Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0404
John W. Hedge vs L. S. Ballard (Baptist)
January 1, 1939
Near Greggton, Texas
(By W. Curtis Porter)
Ballard made usual arguments of salvation by faith only. Bro. Hedge showed that both believe in salvation by faith: the question was, was it an active or dead faith? All texts showed salvation by a living faith that obeyed God.
With respect to baptism, Ballard said Paul was sent to turn people from darkness to light, but he was not sent to baptize. So Ballard concluded that baptism is not necessary. Bro. Hedge showed from this argument of Ballard's, that if Paul had been sent to baptize, the baptism would be essential, or otherwise the argument meant nothing. So if it can be found that one was sent to baptize, that would prove it. And he added that John the Baptist was sent to baptize, and according to Ballard's argument, that proves baptism to be essential. Ballard denied that the Bible said John was sent to baptize, saying that was only Hedge's statement. Then bro. Hedge read John 1:33 in which John said, "He that sent me to baptize."
The last night of the debate was really the climax, when pressure on Baptist doctrine regarding the impossibility of apostasy, brought so forcefully by bro. Hedge, really had a telling effect. Ballard himself was visibly disturbed and made a desperate effort to recover, but his doctrine suffered a hard jolt. On this proposition Ballard took the position that a man is not a free moral agent after conversion.
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