Resolution On Regenerate Church Membership

It has been reported for several years that the SBC has over 16,000,000 million members, and we know that just over 6,000,000 are faithful attenders.  This may be because the majority of those whose names are on church rolls have never truly been born again, or have not been properly discipled.

The following is the resolution recently passed by majority vote of those present at the annual SBC meeting in Indianapolis, IN..  There is one thing for sure.  The Church of Jesus Christ is made up of only those who know Jesus and are known by Him.  I am one who is happy that this resolution has passed.  It is not the answer to the problem, but it is an encouragement.

Here is the resolution in its entirety from the BaptistPress blog:

Complete text of amended membership resolution
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 4:43:00 PM

Following is the amended version of the resolution passed this morning, “On Regenerate Church Membership and Church Member Restoration.” Messengers passed two amendments to the original resolution. (See previous post in this blog.) Additions are in bold here:

 

WHEREAS, The ideal of a regenerate church membership has long been and remains a cherished Baptist principle, with Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message describing the church as a “local congregation of baptized believers”; and

 

WHEREAS, A New Testament church is composed only of those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, the local church’s only Lord, by grace through faith (John 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9), which church practices believers’ only baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:16-20), and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:26-30); and

 

WHEREAS, Local associations, state conventions, and the Southern Baptist Convention compile statistics reported by the churches to make decisions for the future; and

 

WHEREAS, the 2007 Southern Baptist Convention annual Church Profiles indicate that there are 16,266,920 members in Southern Baptist churches; and

 

WHEREAS, Those same profiles indicate that only 6,148,868 of those members attend a primary worship service of their church in a typical week; and

 

WHEREAS, The Scriptures admonish us to exercise church discipline as we seek to restore any professed brother or sister in Christ who has strayed from the truth and is in sin (Matthew 18:15-35; Galatians 6:1); and now, therefore, be it

 

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 10-11, 2008, urge churches to maintain a regenerate membership by acknowledging the necessity of spiritual regeneration and Christ’s lordship for all members; and be it further

 

RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our churches to maintain accurate membership rolls for the purpose of fostering ministry and accountability among all members of the congregation; and be it further

 

RESOLVED, That we urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to repent of the failure among us to live up to our professed commitment to regenerate church membership and any failure to obey Jesus Christ in the practice of lovingly correcting wayward church members (Matthew 18:15-18); and be it further

 

RESOLVED, That we humbly encourage denominational servants to support and encourage churches that seek to recover and implement our Savior’s teachings on church discipline, even if such efforts result in the reduction in the number of members that are reported in those churches, and be it finally

 

RESOLVED, That we humbly urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention and their pastors to implement a plan to minister to, counsel, and restore wayward church members based upon the commands and principles given in Scripture (Matthew 18:15-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20).

 

That which is in bold print are ammendments which were not part of the first presentation, and were passed by the body.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Baptism And…

The past two years in the Southern Baptist Convention churches has been alive with discussion, and sometimes with angry discussion, over the matter of Baptism; especially as it relates to the International Mission Board (IMB), and its authority to send missionaries.

Baptism is a matter concerning the Christian and the local church where they are potential members or members.  We are first of all, baptized into one body by one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13).  The Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ, and because of the Christian’s desire to be near like minded believers, the Christian desires to become a part of a local church.  Becoming a part of a local congregation means identifying with that church through water baptism, giving personal testimony of one’s faith in Christ Jesus, and His death, burial and resurrection, shown in like baptism.

The point I want to make is this.  When an individual becomes a member of a local church, they should have a heart of submission; first to Christ Jesus, and secondly to the ordinances, members, and leaders of the church they are joining.  The IMB made a rule in 2005 that any missionary candidate not being baptized in a SBC church would not be affirmed for the mission field.  My personal belief is that they should accept the call of the local church that did receive them, and accepted their “alien baptism”, however, this is an agency of the SBC, and they have made this ruling.  If you are going to be a missionary through the SBC/IMB, then where is your heart? 

If I were to ever change to another belief system, another denomination, and they required me to be baptized to become a member, of their congregation, then, I would gladly do it.  If I was not prepared to submit to their ordinances, rules, covenants, and leadership, then I would not join.  I, however,  will be a Baptist until Jesus comes again, and then, there will be no more denominations.  There will be only Christ like people, with Jesus Christ as King.

What to do when a person comes wanting to join our church who has been a member of another denomination?  We will require baptism.  If they refuse to submit to that, then they can go elsewhere.  These are usually types of people who will be trouble anyway.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis

The annual meeting of the SBC this year appears to be heading for a lot of excitement, and debate.  Excitement if you like those types of things.  There are six men who are “running” for the office of President of our Convention.  They may be good, evangelical, and Christian men, but how strong are they about our Baptist heritage, and doctrines of Scripture, concerning baptism.  I am going to let Ben Stratton give you the word on this matter.  There appears to be only one man who stands by the decisions of the International Missions Board concerning Baptism and private prayer languages.

On June 10-11, 2008 the Southern Baptist Convention will meet in Indianapolis, Indiana and elect a new president. It is an unusual year as there are six men running for this office. They are Frank Cox, Wiley Drake, Johnny Hunt, Les Puryear, Bill Wagner, and Avery Willis. To help messengers to the annual meeting evaluate the candidates, Baptist Press www.bpnews.net recently asked each candidate eight questions. One of the questions read, “The IMB trustee guidelines governing baptism and private prayer language in appointing missionaries: Do you think their action was needed and appropriate?”. As our readers know in 2005 the SBC International Mission Board passed a guideline saying that potential missionaries can not have received alien immersion. It was very interesting to read the responses of the presidential candidates to the question about this guideline.

Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia and one who many consider to be the front runner in the SBC presidential race said, “I am not sure that I fully understand all that the IMB trustee guidelines have said, however, if a person has received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, and has been baptized by a minister who embraces the Gospel and the Scriptures as we do, their baptism should count in our churches. If James Dobson desired to become part of First Baptist Church Woodstock, I would not require him to be re-baptized.” Yet James Dobson is associated with the Evangelical Free denomination which recognizes infant baptism and sprinkling as valid baptism.

Les Puryear, pastor of Lewisville Baptist Church in North Carolina and one who many consider to be the favorite of less conservative Southern Baptists said, “I do not agree with the implementation of these policies. The SBC as a whole has not stated a position on these doctrines, therefore I view these as non-essential doctrines and as such, should not be used as doctrinal policy for any SBC board or agency. This is not surprising as earlier this year Puryear said that theologically he was somewhere “between Baptist and Presbyterian”.

Frank Cox, pastor of North Metro First Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia said, “The trustees have a fiduciary responsibility to see that the board’s objectives are being met in concert as to who we are as Southern Baptists. At any time issues arise that would be contrary or questionable to the doctrine and practice of Southern Baptists as stated through our Baptist Faith and Message 2000 or contrary to Holy Scripture, they must as trustees deal with these concerns. Therefore, I believe the trustees acted in line with their responsibility, and their action on the issues of baptism and private prayer language was appropriate in keeping with the doctrinal integrity as to who we are as Southern Baptists.”

 The office of the president of the Southern Baptist Convention is a very important position because of the political appointments he makes. In light of the above statements I believe that only Frank Cox will appoint conservative sound Southern Baptists to positions of leadership in the convention. Therefore I am endorsing Frank Cox for president of the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention and I encourage all Southern Baptists going to Indianapolis to vote for him.

By Ben Stratton

For further reading on Frank Cox you may go to Frank Cox .  The sad thing about this is that I am unable to attend this meeting.  I pray God will have His way in the hearts of Christian Baptists as the meeting progresses for His glory.

Baptisms Are Down???

The following article was written by Ben Straten, and it seems at a time when many “Baptists” are more concerned with numbers than they are souls salvations this article is quite meaningful.  When “Baptists” seem more concerned with going along to get along, receiving alien emersions, and doing what comes natural to the world in the drinking of the liquor, and supporting the industry of drunkenness; we need to stop and pay attention.

Why the Decline in Southern Baptist Baptisms?

 

Recently it was reported in the news that the number of Southern Baptist baptisms had declined for the third straight year. In 2007 Southern Baptist churches baptized 345,941 people. This is considerably lower then 1972 when Southern Baptist churches baptized 445,725 people, the most in their history. So the question is why the great change in the number of Southern Baptist baptisms since 1972. Some are saying that we are not as evangelistic or as committed as we were back in 1972.

While there is some truth to this answer, there is another reason that is totally ignored in the blogs and denominational papers. Back in 1972 the vast majority of Southern Baptist churches rejected alien immersions. (that is non-Baptist baptisms) Thirty-five years ago when someone wanted to join a typical Southern Baptist church from a Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Disciples of Christ, etc. church they had to be “rebaptized” in order to join the church. Yet since 1972 hundreds of Southern Baptist churches have given up this practice. Today many Southern Baptist churches that thirty-five years ago would have rebaptized these non-Baptists who wanted to join their church, will now receive them by “statement”. That is one of the biggest reasons why the number of Southern Baptist baptisms is so much lower in 2007 than it was in 1972

Let’s continue being the Southern Baptists which we should be.  Be saved and grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

-T.A.

Letter From a Director of Missions

The following is the monthly letter our Barry County Southern Baptist Associational Director of Missions, Jerry L. Williams, wrote for the Monthly Newsletter. I pray you will hear his heart.

“Look not thou upon the wine when it is read, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” (Proverbs 23:31-32)

“I do not believe that our Lord contradicts Himself in His Word, do you?

‘I also believe that when His word states, “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright…” that that is referring to when the wine is fermenting.’

‘I am sharing this because it seems that today there are some ministers in SBC and MBC that believes it is alright to drink alcoholic beverages. I never thought that we would hae to deal with this issue in Southern Baptist life, but I guess I was wrong.

Now I know that there are some in our churches that probably drink and think nothing of it, but that doesn’t make it right and I feel that they are wrong in doing it. Look at what he alcohol industry has done to the lives of so many; deaths, ruined families, homes, marrigaes and on and on I could write.

The Acts 29 and Emerging Church movement claims to be “theologically conservative and culturally liberal.” Alcohol, Acts 29 and the Missouri Baptist Convention…, below is an excerpt from the St. Louis Post Dispatch:’

“As Tolliver (MBC Interim Executive Director) was speaking, another group of pastors gathered at a lake house a couple of miles away, drinking Red stripe and Fat Tire beer, watching football and talking shop: the influence of music in their worship services, their inner-city social justice efforts, the challenge of having so many new babies in their congregations.”

“The young men are part of Acts 29, a network of more than 100 emerging churches across the country that have a conservative theology but a more liberal take on some aspects of the culture than do traditional Southern Baptists. The group’s focus is on starting more new churches. The Journey in south St. Louis is one such church, and there are others in the State — St. Charles, Eureka, Hannibal, Columbia and Ozark.

Our MBC Executive Board met last Dec. 10, 2007 in part to discuss their concerns about alcohol use and alcohol-based evangelism strategies within the greater Missouori Baptist family. They concluded by taking significant action on the issue.

In an historic move members of the board voted by a nearly 3-1 margin to cut off state convention Cooperative Program support to Acts 29 Network churches/church plants in Missouri. The vote does not impact MBC churches who, on their own are assisting Acts 29 churches.

The controversy over Acts 29 began when one church, the Journey, started holding regular discussion sessions in a bar where some participants drank alcohol. The “Theology at the Bottle Works” (the name of the bar).

I agree with Roger Moran when he stated, ‘One of the most dangerous and deceptive movements to infiltrate the ranks of Southern Baptist life has been the Emerging/Emergent Church Movement”.

I will be bringing a message this month at our worker’s conference dealing with this issue. May we as Barry County Southern Baptist stand firm on our doctrine, the Word of God, and the teaching of abstinence when it comes to the use of alcohol beverages.

My we send our number of messengers to this years MBC in October and stand with our State Executive Board Members and what they did in Dec. 2007. Let’s go and vote with them to hold the line on this movement within our convention.”

Bro. Jerry

The Barry County Southern Baptist Association has sent a letter to the Executive Board of the MBC voicing the approval of their December 2007 actions.  We do fully support this action of the Board, and will continue to do so.

-by Tim A. Blankenship

Let Them Lead

Within the Missouri Baptist Convention there is dissent concerning the matters of supporting the so called “Acts 29″ movement.  Part of the dissent is over their allowance of beverage alcohol which Baptists have long been know for being temperant in their teaching and standards of our churches.

We have on the MBC Executive Board men and women who have been appointed to serve, hear the reports of agencies, committees, and officers; then decide on how to procede with certain matters.  Do we trust them or not.  They all have been sent there from the churches of the MBC with the recommendations of their pastors, Director of Missions (Associations), and other pastors; then they have been approved by the Convention when we meet each year.

Now, many who have disagreed with a decision for us to refrain from supporting Acts 29, have gone into a contentious mode of attacking the leadership of our convention, and raising a dissention which has not been seen before.

I know that the local churches are the head over the Conventions.  The Conventions serve the local churches.  The local church is what Jesus Christ established, and not Associations or Conventions; however, these organizations are tools which we have established to serve us, aid us, give us guidance and direction, and even to strengthen our missions capability.  When we rebell, which is what is happening, we go against the trust that has been put in our Executive Board.

Understand, when a Board, Director, or agency goes contrary to the way of Scripture, steals agencies, and speaks contrary to the local church without its best at heart, then there needs to be a legal, Biblical, prayerful removal of those  who have previously been sent to represent us; but that is not the case with the current members of our Executive Board.  The rebellion is from the outside.

I do not agree with every decision our EB has made, but I do concerning Acts 29 and beverage alcohol.  All I am saying is let the Board do its work the best way they can, and know how, trust them to make good, and godly decisions.  Concerning this matter of Acts 29 and beverage alcohol they have the good of our churches, holding on to strong doctrines which we believe as Baptists, and a pure and clean heart, body and soul for the people of our Convention.

The writer of Hebrews wrote, “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” 13:7 (NKJV).  Then in verse 17 he writes, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.  Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

No, the board is not our pastor, nor our leaders for our local church, but we have sent them to represent us.  Let’s let them represent us without burdening them with the dissension which is going on.  Let’s pray for them, support them, and be supportive of their decisions when they are done for our best interest, the good of our people and the glory of the Lord.  It has never pleased the Lord to be contentious against His leadership; let us give the same respect to those who are representing us.  Let us Let them lead without dissension

-by Tim A. Blankenship

Drawing the Lines

More and more of those who profess to be followers of Jesus, and are Baptists, are leaving the Baptists distinctives in order to draw more people.  When we get away from those Baptists teachings which make us Baptists we are no longer Baptists.

If you do not want to be Baptists then go join, or become a part of a church that you can believe with them, but don’t join a Baptist Church and try to get it away from our distinctiveness.  If you don’t love us please leave us.  We will love you anyway.

The following is a quote from a former editor of the former State Baptist Paper, Word and Way,  R.K Maiden, and was posted on a group list I am part of:

“Open communion churches in the south are as scarce as hen’s teeth, and alien immersion churches are almost as scarce. Southern Baptist churches have, so far, consistently and firmly declined to enter into any kind of compromising, entangling, interdenominational alliance. But what of the future? Will the New Testament hold its grip on Southern Baptists through the next fifty or one hundred years? The rising tide of ecclesiastical liberalism will eventually reach the borders of the South and slowly overflow it. . . Fifty or a hundred years hence may show marked changes among Southern Baptists. Unless there is a strong backfire against it, ecclesiastical liberalism will eat into the South. R.K. Maiden, 1926 (R.K. Maiden was editor of “The Word and Way” Missouri Baptist newspaper from 1896 to 1929 and was a leader among Missouri Southern Baptists. In the above quote Maiden hit the nail right on the head. There have been marked doctrinal changes among Southern Baptists in the eighty-two years since he wrote these words. If we are going to see doctrinal renewal come to Southern Baptists we must stand against ecclesiastical liberalism and preach and teach Baptist distinctives to our congregations. The quote is from pages 50-51 of Maiden’s 1926 book “The Rising Tide of Ecclesiastical Apostasy”.)

Posted on the Landmark Southern Baptist Group List, by Ben Stratton

We do not need to be eccleiastically identical with other denominations to get along with them.  The best thing Baptists can do for the world and others is maintain our identity with the Bible as the Word of God, stand on our doctrines and teachings.  If we fail to do that then, we are not worth having around.  Think on these matters for a while before you begin throwing them out the door.

-by Tim A. Blankenship

J.R. Graves - 1820

J.R. Graves was born in Vermont in 1820. In 1841 he moved south and united with the Mount Freedom Baptist Church in Jessamine County, Kentucky. In May of 1842 Graves was ordained by this church. What is interesting is that three years before J.R. Graves joined this church, they voted on two doctrinal questions related to landmarkism. The below quote is from S. J. Conkwright’s 1923 “History of the Churches of Boone’s Creek Baptist Association” , under the Mount Freedom Baptist Church section on page 98.

“In January, 1838, on a motion made by Joseph Minter, the following two questions were put to a vote.
1st Query: Is it right that a member of this church should commune with any other church that is not of the same faith and order? Answer: No.”
“2nd Query: Is it right for this church to receive a member’s baptism valid that was baptized by another society, that is not of the same faith and order with us? Answer: In the negative.” “

This is just one more historical example that proves that the vast majority of Baptists in the south, as well as the north, rejected alien immersion and open communion long before J.R. Graves published the Cotton Grove Resolutions in 1851. The idea that Graves invented the doctrines of Landmarkism is proved once again to be false. A special thanks to Bro. Jim Duvall for finding this important quote - http://www.geocitie s.com/baptist_ documents/ ky.jessamine. mt.freedm. bc.html

Email post by Ben Stratton Landmark Southern Baptist Group List.

The Name ‘Baptists’

There are many churches which are Baptist, which are taking the name “Baptist” out of their name.  Does this make any difference?

I think it does, unless we simply want to be identified with “Evangelicalism” or “Ecumenism” which it does seem that many do not mind.  Being Baptist used to make a difference.  My feeling is if you are ashamed of the name then be something else, “Please”.  It is almost as bad as being ashamed of the name “Jesus”.

Why does the name make a difference?  First of all it has to do with the way we see Jesus:  He is deity; the God-Man; God incarnate, ie God made flesh.  The God-Man who died for the sins of the world.  Secondly, it has to do with your view of Scripture, ie., the Bible:  it is the inerrant, infallible, Spirit breathed word of God.  Another thing is the Priesthood of the believer:  that means that every child of God has access to the throne of God, and our only mediator is Jesus Himself, who intercedes for us; and that as a priest of God we are endowed and empowered by His Spirit to interpret the Scriptures rightly when we have a pure heart with Him.  A fourth thing is our view of Baptism: it is not for salvation, but because of salvation; it is our confession of salvation and the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus;  it is done by immersion, and by another Baptist recognizing the rights and privileges of local church membership; just as the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ; immersion places us within a local body called the local church which is the representation of the body of Christ in the community.  One final thing, but not exhausted, is the Lord’s Supper: in the Supper we recognize the broken, bruised body of our Savior with the eating of the bread; and with the drinking of the fruit of the vine, His shed blood; the giving of His life for our sins; and we remember His death until He comes.  Since the Scriptures warn of not taking of the Supper “Unworthily” (1 Corinthians 11:27-32) we also believe that one must have been baptized by immersion to partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Who can be a member of a local Baptist Church?  All who call on the name of Jesus for salvation, are immersed in the water, and then, they will have all the rights of the Priesthood of the believer.

Though, there are many “Baptist” churches who are forsaking the Baptist distinctives, they probably should take the name “Baptist” out.  Let those of us who will remain Baptist be honest with who we are.

Taking a Christmas Break

May all who have come to “All Things Baptist” have a blessed Christ filled Christmas and a Blessed-Happy New Year for 2008.

T.A.