Chapter 26 - Hot Shots Returned (1st Volley)

The famed Hardshell "debater" and "apologist," Elder C.H. Cayce, put out a booklet in the "hay day" of his debating days, called "HOT SHOTS." I have always wanted to get a copy of this booklet, even during those years when I was a Hardshell "apologist" myself, and never could find anyone who had a copy for me to buy or borrow. I was always curious about this, quering to myself, "why would it not be reprinted and used if it was such a great work of Hardshell apologetics?" I could say the same for other books that have mysteriously disappeared or otherwise been kept out of print by later generations of Hardshells. Many of these books are sitting on dusty shelves in a few "libraries" dedicated to preserving the writings of "Primitive Baptists."

"HOT SHOTS" was intended, by Cayce, to put forth unanswerable questions to the "Arminians" (those he considered such, whether they were in fact, or not) and the "Missionary Baptists" and which would demonstrate to all how the "Primitive Baptists" were the only ones who were "right."

I have still not to this day located Cayce's "HOT SHOTS" booklet. As I said, many such books and writings have not been republished by today's Hardshells. They pick and choose what writings of their forefathers to keep printed for new generations of Hardshells, but it amazes me that many writings, like the above mentioned work, for one reason or another, never "made the cut." If such a booklet was so "unanswerable," then why has it not been reprinted and used in the "proselyting methods" of Hardshells against the "Arminians" and "Missionaries"? It does make one wonder. I do believe that the Hardshells are a clear example of group "selective perception." Actually, every cult has its own peculiar way of "processing information" into previously designated areas of mental storage, previous interpretation categories.

One can tell a lot about the Hardshells by viewing what writings they have chosen to keep printed, what arguments they have found worthy of keeping and continuing, what jargon they have made part of their group culture, what traditions in thought and practice they have preserved, and other such group characteristics. I will deal with some of this in later chapters, especially in those that will concern their "evolution" in doctrine over the past 200 years, and the one that will deal with their "hermeneutics."

If I ever do locate this booklet of Cayce, I will be happy to include it, with my analysis, if the Lord wills, in a possible second volume to this work down the road. After all, I do plan to continue to follow this "cult" and do research into their writings in the next few years. So, it is likely that the result of this will lead to another volume. There are many works now extant, important historical documents, that have just disappeared. I may even make a list of these missing works at the end of this book and ask any reader to contact me if any of them can be located.

In any case, it is in the spirit of good spiritual sportsmanship that I "return volley" and issue my own two chapters titled "HOT SHOTS RETURNED" In these chapters I will hurl red hot cannon balls of Scripture that establish the teaching that regeneration, or the new birth, occurs by the Holy Spirit using the means of gospel preaching, "by the word of God" being communicated to the mind and heart of sinners.

Ephesians 5:26-28 - Cleansed By The Word

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Eph. 5:22-32)

On this verse Elder Cayce says, "this word is Christ." (Editorial Writings, Volume III, page 191)

Then he writes years later, these words:

"He does this by speaking to them by the power of the Holy Spirit. "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."--John 6:63. It is by the power of His speech that sinners are regenerated, and in this work there is an inward washing and cleansing." (Volume 6, page 197)

From the above writings of Cayce, it is obvious that he does the same thing, hermeneutically, that Elder Durand did relative to his commentary upon James 1:18. The "word" by which the church of Christ is "cleansed" and "sanctified" for eternity is not the gospel, but either 1) Christ, who is the "word", or 2) The actual "speech" of Christ to the hearts of sinners apart from his preachers of the word. How can it be both, however?

Christ is never called "remah" but always "logos"! It seems that Cayce, in his early days as a Hardshell debater, took the view that the "word" of Eph. 5:26 was Christ himself. Then, later, however, after having tested, perhaps, this view in debate, he latered altered that view to say that the "word" was not Christ himself, but his own direct personal "speech" to the sinner. He probaby realized that the "word" in Eph. 5:26 was not "logos" and so decided to change his views. Either view will not get one in trouble with the Hardshell faithful, however. You will be safe with them as long as you make the "word" of this passage to mean anything other than the preached, written or spoken word of the gospel of truth. It can mean Christ himself, or it can mean his direct speaking or personal speech to the sinner, but never can it mean what it normally means in the New Testament, which is, obviously, the words of scripture, the words of the promises of God, the words of the gospel or glad tidings. They take this bias against a belief in gospel means, derived strictly from their own Hardshell "logic," to passages like the above, and twist, distort, alter or otherwise contort the obvious meaning of such verses in order to uphold their false teachings.

It never fails to amaze me how the Hardshells can repeatedly talk about how they, and they alone, "rightly divide the word of truth," how they always "interpret" the word "saved" (or its various forms) strictly by the "context," when in fact, as I have shown to some degree already, they absolutely do not. They do the same on the meaning of the terms "word of God," or "word of truth," or simply "the word." They will say, as Cayce, that it makes no difference whether the Greek word is "logos" or "remah," for they have this "hermeneutic rule," as I said, that they take to the Bible and use whenever they read a verse that connects the "word" or the "gospel" with "regeneration" (or its equivalent terms).

None of these Hardshell "apologists" cite from the "context" of James 1:18, I Cor. 4:15, I Peter 1:23, or Ephesians 5:26 to prove that their "interpretation" of the meaning of "by the word" is correct. In fact, in previous chapters I have done just the opposite, for I have clearly shown from the "context" how "the word," as used in those passages, clearly refers to the preaching of "the word of the truth of the gospel."

The "cleansing" that the church of Christ experiences, per the "context" of the above passage, involves the removal of every "spot," and "wrinkle," and "blemish," yea, every imperfection of heart, mind, and soul. This work of perfecting, cleansing, of sanctifying the elect, is not all done at once in regeneration, though it begin there, but is a work that is progressive throughout the life of the believer. This work of perfecting and sanctifying, when properly understood, is obviously not unconnected with spiritual truth, with the application of the word of God, of the good news of the gospel.

Throughout this chapter Paul is talking about how the Ephesian disciples ought to continue to be washed and cleansed in their daily walks. This "cleansing" is steady and continuous in removing all impure thoughts, motives, ambitions, and deeds. He speaks of Christian wives "submitting" (or "obeying") their husbands. Is this not all the same as saying, "Obey the words or instructions of your husbands"? So, by necessary implication, it is by the bride obeying and heeding the words and voice of her husband that she finds a continuous cleansing, regular purging, and progressive sanctification."

Cayce and the Hardshells find it impossible to believe that Christ speaks effectively to sinners "through the word" preached by his faithful and holy servants. I ask them, "Does the Lord continue his "speech" to them after regeneration"? If not, what "word" is there left for them for daily cleansing? Is not "daily cleansing" part of our being "kept" from that "pollution" of soul that ultimately destroys the soul? I would also ask them to tell me whether the regenerated sinner needs the blood of Christ to be at work in continually cleansing post regeneration. I would ask whether he does this cleansing by the same word as initially. If the Lord can cleanse and wash away sin in saint by the word of God preached, then why cannot it also do the same in regeneration? Does it take glory away from God that he cleanses the born again soul by the continuous use of the word of God?

Paul wrote these words to the early Christians at Corinth.

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (II Cor. 7:1)

Hardshells will argue that this passage does not have anything to do with "regeneration," seeing Paul is addressing those who are already Christians. That is conceded. However, a number of things are still pertinent in addressing the question as to the utility of the word of God in the preservation of the saint from further real or potential filth. Obviously, these Christians still got dirty spiritually speaking. They still needed the cleansing of the blood of Christ to be continuously at work in their souls, daily removing stains, blemishes, etc. So too is the word of God a steady means in the progressive and continuously cleansing of the elect to their destined perfection. Paul clearly believes that the elect are not simply passive in this washing and spiritual bathing, for he exhorts them to clean themselves. Does this contradict those passages that speak of the Lord cleansing us? No, it does not. The only ones who see a contradiction are the Hardshells, and they would not see it if they would just lay aside their prejudices and biases, and "receive with meekness the engrafted word."

Regeneration is sometimes, like salvation, commanded of us, in a manner that supposes that sinners are very active in it. This is a truth some deny, as being in one extreme, such as the Hyper-Calvinists or Hardshells. It is not viewed as an experience in which the sinner is wholly passive. Yet, I confess, that there are other passages where the sinner is viewed as totally passive. This truth is not to be denied either. They do not contradict themselves, although it might seem that way, initially, to some.

If one searches the Old Baptist writings it will be seen that they keep with the Scriptures and show how, in some respects, the sinner is passive, while in other respects, he is quite active. I will deal with this a little further in the chapter that discusses the question of whether salvation is unconditional or conditional, or in some ways both.

So it is no contradiction for the Lord to command saint and sinner to be washed of sin. The Lord does the cleansing, yes, but the ones being cleansed also cleanse themselves for they are the ones who make the decision to take the spiritual bath in the blood of Christ. Yes, that coming to see oneself dirty and in need of cleansing, and the coming to the laver of regeneration is a willing mental act that the sinner is made by grace to make.

Born OF Water

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," (JOH 3:5.)

"Water" is here viewed as a "source" one with the Spirit in bringing about the "new birth" just as the "word" is also one with the Holy Spirit as the source or means of "cleansing" the bride of Christ in Ephesians 5:26-28. There are not two "births" in John 3, but one birth with two sources, like natural birth where there is both a mother and a father. In this case the water would correspond to our spiritual mother and the Holy Spirit our spiritual father.

It has been pointed out how the Campbellites take out the Spirit in the "new birth" and how the Hardshells take out the "water" (or the "word") from it.

If "water" does refer in fact to the "word of God," then Christ is here teaching against the idea of "Spirit Alone" (Hardshellism) and "Word Alone"(Campbellism) "regeneration."

Water is a scriptural and apt SYMBOL of the Word of God. It is used as a symbol for cleansing. The word of God is the instrument used of the Spirit for purifying the soul in the new birth. The new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit and brings about the soul's sanctification.

"1 PE 1:22-23 says, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

The word of God purges out all things unclean in the sinner. The heart, mind, and soul are all cleansed and washed.

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." (PSA 119:9)

"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."
(John 15:3)