J. W. Mcgarvey
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Life and Lessons of J. W. McGarvey Edited By John Waddey GOSPEL LIGHT PUBLISHING COMPANY DELIGHT, ARKANSAS 71940 Copyright 1988 By Gospel Light Publishing Company Cover Design by Jay Morris Dedication To that noble host of gospel preachers who love, honor and proclaim the Word of God as did John William McGarvey. May their tribe increase. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION, John Waddey ...............................................................................7 THE LIFE OF J. W. McGARVEY, Benjamin DeWeese....................................... 9 THE MESSIAHSHIP OF JESUS ..........................................................29 RESURRECTION OF JESUS: DIRECT EVIDENCE ..............................34 RESURRECTION OF JESUS: TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES...... 49 RECONCILIATION.............................................................................. 65 GRACE, GRACES, STATE OF GRACE..................................................70 JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ................................................................76 REPENTANCE..................................................................................... 97 WHAT IS REPENTANCE?..................................................................110 IS BAPTISM A POSITIVE INSTITUTION? ........................................ 116 THE THIEF ON THE CROSS.............................................................. 119 IMMERSION IN THE HOLY SPIRIT..................................................123 THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT — I ................................................... 141 THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT — II ..................................................151 RELIGIOUS DUTIES OF CHILDREN ................................................ 158 THE CHURCH AND THE NEW TESTAMENT................................... 163 UNWRITTEN CREEDS .......................................................................166 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN CHURCHES ..........................................168 THE ELDERSHIP: TITLES AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE .............. 173 THE ELDERSHIP: QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE .................188 5 PREACHING - WHAT IS IT?.............................................................199 MINISTERIAL EDUCATION .............................................................201 HOW TO BE RESPECTED ................................................................. 216 KEEP THYSELF PURE.................................................................. 220 PASTORS...................................................................................... 223 LEGALIZED ADULTERY..................................................................232 LEGALIZED ADULTERY AGAIN .....................................................236 "LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY" ...........................................................239 WILL GOD ANSWER PRAYER?........................................................243 PAULS PRAYER FOR TWO CHURCHES ..........................................248 PAULS PRAYER FOR HIS FRIENDS................................................253 PRAYER AND MEDITATION .............................................................257 HOW TO KEEP A GOOD CONSCIENCE...........................................261 LYING................................................................................................ 266 COMPROMISING WITH SIN ......................................................... 270 GEHAZIS AVARICE..........................................................................274 WITH THE LORD............................................................................... 277 IS THE STORY OF JONAH INCREDIBLE? ........................................280 JEWISH WARS AS PRECEDENTS FOR MODERN WARS .................297 DESTINY OF THE WICKED .............................................................. 311 6 Introduction Of the millions who have lived upon the earth only a few have so impressed their fellow citizens that they still command a hearing seventy-five years after their death. John William McGarvey is one of that mighty minority whose teaching and influence have survived his passing. Today most of his many books are yet in circulation and eagerly sought for. His original commentary on Acts has proven the most enduring volume produced by members of the Restoration Movement. His book on the Eldership has had a lasting effect on the brotherhoods concept of church government. His writings defending the Christian faith against the assaults of skeptical modernists have innoculated most of our preachers against this destructive error for upwards of 100 years. His work in this field is preserved in four excellent volumes: Biblical Criti- cism, Evidences of Christianity, The Authorship of Deuter- onomy and Jesus and Jonah. His book of Sermons occupies a prominent place in the library of most of our gospel preachers. Through his work of training preachers in the College of the Bible at Lexington, Kentucky, Brother McGarvey estab- lished a pattern for ministerial training and a standard of excellence that still is felt in all our Christian colleges and schools of preaching. Great as he was, J. W. McGarvey was not perfect in every decision and action in his long career. When the brotherhood was wracked and torn over the innovations of instrumental music in worship and missionary societies to do the Lords work, he stood between the two opposing sides. He strongly opposed instrumental music in worship but worked with en- thusiasm for the various Missionary Societies of his day. This position, held by several of his co-laborers at the College of the Bible and in Central Kentucky, placed them in an awkward 7 8 LIFE AND LESSONS OF J. W. McGARVEY position. They were too conservative for the dominant liberal element in the church led by Isaac Errett, editor of the Chris- tian Standard, and J. H. Garrison, editor of the Christian Evangelist, and too liberal for the conservative brethren asso- ciated with David Lipscomb and the Gospel Advocate. For some 30 years McGarvey was associated with the Broadway Church in Lexington, Kentucky. Eleven years were served as her minister, the rest as one of her elders. Yet when the other elders and Mark Collis, the minister, announced their intent to poll the congregation regarding the introduction of an organ, he immediately resigned. He and Sister McGarvey placed their membership with the Chestnut Street congrega- tion where they could worship in good conscience. After many years of outspoken opposition on the music question, his pen grew silent on the matter. When asked why, he confessed that he had decided it to be a losing battle and had elected to pursue other matters. His last years of literary work were spent with the Christian Standard with the very men he had earlier opposed. We can only cast a mantle of charity over this one blot on his record, knowing that each of us will doubtless make similar mistakes across the years. In spite of this flaw, we can profit greatly from the masterful work he did in other areas. The church today needs men of his scholarship, dignity, and con- viction. We leave the details of his noble life to the Memorial Address of Benjamin Deweese, long-time associate of our subject on the faculty of the College of the Bible. Needless to say, we do not approve of Brother McGarveys involvement in the various missionary societies that are mentioned. The les- sons we have gathered are from a wide range of McGarveys literary work; some from his books, but most from gospel papers and collections of sermons and lectures by various authors. All that this great preacher attempted, he did well. Todays disciples will be benefitted by reading his thoughts. Preachers especially will be strengthened by so doing. The knowledge that the cause of Christ will so benefit is adequate reward for the editors work. The Life of J. W. McGarvey A Memorial Address delivered March 1, 1912 by Benjamin C. DeWeese The life of this exceptionally useful man is rich in lessons which are fitted to inspire us to most worthy endeavor. It merits careful study. Hundreds of leaders in the Church of Christ received their training in large measure at his feet. To them a sketch of his life cannot fail to be of interest, if in any fairly adequate way it does justice to his merits. Moreover, there are multiplied thousands who held him in the highest esteem for threescore years. He stood before their mind as one of the ablest of teachers and staunchest defenders of the Holy Scriptures. Thousands of years ago these true words, "The righteous shall be held in everlasting remembrance," went to record. There can be no reasonable ground for doubting that these words of the Bible express our faith with respect to the per- manent place the name of President McGarvey will hold in the memory of the church. What do we know then of his family line, of the surroundings of his long life, and what of his own individual traits? Of some men family stock molds the life. From some families we expect little. From others it is a matter of disgrace to son or daughter to bring reproach upon the good name the family has borne for generations. The almost fatal handicap of an evil environment is proverbially expressed in Nathaniels reply to Philips invitation to come see Jesus: "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" The home of our Lords first thirty years became the name by which his foes sought to destroy the church. To call it "the sect of the 9 10 LIFE AND LESSONS OF J. W. McGARVEY Nazarenes" was sufficient to prejudice multitudes so that they did not ally themselves with his