By
Dr. Art Wilson
932 W. Kearney
Springfield, MO  65803
(417) 866-7219

Five Times past president of the Baptist bible Fellowship International

Text:  Topical = Baptist Churches

What a romance!  he met her when she was a pretty, vivacious 19-year old.  The beam in her eyes, the upstanding moral decency and her effervescent personality literally stole his attention away from all other girls.

Before her 21st birthday, he had persuaded her that nothing or no one else on earth could make his life as happy and as fulfilling as could she.  Embracing her at the wedding he whispered, “I love you truly, truly dear.”  then speaking out before God and witnesses he said, “I will cleave only unto thee as long as we both shall live.”  what a romance!  They each had considered God’s way was to “be fruitful” and expressed their desires mutually to raise a family.  Not only was she to him all that a man would desire in a mate - a good cook and housekeeper- but also an abiding best friend and lover.

In unison both their desires were met, and they were drawn even closer together by the children born to their happy and enjoyable union.  After one year a baby boy brought ecstasy into their home.  They drew even closer in all ways.  After 18 years of super joy and satisfaction, he became somewhat cold toward her.  It was hard for her to understand what was changing him.

He met a man at his job who also had a large family but had begun to grimace under the financial and social responsibilities.  That man caused him to think likewise.  So, without notifying either wife, they left and outright abandoned their own “darling wife” and “precious children” and moved - without even a good-bye note - to another state.

Not only did “darling wife” and “mother” of his seven children get abandoned, but it was learned years later that he even changed the spelling of his name.  I know this story quite well.  His “darling” was my mother, and the man that was led astray was my father.  They never saw each other again.

As it was way back then, so it is - and far worse - today.  Some men cannot take it when the burden of  a family becomes theirs.  They are easily led astray and can drop their family and go under another name because “true husband,” “faithful father,” and “dependable provider” are too antiquated for them.  Neither do they reflect the more progressive spirit of today’s society.

Now think of the thrilling and moving SPIRITUAL romances some of our fine men in the ministry have had in their past.  courted by the Holy Spirit in a Baptist church, saved by Christ the Saviour in a Baptist church, baptized in the name of the Father and the name of the Son and in the name of the Holy Ghost in a Baptist church; taught and trained in a Baptist church and/or Baptist school; called of God to preach because of a Baptist church or Baptist youth camp; and for most of them - found their wife in a Baptist church or school; then were ORDAINED TO THE BAPTIST MINISTRY (to the upholding of the historical and Biblical Baptist distinctives); and then ultimately became pastor of a Baptist church, persuading that body of Baptists that they believed what the Baptists have always believed.

Such ones were asked (or it was assumed) that they were in harmony with “the trail of blood,” and like my father, they couldn’t say enough praise for their “sweetheart of faith and obedience to the faith,” but now - again like my father - they and their misled people want to drop and abandon the name “Baptist.”  As Paul wrote to the Galatians, I must state and ask this question, “Ye did run well (took a strong, unashamed stand for all Baptist doctrines), who hath bewitched you that you are so soon removed?”   Gal. 5:7 & 3:1)

The Scriptures also declare that in these last days mankind will not endure (stay with) sound doctrine but will want to go with the ear ticklers. (2 Tim. 4:3)  Further, because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (Matt. 24;12)  Unlike the terms “transgression, wickedness, lewdness and abomination,” all of which speak of the vilest, the term “iniquity” refers to the counterfeit.  this then is saying that because so much counterfeiting is going on, millions are being deceived because they can’t tell the difference.  My mother used to warn u us thusly:  “all that glitters is not gold.”

The amount of your education, the size of your church or the importance of your position and/or community popularity have not made you immune from Satan’s counterfeit, high-sounding seductions before which others - even stronger than you - have fallen.

Did not the “MAN OF GOD” who was specifically told by God to do his job but NOT TO GO TO ANYONE’S PLACE TO EAT OR DRINK, prove that?  He did his job.  He was true to his ordained calling.  He then obeyed God as he refused the king’s invitation to eat and drink in the palace.  he was again true to his ordained calling.  He obeyed also by going home on the prescribed road.  All the way thus far he is a dedicated fundamentalist role model for younger servants of god who may wall have had their eyes on him and secretly desired to be like him.

But now comes the bad news.  Another “preacher” who had left his roots of truth came to the man of God, supposedly to console him (and of course, “help” him), and invited him to come back to his house to eat and drink.  Again, God’s servant was true to his ordained calling.  he told the other “preacher” that God had told him he could not go to anyone’s place to eat or drink.  (Let God be true and every man a liar)” Rom. 3:4)

So the other “clergyman” said, “I am a preacher too, just like yourself, and go told me to invite you into my home for fellowship, eating and drinking.”  On that basis, the man of God decided to leave god’s basics - trust and obey - and departed in fellowship with the other “nice preacher.”

The Bible says the “nice preacher” LIED TO HIM.  Like all of us, he was not immune from Satan’s trick - “spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12)  That was the end of his ministry.  When he left the “nice preacher’s house, he was killed by a lion.

Take heed, preacher, the Devil is an angel of light first and then as a roaring lion second, and walks about seeking whom he may devourer.  (I Pet. 5:8)

Back during the time of World War II, a Methodist preacher knocked at my door.  He was obviously very upset.  he said it was a heavy burden on his heart.  he told me that he could not bear it another day -”God has made me come to you.”  he was very angry, because he had heard me preach “Eternal Security” on the radio.  He called it “a damnable doctrine.”  In two hours he had received Christ, and yes, “Eternal Security.”

He was so overwhelmed with god’s amazing grace, he immediately asked if I would come to his church and present some sound doctrine.  I told him yes, but I said, “They will fire you.”  he thought his friendship with the District superintendent would prevent that.  The newspaper headline read:  “Baptist pastor Conducts Methodist Revival on Doctrine.”  On the 7th day, that “lovable and friendly” District Superintendent had a secret meeting with the church board at 6PM.  he led them in firing their preacher and stayed for the service so that he could inform the congregation of the action and also announce that to keep down any further problems, the doors would be padlocked.  he told a packed standing-room-only crowd, “We are sorry to do this, but your speaker has not been declaring “Methodist Doctrine.”

I was sitting on the front seat, waiting for time to preach, but when he said I had not preached “Methodist Doctrine.” I jumped to my feet and said, “Just a minute, Sir, let’s check that out.”  I then turned to the audience and said, “The first night I preached on `God, the Creator;` the second night on `The Passover Lamb;` the third night on `The Virgin Birth;` the fourth night on `the Blood Atonement;` the fifth night on `Jesus, our Substitute on the Cross;` last night, it was on `The Bodily Resurrection;` and tonight I’m preaching on `The Literal Bodily Return of Christ.`”  Then I said, “I didn’t know that you Methodists didn’t believe these thinkings and were all religious infidels, as this man is saying.”

The next day the newspaper headline read “Methodist preacher Is Fired for having Baptist Preacher.”  Two days later it read:  “Baptist Pastor to Baptize Fired Methodist Preacher and Wife.”  He became a strong Baptist preacher for 45 years.  he is in Heaven now.  He was honest and honorable - he sent his Methodist ordination certificate back to them with the statement:  “Since I no longer believe as you do, I count it my moral and spiritual duty to return this ordination certificate.”

Every pastor who has led or will lead his church to drop or abandon the name “Baptist” should be as honest and honorable as that preacher and send your ordination certificate back to the Baptist church that believed you were telling the truth when you were ordained.  As in marriage, the vows are unto God first and then to your mate.  Are preachers becoming as fickle and uncaring about their ordination vows as people are about their marriage vows?  Is it that easy to divorce truth (your spiritual darling) you once deeply cherished?

One preacher is quoted as saying: “We dropped the Baptist name, because we found it offensive and, therefore, a hindrance to our desired progress.”  Another said:  “That is not the road people want to travel nowadays.”  Still a third one said:  “Like any business, you must go where the traffic is, and it’s not on the Baptist boulevard anymore.”  Be honest with God, yourself and your people.  Answer these questions.  Did you drop the Baptist name (or plan to) because:

(1) Creation is not true?

(2) The Old Testament prophets of God were fiction writers?

(3) The Virgin Birth was impossible?

(4) The One called Jesus the Christ was a good man but not God incarnate in flesh?

(5) The blood from His body on the cross was not efficacious or the only element to atone for man’s sin?

(6) The bodily resurrection from the grave is a touted MYTH as is supported even today by numerous religious “intelligencia?”

(7) Salvation is no longer by grace through faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone - plus or minus nothing?

(8) His ascension back to the Father’s right hand is a “fairy tale?”

(9) He presently is not the only mediator (contact or connection) between God and man?

(10) Christ’s return in the body is unrealistic, or certainly not soon?

(11) Baptism is no longer the “like figure” (picture) of the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of God, nor does it matter what mode, what “church,” or by what authority it is administered?

(12) The Lord’s Supper (Communion) is in no way exclusive but is to be in the “Promise Keepers” style (everybody) where Jew, Gentile, Catholic, Muslim, Mormons and 25 other groups were “partaking” making us all one body?  Every sound-doctrine Baptist church should immediately demand public repentance from their pastor, or fire him, for breach of covenant if he partook of “communion” there or anywhere else in like manner.  He is a traitor to his ordination vows!

(13) there is no old biblical teaching such as, “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them,” (Eph. 5;11); “Come out from among them and be SEPARATE saith the Lord.” “Have no” means “don’t get started.”  “Come out” means if you find yourself already in the mixture, be a “man after God’s own heart” and obey - come out!

(14) Staying strong as a true Bible-believing Baptist doesn’t represent the aggressive, progressive spirit of today’s society and is destined to become obsolete and you don’t want to be behind all the religions in your city, even though you are associating with the groups that are at work toward the one world antichrist church, whose theme is:  “Tear down the walls” (of doctrine and differences).

The fact that what a preacher gets involved in when he abandons the Baptist’s Biblical beliefs of the centuries of doctrine mentioned here in can only mean - like it or not- he has moved into the camp of the compromisers, either ignorantly or in the company of those “who will not endure sound doctrine.”

Because I have some good preacher friends who have been bewitched by this master-counterfeiting program, I can do no less than believe that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for CORRECTION and for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3;16)

Lastly, what will it be like at the judgment seat of Christ when we stand face to face with Him Who founded the church and gave her the doctrines?  It won’t be rewarding when we have to admit that for money, prestige and earthly popularity we abandoned what He first established!

Could I possibly be true to God or to you who hear and read these words if I fail to give you Christ’s own instructions - “Come out of her, My people.” (Rev. 18:40 And “My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)

A man whose love for his wife ALLOWS him to keep regular company with and spend money on another woman, has in his heart already “left his first love.” (Rev. 2:4)  Like Judah of old -- “Judah hath dealt treacherously and an abomination has been committed in Israel and Jerusalem for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord WHICH HE LOVED and hath married the daughter of a STRANGE GOD.” (Mal. 2:11)  Read all of chapter two.

“Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God and KEEP His charge and His statutes and His judgments and His commandments ALWAYS.”  (Deut. 11:1)
 

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