Truth Warrior

Friday, October 14, 2005

New Testament Authority and Our Baptist Distinctives

According to E. T. Hiscox, A Baptist historian from yesteryear,
“It is on all hands conceded, that from the days of the Apostles to the Reformation, there existed congregations and communities of Christians separate from the prevailing and dominant churches… these separate communities maintained their distinct existence, worshiped by themselves, and served God according to their understanding of the Scriptures and the dictates of their consciences.”

These kind of churches, that held to New Testament authority, are most commonly called Baptists. Throughout history, since the time of Pentecost, there have been such churches. Perhaps they were known by other names (Messalians, Euchites, Montanists, Novatians, Paulicians…etc.) and/or some peculiar doctrines.
We are studying the Biblical Distinctives of Baptists. These distinctives as presented in an acrostic B-A-P-T-I-S-T (refer to my post entitled “the bookmark” to see them all listed.) Modern day Baptists (NOT modernist) arrived at these distinctives through careful study of the Bible. That is why these teachings are more precisely called the Biblical distinctives of Baptists and not Baptist distinctives. In other words, these teachings are common among Baptists because individual Baptist churches have consistently and independently discovered them in the Bible and held to them, not because some group of Baptist leaders composed the list and then imposed the distinctives on local churches. (Remember … there is no ecclesiastical hierarchy in an autonomous group … and we know that the “A” stands for Autonomy of the local church.)
Church groups other than Baptists have held some of these Biblical distinctives, and one may even find churches that hold all of the distinctives but do not call themselves Baptist. Such groups are "baptistic" but for some reason they choose not to be identified as Baptists. On the other hand, some churches naming themselves Baptist are not truly Baptist because they no longer hold the historic Baptist beliefs or even the fundamentals of the Christian faith.
Baptists are people of the Book above all else ... and Baptists enjoy a priceless heritage of generations who have exalted God's Son, our Savior and have proclaimed God's inspired Word.

“The Baptist name is not a point of organizational pride but a meaningful descriptor of a doctrinal position.” -D. Anderson

The fundamentals of the faith are the most important doctrines.

26 Comments:

  • Keep getting the word out brother!

    Hey did you know your Church(I think) used to support us back in the 70's? What is your Pastor's name? I remember going there back in the 80' when we lived in the Cleveland area. Your Pastor or former Pastor was friends with my dad. I can't remember him but Dad talks about him from time to time. My Dad's name is Robert Hedrick. I don't know if that will ring a bell with your Pastor or not.

    By Blogger Bhedr, at 15/10/05 5:10 PM  

  • Thanks for your comment Brian,

    I truly miss your blog. There was an article on it that I asked my wife to print out for me, that same day she told me Leaving Oz... left the blogsphere.
    My pastors name is Phillip DeCourcy. In the 80's it was Dr. Earnest Pickering. Our Church still supports a number of missionaries around the world. I view this is a real strength of Emmanuel Baptist Church.

    brother John

    By Blogger J. Wendell, at 15/10/05 11:20 PM  

  • I might be back next year but not until the Lord gives me peace about it. I am more focused on my wife and kids now and I don't want to lose that focus.

    By Blogger Bhedr, at 16/10/05 10:20 PM  

  • I love this stuff about Biblical distinctives of Baptists.

    I'm stealing as much as I can for my New Memebers' class.

    By Blogger Joe, at 17/10/05 7:55 AM  

  • Brian~
    Amen!!!

    We do need to have our priorities! That's one reason I try not to make my blog another job.

    There are so many things I like to learn about and contribute to I simply can't get to everything right away. Rose, my wife, early on asked me pace myself, and I intend to honor her wishes.

    There is no substitute for family. We can't go back to preview and edit our comments to our kids who are only kids once. Brother you are doing the right thing.

    Joe~
    Thanks!

    Brother one can't steal that
    which is given. BTW are you related to Barnabas? Rose and I think you must be.

    In His fellowship,
    brother John

    By Blogger J. Wendell, at 17/10/05 8:23 AM  

  • I'm agreed withall of your main points here, but I'm not too sure that I would want to be identified with Messalians, Euchites, Montanists, Novatians, Paulicians simply because they were outside of the Roman Catholic Church.

    By Blogger Jeremy Weaver, at 17/10/05 4:40 PM  

  • Brother Jeremy,
    thank you for your comment.

    You're right about that. I'm not sure I would want to, either. My point was simply that there were identifiable groups, from Pentecost onward, that were not affiliated with RC. In fact, RC did not begin on Pentecost (in Jerusalem), but apparently at some other time (in Rome), according its own tradition. As for me, I am glad to be identified with Christ, His invisible church and a local body of believers called Emmanuel Baptist.

    in this age,
    brother John

    By Blogger J. Wendell, at 17/10/05 7:19 PM  

  • Cool.

    By Blogger Jeremy Weaver, at 17/10/05 8:02 PM  

  • I don't know a lot about those earlier groups that are considered Charasmatic but I do think it unfair that some Pentecostals get broadbrushed with the stigma that is alive today. Many believe strongly in the power of the Holy Spirit but that things should be done decently and in order.

    At my brothers Calvary Chapel a woman stood up and made some aggravated noises. his pastor stopped everything and said, "Lord we want to honor you and not make a show!" Halting everything that might go crazy. My brother witnesses in the streets of Miami in fact one day He said the Holy Spirit led him into the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. He stood in the midst of the crowd and proclaimed to them that Yeshua was their long awaited Messiah. Many of them walk along the beach in boldness declaring his name. I think of Kurk Cameron and Ray Comfort who are pentacostal and street preach as well. Have you seen the way of the Master series?
    I think of Keith Green and the boldness he had. I think of David Wilkerson boldly proclaiming Jesus on the Streets of New York. I am not ashamed nor ever will be ashamed to be identified with them even though I myself am not Charasmatic. As I've told you before I am reformed in my thinking and even recognize that Calvin contributed in theology and to the Church as men like Knox came from his line, but my heart is Baptist in practice as I was commanded to be one. Our hearts should be devoted to God alone as the prophets and Jesus Himself had no home and so it was with the Paulicans and Monatists and many other Ana-Baptists. They had no money nor had they any comfortable denominational pension plans. They had abandoned everything to God. Everything. They lived in holes and suffered through life. Yes I am reformed in my theology but Baptist at heart. I told the folks at Church Sunday night that I am a Presbaptisterian. The Church I am in now is Southern Baptist and is the only Church that is teaching the word of God in this dark area as well as being a ray of light to this Community. We also have the Awana program here. I suppose if I were ever to move again I would try to find an Independant Baptist Church only if they taught the Word of God properly and lived as Scripture demands.

    BTW, Jeremy I love you bro but consider this if in just a little slice at a time. We should not fear Pentecostals as we do the Harlotry of Romanism and her State Church sisters. I do agree however that much in the Charasmatic Church is abominable but not everyone goes to those extremes.

    By Blogger Bhedr, at 18/10/05 3:17 PM  

  • But in the early centuries of the church, the reason most of the groups were outside of the Catholic Church was their neglect of orthodoxy. The Montanists rejected sola scriptura long before the Catholics did.

    By Blogger Jeremy Weaver, at 18/10/05 4:58 PM  

  • Jeremy,
    What are your sources? At the time of Tertullian the eastern church and the western church did not have full agreement on the Canon. Rome considers itself to be Canon. Consider the differances with the Syriac texts and the Alexandrian and then look at the Byzantine Text type. What text type do you prefer? Are you sure it is solid. Are you sure you are Sola Scriptura? My point is just because one is accused of not being Sola Sriptura does not mean they are not. History is a weak lens, yet a lens none the less however we are only privy to what is handed down and history itself is not Scripture. Jesus was excecuted for being a heretic. Was he? I'll study this more but I always refuse to use one lens and put all my eggs in that basket. I have friends that would accuse you of being weak and not standing fast to scipture yet I recognize the Lord working in you and your heart to know what is right despite the Critical Theory that falsly illuminates our age. How will history record you in a hundred years? What source will you fall into. For the record, I am Scripture alone and hold that the Byzantine Text type is the strongest text type. Those that lean on the Critical Theory I consider decieved and of a weaker persuasion yet I believe they can still be considered brethren.
    Look into textual history and the gaps that existed at the time you described. Look at the books that were in the Peshitta vs the books that were in the Siniaticus. Consider also that Aramaic was the language of the day in many places.

    By Blogger Bhedr, at 18/10/05 6:24 PM  

  • Brian,
    The Montanists as a sect began by claiming a deeper knowledge of the Scripture according to the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. But little by little they rejected written Scripture for 'Prophetic utterances' which at first were not explicitly contrary to Scripture but which rapidly degenerated into a rejection of Scripture for the newer, more relevant, prophecies which did contradict Scripture. While I may have a lot in common with early Montanists, I don't have much of anything in common with the later Montanists.

    http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10521a.htm

    http://www.ntcanon.org/Montanism.shtml

    http://www.bartleby.com/65/mo/Montanis.html

    http://www.earlychurch.org.uk/article_montanism.html

    http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-04/TOC.htm

    By Blogger Jeremy Weaver, at 18/10/05 8:39 PM  

  • Thank you Jeremy and Brian for your contribution here. It has been an interesting dialogue. My point was simple. I really wasn't aiming at camping out on the differences between us and them, but the main reason I mentioned them was to point out that the indigenous groups existed. Other groups could have been mentioned too, but I am refraining at this point.

    By Blogger J. Wendell, at 18/10/05 9:40 PM  

  • Oops. Sorry.

    By Blogger Jeremy Weaver, at 18/10/05 9:42 PM  

  • What is going on over here? Be nice!

    By Blogger Rose~, at 18/10/05 10:07 PM  

  • Rose~
    one of the finer qualities of fellowship involves iron sharpening iron. There will always be at least some friction.

    just John

    By Blogger J. Wendell, at 18/10/05 10:28 PM  

  • But with me and Brian it's more like pillow fluffing pillow. I heard Wiersbe say that once.

    By Blogger Jeremy Weaver, at 19/10/05 8:36 AM  

  • You're too funny, Jeremy!

    By Blogger J. Wendell, at 19/10/05 5:28 PM  

  • I would agree Jeremy? I am never offended at stimulating thought even with cream puff theology it can still be very productive. I don't think there is any friction here but I often wonder at the fiction:-)
    On a serious note it does look like you have some good sources. I will look them up. Your comment on the Montanists kinda makes your point and mine I think. Hey John! I understand where you are comming from and it is an excellent point.

    At home with the flu tonight. Look like I either caught it off Jeremy or Chad one.

    By Blogger Bhedr, at 19/10/05 7:37 PM  

  • Wow I read back over my comments. I did sound tough. In the passion of the momment don't mistake me for ever being angry. I guess I gotta be careful wit dat. Take care guys!

    By Blogger Bhedr, at 19/10/05 7:46 PM  

  • I love how you spell out your beliefs. They are very clear. I'm going to be coming back and reading more of your blog. Excellent work!

    By Blogger Earl Flask, at 20/10/05 11:45 AM  

  • One question -- are you familiar with the London Baptist Confession of Faith? Here is a link to it: http://www.rbc.org.nz/library/1689.htm

    Spurgeon also had a catechism, here is a link to that: http://www.grace.org.uk/faith/spurgeon.html

    By Blogger Earl Flask, at 20/10/05 5:00 PM  

  • Brian~ don't worry I can't imagine taking you guys seriously... except when something is serious.

    Earl~ thanks for the comments and the links!

    :) :) :)

    brother John

    By Blogger J. Wendell, at 20/10/05 10:17 PM  

  • ok , who is J Wendell ? His picture looks alot like this guy John that I used to work with.

    By Blogger maildad, at 21/10/05 12:35 PM  

  • "left behind movie ' !! It previews this weekend in area churches , rather than theaters.
    I don't agree with the 'rapture' theory of this movie. But it gets people thinking about God , and the times we live in, and it is well done.

    By Blogger maildad, at 21/10/05 12:38 PM  

  • Thanks Chuck,
    Just the thought of the prayer warriors, begs me keep on keeping on! I miss our fellowship at the post office. I miss South Toledo and I was just telling Ramsy's nephew I miss you too.

    By Blogger J. Wendell, at 21/10/05 6:01 PM  

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