(Photo of J.A. Harding)
Neal Pollard
I am reading with interest a book I purchased from the library of Leathal Roberts, retired minister residing in San Marcos, Texas. The book carries a copyright date of 1889. The debate was began May 27, 1889, and continued 16 nights in the Central Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. The disputants were J.B. Moody, a prominent Baptist preacher, and James A. Harding, referred to simply as a disciple from Winchester, Kentucky.
In Harding’s first reply, he did several things worthy of note. He began his speech with an extremely kind, gentle, and complimentary tone for both the audience and his opponent. He also revealed himself to be an erudite (i.e., very knowledgeable) scholar, regarding both the writings of contemporaries but also the ancient writers. He spoke at great lengths about the writings of the early church fathers concerning the subject of baptism. He was also intimately familiar with the theology of the denominations, including that of the Baptists. Yet, another thing that impressed me about Harding’s first reply was the firm, forthright way in which he set forth the biblical position and responded to the alternative view of Moody.
One charge Harding answered had to do with the supposed idea that members of the church of Christ are guilty of “ignoring both faith and repentance, and with making baptism the all in all, the only act of conversion” (27). If one affiliated with the Lord’s church has ever believed that, it has been through either a lack of proper teaching or proper understanding. Indeed, the Bible goes to great lengths to establish the necessity of faith, without which we cannot please God (Heb. 11:6). Without faith, there is no salvation (Eph. 2:8). Faith is essential to prevent one from perishing (John 3:16). Regarding repentance, a change of mind and heart, there are no prospects for salvation. One must have a godly sorrow that leads one to eliminate sinful actions and embrace righteousness (2 Cor. 7:9-11). This repentance involves a turning, a change of course (Acts 3:19). Repentance is plainly tied to salvation (Acts 2:38). God is not fooled by an outward act devoid of inward change, and He will not accept such!
Yet, those who teach that salvation occurs at the point of faith and is by faith alone have a quandary. Their position stands in opposition to plain, biblical teaching.
Answering Moody’s charge that the church of Christ is basically “Romanist” (Catholic), Harding replied, “According to the Romanist the commission (Mark 16:15-16, NP) should read, ‘He that is baptized shall be saved.’ According to our postion it should read as it does, viz., ‘He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.’ But according to my opponent it should read, ‘He that believeth and is saved should be baptized'” (26).
In beginning to summarize his first reply, Harding concisely said,
And then we express our views thus: He who can obey the gospel and will, shall be saved; he who can obey and won’t, shall be damned; he who would obey but can’t (if there be any such), God will take care of, as a being infinite in love, mercy and justice should do. We are quite willing to leave all such irresponsible people with him who doeth all thing all things well; but in the meantime we will not cease to teach with all earnestness that when Jesus comes again he will come to take vengeance on them ‘that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (See 2 Thess. i.8) (37).
Well said.
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