Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0996
Guy N. Woods vs Marvin Hicks (Pentecostal)
June 26, 1975
Kennett, Missouri
(By Leo Schumpert)
At Kennett, MO., May 5-8, 1975.
When challenged to defend its view of Biblical interpretation by the United Pentecostal Church, the Slicer Street church of Christ suggested that two of the most qualified and representative men be obtained to meet and discuss the issues in public debate. The Pentecostals called their no. 1 debater, Marvin A, Hicks, of Corpus Christi, Tx., and Guy N. Woods , from Memphis was called to come. Bro. Woods is the author of 12 religious books. A staff writer for the Gospel Advocate; he holds a degree in law and preaches approximately 40 gospel meetings each year. The subjects were: The Godhead, baptism in the name of Jesus, Holy Spirit baptism, and tongue speaking. It was held in the American Legion building.
Marvin Hicks, the "giant Goliath" of the Pentecostal people, marched out into the plains of controversy to do polemic battle with one experience soldier of the cross, Guy N. Woods, who had borne the armor of God for many years and had skillfully wielded the sword of the Spirit in many a conflict. Bro. Woods articulated scriptural arguments relative to the Godhead proposition that forced Hicks to humanize deity and deify humanity. With unanswerable arguments from God's word presented to him, Mr. Hicks had nothing to offer the people but Jesus stripped of all divinity , a martyr of human flesh dying upon a cross without one ounce of atoning blood in him. Bro. Woods proved that the Godhead consisted of three divine personalities by referring to the account of Jesus' baptism. The falsity of Mr. Hicks' proposition was evidenced when our proponent emphasized the wording of the prayers of Jesus and the promises of the Father. Listening to bro. Woods expound the eternal truth that, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God" (John 1:1,2), one could reject this truth only by a prejudiced heart filled with the pride of passion and the vanity of opinion.
In desperation, Mr. Hicks ran to Col. 2:9 which the Pentecostals have so often perverted. "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Then Hicks asked, "Is Jesus in the Godhead or is the Godhead in Jesus?" Bro. Woods pointed out that even Mr. Hicks represented the fulness of humanity "unless he was part monkey," but that Hicks did not constitute all of humanity. Bro. Woods established that in Christ we see the totality of the divine powers an d attributes. Christ was the living declaration of the Father (John 1:18). Bro. Woods exposed Mr. Hicks misconception regarding duty, thinking it was like something that could be put in a box or taken out of a barrel.
Bro. Woods quickly noticed how evasive his arguments and questions were dealt with by Mr. Hicks, stating that one way by which to test the honesty and sincerity of an individual in a debate is to observe the thoroughness, honesty, and fairness with which he deals with questions and with arguments. Speech after speech Woods presented scriptural arguments on charts, yet not one time during the debate did Mr. Hicks answer or even refer to them. Bro. Woods told the audience following one of Mr. Hicks' rambunctious shouting scenes that Mr. Hicks was long on thunder but short on lightning, that what he needed was some lightning so that he could deal with the arguments.
"Catholic! Catholic! Catholic!" shouted Mr. Hicks. Bro. Woods said he had yet to see a Pentecostal preacher fail to shout "Catholic" when he was "out of soap. According to Oneness Holiness doctrine, to baptize any person in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is of Catholic tradition and therefore sinful. Bro. Woods uncovered such fallacious reasoning by pointing out that Matt. 28:19 did not originate with the Catholics. He further explained that in no place in the Bible are we told what to say when baptizing a person. We are told what to do, but not what to say. Woods stated that there is no "baptismal formula" found in all of God's word. The administrator of Christ's baptism is told what to do, and the person being baptized is told what to do, but neither are told what to say. Mr. Hicks was unable to touch the argument.
It is indeed amazing what people will do, and the extent to which they will go, in trying to sustain a false doctrine. The following statement signed by Mr. Hicks is an example: "I, Marvin Hicks, hereby certify that it is sinful to baptize a group of people saying only the following words: 'Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' Marvin Hicks"
Holy Spirit baptism and tongue speaking were debated the last two nights. Hicks claimed H. S. baptism and could do all the miracles that the apostles did. Bro. Woods asked him to demonstrate this power . "If Mr. Hicks would just take up serpents or raise the dead the debate would be over." But Hicks had nothing to offer but wild claims and assertions. The debate closed with every argument Hicks made being answered. He was exposed on every scripture that he had twisted to fit his doctrine. But he failed to answer bro. Woods throughout the debate and not once did he refer to Wood's charts. The members of the Lord's church were strengthened in the faith, encouraged in the hope, enlightened by the word; and have reason to rejoice in the triumph of the truth.
Let us all, as soldiers of Christ be exhorted by the words written by Alex. Campbell so many years ago: "O your posts, then, O Israel! Remember you have enlisted, not for six months, but you have vowed allegiance to Christ during war. Fight the good fight of faith! Keep your eyes upon the captain. And when the conflict is over, he will cover you with laurels which fadeth not away."
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