The Sword of the Lord is an APOSTATE Baptist Newspaper!

Regardless of what the "historic Baptist document" says, there is no scriptural proof that a Christian newspaper has to work under the auspices of a NT Local church. It is a Christian newspaper, nothing more, nothing less. So, the "facts" as you call them, are simply YOUR OPINION, and everyone is entitled to have one.

Though I'm not a fan of Shelton Smith or the Sword of the Lord, I think you're a little over the top here.

Concerning the two papers you've listed that are working under the auspices of a NT local church, they simply print the pastors opinion of what the Bible says. They could just as well work outside of the church. The papers in these churches aren't run by a board, but the Sword is. The papers you've referred us to are run wholly by the pastors and the churches they pastor.

 

That is pushing it there my friend.

Yes I fully agree since Dr. Rice died the Sword has gone down hill. I can not support them since they support the false doctrine of KJVOism. I have not looked at the Sword in many years so if they have repented of this error I will correct myself.

Not to start a flame war with my KJVO comments. I just stated why I will not support the Sword of the Lord.

David J.

 

I could understand calling a publication apostate if it were publishing false teachings, but to call a publication apostate simply because it's created by an individual instead of a "local church" is just plain crazy.

Maybe this "historic Baptist Doctrine" was abandoned years ago, no because people felt it to be too constraining, but because it is not Biblical.

Christ didn't come to create the "Baptist Church" or any other denomination, He came to bring life, to seek and save the lost. The Church that Christ built is made up of all believers from around the world.

To say that the "Baptist Church" is the "only organization with authority to administer the Lord's Supper and Baptism" sounds a little to close to Baptist Bride Heresy to me. I would dare say that most of these single-pastor led "New testament Baptist church" are far from the true Biblical New Testament model.

 

[snipped] WinDork, how do you define apostate?

[ May 12, 2006, 01:36 AM: Message edited by: C4K ]

 

I am certainly no fan of STFL, or Shelton Smith. But I think you are way over the top on this one. Clearly you don't understand what apostate really means, and clearly you are one of those "local church only" people who see no universal aspect of the church in Scripture.

 

WinDork, let me get this straight. Are you saying that any ministry that exists outside of a local church is apostate? Does that apply to Christian schools and colleges that operate under boards? How about mission boards and publishing companies? What about collective outreach, prison, youth, nursing home, hospital, or any other collective ministry? If a church wants to publish a newsletter or any other publication I have no problem with that but what if an independent evangelist or missionary wants to mail out a letter to his supporters. Is that apostate because it is not controlled by a specific local church?

I am no fan of Shelton Smith and what he has done to the Sword, but I agree with AVL1984, you are too far out there on this.

Like you said lets take this to the Word:

Where was the local church with authority over Elijah? Which local church was Abraham a member of? Which local church gets to count Jesus’ ministry in Galilee as part of their program?

Or in the example of Paul you wanted to use, which local church told Paul not to go to Asia in Acts 16:6?

God calls and uses men (and women) to accomplish his will. While he often uses local churches to do this he is not bound to that anymore today than he was before the Church came to be.

 

Merriam Webster online defines apostate as one who commits apostasy, they then define apostasy as:

Encyclopedia Britannica online defines apostasy as:

So WinDork, are you saying that the Sword of the Lord has totally rejected Christianity? While I disagree with some of there doctrinal positions (KJVO in specific) I still believe they (including Shelton Smith) are well intended sincere Christians trying to spread the gospel of Christ and build his kingdom.

 

Awesome response, dude. Take your ball and bat and go home when your statement is challenged.

I don't see where North Carolina Tentmaker is an admin, so why can't you answer those questions?

 

Don't tease us now

 

Wow, I can't believe what I am about to do!

I agree with Shelton Smith on this one!

The word "apostate" should be reserved for the most extreme.

I too think you went a little overboard.
BTW, I found things on one of your selected papers that are not biblical, so does this make this paper an "apostate"?

 

Dork, The Sword of the Lord is not apostate. I "do" appreciate the paper and Dr. Smith. I too am a local church man, probably more so than you. However you have made some dumb statements off the cuff that you can't back up. NO I'm not going to check with some woman to see if she agrees with you. Let me ask you a question. Are you a Baptist? Do you work a job? Is your job part of your local church?

 

Windork, come back and play...

 

Shiloh, we must mark this day and commemorate it always. I agree with you.

Doesn't mean I like SotL, though, I just wouldn't say it's apostate.