John Reid has written some helpful books such as The Chief Meeting of the Church, Christian Baptism and the Unity of the Spirit, Eternal Dwellings, and now this little volume, F. W. Grant: His Life, Ministry, and Legacy. In 116 pages we have a sketch of one of America’s finest Bible teachers. The paperback is available from Gospel Folio Press or from Dr. David R. Reid, Emmaus Bible College, 2570 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52001. The price is $5.00 (postage is included in the sale price).
Reading this book is like filling your lungs with country air. Refreshing. You don’t have to agree with everything Grant believed to say, “That brother really walked with God.” You feel that John Reid has introduced you to someone who put into practice the words of James 1:19. Through a long Christian career in which he battled false doctrines as well as nurturing the flock, he was swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. He showed us a beautiful demeanor that we all want to see more of. He was a peacemaker. He had convictions, firm convictions that had cost him dearly, but he held those convictions with a humble teachable attitude.
The book is not a full biography but in a readable way it lets you know what Grant was like, with occasional anecdotes. Much space is used to compare his understanding of issues with J. N. Darby, his mentor.
A few pages (97-101) are devoted to Darby and Grant’s view that legitimate appointment of elders ceased soon after the first century of Christianity. Of course, it was Grant who wrote the forceful booklet on Nicolaitanism, which denounces the clergy-laity system. Grant and Darby viewed the official appointment of elders as the usurping of the headship of Christ in the assembly, of a false claim to apostolic authority, and the re-emergence of clericalism. Alexander Strauch has ably dealt with this issue in the newest edition (1995) of his book Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership, (pp. 319-321). I believe that Darby and Grant had legitimate concerns about the tendency of a clergy-laity system arising. But on this point of recognized elders, I believe they were guilty of overkill. By not recognizing qualified brothers to guide the flock, they really left the way open for the unqualified and ambitious to seize power. The result has been the very thing that Grant so loathed.