Category Archives: Ecclesiology

The Unnoticed Baptist Distinctive

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Our recent Baptist literature has made a big point that we believe the Bible. In fact, the “B” in Baptist stands for the Bible. Historically we have believed that the Bible is the verbally inspired, inerrant Word of God. We also believe that God’s child should walk in obedience to its plain statements literally interpreted. Moreover, we will memorize passages of the Bible, thereby hiding it in our hearts. Of the four statements of faith that we have treasured in the last century and a half, all have said essentially these things.

The Mission Field of Youth

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The statistics shout the facts. Over one-third of the population of the United States is under the age of 21. There are over 31 million teenagers in this country alone. The youth of America are a large mission field. Pure numbers alone indicate that teens desperately need to be reached by effective and relevant ministries. The enormous number of young people is staggering; yet, those figures pale in comparison with those of the previous two decades. Even though the actual percentage of teenagers in America is dwindling the pressure facing adolescents are growing.

Understanding Pastoral Theology

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Many years ago I read some words that came from Clarence E. Macartney which have been indelibly impressed on my mind. These words are, “The pastorate is the front-line trench of the ministry.” His little book entitled, Preaching Without Notes, is an inspiring and practical discussion of preaching. His love for pastoral preaching shows itself repeatedly throughout the book, and on page 175 he writes, “The minister’s occupation is appointed of God, not of man. The current tendency is to secularize the ministry, both its message and its office, as if the work of the minister were just the same as that of a teacher, a physician, a scientist, or an artist, only with a slightly different accent.

A Biblical Separatism

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Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? 1 Corinthians 6:14 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15 So why shouldn’t a Christian drink beer? What’s wrong with playing bingo or getting tattooed? What verse says you can’t listen to rock music? We get into odd situations.

We Believe in Preaching

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There are those who would do away with preaching if they could. It’s not just the unregenerate crowd being referred to, but this is the secret sentiment of many believers as well. Some of them may not be walking closely with the Lords, but others who are will recognize the validity to the complaint, “I’m not being fed!” This is the day of the T.V. generation in which we are continually being confronted with expert communication. Yet, when we go to church, we may only tolerate the sermon and feel that we are being bored to death with religious jargon.

Congregational Rule Versus Elder Rule

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Most Bible-believing Baptist churches today follow an organizational system in which a pastor guides the people by means of his moral example and his preaching of God’s Word, but in which the congregation itself is the decision-making body. This approach is well expressed by Edward T. Hiscox in his important book written in 1894 entitled, The New Directory for Baptist Churches [reprinted under the title, Principles and Practices for Baptist Churches]. Hiscox says: “The government is administered by the body acting together, where no one possesses a preeminence, but all enjoy an equality of rights; and in deciding matters of opinion, the majority bears rule.

An Idea of a Seminary

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And the things which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 Where is the pastor who has not some time dreamed, “If I were to start a seminary—?” Where is the teacher who has not gazed at the same vision? We begin at the end: what is the product we need? Men of God? Flaming preachers? Capable pastors? Heroic missionaries? All of the above?