S.G. Norris was teaching at the Bogalusa, La. Bible Conference about 1965, as I recall. In his discourse on his understanding of the light doctrine, he believed that his Presbyterian Aunt who had raised him would be saved since she was a godly woman, prayed much, etc., etc.... He explained that she never heard the
Acts 2:38 message. He felt sure had she heard it, she would have obeyed it. Thought she had long since been dead at the time, he felt sure he would see her in heaven.
I raised my hand. He ignored me. I kept my hand raised. There were a house full of preachers there including the entire La. Dist. Board and Supt. C.G. Weeks and my pastor G.A. Mangun, none of whom believed Norris' doctrine. I was surprised that none of them spoke up.
Since he did not recognize my hand, I stood up with a still raised hand. He could not ignore this young, crew cut, wet behind the ears, fool-hardy enough to question his eminence, the venerable S.G. Norris.
"YEAH, WHADAYAWANT," he growled looking at me with eyes blazing with disdain.
"Brother Norris, in view of what you just said concerning your aunt, would you please explain the scripture, "If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are LOST?"
He looked at me with fury and swelled up like a toad. He slowly walked down to where I was still standing. He grabbed me by the left arm and I could feel his finger nails digging into my flesh. He then pulled me out from where I was standing, and leading me up one aisle and down the other asking me periodically, "WELL WHADAYALOOKIN'FOR????? He repeatedly asked me as he looked from left to right. "TELL ME WHEN YOU SEE IT..."
Finally, when I said, "I have no idea what WE are looking for," he took me back to where I was standing, pushed me into the pew and said, "THAT'SWHATI'MTALKINGBOUT." If you don't have any idea what you are looking for, how is it that you are going to find it."
I stood back up to ask him again how he would explain, "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." The wife whispered, "It might be better to just let him off the hook."
I did. I sat back down. But, I have that incident on an old reel to reel tape recording.
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