“The Bible Is Right!” — Remembering Eugene Lawton (1937–2022) on What Would Have Been His Birthday

Today marks what would have been the birthday of Brother Eugene Lawton, and it is fitting to pause and remember a man whose voice, conviction, and example left a deep imprint on many within the Lord’s church and beyond. Though I did not know Brother Lawton personally, nor did I have the privilege of sitting under his preaching week after week, I have come to know him through his sermons, recordings, and through what so many faithful brethren have consistently said about his life and work. What emerges is a picture of a man profoundly shaped by one unshakable conviction, a conviction he declared often and without apology: “The Bible is right!”

That simple statement was not a catchphrase or a convenient line to punctuate a sermon. It summarized how Eugene Lawton lived, preached, and approached every issue placed before him. Whether addressing doctrinal error, moral compromise, cultural pressure, or the internal struggles of the church, his confidence rested fully in the sufficiency and authority of Scripture. To him, God’s Word was not partially right, situationally right, or right only when it aligned with public opinion. The Bible is right, always, and it had the final word on matters of faith, practice, and human conduct.

His ministry was marked by a fearless commitment to truth. Brother Lawton preached with strength and clarity, often confronting uncomfortable realities, not because he enjoyed controversy, but because he believed faithfulness demanded honesty. He refused to soften biblical teaching to preserve comfort, influence, or reputation. That kind of preaching is increasingly rare, and yet it is precisely the kind of preaching the church continually needs. From what I have heard and read, he believed that if the Bible teaches it plainly, the preacher must proclaim it plainly. To Eugene Lawton, compromise was not kindness, and silence was not love. The Bible is right, and God’s people must have the courage to say so.

One of the most powerful aspects of Brother Lawton’s legacy is the example he set in addressing race relations within the church and society. At a time when many avoided the subject or minimized its seriousness, Eugene Lawton spoke clearly and biblically. He insisted that racism was not merely a social issue, but a sin against God Himself. His reasoning was grounded firmly in Scripture, particularly in the truth that every human being is created in the image of God. Skin color, ethnicity, and outward appearance did not determine a person’s worth or standing. God did. To deny dignity to another human being was, in his view, to deny what the Bible clearly teaches. And once again, the Bible is right.

His willingness to confront racial injustice within the church demonstrated the depth of his conviction. He did not excuse prejudice with tradition, geography, or generational habits. Instead, he exposed such thinking with the light of Scripture. He understood that unity in Christ cannot coexist with sinful partiality. His teaching called brethren to examine themselves honestly and to measure attitudes and practices not by culture, but by the Word of God. In doing so, he modeled what true biblical courage looks like, standing firmly on truth while calling others to repentance and growth.

Brother Lawton’s commitment to truth extended beyond one issue or moment in history. He labored tirelessly in preaching, teaching, writing, and training others to handle Scripture accurately. He cared deeply about souls. His preaching consistently emphasized accountability before God, the urgency of obedience to the gospel, and the seriousness of faithfulness in the Christian walk. Those who listened to him understood that eternity mattered, and that the Bible’s warnings and promises were not theoretical. They were real. The Bible is right, and lives depend on whether we believe it.

His influence reached far beyond the local congregation he served. Countless sermons, lectures, and lessons continue to circulate, still instructing, still challenging, and still pointing people back to Scripture. Even now, years after his passing, his voice continues to remind listeners that truth does not change simply because the times do. God’s Word remains firm. His example calls preachers to preach with courage, elders to lead with integrity, and Christians to live with conviction.

Remembering Brother Eugene Lawton on this day is not merely about honoring a respected preacher from the past. It is about honoring the principles he stood for and the message he proclaimed so consistently. His life testifies to the power of unwavering confidence in God’s Word. In a world marked by uncertainty, moral confusion, and spiritual drift, his message still rings out with clarity: “The Bible is right!”

That statement challenges all of us. It challenges us to trust Scripture fully, to submit to it humbly, and to live it faithfully. It calls us to love every person God created, to reject sin in every form, and to proclaim the truth without fear. Though Brother Lawton is no longer with us, the echo of his conviction remains. May we honor his memory not only with words, but by living as he preached, firmly persuaded that God has spoken, and that the Bible is right.

Eugene Lawton was the preacher for the Newark church of Christ in Newark, NJ.

Disclaimer: I do not know every doctrinal or teaching Eugene held or taught (though from what I know he held to the truth so I will give benefit of the doubt) and I am going off of what I know about him. Please understand this point. I think the example he showed is worth noting at the least.