John T. Lewis - A Servant Of Christ
It was the personal pleasure and good fortune of this writer to know John T. Lewis over a period of a good many years. I held for him and his good wife the very highest regard. They have been a source of encouragment and blessing to many others. They were devoted to each other and both of them were devoted to the Lord and to His Church.
There have been few other instances within the knowledge of this writer that have demonstrated as good an influence over as long a period of time in one area as the influence of John T. Lewis in Birmingham, Alabama. At the time of his death he had lived in Birmingham almost sixty years. When he went to that city to preach the Gospel there was but one small church. Largely through his influence and constant encouragment and work churches were planted in almost every section of the city and a majority of them are faithful to the Lord. There is no way of telling how effective and far reaching the influence of John T. Lewis has been or will yet be in this area for the Kingdom of God.
Brother Lewis was a careful student of the Word of God and a thorough one. His early training at the feet of Lipscomb and others had made deep impressions on his mind and heart and he loved to talk about those earlier days when he was going to school and first beginning to preach the Gospel. He spent several months early in his preaching life at Meaford, Ontario, where the Harding Wilkinson debate was held and enjoyed reminiscing about that period of his life.
It is certain that everyone that knew Brother Lewis understood and appreciated the fact that he was a man of deep convictions. He believed what he believed and was willing to stand for it and contend for what he believed to be the truth against any opposition. There was nothing vacillating about him. When he spoke in the pulpit or class room and when he took up his pen to write, no one had any difficulty understanding his position. He had a firm manner of speaking and his pen could be about as sharp and caustic as any when the occasion demanded that error or sin be opposed.
Brother Lewis was not of a contentions disposition but when he considered the truth violated or righteousness offended, he never failed to let it be known. When some of the churches in the Birmingham area began to trend toward liberalism and institutionalism, he stood his stand against them though friendships of a lifetime were involved. If ever a soldier of the cross since Paul could be described as "keeping the faith," that soldier was John T. Lewis.
He preached for thirty five years for one of the best churches to be found in Birmingham or anywhere else, the Ensley Church, and when those thirty five years were over, so great was the love and admiration of the church for Brother and Sister Lewis that the church continued to support him until he died. The impressions he made on the lives of those with whom he was associated during this time and who sat at his feet in the study of God's Word are deep and abiding.
Brother Lewis was a man unimpeachable in character and without reproach as to conversation or manner of life. He did not engage in vile conversation and certainly was godly in life. He made enemies by his unfaltering opposition to any error or wrong but even his enemies had to respect him.
It is the judgment of this writer that through the years he has known no one more charitable in disposition toward his fellow man that John T. Lewis. This was demonstrated in many ways but perhaps the most outstanding of all was seen in his ability, in spite of his strong convictions as to what the scriptures taught, to be tolerant of those who disagreed with him. He would not spare what he believed to be error, but in matters where opinion, private persuasion, or individual and personal conviction and conscience were all that was involved, Brother Lewis drew no lines, did no disfellowshipping, but was tolerant and long suffering with those whom he considered to be "weak in the faith" or to not properly understand the truth. He demonstrated better the very attitude and spirit taught by the Apostle Paul in the fourteenth chapter of Romans than any other this writer has known.
Students of the Bible recognize that there is an area where there is "one faith" and any breach of it is without tolerance or excuse. This area where God has given no choice to man and in which divine truth demands perfect agreement and unity affords no room for difference among those who respect and honor the Word of God. But in matters concerning which principles of truth have been laid down and must be applied by each according to his own understanding and to his own individual life and that do not involve church action or decision, there is room for each to stand upon his own "full persuasion" and act according to his own conscience. In such matters Paul teaches that there is not to be any condemning of a brother" who differs either because he is weak in the faith or has some scruples in the realm of his own conscience in the matter. This is what I mean when I say that Brother Lewis could differ with a brother about any matter belonging to this realm and yet now draw the line against him but extend to him brotherly treatment and encouragement.
There were a good many things about which this writer and Brother Lewis were not in agreement. His views concerning the Christian's relation to civil government were not in accord with mine. He believed and taught that the only scriptural posture in the prayers of a Christian was kneeling. He believed that the scriptures taught that a woman should have an artificial covering on her head when in the assembly. He believed that the Lord's Day began at six o'clock on Saturday evening. These are just some of the things which Brother Lewis held, if I understood properly his position and I think I did, about which there was a difference between us. He did no compromising. He would teach what he believed the Bible taught on any matter whenever the occasion justified or demanded it. But he did not agitate and magnify such differences and certainly did not draw the line of fellowship against those who disagreed with him as some are of the disposition to do. He granted you the right to your own convictions in matters of this kind and the same right to teach what you believed and understood the Bible to teach that he claimed. He would let it be known that he differed from what you taught, when he did, but he did not deny you the right to teach it. This was a demonstration of his magnanimous spirit and genuine love for his brethren. I have been in meetings where he preached and he has held meetings where I preached. In all of the meetings which I have held in Birmingham at any of the congregations, Brother Lewis was always there at every service he was able to attend to give encouragement to the preaching of the Gospel. I was always grateful for his hand upon my shoulder and his word or words of commendation and encouragement in what I was trying to do.
In the debate with Guy N. Woods in the Phillip's High School Auditorium in 1957 on "Orphan's Homes and the Herald of Truth" I enjoyed the full support and backing of Brother Lewis. When Wood's misrepresented Brother Lewis and I called it to his attention and shamed him for it, I offered Brother Lewis time both publicly and privately out of my speech to make a statement but he refused on the ground that what he has said and taught would speak for itself and he was not interested in interrupting the debate for a personal defense. This misrepresentation was as deeply resented by many of the saints of Birmingham and by this writer as any of the unbecoming things which brother Woods did in this discussion. When the debate drew to its conclusion Brother Lewis brought to me a check for $50.00 to help compensate me for the expense, time and work involved in the discussion. Across the corner of the check he wrote, "For a job well done." I wrote him when I got back home and asked that when the check cleared his bank and he had no further use for it, I would like to have it. He very kindly returned it to me and I treasure it in his memory and of the courage he gave to me by his commendation and by his own love for the truth. He desired no honor or recognition. He was sincere, simple man without earthly ambitions who "looked for the city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." I am as confident as I can humanly be that he has gone there and hope and pray that I may some day join him and his good wife and all other saints in that eternal home.
-Orlando, Florida