David Padfield and Mac Deaver
Debate On Limited Church Benevolence
In 1994 Mac Deaver and David Padfield engaged in a four night public discussion in the Chicago area on the limits of church benevolence. Deaver affirmed it was the responsibility of the local church to build and maintain hospitals, nursing homes and recreational facilities as a means of drawing people to Christ. Padfield maintained that the gospel itself is the only drawing power God uses to bring men to His Son. The following links will take you to articles, debate charts and audio files related to this debate.
Reviews Of The Debate
- Review of the Padfield–Deaver Debate, by Gene Taylor
- Review of the Padfield–Deaver Debate, by Harry Lewis
- Review of the Padfield–Deaver Debate, by Karl Diestelkamp
- Peculiar Grounds, by David Padfield (explores Deaver's "logic")
- Why I Left The Christian Church, by Floyd Decker
- Eighteen Years Ago, by Floyd Decker
Padfield's Debate Charts
Download the Charts from the Padfield-Deaver Debate. 117 overhead charts used by Padfield in this debate. You will need Acrobat Reader, available free from Adobe Systems, in order to view the charts. You are free to print the charts and use them in sermons and Bible classes. (PDF file size: 488k).
Audio Files Of The Debate 
According the the rules for this debate, each speacker was given three 20-minute speeches per evening. These audio files are saved as MP3 files—you can click on the links to listen to them now, or right-click with your mouse and "Save to disk" to listen to them later. Each file is approximately 28MB in size.
First Proposition
The first two nights of the debate were held in Schaumburg, Illinois on June 20 and 21, 1994. The proposition debated was, "The Scriptures teach that a local church may grant benevolent aid to alien sinners." Mac Deaver affirmed this proposition and David Padfield denied it.
- Deavers first affirmative (June 20, 1994)
- Padfield's first negative (June 20, 1994)
- Deavers second affirmative (June 20, 1994)
- Padfield's second negative (June 20, 1994)
- Deavers third affirmative (June 20, 1994)
- Padfield's third negative (June 20, 1994)
- Deavers fourth affirmative (June 21, 1994)
- Padfield's fourth negative (June 21, 1994)
- Deavers fifth affirmative (June 21, 1994)
- Padfield's fifth negative (June 21, 1994)
- Deavers sixth affirmative (June 21, 1994)
- Padfield's sith negative (June 21, 1994)
Second Proposition
The last two nights of the debate were held in Zion, Illinois on June 23 and 24, 1994. The proposition debated was, "The Scriptures teach that the exclusive New Testament pattern for the benevolent work of the local church from its treasury is the relief of needy saints." David Padfield affirmed this proposition and Mac Deaver denied it.
- Padfield's first affirmative (June 23, 1994)
- Deaver's first negative (June 23, 1994)
- Padfield's second affirmative (June 23, 1994)
- Deaver's second negative (June 23, 1994)
- Padfield's third affirmative (June 23, 1994)
- Deaver's third negative (June 23, 1994)
- Padfield's fourth affirmative (June 24, 1994)
- Deaver's fourth negative (June 24, 1994)
- Padfield's fifth affirmative (June 24, 1994)
- Deaver's fifth negative (June 24, 1994)
- Padfield's sixth affirmative (June 24, 1994)
- Deaver's sixth negative (June 24, 1994)
