Poll on Missions

In order to participate in the poll, I would have to know what exactly you mean by "missions".

Your definition and mine are probably different.

Do you mean simply evangelism?

 

With that in mind, I only voted for 2 things.

Yes, I believe the "great commission" is still valid. Although there are Primitives who probably disagree with me over whether it's still valid, I would say we do agree on the purpose of the commission and that the purpose is still valid; i.e. spreading God's word.

I believe the commission was given by Christ to his disciples, and through them to the ministry, as an instruction to preach his word to his people wherever they may be. That, I believe, is the root of evangelism. I do not believe it was an instruction given to the church at anytime. Ministers are to preach the word wherever the Lord might send them to do it. That is evangelism the way I, and most Primitive Baptists, believe it.

Yes, I believe missions are not scriptural. They were not set up as part of the New Testament church, and are contrary to my belief about the preaching of the gospel and who is to send and be sent to do so, and they are contrary to what I believe the gospel is for. Almost all Primitives would agree with me on this point.

Read the Black Rock Address sometime, if you haven't already, to get an idea of the reason for the primitive/missionary split, especially with regard to missions and the reasons we object them.

http://www.pb.org/pbdocs/blakrock.html

 

how are "Christ's disciples" and "Christ's church" different? I would think they would be the same.......I see no difference. More and more through this I believe that here is where a breakdown is occuring in communication (one of them at least)......I keep seeing a distinction being made by some between the church and the disciples. Who do you think makes up the church if not the disciples?

 

Christ had hundreds and thousands of disciples (followers), but I'm specifically referring to the 12. Maybe I should have said apostles. What I mean is, those who were charged with preaching to his people.

I think you would agree with me that not everyone is called to preach the gospel. I think you would also agree with me that not everyone has the scriptural authority to baptize.

Hope that better explains what I meant to say.

James

 

Very sad.:tear:

 

I agree with Bro. Reed. I voted that I thought the great commission was not valid for today, but I'll take that back IF your interpretation is limited to straightforward evangelism on the part of individuals who are called by the Holy Spirit.

And in answer to bapmom, I don't think the church is supposed to fulfill all of our scriptural obligations by proxy.

I don't know why I did not think of finding some excerpts from the Black Rock address to post. Here it is online:
http://www.pb.org/pbdocs/blakrock.html

 

I look at it the other way. I think it's sad that people spend so much time and energy trying to save the souls of other people when they don't even have the ability to save their own. I can't imagine how sorrowful it must be for people to live believing that so many people are going to hell because they didn't reach them with the gospel in time or because they didn't live a certain way or profess certain things. I would hate to have that on my conscience.

It's really a relief for me to believe that God can and will save each and everyone of His people without the use of men, and that nothing we have done or can do can separate us from His love. I am happy to know that God has our salvation secure, and I am sad that others believe they must do the work of God and save people from Hell.

It's all in your perspective, I guess.

:wavey:

 

I am curious about the Old Regular position on this. Especially from those associated with Brother Bob's side. Where are you brother?

 

What an ungodly hypersensativity.

 

Bro. Reed, I have a question about the Black Rock Address. It states very clearly that misson societies do not belong in a church. But at one point it does say that it is the church's role to send out a man as an evangelist. Has the PB position on this changed? Most preachers who do travel do so on an appointment, and I have never seen a church vote on such an issue. I think most would say the preacher/evangelist should be sent by the Holy Spirit, and not by the church in any meaningful sense. Of course a preacher must be ordained, liberated to preach, etc., on the other hand. So would most PBs today say it was the church's role to send out an evangelist? I have never seen this happen.

And John, please understand the BRA in reference to conditions in the 1830s. This was still the very early days of the missionary movement. If I understand right, the basic issue being addressed is sending missionaries into frontier America, not into other countries. Plus, the author does state that there were some honorable exceptions.

 

wait, I haven't read all the posts after this but, by proxy!? We ARE the church! You guys sound like your view of "church" is very Catholic.



alright,
someone asked if I think everyone is called to preach.......In a sense, yes, I do believe everyone is called to forth-tell the gospel. "Preaching" means to bring a message - and every saved person is called to do this.....male or female. We women cannot pastor, absolutely, but I can tell a lost man about Christ.


And Brother Reed, we do not live under fear or guilt that we cannot reach the entire world. We do trust that God will and does bring His gospel to those places that we as individuals cannot reach. However, that knowledge does not divest us of the obligation to go where God sends US as individuals. We can only reach those around us where God has placed us.......but God also tells us to reach those around us and not just assume that God will somehow magically drop the knowledge of the gospel into their heads. He is the One who tells us that He has NOT chosen to use magical "revelation" in order to spread the gospel.....HE is the One who HAS chosen to use weak humanity to accomplish His goal. He does the saving in every single case. He commands us to do the telling.

 

this part of the quote from the BRA really struck me as well. "better materials"??