Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0570
C. R. Nichol vs A. Nunnery (Baptist)
October 23, 1913
Duke, Oklahoma
(By C. A. Buchanan)
Six days at Duke, Okla. closing Oct. 1st.
Bro. Nichol for 3 days affirmed: general church proposition. On the origin of the church, bro. Nichol argued that, inasmuch as every seed produces after its kind (Gen. 1:11,12), and since the seed of the kingdom is the word of God (Lk. 8:11) and the word is preached by the gospel (I Pet. 1:25), when the gospel is heard and received by any number of people at a given place, a church is the product thereof, and that church is scriptural in its origin. He illustrated this by the Corinthian church. Paul preached the gospel - sowed the seed; the Corinthians received it (I Cor. 15:1); in receiving it they were baptized (Acts 18:8). They were saved by it (I Cor. 15:2). The church of God at Corinth was the was the product of Paul's work I Cor. 1:1). This church was scriptural in its origin.
Nunnery was much confused in trying to follow this new trail. He put in his time keeping off of it and raising new issues. He tried to prove that baptism was not part of the gospel, since God sent Paul, not to baptize, but to preach the gospel (I Cor. 1:17). But, bro. Nichol showed that if Nunnery was correct in his reasoning, a man might preach the gospel all his life and never establish a Baptist church nor make a Baptist of anyone. There could be no Baptist church without baptism. But "baptism is not part of the gospel" says Nunnery . Therefore it requires something more than the gospel to make Baptist church. More still: The word of truth is equal to the gospel (Eph.1:13). But the gospel will never make a Baptist church. Therefore, something more than the word of truth is necessary to make a Baptist church.
Nunnery tried to set up the church when Jesus ordained the twelve (Matt. 10; Mk. 23; Lk. 6). He said the twelve were th charter members. Bro. Nichol showed that if that was the Baptist church, there were in the fellowship of the church those that did not believe in the resurrection of Christ (Lk. 24:2-11). Bro. Nichol asked Nunnery if he would fellowship such today. Mr. Nunnery said he would and signed his name to this effect. The usual negative arguments were made and Nunnery's affirmative completely overthrown.
On apostasy, Mr. Nunnery admitted that a man, after conversion, could lie, swear, steal, get drunk, murder and drift ever so far away in sin, but God would bring him back before death. In other words, God would not let him die in sinfulness. Bro. Nichol replied that a man could get Baptist religion and get man afterwards and stay mean and he would never die, according to Baptist theology.
Some interesting things developed on total depravity. On the last day Mr. Nunnery became angry and threatened to get up and stomp bro. Nichol through the floor. Bro. Nichol replied: "You can't do this, sir. Before you could start towards me, I would be out this window here." No one got mad but Nunnery. His moderator had to make him behave. All enjoyed the debate.
VIEW NEXT REPORT >>