The
Harding-White
Discussion
J. A. Harding
Of Bowling Green, Ky.
and
of Dallas, Tex.
Conducted through the
Christian Leader and The Way, 1910
CINCINNATI, OHIO
1910
“THE LIFE OF TRUST.” What is a life of trust? What does it mean to the man of God, whose chief work is the proclamation of the Word and what does it mean to be Christian, whose share in the work is to “communicate unto Him that teacheth in all good things”?
I was for five years a student under Bro. Jas. A. Harding in the Nashville Bible School, and daily he emphasized a certain selection of Scriptures, giving to them an interpretation that caused our hearts to burn within us and filled us with a desire to please the Lord so that we might have our every need anticipated and filled by Him. I left school and have spent ten years in a field of work ten thousand miles from the human “source of supply.” I have thus had a chance to study this great question from both the academic and the practical standpoints. My study and experience makes me welcome the discussion of this great question by Bro. Harding and Bro.White, and I am glad that on this question we have a tract giving both sides by strong men. I am sure that it is worth the while of every child of God to study carefully all that is written by both disputants. Let every one be an independent student of the Word, and weigh all that is written herein with a view to learning what God’s Book really teaches on trusting God for temporal blessings and on God’s provision for supplying those blessings. Study with an open mind. Remember God’s revelation is not one-sided. Every expression of truth has its complement; study both, let Scripture interpret Scripture.
Wm. J. Bishop
“In Whom Shall We Trust?”
J. A. H.
“In the Leader-Way of March 22, Bro. J. A. Harding has an article under the above caption, which, to say the least of it, should not go unchallenged. For some time he has written an occasional article on the line of ‘Trusting God,’ that, to my mind, are not in harmony with many plain statements of the Book of God. I have been expecting some one to take the matter up, but it has only been done in part. I am willing to take the matter up for the sake of Bro. Harding, the readers and myself all coming to a better knowledge of the truth of this great question. He and I are good friends, are brethren in Christ, and love each other very much; then why should we not have an investigation on this question that will be helpful to all readers? He is an editor of a religious journal, so am I. Both are anxious to know all the truth. On this we are equal.”
So writes Bro. L. S. White, of Dallas, Tex. And further on he adds:
“I suggest that he write four articles, each on this question, Bro. Harding being in the lead, each article not to exceed fifteen hundred words, and that the same be done in the spirit of love and for the glory of God.”
I am glad to accept Bro. White’s proposition. I am confident that a kind, fraternal discussion of God’s providence can not but result in very good. It is a question which many very good Christians have failed to study thoroughly, and, as a result, they have missed much of the peace and joy of the Christian’s life and much of its usefulness. I am sure this proposed discussion, if conducted as it should be, will add much to the joy and usefulness of many Christians.
In an article which appeared in the Gospel Advocate of March 24, Bro. M. C. Kurfees sums up his understanding of the matter in these brief, comprehensive statements:
“God is with the faithful both in prosperity and in adversity.”
“He promises to withhold from them nothing that is good.”
“He sometimes puts them on trial.”
“He gives them victory in defeat.”
“They may trust him at all times.”
No man who loves God, and who is familiar with the Bible teaching on this subject, will deny any of these statements.
Referring to me, Bro. White says: “For some time he has written an occasional article on the line of ‘Trusting God,’ that, to my mind, are not in harmony with many plain statements of the Book of God.” Bro. White does not believe my “theory” of special providence, and perhaps I can not do better than to give a brief, simple statement of it. I believe that God loves his faithful children with a very great love. I believe he is very near to them, knows their needs perfectly, and that he can supply their wants at any time, anywhere, under any circumstances. Indeed, I believe he loves these faithful children so much he guards them with a perfect care. So great is this love, so perfect the care, there is nothing can befall anyone of them – whether it comes from heaven, earth or hell, from God, angel or devil – that does not bring a blessing. Paul was correct when he said: “And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). When “all things”, whether they be in heaven, earth or hell, whether they be from God or devil, whether they be pleasant or unpleasant – when all things, everywhere, all the time, under all circumstances, are working together for the good of every faithful child of God, nothing is left for you and me to do but to give all diligence to be pleasing to God. Solomon says: “To the man that pleaseth him God giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy” (Eccl. 2:26); and what more does a man need than to be pleasing to God, and at the same time to be full of wisdom, knowledge and joy? Every godly life is a happy, successful life; every ungodly life is also an unhappy life. Of the godly David says: “His delight is in the law of Jehovah, and on his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also doth not whither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” The blessing of God is always upon the faithful, the curse of God upon those who are persistently wicked.
If a man is really a Christian, if he is earnestly, honestly, diligently trying to please his Heavenly father, his heart does not condemn him, and he has boldness toward God. And the Apostle John says: “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight” (I John 3:21, 22). What earthly father would not rejoice in granting the requests of such children?
James says: “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and can not obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures” (Jas. 4:2, 3).
From this it is evident that if a Christian is eager to do good, and if he asks the Heavenly Father for things, that he may do good with them, the Father gladly gives them.
In teaching his disciples, not his apostles only, but his disciples, multitudes of them, Jesus said: “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Notice now the conclusion that Jesus draws from this line of thought. He says: “All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Certainly if a Christian can get any good thing by asking his Heavenly Father for it, there is no reason why he should not be a very liberal and generous giver. All the more should we be eager to give, seeing that giving increases our power to give. Jesus says: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give unto your bosom. For with what measure you mete it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6”38).
If God is with a man, is for him, he prospers regardless of who or what may be against him. This truth is strikingly illustrated in the history of Joseph. God was with him, and everything that friend or foe did worked for his good. In his case seeming calamities always proved to be real blessings. The record says: “Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand…. And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptians house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of Jehovah was upon all that he had, in the house and on the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand” (See Gen. 39:2-6).
A lying woman caused Joseph to be cast into prison. But no prison could prevent Joseph’s prosperity; for the record says: “But Jehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand, because Jehovah was with him; and that which he did, Jehovah made it to prosper” (Gen. 39:21-23). If we please God he attends to all the rest. “Oh, fear Jehovah, ye his saints; for there is no want to them that fear him.” “They that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing” (See Psa. 24:9, 10).
Potter Bible College, Bowling Green, Ky., April 7, 1910.
Reply to Bro. J. A. Harding.
No. 1
By L. S. White.
One of the rules of “controversy,” to govern discussion, as given in Hedge’s Logic, says: “The terms in which the question in debate is expressed, and the precise point at issue, should be so clearly defined that there could be no misunderstanding regarding them.” But Bro. Harding did not do this. He did not tell us what it is to “trust in God.” I hope that he will define this question in his next article, so there will be no chance for any misunderstanding on his position.
I asked Bro. Harding to discuss his theory of “Trusting in God,” but instead of doing that, he wrote his entire first article on “Special Providence.” My dear brother, “special providence” is not in this discussion at all. Have you written on that question so much, and so long, that you want to run everything into “special providence”? We are to discuss the human side of trusting God. I believe as much in the power of God as does my good brother. But we are not discussing that question. Bro. Harding says: “I believe that God loves his children with a very great love. I believe he is very near to them, takes great pleasure in them, knows their needs perfectly, and that he can supply their wants at any time, anywhere, under any circumstances.” Certainly. Who doubts this? Did you ever see a Christian that doubts this? But we are not discussing what God can do, but what he requires you and me to do – not discussing the power of God, but how the Christian trusts in God. Bro. Harding and I both believe in trusting God, and both are equally anxious for the truth on this question. But it is the HOW people trust in God that we differ on. His entire article was foreign to the question at issue. You will have to do better than that, my brother, to sustain your theory. But I will examine it, any way.
His first Scripture quotation was Rom. 8:28, “We know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” Then he emphasizes “all things,” and insists that “whether they be in heaven, earth, or hell, whether they be from God or devil,” that they all, under all circumstances, work together for good. Does he mean to tell us that this refers to the temporal blessings of his life? If he says it refers only to temporal blessings, I will show from the word of God that he is wrong. If he says that it refers only to spiritual blessings, then his theory falls. Which is it, brother? I wait for you to tell us. But he says: “Nothing is left for you and me to do but to give all diligence to be pleasing to God.” Certainly. That is the very thing that I am contending for. But had it ever occurred to you that we can only please God through his appointments? Here is a vital difference between us on this great question.
But he quotes from the first Psalm concerning the righteous: “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not whither; and whatsoever he shall doeth shall prosper.” Now, Bro. Harding, do you aim to try to make the impression that the statement “whatsoever he shall doeth shall prosper,” refer to the temporal things of this life, and so apply it to the Christian? If so, I deny your conclusion. The readers know that Christians do not prosper in everything that they do, regardless of how good, honest, diligent, and prayerful they may be. It is contrary to the word of God to say that they prosper in all their temporal affairs, under all circumstances. Here you have a square issue.
After quoting from the Sermon on the Mount, Bro. Harding says: “Certainly if a Christian can get any good thing he needs by asking his Heavenly Father for it, there is no reason why he should not be a liberal and generous giver. All the more eager to give, seeing that giving increases our power to give.” My dear brother, if your idea of giving is in harmony with your language, then you have certainly placed the principle of giving on a very low plane – giving for the sake of reward, or, as Bro. Harding says: “Seeing that giving increases our power to give.” Surely, surely, Bro. Harding did not say what he means. But this language will admit of nothing else. We should certainly be “liberal givers,” but we should give it because it is right to give, because we love to give, and because God teaches us to give, and never for the sake of reward, or to increase our power to give.
In reference to your giving Joseph as an example of “special providence” to the Christian to-day, I will ask, my brother, if you were cast into prison for no fault of your own, and the chief Ruler has a dream that he can not understand, will God give you the power to interpret that dream? Then, will he enable you to look into the future and tell what years will be plentiful and what will be a sore famine? Then, will God give you favor with that wicked ruler, and cause you to be elevated into a high position in a human government, and manage the affairs of the same? If not, this is not a parallel case for the Christian, since the days of miracles are past, and thus I have taken this example away from you. So winds up his argument.
In order for the issue to be drawn and understood, in the early part of this discussion, I want Bro. Harding, in his next article, to answer the following questions:
1. How are you going to harmonize your trust theory that a Christian will lack nothing that he needs, with II Cor. 12:10, where Paul says that he took “pleasure in necessities and adversities”?
2. Was Paul’s every temporal need supplied, when he tells us in I Cor. 4:11 and II Cor. 11:27, that he was in “hunger, nakedness, cold, and had no certain dwelling place”? Do not forget that Paul had then been a faithful preacher for nearly thirty years. Paul, or Bro. Harding, are wrong about this thing.
3. If you say yes, to the above, then does not your theory fall when you advise young preachers to think nothing of the temporal side, or concern, for support, seeing that Paul’s temporal support was not always supplied!
4. Is it not a fact that if a Christian’s every temporal need is supplied at all times, that he will never know what it is to endure hardness as a good soldier, nor know what it is to sacrifice for the Gospel? Or will he ever enjoy blessings for suffering hardships, unless he endure hardships?
5. If you say that suffering the above privations is the part of supplying his every need, then does not your theory fall, when you advocate that we will have an abundance of temporal blessings if we trust in God?
6. Was it not one of the teachings of the Savior to his apostles that they would have to suffer all kinds of hardships?
7. Is it not the arrogant king who holds out all kinds of temporal blessings and pleasures to enlist people to become his subjects and serve him?
8. On the other hand, does not King Jesus hold out the loss of homes, and, sometimes, even loved ones, to his subjects?
9. If we are to follow Christ as our example, will we not at times not even have a place to lay our heads?
10. If you say that we must suffer these things in order to get the abundance, or our every need supplied, then why have you been continually advocating your trust theory from the viewpoint of temporal blessings, heaped up and overflowing?
11. Why don’t you picture to the Christian, hardships, privations, persecutions here below, and happiness hereafter, as did Christ, and not so much carnal reward? Your theory is sensual and fleshy.
12. Does not a great part of God’s temporal blessings to his children come through human agencies?
13. If so, are these agencies perfect, and do they ever fail?
14. If they sometimes prove false, as in II Cor. 11:26, then will not God’s children suffer the lack of their needs being supplied?
15. Does not the Bible teach that prosperity sometimes brings rebellion, while poverty and want bring humility, meekness and righteousness?
16. Is the man who labors in word and doctrine, as you say, any more worthy of temporal support that the faithful Christian between the plow handles?
17. Has not God ordained that all men shall make their bread in the “sweat of their face”? Is the preacher exempt from this? If there is no difference in this between the farmer and the preacher, why does God permit the farmer’s crops to be destroyed by floods, cyclones, and droughts, and at the same time continue to give the preacher every good thing, as you teach.
18. If a young man, who has no memory, and no friend or relative to give it to him, should come to your school desiring an education, that he might spend his life preaching the Gospel, would his needs be supplied without human agencies?
19. Was not the whole earth cursed because of his sin, Gen. 8:21? Then, if the earth is cursed with thorns, thistles, and sorrow, and the wicked and righteous live on earth alike, temporarily, will they not suffer alike in many things, save when the faithful rescue them?
20. Do you class suffering, persecutions, hardships, hunger, and nakedness as good things? If you do, then why not explain yourself so that at least a few of the people can understand what you mean?
21. Does faith to-day, carry with it a miraculous feature? If not, why expect an extraordinary supply of the things of this life?
22. Does Matt. 7:7-11 teach that every time (no exceptions) a righteous asks for bread or fish (food) he gets it, provided it is not to be consumed upon his own lusts?
23. If you say yes, to the above, then why did Jesus permit Paul to go hungry much of the time? Either Paul’s experience was wrong, or else your trust theory is wrong. But great men sometimes differ. Bro. Harding and Paul differ on this question.
24. Don’t you think that you would do more good to teach the young preachers in your school to endure hardness, as Paul taught Timothy, instead of teaching them every temporal blessing that they need will be supplied? But here the matter rests till we hear form Bro. Harding.
Dallas, Tex.
The Harding-White Discussion
Harding’s Second Article.
Proposition: The believer in God, who is pleasing to God, can obtain from his Father anything that is good for him to have. And the gift will come as soon as it is best for the believer to have it.
The truth of this doctrine does not ensure the believer against hardships nor self-denial, for both of these are sometimes very good things. No man nor woman could ever become great without toil, hardship and self-denial. These, when wisely given, are very good things, and the Scripture says: “Jehovah God is a sun and a shield; Jehovah will give grace and glory, no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” And so blessed is this thought, the psalmist, moved by the spirit of God, bursts out in the short, “O Jehovah of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” See Psalm 84:11, 12.
But Bro. White says that we are to discuss “the human side of trusting God.” To trust God is to hear what he says, believe him, and do what he tells you, being assured that he will fulfill his promises. When these conditions are fulfilled, the promises are always promptly given. There never was a failure in such a case; nor can there ever be, because God “can not lie.”
But Bro. White asks: “How are you going to harmonize your trust theory, that a Christian will lack nothing he needs, with II Cor. 12:10?” I have no reconciling to do. Paul does it himself. He says: “I take pleasure in weakness, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul gloried in those things and enjoyed them; for he knew well that he would receive a hundred fold reward even in this present time. See Mark 10:28-30. When a man takes pleasure in his work, when he glories in it, knowing that he will receive a hundred fold reward for all of his labor, toil and weariness, he is by no means an object of pity. Blessed is the man who glories in working for God, in suffering for him, in denying himself for Jesus’ sake because of the great reward that comes from devoting one’s life to the service of Jesus. A hundred fold reward, even “in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:28-30).
I do not “advise young preachers to think nothing of the temporal side,” as Bro. White intimates. But I do take great pleasure in reading, believing, and in trying to obey the words of Jesus, who says: “Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or Where withal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt 6:31-33). So spake Jesus in the beginning of his ministry. Much later, Peter wrote: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:6, 7).
If God cares for a man, he does it just right, he cares for him to perfection. He gives him all the hunger, thirst, toll, discouragement, persecution, affliction, cold, nakedness, sickness, that are good for him; he also gives him all the gladness, joy, peace, comfort, food, raiment, shelter, friends, houses, horses, buggies and everything else that he needs for his happiness and usefulness. God is careful not to give him all that he desires; but to his faithful child he is always willing and ready to give anything, everything he needs. As saith the prophet: “No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 5:6,7).
Bro. White inquires: “If you say that we must suffer these things in order to get the abundance, or our every need supplied, then why have you been continually advocating your trust theory from the viewpoint of temporal blessings, heaped up and overflowing?”
I did not do it. You are after the wrong man. It was Jesus who said: “Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38). And he was talking to “a great multitude of his disciples” when he said it. Any child of God will be richly supplied with whatever he needs, if he gives like he ought to give, if he lives for his Father like he ought to live for him. God is not the meanest father in the universe, as many seem to think; he is the very best one. He loves his children, delights in them, and withholds no good thing form them that walk uprightly. It is no strange thing that the prophet should shout: “O Jehovah of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee” (Psalm 84:12). But many church members talk and act as if the passage read: “O Jehovah of hosts, cursed is the man that trusteth in thee.” For they seem to think they are a great deal more careful of their children, much readier to care for them, to give to them, to bless them than God is to care for and give to his children. A very false, slanderous, degrading thought it is, too, God is infinitely better than we are, perfect in his care of his children. Consider how regardful he was of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, and Daniel. These men put their trust in him. He is no respecter of persons. If we trust him as they did, he will care for us as he cared for them.
Bro. White inquires: “Why don’t you picture to the Christian hardships, privations, persecutions here below and happiness hereafter, as did Christ and not so much carnal reward?”
Because I prefer to tell the truth. The Scripture says: “To the man that pleaseth him, God giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to keep up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God” (Eccl. 2:26).
Again the Scripture says: “Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding; in all thine ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:5).
Again the Scripture says: “The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself” (Prov. 11:25).
Again, “The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, keep watch upon the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3,4).
Again, “The eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (II Chron. 16:9).
John, the beloved apostle, says: “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are…Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God, and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight” (I John 3:1, 21).
“That ‘whatsoever’ is a big word. If our hearts do not condemn us, ‘whatsoever’ we ask we get. And if we can get things so easily there is no reason why we should not be very free and generous givers. So the Master says: “Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
The point that Jesus makes here is, that even if evil men know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more shall our Heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him? And, insomuch as we can get things by asking for them, we can well afford to give freely and cheerfully. So the Master says: “All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets. ” See Matt. 7:7-12.
Read Psalm 84:11, 12; Mark 10:28-30; I Peter 5:6, 7; Luke 6:38; I John 3:21. These passages furnish abundant proof that God will take the very best of care of all those who live for him.
Potter Bible College, Bowling Green, Ky., April 20, 1910.
Reply
to Bro. J. A. Harding.
No.
2.
By
S. L. White.
The readers will please excuse me for replying to Bro. Harding in a way that he could not answer. I am young, and full of enthusiasm and just did not know any better than to furnish a Scriptural argument so strong that he could not possibly answer it. This will explain why he had but little to say about my first reply. I asked him twenty-four questions, and he did not even attempt to make any sort of reply to but four of them. Why? Echo answers, Why? The readers see at a glance that those questions are ruinous to Bro. Harding’s theory of trust. No man living can answer those questions, and at the same time maintain the position that Bro. Harding does. I can’t let my good brother off so easily. You must try again.
My first reply convinced our brother that we are not discussing “Special Providence,” so he left that off in his second article. He is coming some. Please give him plenty of time. Now, my dear brother, can’t you see that we are not discussing God’s side, or what Jehovah had done, or has the power to do; but we are discussing the human side of “trusting God.” If Bro. Harding was debating with some denominational preacher, on the action, or design, of baptism, and were to put up a strong New Testament argument, as he is so abundantly able to do, and then his opponent, instead of answering his argument, would go to the Old Testament, and show the power of God, how he loved his people, how he blessed them, and how, on extraordinary occasions, he bestowed special blessing upon them, I wonder what the good brother would think of such a course. But that is exactly the way he is doing in this discussion. When I introduce a New Testament argument to show how Christians are to trust God, instead of answering it, Bro. Harding goes back to the Old Testament to show how God loves his people, and how he has the power to bless them. He is the only man that I ever engaged in discussion that spends all his time about something that has whatever to do with the issue, except Charles T. Russell. He spent all his time on something else.
Bro. Harding is in the lead, and should state the issue, but has not done so. He only has two more articles, and unless he can produce something to defend the theory that he has been preaching “for thirty-six years,” it will look mighty bad. I have read three of his published debates, and each time he came right up to the issue, and nobly defended the truth, but alas! this time, not so. Why the difference? In his oral debates he had the Word of God on his side, and defended it against opponents in error. But this time I fear that he has nothing but the theory of George Muller, and trying to defend it by the Word of God, while at the same time he is meeting a man who has no theory, and who is only presenting the teaching of the Word of God on this great question. This will account for Bro. Harding’s weak articles. But no man in the world can do better with that theory than he is doing, for no man can defend it by the Bible.
Creation began in miracle, but ended in natural order. Everything, herbs, birds, trees, fishes, cattle and human beings are to bring forth “after his kind.” See Genesis, second chapter. The decree of God has gone forth, and is irrepealable, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground,” and it is not to be supplied in some special way without an effort on the part of man, Bro. Harding to the contrary notwithstanding. He can never get loose from this, neither can he answer it.
The reign of Christ began in miracles, and ended in harmonious system of the gospel. During the preparatory stage of the gospel Jesus sometimes performed miracles to feed the people, but after the Church was established the disciples were taught to relieve people by giving of their means. See Acts 6:1-4; 11:27-31, and I. Cor. 16:2. During the preparatory stage of the gospel our Savior taught his disciples to “pray for their daily bread.” After the Church was established we are taught “to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing” (I. Thess. 4:11, 12). Here we are promised “lack of nothing,” if we use God’s appointed means of getting it. But Bro. Harding’s theory would have us believe that God will shower these things down on us like he did “manna” for the children of Israel. I don’t believe any such stuff. “If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (I. Tim. 5:8). But Bro. Harding’s theory is: “Trust in God, and God will give you all these things.” If Bro. Harding is right, Paul is wrong, sure, for they don’t believe alike on this question.
Christians should trust God for their bread (food), and they should also pray for it, but the man who prepares the soil, plants the seed, cultivates the crops, and prays to God to send the rain and sunshine, and to give him health and strength to do this work, and is determined to make a living, but use it to the honor and glory of God, is the man that is trusting God for bread. This principle applies equally to all people who are working at the many honorable occupations to make a living. Here is the issue between us, fairly stated. I believe that Christians must use God’s appointed means in order to come into possession of the good temporal things of this life, just as I believe that sinners must use God’s appointed means of coming into possession of salvation in order to be saved. One of these is as necessary as the other. Bro. Harding would dare not use the folly in telling sinners what to do to be saved that he does in telling Christians how to come into possession of the good things of this life. He should stop, and study, and pray over the “proper division of the Word of God” before he writes again.
But he virtually surrenders what he has been teaching for years, when he said: “To trust God is to hear what he says, believe him, and do what he tells you, being assured that he will fulfill his promises.” Then, unless we, as human beings, use God’s appointed means, we will get nothing. Amen, and amen! Good-bye to Bro. Harding’s theory. I told you that he is coming.
But when I asked him how he would harmonize his theory that a Christian will lack nothing that he needs with Paul’s lack in II. Cor. 12:10, he says, “Paul does that.” Hardly so. Paul often lacked many things he needed, but Bro. Harding’s theory has been, “Trust God, and you will get everything you need.” Right here I want to emphasize the fact that “trusting in God” is not a thing separate and apart from business or manual labor, I don’t care what Bro. Harding, or any other uninspired man says about it. Paul said: “Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and labor, working with our own hands,…and are the offscouring of all things to this day” (I. Tim. 4:11-14). Here was the greatest hero ever in the Church of the living God, and who always trusted in God, yet his life shows that he had a mixture of sorrow, sadness, persecution, toil, manual labor, and often lacked many of the really necessary things of this life, even the ordinary comforts of life. Then, in this modern twentieth century, for a man’s “zeal without knowledge,” only on this question, to lead him to teach that Christians will lack nothing, it makes me tired, and I am sure is revolting to nearly all servants of the Lord.
But he quotes from Christ: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” That is, you have the “kingdom of God and his righteousness” in your heart above everything else. But what is righteousness. In Psa. 119:172 we are told that “all the commandments of God are righteousness.” Then we seek these when we seek righteousness. In II. Thess. 3:10-14 we are commanded “to work and eat our own bread,” and that if “any will not obey this epistle, we are to have no company with them.” I would hate to part company with Bro. Harding. But I advise him to teach it like Paul did.
But he now admits that the Christian will have “hunger, thirst, nakedness, toil, persecution, etc.” I am glad to have you make this admission. But it is certainly out of harmony with what you have been teaching before this. In the Leader-Way of December 28 last, Bro. Harding says: “No man is so thoroughly protected, so fully insured, so certain to be cared for in every respect in the very best way, as is the whole-hearted, thorough, self –sacrificing Christian. God has as certainly bound himself to care for him as he has to forgive the believer who is baptized into Christ.” Here we have Bro. Harding against Bro. Harding. He was either wrong in December, or he was wrong in April, for his two statements are diametrically opposed to each other. Which shall we take? But his statement in this discussion certainly does not harmonize with what he has been teaching for years – that the Christian who trusts God gets everything that he needs, and gets it at once. The sick, hungry and cold ones certainly need health, food and clothes. But now, when he sees that his theory is being picked to pieces by the Word of God, he is careful to add: “God is careful not to give him (the Christian) all that he desires.”
But in reply to my question, “Why don’t you picture to the Christian hardships, privations, persecutions here below, and happiness hereafter, as did Christ, and not so much carnal reward?” he said: “Because I prefer to tell the truth.” No one thought of your wanting to tell anything else. But you most woefully missed the truth of the Bible on this point. He then quoted Eccl. 2: 26. When Bro. Harding quoted this passage of Scripture he committed suicide on his trust theory, and then buried himself, and now I am going to show respect by putting the flowers on his grave. He “preferred to tell the truth,” instead of telling Christians they shall have “persecutions, hardships,” etc., in his life. But Paul says: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (I. Tim. 3:12). “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). “The Holy Spirit witnesseth in every city, saying, bonds and afflictions abide me” (Acts 20:23). But Bro. Harding “prefers to tell the truth,” instead of using these scriptures.
But that scripture he quoted from Solomon says: “To the man that pleaseth him, God giveth wisdom, knowledge and joy.” Certainly, but these are not meat and bread. And we can’t even get things without “pleasing God.” But the last half of that verse shows that the sinner is “to gather, heap up,” etc., “that he may give to him that pleaseth God.” But Bro. Harding does not believe that it is right for a sinner to give to a Christian, nor for a Christian to take any gift from a sinner. In the Leader-Way of February 1 he tells us that he does not “receive money from any one not of the same faith and order as himself.” Wrong again. When Paul was shipwrecked and cast on the island of Miletus among the “barbarous people,” they cared for him, and when he went to leave “they laded him with such things as were necessary” (Acts 28:1-10). Had Bro. Harding been there, he might have said: “Hold on, there, Paul, you are wrong about this thing. I have a little pet theory that I learned from George Muller, and I have been teaching my Bible students at Potter Bible College that it is wrong for a Christian to take a gift from a sinner, especially from a barbarous person. You are ruining my theory with such an example. Please, Bro. Paul, don’t do that any more.”
I challenge Bro. Harding to produce just one example of his own life where God bestowed a temporal gift upon him that was not in some way connected with human agency. You needn’t give many. Just give one. And, by the way, don’t forget those twenty questions that you did not even attempt to answer. Also, don’t forget that we are discussing the “human side” of trusting god, and not God’s power, or “special providence.” “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).
Dallas, Tex.
The
Harding-White Discussion
Harding’s
Third Article.
Proposition: The believer in God, who is pleasing to God, can obtain from hi Father anything it is good for him to have. And the gift will come as soon as it is best for him to have it.
Bro. White tells us he is young and full of enthusiasm, and that he has furnished a Scriptural argument that I can not answer. Doubtless, he felt the need of giving us this information. Possibly our readers would not have discovered it, if he had not told us. It is common for debaters, who are conscious of weakness, to boast of what great things they are doing. The boasting is often nothing more than an expression of conscious failure. So Solomon says:
“Let another man praise thee, and thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips” (Proverbs 27:2). I am not thinking simply of defeating Bro. White; I am eager to teach God’s truth on this subject, for his sake and mine, and for the good of all who read and hear.
With me this doctrine is not a “trust theory,” but a faith practice. For thirty-six years I have been endeavoring to please God in order that I may live a happy, prosperous, useful life, and that I may lack nothing. I saw that Christians generally are almost wholly absorbed in making money that they may live and have supplies for old age. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal,” seems to be little regarded even by the best of men. “What shall we eat?” “What shall we drink?” Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” seem to me to be the most absorbing problems even with the children of God.
Then I considered that Christ says: “Seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Is Christ reliable? Can he be depended upon?
I believe he is worthy of trust to the utmost. In the passage just quoted, Christ promises food, raiment, clothing, to those who seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness. In the letter to the Hebrews, he says: “Be ye free from the love of money, content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, ‘I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.’ So with good courage we say, the Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what shall man do unto me?”
For thirty-six years I have endeavored to follow the directions of Jesus literally. I have avoided the accumulation of property. There have been few, if any, times in these thirty-six years that I had money enough to bury me if I had died. I have owned two houses, at different times, and a buggy. I have owned two cows, at different times, and a calf. I own now some books, and some household furniture that is used regularly and almost continuously. I owned a paper once and a mailing outfit. I doubt if there ever has been a time in these thirty-six years when all of my possessions would have brought as much as five hundred dollars if they had been sold at public auction.
I have rarely possessed as much as fifty dollars at one time; and, when
I did, it was commonly needed for immediate use. But I have never really
needed anything that I have not received in due time.
Jesus says: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you again” (Luke 6:38).
Can this statement be relied upon? Of course, for Jesus made it in a discourse which he was delivering to a great multitude of his disciples; and it was recorded for our learning, comfort and guidance. Of the prophet Samuel it was said: “Jehovah was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground” (I Samuel 3:19). And we may be sure that God will let none of the words of Jesus fall to the ground.
Jesus says: “What man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf will give him a stone; or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is heaven give good things to them that ask him.”
Why not take Jesus at his word, then, when he says: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”? Why not ask, and receive, and give as the Lord directs?
When Peter says: “Repent ye, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins,” we say: “It is the word of the Lord; and every believer who truly repents and is actually baptized is forgiven – all his sins are taken away.” And we say well, for so it is. But every word of Jesus can be depended upon with just as much certainty. If I did not believe Jesus at Luke 6:38 and Matt. 7:7-12, I would not believe anything he says.
David says: “Trust in Jehovah, and do good; dwell in the land and feed on his faithfulness. Delight thyself also in Jehovah; and he will give thee the desires of thy heart. Commit thy way unto Jehovah; trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:3-5).
Again he says: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).
God is a real father, a father who takes great pleasure in his dutiful children. And when his children are devoted to him, when they put their minds, hearts and bodies fully into his service, what then Paul answers: “We know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).
No wonder David never saw the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread! When all things are working together for a man’s good he is certainly in a most delightful state. Among these things that work together for his good are death, life, angels, principalities, things present, things to come, powers, height, depth, and every other creature. See Rom. 8:37-39.
We must not forget that God rules, and that the angels of God are “all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation.”
It is right for a man to have what he needs for use; but God forbids his children to lay up treasures for themselves on the earth. He says expressly, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth” (Matt. 6:19). But he by no means forbids the laying up of treasures for one’s self. He expressly says: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” And he adds: “For where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.”
But how can a man lay up treasures in heaven? The Scripture says: “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, and his good deed will he pay him again” (Prov. 19:17). On this passage Sam Jones made this curt comment: “If you believe in the security, come down with the cash.”
This Old Testament doctrine is in perfect harmony with the words of Jesus in the New: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).
Solomon (under the Old Covenant) said: “The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself” (Prov. 11:25).
Paul (under the New Covenant) said: “Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have; for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5).
We should not forget that God is our Father. He is not a mean, selfish, vicious, devilish father; he is not a poor, weak, foolish, incompetent father, but he is an ideal father; and he loves and cares for his own. David says: “Like as a father pitieth hi children, so Jehovah pitieth them that fear him” (Ps. 103;13). Again he says: “Jehovah God is a sun and a shield; Jehovah will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Jehovah of hosts, blessed is the man who trusteth in thee.”
God promises us over and over again many times that he will care for us if we will put our trust in him.
He says: “The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God…And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6,7,19).
And Peter says: “Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you” (I Peter 5:6,7).
Do you believe in God? Can you depend upon him to do what he promises? Then live for him, lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth; but work, and pray, and give; let not wealth accumulate in your hands, and you will be most wonderfully prospered.
Potter Bible College, Bowling Green, Ky., May 4, 1910.
Reply
to Bro. J. A. Harding.
No.
3.
By
L. S. WHITE.
The Bible teaches that Christians must use God’s appointed means in order to receive and enjoy the good temporal things of this life, just as it teaches that alien sinners must use his appointed means in order to receive and enjoy the remission of sins. One of these is as necessary as the other.
The above briefly but clearly defines the issue between Bro. Harding and myself. In theory he denies this. In argument (what little he has made) he also denies it. On this issue the remainder of this discussion will be conducted, so far as I am concerned. Bro. Harding has but one more article. He has so far been trying to show us what God has promised, and what he is able to do, etc., instead of telling how the Christian is to trust in God. If his theory is no stronger than his argument has shown, may the Lord pity it.
Some months ago Bro. Harding severely criticized Bro. Charles C. Klingman for expecting regular support from the churches in America, and intimated that Bro. Klingman is relying on men instead of trusting in God. But, as usual, Bro. Harding is wrong again.
Before going as missionaries to Japan, Bro. Klingman and his faithful wife moved to Dallas and became members of the Pearl and Bryan Streets Church. This church sent them as missionaries, and commended them to the work. The first Lord’s Day in every month this church sends a regular contribution to them. Bro. K. reports directly to this church. Is this scriptural, and is he “trusting in God” while so doing. I maintain that all this is in perfect harmony with the Word of God and the practice of the Primitive Church during the apostolic age, even though as great a man as Bro. Harding oppose it. But let us prove it. (1) New Testament churches separated their preachers for a certain work, and commended them to that work (Acts 13:2,3). The Dallas church did this. In the New Testament times, when these preachers did the work whereunto they had been sent, they reported to the church that sent them (Acts 14:26-28). This Bro. Klingman is doing: (2) In New Testament times the church sent preachers (Acts 11:22). Barnabas went on the mission that the church thus sent him (Acts 5:26). Then the Antioch Church sent Paul and Barnabas out on another mission (Acts 11:27-30). After this work had been done they returned to the church that had sent them (Acts 12:25). (3) In New Testament times churches received reports of work done by those sent out. These reports were made to the churches, sending out the workers (Acts 14:27). This is done by Bro. Klingman. (4) Other churches had fellowship with the missionary or evangelist in the field (Phil. 4:15-18). Other congregations are having fellowship with Bro. Klingman. But is it right to give God the glory through the church? Let us see. “Unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:21). But Bro. Harding teaches that we must not put any trust in the Church. Then I want to know how any one can doubt the church, God’s only institution, and at the same time trust in God? For one, I do not believe any such folly. God dwells in and blesses people through the church. What the church does, if it be as the word of the Lord directs, is God doing the work, just as the Ninevites “believed God” when they believed the message that God sent them by Jonah. When these churches referred to sent to the help of the evangelists, or sent to the poor saints, they were doing the work of God, and thus it was God working through them, and they were trusting God in so doing. I dare Bro. Harding to deny this. Now, will he come to the real issue just one time? Paul taught the Corinthian Church the necessity of “liberality,” and that God loveth a “cheerful giver.” He then says: “He that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food and multiply your seed sown, and increases the fruits of your righteousness; being enriched in everything to all the bountifulness which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God” (II. Cor. 9:10-12). Let us sum up from this scripture: (1) The church was taught that he who supplies “seed to the sower” would also “supply and multiply” their “seed for the sowing.” (2) That this work would “increase the fruits of their righteousness.” (3) That they were “enriched to everything unto all liberality.” And please bear in mind that this was to be to the church that was supporting the evangelist, and not the evangelist that is supported, as Bro. Harding’s little theory teaches. (4) That this worked through the preacher and others “thanksgivings unto God.” Notice that these “thanksgivings” were “unto God.” Then, was it not God working through the church? But Bro. Harding says that preachers must not look to the church. Such nonsense. It is almost presuming on the patience of the readers to even answer such stuff.
But Bro. Harding would have us believe that the Bible does not authorize “any arrangement between the churches and the preachers” relative to the support of the latter. He is wrong again, as might be expected. In fact, he has had his mind warped so long with this anti-scriptural, George Muller theory of “trusting God,” which is so foreign to the Word of God, that it would be very hard for him to now either learn or teach the truth on this question. The readers need not expect him to do it. He wants to do it, but he will have to give up that George Muller foolishness that he has been teaching for “thirty-six years,” or the Word of God. There is one thing sure, he can not make the Word of God fit it, for he has sufficiently tried it in this discussion. I hate to see a man of Bro. Harding’s ability and influence holding so tenaciously to a little pet theory that is so out of harmony with the Word of God. To show you that I am not mistaken about such an “arrangement between church and preacher,” I quote from Paul: “All my affairs shall Tychicus make known unto you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord: whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts; together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things that are done here” (Col. 4:7-9). Notice that Paul said: “I have sent” him “unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state.” Thus there was an understanding between Paul and the Colossian Church, and that Paul sent a brother over there to make known to this church “all things which were done” by him. Farewell, Bro. Harding, to your little theory. I regret to have to part company with you on this question, but I have to give you up, or go back on both the example and teaching of Paul, and I must follow him. May God bless Bro. Harding and lead him, by this discussion, to a “knowledge of the truth” on this question. I love him and want to see him right. I shall insist that preachers to-day may pursue such a course as Paul did. If not, why not? The echo comes back from the George Muller theory of Bro. Harding and says: “Why?”
But Bro. Harding’s teaching on this question is doing untold harm. It is keeping the churches from giving of their means, as the Bible teaches. It is hindering men from going out into the field as missionaries. If Bro. Harding would teach the churches their duty on this question, and that they are to support the evangelists, and that the evangelists are to look to the churches for their support, and that they would be thus trusting God, he would do a thousand times more good than he is doing. But instead, he is teaching the preachers to look directly to God for support, and not to depend on the churches at all. But the readers will remember that I have pressed him to give just one example in his own life where he received any temporal aid that did not in some way come through human agency. But he did not try. Why? Because he has not the example. I dare him to give just one – not many, but just one. He can’t give it. Just be brave as you used to be, Bro. Harding, when defending “first principles,” and give us the example. But, better still, just be brave enough to give up that little George Muller theory and come out boldly and accept the truth on this question. We pause for him to break the deathly silence.
But here I take up his article and follow him in his meanderings. He said: “This is not a trust theory, but a faith practice,” and that “for thirty-six years” he has “endeavored to follow the directions of Jesus literally.” Notice that word, “literally.” I deny that Bro. Harding is literally following Jesus. Why? Bro. Harding is living in a handsome two-story brick residence, but Jesus said that he did not have a place to “lay his head” (Matt. 8:20). But Bro. Harding has a good place to lay his head. He also tells us that he has some books and household goods, and that they are worth five hundred dollars. Jesus says: “Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me” (Luke 18:22). Why doesn’t Bro. Harding sell “all that he has”? Jesus said do it. Bro. Harding, I plead with you; the people know that you are not literally following Jesus, and they are ashamed of your contention.
But he tells us that he has “rarely had as much as fifty dollars at one time,” and that he has never owned over “five hundred dollars worth of property at one time.” Then you must have been very extravagant, for I doubt if there be a brother preacher among us who has been given more money than has Bro. Harding. But this theory of “trusting God,” as taught by Bro. Harding, has for its very essence that of extravagance and does not teach economy, as did Jesus when, after performing a miracle to feed the multitude, he had the disciples to “gather up the fragments that nothing be lost.” Bro. Harding’s theory would have been: “Just trust in God; Jesus will perform another miracle and feed us. If we gather up these fragments we will be relying on men, and not be trusting in God.”
But Bro. Harding tells us that there have been but few times that he has had “money enough to bury him if he had died.” Will say that he is not the only preacher that has made no provision for his family, and when death comes they are left out on the mercies of others. God being my helper, I will never teach a theory that will leave widows and orphans helpless in this world. But in his debates Bro. Harding held up good, old Abraham as an example to follow. Why not in this case? When Abraham’s beloved wife, Sarah, died he did not say: “I haven’t money enough to bury her,” but selected the parcel of ground that he wanted and bought it (Gen. 23:11-16). He buried his wife there. The owner offered to give him the ground for a burying place, but he said he would not accept it without pay. When he died he was also buried there (Gen. 25:10). Thus Bro. Harding differs from the whole Bible on this question. I am sorry for him. But till he gives up his little pet I must continue to puncture the little pieces that are yet left, and that by the “sword of the Spirit.”
But as Bro. Harding never saves up any money, how is he going to be able to enjoy the blessings that our Savior promised when he said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). He admits that he doesn’t try to make anything; then he doesn’t have anything to give and is thus cut off from the promise of Jesus just quoted. Instead of his giving to others, he is all the time the honorable gentleman that others must be giving to.
But he quotes from Jesus: “What man is there among you who, if your son ask him for a loaf, will he give him a stone?” Certainly as long as the children are small and helpless parents will take care of them, but when they are able to work and are grown up, parents will no longer let them lay around and do nothing, but require them to work. So Paul says: “Let him labor with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Eph. 4:28). So I have taken this scripture from him.
But he quotes from Peter on Pentecost: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins.” Then argues that the people are forgiven when they do this. Certainly. Bro. Harding is right one time. But, my dear sir, they were not forgiven till they repented and were baptized it matters not how much faith they had. On the same principle, it matters not how much faith the Christian has in the promises of God, his faith does him no good till he uses God’s appointed means; just as the Pentecostians did in order to receive and enjoy salvation. As long as Bro. Harding is on “first principles” he teaches it just like the Bible, but when he gets to “practical Christianity,” he teaches it like George Muller and unlike the Bible. But watch me put Bro. Harding against Bro. Harding. In his Nashville debate with J. B. Moody he says: “The Holy Spirit has kindly deigned to show us that faith unexpressed is worthless. It must be completed by being embodied in works to be of any account” (Nashville debate, page 248). Time and again he challenged Moody to furnish an example where any person received a blessing on account of his faith before that faith expressed itself in obedience. The example was not given. On the same principle I now challenge Bro. Harding to give us an example where the Bible teaches that we are to receive temporal blessings without using God’s appointed means. And I will now tell the readers he will never be able to give such example, for he can’t do it. Just watch him and see.
But he quotes David to prove that God will “give us the desires of our hearts.” Is it possible that you are going to drag this down to the temporal things in this life? But was it not the “desires of your heart” a few years ago to publish a paper and send it free to all who would agree to read it? And did not the U.S. Government thwart your purpose, and refuse to let such a paper go through the mails unless you would fix a price on your paper? And did you not fix the price, and thus agree to preach a certain amount of Gospel for a certain amount of money? Then didn’t you move the paper to Bowling Green, and didn’t it afterward fail and have to be consolidated with the Leader. Was it not “desire of your heart” a few years ago for the Lord to furnish another house for the school at Bowling Green? But when the Lord did not furnish the money, did not you and other brethren borrow the money and give your note for it? David’s scripture is all right, but Bro. Harding’s construction that he puts on it is all wrong.
But he quotes David again: “I have been young, and am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Then he applies this to Christians. Better “rightly divide the word” and “give to each his portion in due season.” During David’s time there was greater prosperity among the people of god, and David did never see one of them forsaken. But had he lived at a later period he would have seen much trouble for the people of God. But he thinks that the righteous will never be forsaken. But Jesus Christ thought differently. When he was dying on the cross he cried: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me” (Matt. 27:46). Then if our brother will read Heb. 11:36,37, which occurred long aster this time, he will see that others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings, were stoned, sawn asunder, slain with the sword, and were destitute, afflicted, tormented.” Then he will find that all the apostles, save John, were murdered, and that Paul was often in “hunger, cold, nakedness and perils,” and that he lacked the actual necessaries of life.
But he again quotes from Phil. 4:6,7,19, and again skips the very verses that are ruinous to his position. Some of the verses that he skips read: “Ye have well done that ye did communicate with my affliction…No church communicated with me…but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again to my necessities.” This shows that this church was supporting Paul, and that he had been looking to them to do it. But Paul said to this church: “My God shall supply all your needs.” This was the needs of the church that had been supporting the preacher, and not the preacher’s needs at all, as Bro. Harding has been teaching for “thirty-six years.” The churches are to support the missionaries, and, as they use God’s appointed means. God will supply all their needs, that of the church, so that the church can continue on this good work. Come again Bro. Harding.
But he cuts a verse in two in the middle and quotes Jesus: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth.” Why not quote it all as Jesus did, and say, “Where moth and rust doth not corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal?” I emphatically deny that Jesus ever taught what Bro. Harding reads into his teaching. When a thing “rusts or corrupts” it shows that it is not being used. Jesus teaches that we must use our means to the glory and honor of God. This is brought out in the parable of the servants in Matt. 25. This scripture in Matt. 6:19 has nothing to do with the making of money, nor necessarily with the amount we have on hand. But it deals with the expenditure and hoarding up what we make. The thought is, use your earthly treasures to build up your heavenly treasures, not to create more then we can use, as did the rich man in Luke 12. “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). The words “lay up treasures” mean to “coffer up, store away, as to put a body in a casket.” Dr. Thayer will bear me out in this. A Christian may have ten thousand dollars or more to put into a school or orphans’ home, as did Bro. Potter, at Bowling Green, and hold his individual property, and at the same time be using it to the honor and glory of God, in caring for orphans and educating young people for usefulness in this world. Will he not by this means be laying up treasures in heaven? But Bro. Harding’s theory turns this around and teaches: “The more treasures that you lay up in heaven the more things you will have given you here on earth, where moth and dust doth corrupt.”
Dallas, Tex.
The
Harding-White Discussion
Harding’s
Fourth Article.
Under the heading, “In Whom Shall We Trust?” in the Leader-Way of March 22, I had written an article which did not favorably impress Bro. L. S. White. He proposed a discussion. He said: “I suggest that we write four articles each on this question, Bro. Harding being in the lead, each article not to exceed fifteen hundred words, and that the same be done in the spirit of love and for the glory of God.” Referring to me, he said: “He and I are good friends, are brethren in Christ, and love each other very much; then why should we not have an investigation of this question that will be helpful to all the readers? He is an editor of a religious journal; so am I. Both are anxious to know all the truth. On this we are equal.” Thus wrote Bro. White.
I took it for granted the discussion would appear in both papers. But not so. All the space in Bro. White’s paper was pre-engaged. He wanted the investigation to be “helpful to all readers.” But it seems, if his readers are to be helped by it, they must take our paper; for his discussion is not appearing in his paper as I supposed it would.
From his first article on he continues to break his contract, which he himself proposed, and which I accepted. My first article contained about 1,500 words; his reply about 1,800. My second also contained 1,500 words; his reply about 2,250; my third article contained about 1,600 words; his reply about 3,500.
When he sent in his third article, to which I am now replying, he intimated that I also could write more. Let him graciously accept my thanks for this boon. But who gave him the liberty to break and continue to break his contract? I did not.
If Bro. White treats all his contracts as he treats this one he made with me, I am sorry for those who depend upon his promises.
David says: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of Jehovah; and on his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also doth not wither; and whatsoever he shall doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3). Every man in the world who fulfills these requirements prospers, and everything he does prospers.
Can it truly be said of you that you walk not in the counsel of the wicked; you stand not in the way of sinners; you sit not in the seat of the scoffers; but you delight in the law of Jehovah, and on it you meditate day and night? Then you prosper, and everything you do prospers.
There is tremendous purifying, sanctifying, energizing power in the Word of God. It is superior to the word of man as God is superior to man.
A promise is as good as the man who makes it; but no better. If he is wise, good, strong, rich and prompt, you can depend upon what he says. He will keep his word, he will fulfill his contracts.
But God is perfectly wise, good, strong and rich. He is infinitely perfect in these respects, and in all others. Every promise that he makes he will surely fulfill.
Bro. White says: “I believe that God loves his children with a very great love. I believe he is very near to them, takes great pleasure in them, knows their needs perfectly, and that he can supply their wants at any time, anywhere, under all circumstances. Certainly! Who doubts this?” He asks: “Did you ever see a Christian that doubts this?”
Does not Bro. White know, does not everybody know, that such a God would surely care most lovingly for his children? Would he not be a devil, instead of our God, if he did not? Our God is the grandest, truest, strongest, richest and best Father in the universe. He is perfect in love, justice and mercy. David says: “Like as a father pitieth his children, so Jehovah pitieth them that fear him” (Psa. 103:13).
Bro. White says: “The readers know that Christians do not prosper in everything they do, regardless of how good, honest, diligent and prayerful they may be.” Jehovah says through Paul: “We that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Now it seems clear to me that when all things work together for good to any man he is prospering wonderfully.
Hanani the seer came to see Asa, king of Judah, and said unto him: “Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and thou hast not relied on Jehovah thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? Yet, because thou didst rely on Jehovah, he delivered them into thy hand. For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars” (II Chron. 16:7-9).
Bro. White says that “Christians do not prosper in everything they do.” But David says: “Jehovah God is a sun and a shield; Jehovah will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Jehovah of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” There you have the inspired David on one side and L. S. white on the other. Of course the inspired man is right. (See Psalm 84)
Bro. White says: “But Bro. Harding tells us that there have been but few times that he has had ‘money enough to bury him if he had died.’ Will say that he is not the only preacher that has made no provision for his family, and when death comes that are left out on the mercies of others.”
Yes, thirty-six years ago I made up my mind that I would not lay up treasures for myself (or family) on earth. But, as Jesus directs, I would lay them up in heaven. I have been a money-maker for forty-one years. I have worked hard to make money because I can not bear to be idle, and because I want to lay up for myself treasure in heaven, as Jesus directs.
Yes, I own a lot in the cemetery at Bowling Green. I bought it when my son, David, left us to enter the land of the blessed. Fortunately for our peace of mind, no one of my family doubts that he has gone to our Father. My wife an I have five living children, and each one of the seven makes money enough to support one person, to have some to give to the poor, and some to give to missionaries at home and abroad.
I have some fears, however, about my burial. I am afraid it will be too extravagant. I would like to be buried in a plain wooden box, which will not cost more than two or three dollars. And I would like to be buried on the College Campus, and have ground leveled and covered with grass above me. If much money must be spent in honor of me, I prefer that it shall go to the poor rather than to the undertaker. It seems to me to be wicked to put vast sums of money in the ground to rot while there are so many poor in the world.
Bro. White says I admit that I do not try to make anything. He is mistaken again. I have been a money-maker ever since I left Bethany College. I was twenty-one then. But I have honestly believed that the Lord honestly and sincerely meant what he said (Matthew 6:19-21): “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where thy treasure is there will thy heart be also.” I honestly believe the Lord meant this, and I am trying to live accordingly. I know I must leave this world in a few years at the most, and I want to be ready to go. If I were to live in habitual violation of the command of Jesus about laying up money, I am afraid I would be lost. It is a bad thing to live in perpetual violation of any law of God. Eternal life is too glorious and eternal death too horrible for us to violate purposely and habitually any command of God. Let us give, as we make, to the poor, to the orphan, and to the church of God.
Bro. White thinks my “theory will leave widows and orphans helpless in this world.” My theory and practice is to make money with all diligence, and give it to the poor, the orphan, and the widow. If all of us would do so, just as the Master tells us, it would be fine for the orphans and widows; and he would lack no good thing. God says: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosoms” (Luke 6:38). The child of God who faithfully keeps this command of his Lord will never be forsaken.
Bro. White says of me: “Instead of his giving to others, he is always the honorable gentleman that others must be giving to.” This statement is false. I know of nothing that I ever said or did from which Bro. White could draw such a conclusion. I have given at least a tenth of my income ever since I was twenty-one years of age. A part of my time I have given one-half of my income in charity. Not one-half of the profit, but one-half of the gross income. Do I seem to be boasting? I feel grieved to think that I have not done much more than that. Had I been as persistent and liberal, as full of faith and good works as George Muller was, I could have done vastly more. Of the money that came into his hands for his own personal use he gave to the Lord’s cause in the course of his life more than four hundred and seven thousand and fifty dollars ($407,450). This poor man, always poor, thus gave from his personal fund.
He also built five large orphan houses. He received into them altogether ten thousand orphans. These he clothed, fed and educated. He circulated nearly two million Bibles and parts thereof at a cost of more than two hundred thousand dollars, and over three million books and tracts, at a cost of nearly ten hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) more. And this is only a part of the work this wonderful man did for God. But Bro. White mocks at “that little George Muller theory.” I wonder if Bro. White knows the difference between theory and practice. For many years George Muller was feeding, clothing and educating twenty-five hundred orphans. Muller took the Bible as his only guide in religion, worshipped God just as we do as to the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers; and he also preached immersion (not sprinkling) for baptism. I have kept pretty well informed concerning his work for more than twenty years. I doubt if he has been excelled in faith and in devotion to God by any man that has lived since the apostolic age. I don’t think Bro. White would mock at him as he does, if he knew him as I do. In faith he seems to me to rank in the same class with Abraham.
Bro. White says: “Bro. Harding is living in a handsome two-story brick residence, but Jesus said that he did not have a place to lay his head.” I have no house to sleep in. The house in which I sleep (when at home) belongs to Bro. and Sister C.C. Potter.
Bro. White asks me some questions about my paper, The Way, about which let me say a few words. When I began to write the matter for the first issue of that paper I had not one dollar to spare for its publication. While I was sitting wondering and praying a sister ran into my room. She was glowing with joy. She said, “I have one hundred dollars to give you for The Way.” That sister was my wife. She had just received a request from her father’s estate, and she gave me this much of it for our paper, God’s paper for we intended to devote the paper and all the proceeds of it to the cause of God. It prospered from the start. Its circulation rapidly increased till the mailbag list reached about five thousand. Bro. White inquires: “Did it not fail?” Certainly not; it still lives, and I hope will live till Jesus comes. True, the Christian Leader and The Way were married; but does Bro. White think marriage is a failure? Does Bro. White think when two people marry the younger of the two then and there dies?
The fact is, when I took charge of Potter Bible College, my burdens were greatly increased. I had not only the college and the paper to look after, but also the boarding department, dining room and kitchen, the horses, the carriages and college buildings. Moreover, I wanted to reach a larger body of readers, which I did in the marriage of these papers. Then I traveled and preached much in the North, as well as in my native land, the South; and I wanted to do what I could in binding together in closer bonds of brotherhood the two sections. Many of the best friends I have in the world live in the North, many in the South. I am sure God overruled in the union of the Christian Leader and The Way for the good of his cause, the extension of his kingdom.
Bro. White wants to know if we, the teachers of Potter Bible College, did not borrow some money once and build a house with it. Yes. The party who loaned to us was eager to do so. We gave (so we thought) good real estate security. We have met every payment promptly, have reduced the debt by about two-thirds, and expect to meet every payment, as we have hitherto done.
But, if our faith had been like that of George Muller, we would not have had to borrow. I do not claim that we did right. Some of us entered into the agreement to borrow with reluctance. But the lender was eager to have us take the loan, and some of us were eager to take it. We remembered that Jesus had said: “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Matt. 5:42). This justifies us in lending, but not in borrowing. The man who believes in God like he ought does not need to borrow. We have an infinitely rich and merciful Father, and we should go to him for our needs. He is able and willing to give to his faithful children anything they need. We are not treating him right when we borrow.
David’s saying, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread,” Bro. White seems to think, applies to the Old Covenant, not to the New; because Christ on the cross cried: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Please remember, my brother, Jesus, as well as David, lived and died under the Old Covenant. Moreover, it was necessary that Jesus should tread the winepress alone. (See Isa. 63:3) God withdrew from him for a moment that he might be with him forever, and that an innumerable host might be forever saved through him.
And so it is now. God’s children are sometimes sorely tried; but those who stand the trial are rewarded a hundredfold now in this time for every ache, every pain. (Read Mark 10:28-30). The suffering is for a moment; but the victory for the Christian is great here, and full of inexpressible joy in the world to come.
In conclusion, I want to say a few words about Bro. C. C. Klingman. He spent several years here in the college and church, and since he left we have been accustomed to send money to him from time to time. But if he is in the employ of the Pearl and Bryant Streets Church, he may not need our help. We know that church is abundantly able to care for several families if it is necessary for it to do so.
In the three preceding articles which I have written in this discussion, I have written six hundred and twenty-nine (629) printed lines; in Bro. White’s first three he has written ten hundred and eleven (1011) printed lines. He got this excess by violating his contract. He now has the closing article. The rules of honorable controversy forbid that new matter should be introduced in a final negative. The sum of the words used by Bro. White in this discussion should not exceed the number I have used. To go beyond that number would be manifestly unfair.
Potter Bible College, Bowling Green, Ky., May 20, 1910.
Reply
to Bro. J. A. Harding
No.
4. – Conclusion
By
L. S. White.
So far as this discussion is concerned, Bro. Harding reminds me of the president of a law school I once heard of. He was lecturing a class of young lawyers, and said: “When you are in court, if the law seems to be in your favor, but the evidence against you, don’t say much about the evidence, but come out strong on the law. But if the law seems to be against you, and the evidence for you, then don’t say much about the law, but come out strong on the evidence. But if the law and evidence are both against you, than work on the sympathy of the jury, and try to carry them that way.” Just at this time one of the young men said, “But, Judge, suppose I see the sympathy of the jury is also against me, then what shall I do?” The judge quickly replied: “Then abuse your opponent.” This is the way with Bro. Harding. In his first article he thought the law was on his side, so he went back to the Old Testament and wrote his article on the “Special Providence of God.” I took the Bible and showed that we are not discussing that question, and whipped him off from it, and he has not named it since. Next time he tried the “evidence.” I took his own proof-texts and routed him here. The next time he tried to work on the sympathies of the readers (the jury) by telling them how little he has accumulated, and that he has never, perhaps, had enough money at one time to bury him. I showed him that he was contrary to the example of Abraham, and run him off from this. So in his last article, just like the lawyer in question, he abuses his opponent.
I feel sorry for any man when he gets so badly defeated in his argument that he gets mad, and shows his temper as Bro. Harding has done in his last article. He is too old a man to be prostituting honorable controversy to such a low plane. I have forgiven him and still love him. I at once got to my knees and asked God to forgive him. I now ask the readers to be like Stephen was when he was being stoned to death. He prayed for those who took his life, and said, “Lay not this sin to their charge.” I want the readers to forgive this weakness of Bro. Harding. I shall not engage with him in it.
But his charges against me must be briefly met. He complains that the discussion does not appear in my paper, the Gospel Guide. In the first place, will say that the Guide is not my paper. I neither publish it nor own a dollar in it. Bro. Joe S. Warlick, the publisher engaged me to do editorial work in the paper. He engaged writers to occupy all the space of the Guide before this discussion was ever thought of. In the second place, I never told Bro. Harding in any way, shape, form, or fashion that the discussion would be in any paper but the Leader-Way. Bro. F. L. Rowe so understood it, and so wrote me a private letter. Bro. Harding says he “took it for granted that the discussion would appear also” in the Dallas paper. That is the trouble with him. Will advise him not to take things for granted till he is informed.
In the next place, he complains that my articles are too long. I reply to this will say that I made no “contract” for the articles to be a certain length. I suggested it, and thought surely that he would occupy as much space as I did. I did not count the words, as he says he did. But in my last article I saw that I had written much more than the suggested amount, and at once sent him a carbon copy, and wrote him that he certainly had the same privilege. If he did not write as much as I did, it was his own fault. If it was such a sin for me to write more than fifteen hundred words, how about when Bro. Harding wrote about three thousand words in his last article? But I suppose it is all right if he does it.
In the next place, he casts a personal reflection on me, and says: “I am sorry for those who depend on his promises.” One of the rules of honorable controversy says: “Personal reflections against an adversary should in no instance be indulged.” Bro. Harding did not heed this rule. He also violated the teaching of Christ, who said: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matt. 7:12). Without boasting, I believe that I have as good a record as any man living. No man can show that I have ever broken a contract or violated a pledge. His demand that I do not introduce “new matter” into my closing reply is purely gratuitous. I do not need to introduce any new argument for the simple reason he did not have any new argument in his article to reply to. I shall simply answer what little he did say.
But do the readers remember the great number of questions I have asked him that he has utterly ignored? Why did he not answer them? Just because he could not, and hold to his theory. I have challenged him time and again to give just one example where he ever got one solitary temporal blessing without human agency or using the appointed means of God, and he made no reply. Why? Because such an example does not exist. Then, will he not hush talking about trusting in God for support independent of the church, the Lord’s people? He could not give one example where he ever got one thing in the way of support that did not come through some human agency. And he can not give such example. I also exposed his theory of not taking anything from any one except church members, and showed that Paul received gifts from “barbarous people” (Acts 28:10). But you know that a great deal of Bro. Harding’s practice is contrary to that of Paul.
But he still argues that God surely “cares lovingly for his children.” Certainly. No Christian doubts this. But God does not propose to feed and clothe his people without an effort on their part. God says: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” This one scripture will answer all the “trust theories” in the world.
But he quotes from David: “God pitieth them that fear him.” Of course. But what is it to fear God? “Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13). What are some of his commandments? “This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither shall he eat” (II Thess. 3:10). “If any provide not for his own…he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel” (I. Tim. 5:8). If we really fear God, we will keep his commandments; and part of his commandments are that his people are to work for a living. Forty “trust theories” can not answer this argument. Even Bro. Harding surrenders when he says that he has worked hard, and “been a busy money-maker for forty-one years.” I told you that he is coming. Just give him time. It will take quite a while for the medicine given him in this discussion to have its desired effect and get him entirely straight, but he is improving.
He again quotes: “All things work together for good to them that love the Lord.” Are there no limitations on this “all things”? If not, then people can steal, lie, commit murder, get drunk, commit adultery, or anything else they please, and all these things will work together for good. I don’t believe any such stuff. A man’s son may be confirmed drunkard, commit murder, and be hanged. Any good in that? No. In this quotation Paul shows what God has done for the human family through Christ, even though it caused the suffering and death of Christ, God overruled all these things for the good of them that love the Lord. He has no reference to the common affairs of this life. I am sure that the readers can see this.
Then he quotes David’s prayer: “No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” David was talking about being in “the house of my God” to worship God, and had no reference to meat, bread and clothes. It seems mighty hard to get Bro. Harding to look above the temporal affairs of this world, at least in this discussion.
But Bro. Harding tells us that he has been “a money-maker for forty-one years,” and that he has “worked hard to make money,” and that he “has given at least a tenth of his income.” Then he must be quite a money-spender as well as a money-maker. Had I not given away more than a tenth of my income, I would have been worth several thousand dollars. Seventeen years ago, with a wife and one child, I gave up a good salary in the schoolroom to spend the remainder of my days preaching the gospel. I didn’t have the promise of a dollar. Had just recovered from several months’ sickness, and had but little. I taught the brethren their duty. And when they have supported me I thanked God for it, just like Paul did, knowing it was coming from God through human agency, God’s appointed means. I have held more than fifty protracted meetings in destitute fields where I had no promise of support. I have all the time been trusting in God, believing that the support would come through his people. And it has. And that is the way Bro. Harding has gotten his support. He can give no other way. I now have four children, all in school, and still the support comes, and will, as long as I use God’s appointed means, and thus trust him. But Bro. Harding says: “If much money must be spent in honor of me, I prefer that it shall go to the poor rather than to the undertaker.” I wonder if he has ever advised that this be done while he is living? After he is dead, and no longer can use the money for himself, then he wants it “given to the poor,” instead of being spent on his burial. I would advise him to practice while he is living what he is advising others to practice after he is dead.
But he wants to be buried in a “wooden box that will only cost two or three dollars." ”So far as I am concerned, I am tired of hearing Christian people talk disrespectful of the body that God has given them, which body is a “temple of the Holy Spirit.” I love to see all of God’s children who die get a nice burial. So did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I hope that Bro. Harding will never speak so disrespectfully of his body again.
But he still thinks it wrong to lay up “treasures on earth,” and fails to consider that Jesus adds, “where moth and rust doth corrupt.” I insist that nothing will “rust or corrupt” as long as it is used. Then, when we have money, or other property, as long as we can use it to the glory of God, it will never “rust or corrupt.” Then, if young Bro. Potter (God bless his memory for the good his property is doing) had not lain up treasures on earth, there would not now be a “Potter Bible College,” and Bro. Harding would not be living in a handsome two-story brick residence. He thinks it all wrong for Christians to “lay up treasures on earth,” but all right for Bro. Harding to live in the houses they have built, and also to use their treasures. He had better heed Paul’s teaching: “Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that he alloweth” (Rom. 14:22).
But he says: “Had I been as persistent and liberal, as full of faith and good works as George Muller was, I could have done vastly more.” I told you that he was following George Muller instead of Paul, and now he virtually admits it. When he admits that he and others borrowed money to improve the college property, he says: “But if our faith had been like that of George Muller, we would not have had to borrow.” I would hate to make such a statement. He thus puts the faith of Muller above that of even Paul himself. For Paul taught no such. But he continues, and says: “The man who believes in God like he ought does not have to borrow.” Ahem! When he went to practice his theory he saw that it would not work, that God would not furnish the money, and, like a wise man, borrowed the money and built the house. He is now paying it back. Thus he answers his own theory about David’s language: “God will give thee the desires of thine heart.” What he teaches in this question is the theory of George Muller, and not the Word of God, and Bro. Harding admitted himself that it will not work, at least it did not build a house for the college, and he had to borrow the money.
But about David never seeing the “righteous forsaken.” The readers know that I showed that during David’s day the Jews were a prosperous people; but had David lived at a later period, he would have seen the righteous forsaken. Jesus was righteousness personified, yet he cried: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Paul says of many of these people, servants of God before the Christian era: “Others had trial of cruel mockings, scourgings, imprisonments, were stoned, sawn asunder, slain with the sword, were destitute, afflicted, tormented” (Heb. 12:36,37). Had David lived later, he would have seen these things, but they did not occur during his day.
Bro. Harding was unable to answer the scriptural examples I gave of how his missionaries were supported during the apostolic age, and how I showed that my home congregation, the Pearl and Bryan Streets Church, is standing by Bro. C. C. Klingman in Japan. But Bro. Harding intimates that if Bro. Klingman is in the “employ of the Pearl and Bryan Church,” he will withdraw his support. Why so? Our congregation is only able to give him part of the support necessary for a living. But others are giving to him just like I showed that they did during the apostolic age. But why does bro. Harding send money to Bro. Klingman, or any one else? Why not let him trust in God? He is trusting in God; and Bro. Harding has found out that it takes money to sustain that trust theory, so he sends some money to Bro. Klingman. Just let him keep on sending it. He is getting nearer the truth. Bro. William J. Bishop and wife are now members of this same congregation, and when they go back to Japan, will go as members of the Pearl and Bryan Streets Church. They will need some money. I hope Bro. Harding, as he is a “money-maker,” will help support their needs, and thus be following the Bible in their case.
But Bro. Harding tells us that when he is at home, he “sleeps in a house that belongs to Bro. and Sister C. C. Potter.” But how does this compare with the practice of Paul? Paul “dwelt in his own hired house.” (Acts 28:30). Paul did one way and Bro. Harding another. Paul rented his house, and paid the rent. But Bro. Harding stays in the one that belongs to Bro. and Sister Potter. Yes, and had they, and others, not “laid up treasures on earth,” Bro. Harding would have been doing like the balance of us, either bought him a little cheap home, or been paying rent.
But Bro. Harding gives us one example where he got money by praying for it, and it was when he was to begin publication of The Way, and did not have a dollar. Just at that time a good sister rushed into his room and handed him a hundred dollars. This good sister was the wife of Bro. J. A. Harding. But where did she get the money? Her father had died, and left her an estate, and it was hers, and, of course, she was interested in the good work of her husband and gave him part of her money. This was a good deed. This also answers the very argument that Bro. Harding has been making. I have contended all the time that all this money comes, in some way, through human agency, and when I called on him for an example he even substantiates the claim that I have been making all the time. Many thanks to Bro. Harding for this example. It completes the job that I have been in with the good brother, and it answers his own argument.
But I will give an example. Several years ago, when I lived in the country, I was going to a meeting. When the time came I had no money to pay for my railroad fare. I told my wife that I saw no way to go. She said: “You go on and get ready. A way will be provided.” While I was dressing she went to the hen-house and gathered up a basket of eggs and gave them to me and said: “Take these to town as you go, sell them, and take the money and go on to the meeting.” I did. Both our needs were supplied through human agencies. I don’t think you will ever hear Bro. Harding contending otherwise after this.
But why did Sister Harding give that money to her husband? First, she knew of his needs, and what he was wanting to do. Second, she was a consecrated, Christian woman, and desired that the Lord’s work be carried on. She desired to abound in every good work. But did she sit down and quietly trust in God? No. She took the money that came to her through human agency, and through human agency again, supplied Bro. Harding’s needs. That is the way the Lord intends for his work to be done – through his children. We are taught as individuals, and as a body, to give; for with “such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Paul always commended in churches the things lacking, and commended the things in which they abounded. Paul taught Timothy, a young evangelist, to teach the churches that they be ready to distribute, ready to communicate, and rich in good works. Bro. C. C. Klingman, a student of Bro. Harding, went to Japan to teach those people the gospel, and after getting there he saw the need of the churches in America being taught their duty along this line, and undertook to do so through the papers. But Bro. Harding criticized him for it, and discouraged him, and told him that it was a lack of faith in God, and that he should not be trusting the churches, but should trust in God. Now, how does Bro. Harding’s teaching to Bro. Klingman compare with Paul’s teaching to Timothy? Bro. Harding condemned Bro. Klingman for teaching the very thing that Paul told Timothy to teach.
In conclusion I will say that if Bro. Harding and all other teachers would be as diligent to teach the churches their duty along this line, as was Paul, it would not be long till the Church of God would be “As the dew unto Israel: and shall grow as the lily, and cast her roots as Lebanon. Her branches shall spread, and her beauty shall be as the olive tree…. They that dwell under her shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine” (Hos 14:5-7).