Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources

0491

O. C. Lambert vs C. H. Cayce (Baptist)
April 24, 1924
Six Miles South of McEwen, Tennessee
(By F. B. Srygley)

The debate held 6 miles south of McEwen, Tenn. April 7-10

Cayce affirmed for two days that eternal "Eternal life is given to the alien sinner without any condition on his part and the scriptures so teach." Cayce followed his usual line and made 14-15 arguments in his first speech - really one argument under different heads, Cayce's contention is about this: The alien sinner is dead and cannot hear, believe, or obey til he is made alive by the Holy Spirit. Bro. Lambert met the entire string of arguments with two passages of scriptures. The first was Acts 8:12: "But when they believed Phillip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."

The second passage which bro. Lambert had on a chart was taken from Acts 19:1,2 (quote from K. J.). These two passages were held before Cayce throughout the first two days, and it was shown that they refuted Cayce's contention throughout the first speech. Cayce then undertook to show that the sinner was dead till he heard Christ speak, and that it was the spoken word of Christ that gives life to the dead sinner. He did not appear to think that it was contradictory to his first position that the Holy Spirit gives life.

Bro. Lambert was careful to show that if it was the Holy Spirit, it was not the word of Christ. Cayce also admitted that the words "dead" and "created" were figurative language, but still he continued to try to make them literal throughout the entire debate.

Bro. Lambert was frank and fair and a perfect gentleman. Cayce told of a dead (un-immersed) woman whom he knew had gone to heaven. He tried to shed tears over the fact according to Lambert, she could not be saved. Cayce tried to show that she was saved by the moral works which she had done; and, yet, he has admitted that a sinner can do no moral works. Bro. Lambert quoted from Cayce's paper where Cayce had said that he did not know that God had ever been with him. Sometimes he felt that he had and sometimes he doubted it.

VIEW NEXT REPORT  >>