Bouquets and Brickbats

(EDITOR’S NOTE: I wish to thank the many brethren who have encouraged me in the current discussion with Bro. Joe Wilson. I have been amazed at the amount of concern brethren have about this matter. I have had calls from a number of different states. A good number have expressed their support in person when we have met at conferences, a funeral, etc. Of course, there is mail and e-mail. If I had published all of these various comments, this column would take up much of our space again this month. The following notes are simply samples of the many that have come. Thanks, Brethren, your encouragement is greatly appreciated and I wish I could publish every encouraging word but space will not permit.

I have been told of divided churches, ravished churches, impugned baptisms, and stumbling blocks causing young Christians to falter in their service.

FLORIDA: Just received your paper for May and part II of your response to Bro. Joe. You did a masterful job. I only hope that there are some Baptists out there that read this and begin to search the scriptures for themselves rather then taking the words of men.

I would really like to see you prepare a message on church authority— What the scriptures say. The issue of church authority has gotten completely out of hand.

ALASKA: Thank you for your help, I really do appreciate and Love you for Christ sake. Please keep up the Good work. I am praying for you in the article that you are writing concerning Bro. Wilson. That truth needs to be sent out and I appreciate that you are following the leadership of the Lord.

ILLINOIS: I am truly enjoying the current series on church building, I feel that you are "right on", keep up the good work.

MISSISSIPPI: Bro. Wayne, you have hit the nail on the head, in your response to Bro. Joe Wilson’s letter. I am really looking forward to your continuing to pursue this matter. It needs to be investigated. I encourage you to keep pressing for Scripture to support his position.

OKLAHOMA: Your comments about the establishment of the church and the KJV controversy are right on Target.

CALIFORNIA: Appreciate your stand for the truth and your great WebSite. God bless!

VIRGINIA: I appreciate the fact that you are a man with strong, definite convictions, and that you are forthright about what you believe instead of trying to camouflage your convictions.

OKLAHOMA: I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your paper. The recent articles on the Scriptural Requirements for Starting a True Church. I know first-hand the wrecking and deadening effects of the other side of this issue. May God be pleased to give you the grace to continue to press this issue. If I were to offer advice, it would be to keep doing as you are—insisting on Scripture for what is purported to be essential.

TENNESSEE: Do you have your Promise Keepers articles in booklet or tract form? They are excellent. I could use some.

ILLINOIS: You're right about the WebSite. It's great! It's even better than many of the big commercial sites. (i.e. Caterpillar's at www.cat.com) I've been on the net for going on two years and have visited literally thousands of

websites. This is definitely one of the better ones. The crescendo plug-in, the animated graphics, all the links... I can't believe how many hours you've got invested on here.

Keep up the good work. My prayers are with you. Keep in touch.

MISSOURI: Thank you for your excellent work in publishing "Answer To An Open Letter" in the May 1, 1997 edition of "The Grace Proclamator And Promulgator." This is a subject that for a long time in this generation has needed to be openly debated. Oh that we Christians could be open and honest and Christian enough to debate the issues without rancor and bitterness! Thank you for the spirit in which you are carrying on this discussion. Most of all thank you for presenting the true biblical viewpoint in the matter of church perpetuity. I don't know when I have enjoyed a discussion as much as I have this one. Keep up the good work.

TENNESSEE: Your articles exposing the Promise Keepers were excellent. This type of thing, promoting false doctrine and false hope, was standard in many places in California . . . .

Your articles on the organization of a church were good and to the point. I agree with you. How else can this be?

TEXAS: Received your May issue recently. You and Bro. Joe are stirring quite a bit of water. The Internet is a good place to do this I suppose. Lots of us can "look in."

I wish your would add some reference and pages to some of your quotes. What you said about JR Graves and 3 gathered is not what I have ever heard. (I have not studied this subject extensively, however.) Maybe like so many things and ideas in life...once they are published they have a tendency to "grow." Has what has "evolved" out of JR Graves beliefs "different of the same kind" or "different of another kind?" My father had some very strong beliefs about "chain link."

[Editor’s Note: The quote from J. R. Graves is found on page one of Baptist Church Perpetuity or History by W. A. Jarrel. It is evident from his own book, Old Landmarkism, What Is It?, that J. R. Graves held that succession was doctrinal and churches who believed alike were alike (See pages 79-85).

TENNESSEE: I enjoyed your WebSite. Also I agree wholeheartedly with your view of the perpetuity of the church.

A MOTHER CHURCH

People talk of Romanism as being the "Mother church;" people talk of Protestant groups as being "branches of the church;" Rome is a mother, yes—the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth (Revelation 17:5). Protestants are the rebellious daughters of Rome, and the many Protestant "branches" are truly branches of Rome. But the church of Jesus Christ has not part nor lot with Rome and Protestantism. God says to all His people in either and both of these movements "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." God's church was here before the old whore of Rome; it was here a good 1500 years before Luther and Calvin. What truth Luther and Calvin taught had been taught all through the ages before, what heresy they taught will eventually lead their movements back to "Mother" Rome from whence they came. (Copied from The Origin and Perpetuity of the Baptists, P. 12, A booklet published by The Baptist Examiner while Bro. John Gilpin was Editor.)

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Last updated on Friday, March 04, 2011

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