Primative Baptist Churches

[JRG39402]

I am a member of a SBC church, but recently I visited 2 primitive baptist churches with family. Both times were bad experiences. The first time a preacher said all Christians (including other baptists) that were not primitive baptists were the type of Christians that the Bible referred to as babies that could only drink milk rather than whole meat of scripture. I know if you believe something, you should say it, but you can do that without putting down all other Christians in the process. My church definatly has positions on different issues, but we still work with other churches (we have a particularly good relationship with a Methodist church). You can still speak kindly. The second time was when a pastor put down churches like mine with a piano and Sunday School classes. After the sermon a black woman came in asking to use the restroom and they acted like it was a huge deal. If you are a primitive baptist, I know you may likely be a strong Calvinist, but you still are to treat others kindly. Even if you think that kindness won't help them move toward the salvation Jesus gives, you still should be kind. Thanks

 

[PastorSBC1303]

Obviously I am not a Primitive Baptist.

But I would caution you against making judgments and blanket statements regarding them based on 2 church experiences.

 

[TaterTot]

I have had similar experiences, as well, JRG, but I think SBC's advice is good. A few bad apples dont always spoil the whole bunch.

 

[JRG39402]

Oh of coarse SBC and TaterTot. If I did that, I would be like the very people I had a complaint against. I am just making a suggestion because I know I wouldn't want to go to that church again soon.

 

[TaterTot]

but ya know, JRG, I am in Mississippi too, and I know how those type churches can be. We have em all around us!!

 

[Bethelassoc]

This doesn't sound like the Primitive Baptists I know of. There are several PBs on here (BaptistBoard) that you could talk to and they can give you an accurate account of their churches.

 

[rsr]

I have to agree, based solely upon the PBs I've met there.

 

[Rhetorician]

To all:

Over the years I have made friends with and "Elder" in a PB church here in W. TN. He is one of the most kind and loving brothers I have known.

FWIW!

sdg!

rd

 

[PastorSBC1303]

Rhet, I have had the chance to know one PB person and he was a dear person. But I have also heard many stories similiar to what JRG and Tater have shared. So I am sure it is like any other group...some good...some bad.

 

[Jeff Weaver]

I know I'll regret this but here goes.

Such things as described in the first post do happen in Primitive Baptist chruches. But they also happen in every other type Baptist chruch I have ever attended. When this board first began, one poster since dismissed, declared that all of we PB's were hell bound. Those words whether spoken or written are hurtful. Perhaps the minster you heard had had such an experience recently. On the issue of insturmental music, we are often beaten around the head and shoulders on this board.

As for the babes on milk notion, I am quite sure that you will find that attitude quite prevalent among Baptists of whatever stripe. It is a defense mechanism for those who may not be as secure in their faith as they ought to be. We see the same attitude on this very board every day.

I have even been to angry services for other denominations. Should it happen? Of course not, but sometimes people get a little riled at something that happened to them during the week. When I was younger, the Primitive Baptists had a radio program, first on the docket for Sunday morning, never an ill word about other denominations. It seemed like however, that every sermon that followed in the several hours of local religious broadcasting that followed was a debate, usually angry about the Primitive Baptist's sermon. Some folks would go into the pulpit and feel they needed to rebut the following sermons. I figured out the solution to that -- and now I don't listen to any of them.

Maybe the guy was having a bad day or a bad week. Perhaps someone had gotten on his case over something, or someone in the congregation was advocating something that was, in our view, error, and the pastor felt the need to correct it.

Now none of this is intended to excuse the fellow you heard, but it is intended to explain it. I note from your profile, you are quite young in relative terms, you will encounter this attitude from many many more people if you tarry long on the earth. Best advice is not to let it color your entire perspective of a group, or even a man, he may be having a bad day.

 

[Brother Bob]

JRG:
Those preachers were talking about the ones who has just came in the fold and needed milk before you hit them with the strong meat. In no way was it a put down of anyone but they were telling their congregations to be gentle with the new members and give them a chance to grow.

 

[PastorSBC1303]

BrotherBob, I am not sure how you got that from the original post, but even if that is the case, is there not a better way to do that then what JRG described?

 

[J.D.]

I know PB's that fit both descriptions, although I must say most of them I know are the better sort. They have internal issues just like the rest of us. They get angry with each other over every issue you can imagine, just like the rest of us. They get angry with us because we critisize them, and some are faster to forgive than others. Just like us. I will say, though, I love their principles, except for their anti-missionaryism (some of them) and I don't think foot washing is an ordinance.

 

[Brother Bob]

PastorSBC:
If in the OP the PB said that exactly as JRG said then he was wrong, but what I said I have heard many times and to someone who was just visiting our churches might get the wrong meaning, (not saying that JRG did) but it could happen easily. We even tell our people to not be so hard on the young ministers until they get a chance to get their feet wet, same reasoning here too. I am not a PB but live among them and hear them all the time and I am very good friends with them all. I have never heard any of the PB say that, but they do preach the milk as I explained earlier.

JD:
We do think footwashing is an ordinance, therefore we practice it.

 

[John of Japan]

Originally posted by J.D.:
. . . except for their anti-missionaryism (some of them) and I don't think foot washing is an ordinance.

Hey, it's that "anti-missionaryism" that bothers me. You say "some of them." Please elaborate. I thought that would have been "all of them," but I admit I know little about the movement.

 

[J.D.]

Originally posted by John of Japan:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by J.D.:
. . . except for their anti-missionaryism (some of them) and I don't think foot washing is an ordinance.

Hey, it's that "anti-missionaryism" that bothers me. You say "some of them." Please elaborate. I thought that would have been "all of them," but I admit I know little about the movement. </font>[/QUOTE]Browsing some of the PB web sites I see that more of them are getting involved in missionary work which bothers some of the others. There's a work of some size in the Phillipines going on that's PB. Lassere Bradley who does the widely-broadcast radio program is one that is pushing for more giving towards these few missionary programs. I've got a book by one of their elders named Michael Gowens, he is putting a lot of work into supporting the Phillipine mission. But they still are by and large anti-missions (although if you talk to one of them, they'll say they're not anti-missions, just anti-mission BOARDS).

I love the PBs and I wish they were more correct on some things. If they were, I would take their rebaptism. BTW some of them are more orthodox in their calvinism than some my realize.

There's several different web sites where I learn about them. www.pb.org (pro-missions), www.the-remnant.com (anti-missions).

One of their controversial doctrines is that of regeneration by "direct operation of the Holy Spirit apart from means". That is, they believe that regeneration can come at any time God chooses, including in the womb (i.e. John the Baptist), and that some people may be regenerated as such but never even hear the gospel (giving the anti-witnessing type excuse for laziness in the gospel). But, they say, God has chosen to bless certain individuals with the light of the Gospel, by which the salvation of God comes to light and into conscious knowledge of the chosen hearer. I too believe this. Some say it's a form of hyperism, but as with all forms of calvinism, it must never be used as an excuse for not preaching the gospel to the world. I believ those that don't want to witness to the world should examine themselves, whether they are in the faith.

 

[John of Japan]

Thanks, J.D. I checked out the websites. Very interesting!

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Originally posted by JRG39402:
I know you may likely be a strong Calvinist, but you still are to treat others kindly. Even if you think that kindness won't help them move toward the salvation Jesus gives, you still should be kind. Thanks

1. This is a mischaracterization of strong Calvinist in that it assumes we do not believe that we are to treat others with kindness because it won't move them toward salvation. The truth is that we treat others with kindness because God has commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves, not to try and manipulate them into accepting Christ.

2. This is a mischaracterization of Calvinists because it assumes that Calvinists are not kind to others. Quite the opposite is true. There are good and bad on both sides and quite honestly, some of the most angry and bitter people I have met have been arminians.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[JRG39402]

No it doesn't. that is not what I meant.

 

[robycop3]

Does anyone know of a PB church that's not Calvinist?