Lesson Nineteen SIMPLE TRUSTING FAITH 1
James A. Harding (1848-1922), Kentucky evangelist and co-founder of the Nashville Bible School (now Lipscomb Univ.), is a fascinating character. Passionate, opinionated, and faith-filled, he offers a vibrant vision for the mission of the church for both his time and ours. Below are two of my favorite (among many) quotes. 2
Both illustrate the importance of discipleship for Harding and his skepticism of crusading revivalism. He made these observations after spending twelve years as an itinerant evangelist from Michigan to Florida and Canada to Texas. They say something about his understanding of soteriology, the church and discipleship. I have highlighted some key phrases. 3
“I have observed that those speakers as a rule secure the greatest number of accessions who dwell most upon escaping hell and getting into heaven , and least upon the importance of leading lives of absolute consecration to the Lord; in other words their converts are much more anxious to be saved than they are to follow Chris t. ” (James A. Harding, Gospel Advocate 27 [14 September 1887], 588). [via article by John Mark Hicks] 4
“Our greatest trouble now is, it seems to me, a vast unconverted membership. A very large percent of the church members among us seem to have very poor conceptions of what a Christian ought to be. They are brought into the church during these high-pressure protracted meetings, and they prove to be a curse instead of a blessin g. They neglect prayer, the reading of the Bible, and the Lord’s day meetings, and, of course, they fail to do good day by day as they should. Twelve years of continuous travel among the churches have forced me to the sad conclusion that a very small number of the nominal Christians are worthy of the name . ” (James A. Harding, Gospel Advocate 27 [9 Feb 1887], 88.) 5
“If one is righteous, he does not need to lay up treasures for the future; for as the need arises the supply will come. This is as certain as any other doctrine of God. ” -- James Alexander Harding -- 1914 6
Elisha G. Sewell was born in Overton County, Tenn., October 25, 1830. His father, Stephen Sewell, was born in North Carolina, but at the age of twelve came to Carter County, Tenn. Here he met his wife and married. Soon after his marriage he came to Overton County, Tenn., and settled on Wolf River near the Kentucky line, about seven miles from Albany, the county seat of Clinton County, Ky. Stephen Sewell had a large family. 7
There were born to them eight boys and six girls. Two of these died in infancy, the others lived to be grown. All the boys, save one, had Bible names, and four of them became preachers of the gospel. The subject of this sketch was the youngest boy and next to the youngest child. Stephen Sewell was a pious man and taught his children reverence for God and respect for his word. 8
He belonged to the Baptist Church and impressed upon his children the chief tenets of the Baptist faith. The Baptist Church was very strong in that section of the country; in fact, it was the only church in that section of the county. Brother Sewell's father was a deacon in that church for a long time, and his brother, William B. Sewell, was clerk of the church for many years. William B. Sewell married a member of the church of Christ and attended the services frequently with his wife. At one time he took the Lord's Supper with his wife on the first day of the week. For this he was cited to trial in the Baptist Church and charged with violating the rules of the church. 9
He would not retract his statement about following the New Testament in worshiping God and was forthwith excluded from the Baptist Church. Through William Sewell, Jesse L. Sewell, an older brother of Elisha, was led to study the New Testament, and Jesse L. saw the Baptist error that he was practicing and immediately turned from it and began preaching the gospel. He, too, was excluded "for preaching faith, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins." Soon Isaac Sewell, another brother, and three sisters asked that their names be removed from the Baptist roll. 10
By this time three of Brother Sewell's brothers were preaching the gospel and an uncle was preaching the Baptist doctrine. E. G. Sewell was nineteen years old at this time. He did not know whether his brothers were right or whether his uncle was right; so he decided in the spring of 1849 to study the New Testament for himself. He read the New Testament through once that year, and portions of it many times. On the fourth Lord's day in October, 1849, E. G. Sewell was buried with his Lord in baptism. About a year after this time he began to make public talks and rapidly developed into a strong gospel preacher. From that time on his life was filled with interesting events of his activities as a Christian. 11
He gained part of an education from the schools in his community, but these did not furnish very good advantages. Three of his brothers were teaching school in different parts of the county, and E. G. Sewell went to school to his brother for about six months. He then began teaching school near his home. Next be taught in Southeastern Kentucky. On November 22, 1853, he was married to Miss Lucy Kuykendall, near Cookeville, Tenn. Immediately after his marriage he went back to Kentucky and taught another term. 12
He began to see the need of more education, and through the assistance of his father-in-law he was able to enter Burritt College in February, 1856. W. D. Carnes was president of the college at that time. He remained in Burritt College two and one-half years. When W. D. Carnes resigned as president and accepted the position in East Tennessee University, E. G. Sewell left Burritt College. On September 1, 1858, be entered Franklin College under Tolbert Fanning and William Lipscomb. He was admitted to the senior class, with the promise that be would be graduated at the close of the school year, provided he made good. He made good and was graduated with honors in June, 1859. 13
On January 1, 1870, he joined Brother D. Lipscomb as co-editor of the Gospel Advocate. He wrote regularly for the Advocate a little more than fifty years. He covered wide range of Biblical subjects. His writings were clear and simple, easy to be understood. Brother Sewell and Brother Lipscomb were coworkers and fellow workers in the church of our Lord for more than half a century. They were in sacred league and hallowed covenant with each other for more than fifty years. Their companionship was beautiful, each revering the other, having no suspicion or jealousy the one toward the other, but each ministering to the other and with each other in the work of the Lord. Each recognized the ability and talent of the other and respected the same. 14
Harding argued: “Christ does not tell Christians they will receive food, clothing and shelter IF they work hard for them; indeed, Christ tells them NOT to seek after such things. ” Luke 12:29 … . And you should not seek what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, neither should you be of a doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that you have need of these things. 31 But rather you seek the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 15
What Harding seems to be saying is this: full trust in God and seeking His kingdom above all else in life will allow God to send to us just what we need to survive, food, clothing, shelter. 16
The exchange between Harding and Sewell highlighted one of the central and constant themes in the life of James A. Harding. He called it the “ law of special providence. ” this biblical “law,” he said, means that one who gives his all to Christ and his kingdom “ is as certain to be supplied with all that he needs as that Christ reigns. ” No biblical teaching gave the believer more joy, confidence, and freedom from worry. 17
Harding spent his later years as a pioneering educator. In 1891 he and David Lipscomb opened the Nashville Bible School, and Harding presided over the school for ten years. In 1900 he moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, to open Potter Bible College, where he served eleven years as president. During these years he also edited and wrote extensively for a periodical he named The Way. 18
19
David Lipscomb’s home, Avalon Hall, on the campus of the Nashville Bible School, later David Lipscomb College, and now Lipscomb University. 20
21
Harding’s conviction about “ special providence. ” “A wealthy, dedicated Christian businessman came to him one day and said, “I cannot preach, but I can make money; that is my gift; you can preach, but won’t get much money for it. ” So, he offered, “just let me know when you need any money, and I will be glad to let you have it. ” 22
“I need not concern myself in the least about the support of myself and my family, if only I would devote myself wholly, and with due diligence, to the service of God. ” “I believed I would be supported just as well when working among the poor as when serving the rich, and that I would be as well cared for where we had no church as where we had large rich ones. ” -- James A. Harding -- 23
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