Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources
0834
T. B. Thompson vs J. R. Scott (Primitive Baptist)
August 8, 1918
Near Murray, Kentucky
(By I. B. Bradley)
Near Murray, Ky., July 2-5. Four propositions debated.
Bro. Thompson has had five debates, Mr, Scott had one. They were unequally matched. Bro. Thompson was quick, a good speaker, fine in repartee, logical, and clear in presentation and argument. He spoke well as an impromptu speaker. Scott was a slow, poor speaker, a failure in repartee, did not know logic, and could not speak without his notes. The audience heard Thompson open-eyed and eager; when Scott spoke they were listless.
Thompson exploded the old Baptist capital argument against aliens doing anything in their salvation, from Rom. 8:8,9. "They that are in the flesh cannot please God," showing that Paul said this to warn Christians of the danger of following the "desires of the flesh and of the mind," citing Rom. 6:1-17 to show they were saved and not aliens. Rom. 8:1-8 and 9-17 show Christians could by choice follow the flesh or spirit.
Thompson made a drawing to represent the world and the old Baptist idea of election and reprobation -- a circle with a line drawn through the center, the word "saved" on one side, and the word "lost" on the other. He asked Scott to write "Christ" on one side or the other, showing to which side he came. This was kept before him 3 days without response. Then Thompson explained to the audience that Scott could not afford to write it on either side, since the old Baptist theory made the death of Christ a vain sacrifice; because they teach the number of the saved and lost were fixed before the foundation of the world. The elect were save from all eternity to all eternity, and the non-elect were lost from all eternity to all eternity. The elect were already saved, and the death of Christ of Christ could not make them any safer; the non-elect were lost and he could not save them. Hence, Jesus died in vain; and worst of all, God knew it before Jesus came into the world.
At one point in the debate Thompson skillful maneuvering, unrolled a ridiculous chart Scott had hung on the wall to pull down at the psychological moment and ridicule the Bible doctrine of baptism. He turned it against Scott and scored a major point and brought confusion to the Baptist.
Three or four Primitive Baptist preachers present. Twelve Christian preachers all enjoyed the debate. Thompson made a fine defense of truth.
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