Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources

0896

Joe S. Warlick vs I. N. Penick (Baptist)
April 26, 1906

Indian Creek, Wayne, Co., Tennessee
(By A. O. Colley)

Held in Wayne Co., at Indian Creek Baptist Church.

Penick put forth an able effort to sustain Bap. doctrine on salvation before and without baptism. Had it not been for plain statements from the Bible against him he would have made a respectable showing. Bor. Warlick used the
"sword of the Spirit" with telling effect, and turned every passage introduced by Penick against him with such force that any unbiased mind could see the beauty and harmony in the word of the Lord.

Bro. Warlick took the lead in discussing the establishment of the church, and showed plainly what the Lord said
about it as to when, where, and how the church was built. Penick, like all Baptist I have ever heard on this subject,
did not care to express himself very clearly as to when or where, best tried to use scripture as would seem to conflict with bro. Warlick's position. Those were handled with ease and shown to be only imaginary objections.

Penick's efforts on the work of the Holy Spirit was a little out of the ordinary for a Baptist. In his first speech it
appeared that he was trying to sustain his position, but after that he said he was "not contending" for the "what the
Spirit does." He said that it operated through the truth. He tangled things on his point. Bro. Warlick's work on this position was exceedingly strong and plain.

This was my fist time to meet bro. Warlick, but I hope it will no te the last. He impresses his hearers as one who knows and loves the truth. This was fine debate from every standpoint. The speakers were nice to each other. Nothing of a base nature was used on either side. I believe the debate will do good. I should be pleased to attend a debate between these men in West Tenn. at Martin or somewhere that many people could hear and decide for themselves.