What is the Primitive Baptist Church?

[Plain Old Bill]

This is a sincere request for clear and accurate information.The reason I ask is the only thing I have heard about them has been on news clips on tv showing what the tv folks say they are.They may not even be talking about the right people!
What I get from TV is Primitive Baptists are hillbillies in Kentucky who are snake handles.
What I would like to know is the truth.

 

[Frogman]

NAW, the snake handlers are illegal aliens from WVirginy.

Here is a link:

Primitive Baptist online

Also, there are some of those others hanging around, just don't hold anything they may try to hand to you

The best way to know the PB Brethren is to hear it from their mouth.

Ok, come on pinyo, Brother James and others, are you going to let a missionary say that about you?

God Bless
Bro. Dallas Eaton

 

[Bro. James Reed]

hear it from their mouth

BLASPHEMY!!!

Just kidding.

Here are the Articles of Faith of my church...please note that, since all PB churches write their own articles, the wording is different from church to church. However, most of the major points match, although there are different churches that hold to things that the mainline church does not.

Articles of Faith
of
Spring Grove Primitive Baptist Church


I.

The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired written word of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” They are written to and for the use and benefit of the children of God and are the only rule of faith and practice. In the days of the prophets, God inspired them to write about His holy counsel. In these latter days God has spoken to us by His Son and inspired the Apostles to write about thing which God revealed to them. The translation made under the rule and direction of King James is our Authority.

II Tim. 3:16-17, Heb. 1:1-2, II Peter 1:20-21, II Samuel 23:2, Eph. 1:1, Romans 15:4.

II.

The scriptures teach there is only one true and living God, the Father, the Son (Word) and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one, infinite in foreknowledge, wisdom, justice, mercy, love, power and holiness. God is eternal and omnipresent.

Deut. 4:39, Psalms 139, Daniel 4:35, Mark 12:29, John 1:1; 10:30, I Cor. 8:6, Eph. 4:6,
I John 5:7, Rev. 1:8.

III.

In the beginning God created the heaven, the earth and the fullness thereof. He fashioned them according to His will and set the laws of nature. Lastly, God created man in His own image, formed him of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Man in this state was very good but subject to vanity. God called the man Adam and gave him a commandment. Adam was the seminal head of mankind. Adam, and we in him, transgressed the commandment which God had given. Therefore, we were condemned before God and completely unable to deliver ourselves from this condition or even to desire deliverance.

Gen. 2:7 & 16-17; 3:6 & 12-13; 6:5, I Cor. 15:21-22, Job 14:4, Psalms 51:5, Jer. 17:9, Romans 3:12 & 23; 5:12-19; 8:6-8.


IV.

Eternal salvation is wholly the free gift of God. Before the foundation of the world, God moved by His love, chose those who will live with Him in eternity. He treasured sufficient grace in Christ to perfect their salvation. This choice was without regard to any works or faith on their part.

II Samuel 23:5, Mark 13:27, John 3:16; 6:37-44; 17:2, Romans 8:28-39, Eph. 1:4-12,
I Peter 1:2.

V.

God’s predestination has two aspects. The first is the eternal salvation of the elect, whose destination was determined before the world began. The second is the foreordination of earthly events. Although God does not predestinate all earthly events, He holds ultimate control over them.

Isaiah 14:24 & 27, Acts 14:14-16, Romans 8:28-33, I Cor. 14:33, Eph. 1:4-11, Titus 1:2.

VI.

The Elect shall be called, quickened into Divine life, sanctified by the Holy Spirit and justified in the sight of God by the righteousness of Christ. They shall be preserved in grace unto eternal glory.

John 5:25; 10:27-29, Romans 4:25; 8:30-31, II Tim. 1:9, Titus 3:5, I Peter 1:5; 5:10,
Jude 1:1.

VII.

Our faith in God is a result of His work within us and without it we can not please Him. Our good works are the results of our faith, evidence that we are children of God, justification in the sight of men and these good works obtain the approval of God.

John 6:44 & 65, Romans 8:7-10, Gal. 5:22-25, Eph. 2:8-10 & 14; 5:9-10, Heb. 11:1-6; 12:2.


VIII.

Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ to the church. Those who believe in Christ are the only qualified candidates for baptism. Only baptized believers are entitled to participate in the Lord’s Supper.

Matt. 3:13-16; 26:17-18; 28:19, Mark 1:9-11, Acts 2:38; 8:36-39, Romans 6:3-4.

IX.

The washing of the saints’ feet is a duty enjoined by Jesus Christ, and should be done in a church capacity.

John 13:1-17.

X.

Only ministers who are called of God, baptized, ordained by a presbytery of our faith, and who maintain gospel order have the authority to administer the ordinances of the church.

Matt. 9:38, Acts 13:2-3, I Tim. 4:14, Heb. 5:4.

XI.

At the end of time, Christ shall come again. The dead shall be raised and those that are alive shall be changed. He will carry the elect to eternal glory. The non-elect will be eternally destroyed.

John 5:28-29, Romans 8:11, I Cor. 15:51-57, I Thes. 4:13-17, II Thes. 1:9, Phil. 3:21.


I was asked about Article 11 on another board. Seems that it might give the connotation that we don't believe in hell when we do. This is likely to come up at our next business meeting.

BTW, I have never held a snake, and if someone handed me one in church I would faint, and then I would get up and find another church.

I think the link Bro. Dallas gave you is one of the best. You might also do a google or yahoo search for the Primitive Baptist Library in Carthage, Illinois or for the Black Rock Address, which formally separated the Baptists in America into 2 camps, the Primitives and the Missionaries.

I have a very good book here from one of the more well-versed ministers from years gone by. It is called Systematic Theology by Elder R. V. Sarrels . I doubt it is still in print, but if you can find it, it is a very detailed study of the word and the way most Primitives view it. By detailed, I mean just about everything. It's over 500 pages long, and elder Sarrels uses many, many verses of scripture to back up his statements. It's a very interesting read.

BTW, Bro. Dallas, if I may say so, you have as good a view of what the Primitive Baptists believe as many of us do. I know a few PBs who couldn't tell you many of our basic doctrines. Of course, I suppose that's true in every religion.

God Bless. Bro. James

 

[Frogman]

Originally quoted by Brother James Reed while discussing the articles of faith of his local church: I was asked about Article 11 on another board. Seems that it might give the connotation that we don't believe in hell when we do. This is likely to come up at our next business meeting.

Dear Brother James, I know how you mean this when you say it, but I couldn't help but to laugh when I read it. Sorry. The way I read, sometimes I skip over punctuation So, obviously...

quote:
BTW, Bro. Dallas, if I may say so, you have as good a view of what the Primitive Baptists believe as many of us do. I know a few PBs who couldn't tell you many of our basic doctrines. Of course, I suppose that's true in every religion.

Yes, I would think that is true among all of us. Thank you for your kind words. I do have a leaning toward the PB and have studied much in the last one or two years of the beliefs. I find however that I cannot take all as you do. But besides that, I have a great respect for you brethren.

May God Bless all
Bro. Dallas Eaton

[edited to remove explanation of my differences, this thread is not about me or what I believe]

 

[pinoybaptist]

here is a link to some PB sites, including ours:

Columbia Primitive Baptist Church ;

Tidewater (Norfok) Primitive Baptist Church

Lexington, Kentucky

why the name Primitive Baptist

Hope you visit all of them.

Cheers.

 

[rsr]

No offense, but I'm moving this to the Denominations Forum, where it really belongs.

rsr

 

[EPH 1:4]

Plain Old Bill, if you would like to hear some sermons from our PB preachers just click on to www.pbsermons.org :thumbs:from one of the Primitive Baptist (Steve aka EPH 1:4)

 

[Frogman]

Bro. Pinyobaptist,
Can you fix that link to the Black Rock address?

Bro. Dallas

I think that article can be found through the links related to the other links you gave, though indirectly.

 

[rsr]

BLACK ROCK ADDRESS

 

[Frogman]

Thanks rsr, I thought Plain Old Bill may be interested in reading it.

Bro. Dallas

if he is like me he will read what ever he sees printed

 

[pinoybaptist]

Originally posted by Frogman:
Bro. Pinyobaptist,
Can you fix that link to the Black Rock address?

Bro. Dallas

I think that article can be found through the links related to the other links you gave, though indirectly.

Originally posted by Frogman:
Bro. Pinyobaptist,
Can you fix that link to the Black Rock address?

Bro. Dallas

I think that article can be found through the links related to the other links you gave, though indirectly.

Sorry, Bro. Dallas, been away from my PC. Thanks to Bro. rsr for providing the other link.

 

[Plain Old Bill]

I would very much like to thank every one of you for your entries.You have given me enough information to work with.By the way iI will be going to these sites today. I would like to especially like to thank Bro. James Reed that instantly answered most of my questions.Thanks for the sites Sister Pinobaptist.Bro. Dallas I always enjoy seeing your entries, thankyou for the help.I did go to the site you suggested yesterday, I think I put it on my list of favorites.

 

[rsr]

Just to point out the obvious about anything that concerns Baptists, there are different flavors even of Primitive Baptists, and not all associations hold exactly the same beliefs, though they are more alike than not. And there are some who call themselves Primitive Baptist who would be rejected outright by the historic Primitives. Just my opinion.

 

[Frogman]

Dear Plain Old Bill,

Thank you for your kind words.

Lookie here though, I said:

Bro. Pinyobaptist....and you said:

Sister Pinyobaptist,

Pinyobaptist.....if I am in error, sorry for making the assumption

I have been visiting your church's website.

May God Bless All

Bro. Dallas

 

[pinoybaptist]

Bro. Bill said:

Thanks for the sites Sister Pinobaptist

Well, now. No problem, Bro. Bill.

Actually, it's brother. But seeing as my real name is Timoteo (which is hispanic for Timothy and pronounced the same way 'cept the thy becomes teo), I've been called everything from Timotoe to Tomatoe, and it's no big deal to be called sister 'cause I know I ain't a sister, and I ain't a tomato, either.

God bless ya'll.

 

[Jeff Weaver]

Plain Old Bill Notes:

What I get from TV is Primitive Baptists are hillbillies in Kentucky who are snake handles.

Unforunately, TV portrays most of us hillbillies that way. I live in the heart of Appalachia, and am a Primitive Baptist to boot, were we have the largest concentration of Primitive Baptists in the country.

We are a peculiar people, but tend to shy away from snakes. The snake handlers are over in West Virginia, only place in the U.S. where it is legal. Those folks are properly described as Pentcostal Holiness, but the precise name of their church I can't tell you. I have been invited to go rattler hunting so the old boys could get some to sell to them. I declined the offer.

I have heard joke after Joke about Primitive Baptists having electricity, being on the internet, etc. Many are under severe misapprehensions about who and what we are. The appelation "Primitive" comes from the belief that we are the original form of Baptist. While this is debatable I suppose, there is no doubt that our practice is older than almost any other protestant denomination. I can't answer about the Catholics, or Eastern Orthodox, so will leave that to your investigations.

Most, if not all of the churches in my immediate area subscribe to the London Confession of 1689, and have a shortened version printed in the minutes of the various meetings called articles of faith. Most of us still practice the seven ordinances mentioned the Philadelphia Confession of 1742 rather than the two most Baptists practice now, but we don't fall out with our brethern with might not practice all of these things. We are the only group, along with Old Regular Baptists, and some United Baptists, that still do that, as far I am aware.

 

[Plain Old Bill]

Dear BROTHER TIMOTEO,
egg all ver my face. My deepest apologies.By the way I did go to some of those sights today.Sorry there is to much material to digest in one day but I did get some of it read.Again thankyou very much for your help.

 

[Bro. James Reed]

"I ain't a sister, and I ain't a tomato, either."

That statement, if taken alone, is very odd.

It did make me laugh though. Thank you brother.

Bro. Bill, always a pleasure to help others learn about us. The good thing about being clerk is that I was able to copy all of our Articles, rules, etc. into WORD for easy accessability.

Hope everybody has a very blessed week.

Love, Bro. James

 

[Bethelassoc]

We are the only group, along with Old Regular Baptists, and some United Baptists, that still do that, as far I am aware.

I think you're right, Bro. Weaver. I've been working on my own personal research on the United Baptists and the Old Regular Baptists and I haven't found another sub-denom that would fit into this category.

Even among the UBs and ORBs, there are variances, but it should not be enough to cause contention, in my thinking.

 

[Jeff Weaver]

Dear Bethel Assoc.

Thanks for the confirmation. I knew the Old Regulars still practice in the old way, and had heard about the Uniteds, but I haven't attended any United meetings. My father's family were Old Regulars, so I am very familar with their practices.

As for as being a cause of contention, we don't make an issue of the practice to a large extent, although, obviously are more comfortable with the way "We" do it. I suspect that the ORBs and UBs would be about the same.

The only point dividing Primitives and Old Regulars is over whether or not the atonement was particular or general. I suspect that would be the major issue between Primitives and Uniteds as well.

Jeff