platform so they could see and help validate the many claims of healing.
In July 1925, about a year after the publication of his book, Christ the Healer, he found himself in another place where he was challenged and called on to defend his ministry of healing. He was holding meetings in Scranton, Pa., a place where people criticized his work, and a preacher wanted to run him out of town.
“I will admit,” Bosworth said in The Scranton Republican (July 29, 1925), “that as far as the ministry of healing is concerned, this has been one of the most difficult fields we have visited. I believe, however, through prayer this will change."
 |
| #NotableDataArgument #NDA |
When the Rev. F.E. Lott dared to challenge Bosworth over his theology and claims of healing, Bosworth answered the challenge, but not in the way that Lott expected.
Lott, who was pastor of the Methodist M.E. Church, had asked Bosworth to prove the validity of the healings with a statement from a physician. Bosworth replied by saying it was "unscriptural and against the Lord’s own example for him to accept a challenge for the purpose of convincing by miracles those who are rejecting Christ’s promises and the testimony of His worshippers." Additionally, Bosworth said that Lott should "pick out some who say their healing is complete and produce a doctor’s certificate that they are not healed."
Bosworth, who obviously believed that his work was legit -- and would stand up to scrutiny, placed the theological ball in Lott's court. (See full newspaper story below.)
In the news report, Bosworth comes across as one who is confident and respectful. He projects modesty and he dismisses claims that he's a healer; he reminds his audience that Christ is the healer. While he might have been frustrated, and had a number of reasons to be angry, he still allowed for a little humor in his argument.
As in other debates, Bosworth supported his position with Scripture and with notable cases of healing. He also dipped into church history for support. As noted above, when he pointed to the people who had testified to being healed, he was using what I termed the "Notable Data Argument."
'Notable' cases of healing
An example of Bosworth’s “notable” and “undeniable” cases of healing can be seen in the July 3, 1925 issue of The Scranton Republican. The paper ran a story about a number of people who were previously deaf, but had been healed through prayer. After their healing, they reportedly urged Bosworth to invite others who were deaf or hearing impaired to the revival meetings. Under the headline, “Deaf Mutes Invited To Bosworth Revival,” the paper reported:
Remarkable cures of deaf-mutes,
attested by undeniable documentary proof, in other cities of the country, have
taken place at the Bosworth "healing meetings." Men and women who
have not heard a word since childhood have had their hearing perfectly restored
instantly by the power of faith.
In that same story, the paper recounted instances of
healing in other meetings held by Bosworth. In one, a physician was reportedly
healed. In another meeting, “notable” physicians sat on the platform each
night, according to the paper.
Physicians Invited
The committee in charge of the
campaign also called on the physicians of the city to attend the meetings. Mr.
Bosworth is more than willing that any doctor examine those who testify to
cures. Recently during a campaign in Detroit, Mich., the Director of Public
Health expressed doubt regarding the cures as announced from the platform.
Before the campaign ended he was perfectly convinced that the
"healing" was complete and permanent.
During their recent campaign in
Ottawa, Canada, several well known physicians of that city sat on the platform
night after night. Dr. C.T. Bowles, well known in the Canadian city, was anointed
by the evangelist and cured of a disease of the eyes which had long troubled
him.
One can only imagine the faith and boldness that Bosworth must have had when he invited the physicians to his meetings. After all, that is not something a charlatan would do. Bosworth's invitation, in my opinion, showed integrity. It also underscored his efforts to be truthful.
By the close of Bosworth's meetings in Scranton, scores of people reported being healed by the power of God. On August 1, 1925, The Scranton Republican featured a story about the claims of healing. The story appeared under the headline:
'Healed' People Tell
Stories at Armory
Almost Every Disease in Medical Dictionaries
Reported Cured -- Immersion in Great Tank Tonight
A newspaper clip of the story is featured below.
The Scranton
Republican
(Wednesday, July 29, 1925,
page 2)
Bosworth
Declines
Challenge
for Money
--------------
Defi Unscriptural, but Is Willing to Have Dr. Lott
Pick Out Any Healed and Have Pastor Prove
By Physicians That They Are Not
Every seat in the Col.
Watres Armory was filled last night when Rev. F.F. Bosworth, head of the
Mission of Faith, conducting a revival here, began his answer to the challenge
issued by Rev. F.E. Lott, pastor of the Methodist M.E. Church.
Mr. Bosworth began his
sermon by saying that he had only the kindliest feelings toward Doctor Lott. “He
is mistaken, that is all,” he said, “we all make them, and we should be patient
with each other. I trust no one will break friendship with our brother because
of his mistake. Men can be honestly mistaken. I admire a man who can take his
stand against what he believes to be wrong.”
Answer to Challenge.
Mr. Bosworth answered Dr.
Lott’s challenge by saying that, while it was entirely unscriptural and against
the Lord’s own example for him to accept a challenge for the purpose of
convincing by miracles those who are rejecting Christ’s promises and the
testimony of His worshippers, yet:
Since thousands who attend
these meetings believe that God is healing the sick, and Dr. Lott doubts it,
instead of his challenging us to prove to him by physician’s statement that
these testimonies of healing are true, let him pick out some who say their
healing is complete and produce a doctor’s certificate that they are not
healed.
“I will admit,” he said, “that
as far as the ministry of healing is concerned, this has been one of the most
difficult fields we have visited. I believe, however, through prayer this will
change.
Suppose it were time that
there had been no miracle of healing in Scranton, what would this prove but
unbelief?
“We have the proof of the
Scriptures themselves that Jesus ‘could do no miracles in Nazareth,’ where He
grew up, because of their unbelief.
“Is it not our brother’s
very attitude, and his opposition to the revival, which helps to create and preserve
the community unbelief that characterized Nazareth?
Called
Ridiculous.
“Continuing,” Mr. Bosworth
said: “To ask us to prove that we ‘effected’ a cure of cancer would be as
ridiculous as for us to ask a minister to prove that he had regenerated a
drunkard. We have never so much as intimated that we were ‘healers.’ We are not
healers, any more than any other preacher is a savior.
“I am challenged to pick
up serpents, raise the dead, drink poison, and speak in tongues.
“Paul did not purposely
take up the viper: it fastened itself onto his arm.
“Surely He does not mean
for us to drink poison just to show off.
“The Scotch Worthies record
the raising of a prominent man, dead 49 hours, through the prayer of John
Welsh.
“Shaft’s history of the
Christian Church says that some of the early Methodists spoke in tongues as on
the day of Pentecost.”
Concerning our running from
the city of Scranton, as Dr. Lott says we should, I answer that it was Lot who
ran from Sodom, and not Abraham.
I was told by some who
attended Dr. Lott’s meeting Sunday evening that he said we should leave the
city before the intelligent people ran us out.
Meetings Continue
Referring to Rev. Lott’s
request that the evangelists leave the city, a member of the committee arose
and asked those who would like them to remain another week to stand. Six
thousand stood, and Mr. Bosworth, then agreed to stay for the extra week here.
The meetings will be held in the Armory, mornings at ten o’clock and nights at
7:30.
At tonight’s meeting John
C. Sproul, of Pittsburgh, who tells a wonderful story, will talk, and Mr.
Bosworth will preach.
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Reminder: "F.F. Bosworth History" is now on Twitter. Follow @bosworth_fred
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Note: My book, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind "Christ the
Healer," can be purchased here with
a 25% discount. Use the discount code: bosworth25.
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