Should Baptists Hold Union Meetings Or Exchange Pulpits With Other Denominations?
By G.E. JONES
NOW WITH THE LORD
(Written In The 1940's)

In some places people who claim to be Baptists will exchange pulpits and hold union meetings with other denominations. To do this means to put the other churches on the same level with Baptist churches and to give the world the idea that there is no difference in the churches.

The world gets the idea that one church is as good as another. Either this is true or it is not true.

If a man calls himself a Baptist and thinks that other churches are as good as the Baptist churches, then he should, in all consistency, insist on the abolishment of Baptist churches.

If other churches are just as good as Baptist churches and preach the truth as well, then there is no need for a Baptist Church. We could abolish the Baptist churches and we would have that much less division.

On the other hand, if other churches are not as good as Baptist churches, there is no need for other churches. What truths do they preach that the Baptists do not preach?

If the world did not have them it would have just as much truth as it now has, and a lot less error. If we join with them in a union service and leave the impression with the world that there is no difference, then we are a party to teaching the world something that is not true. Can we do that and be blameless?

If we do not believe that other churches are Scriptural churches, then to join in with them and pretend that they are equally as sound as Baptist churches is to pretend to believe what we do not think is so. This is hypocrisy. "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Romans 14:23)

We do not ask it, nor expect it of other churches. If they believe they have the truth and that we do not, then consistency would demand that they refuse to affiliate with us. It is wrong to ask people to do that which they think is wrong, unless you can first teach them that they are wrong in their position. A union meeting would not last long where each party was doing his best to convince the other of his error.

Again, if we took part in a union meeting and did not teach all things that Christ commanded, we would be unfaithful to Him. How could a Baptist teach and contend for immersion only, while in a meeting with people who believe in sprinkling?

If we invited people to join the church of their choice, then we would leave the impression that sprinkling was just as good as immersion for baptism.

If we engaged in a union service and left off the matter of baptism altogether, then we allow men to persuade us not to teach something that Christ told us to teach.

By what process of reasoning can we conclude that it would be profitable to keep silent on some things that Christ told us to teach? This is the same as saying that we know better than Christ what would best promote the cause. Is this not veiled modernism?

Not long ago I was in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. At that time the American Federation of Churches held a great rally in that city. They were launching what they called the American Preaching Mission.

In that heterogeneous mass of religionists, representing most of the leading denominations, were modernists and those who were supposed to believe in the inspired Word.

Dr. George Truett, one of the prominent men of the Southern Baptist Convention, was one of the main speakers. Dr. E. Stanley Jones, a modernist, was another. Mr. Jones said that one of the purposes of the meeting was to bring denominations closer to each other and to pray for the success of each other.

How could one who believes in the divinity of Christ pray for God to bless the work of the man who is trying to keep people from believing in that doctrine? How could one who believes in the necessity of the new birth pray for God to bless the work of those who do not teach the new birth? Can I consistently ask God to bless both the truth and error? This is the logical outcome of unionism.

It would not stop at shutting our mouth on the question of baptism, but would soon stop our mouth on the doctrines of the resurrection, virgin birth, and the new birth. Not long ago I heard where some of the British missionaries in India were leaving the name of our Lord out of their songs and prayers to keep from offending the Hindus.

But what does the Word of God say on this line? We are told to "Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them". (Romans 16:17)

When some legalistic teachers were disturbing the churches of Galatia, the apostle wrote and said, "If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed". (Galatians 1:9) Does this sound like praying for God to bless the work of these false teachers?

The apostle even went so far as to say, "I would they were even cut off which trouble you". (Galatians 5:12) To bid a person God speed is to be a partaker of his deeds.

"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds". (2 John 10-11) If any should say that John had reference here to the coming of Christ in the flesh, we reply that the same principle applies to other things that are unscriptural.

If we pray for God to bless those who teach sprinkling and encourage them in this false practice, would we not be partakers with them in that false practice?

But, as shown above, the union movement would not stop until it had delivered us into the camp of the modernist. "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump". (Galatians 5:9) It has long been my opinion that the door was opened for modernism to creep into the ranks of Christians by this shut mouth policy on the part of so many.

If I keep my mouth shut and wink at the errors of some on baptism and the Lord's Supper, then presently some other men are demanding that I also keep my mouth shut when they question the inspiration of the Word and the divinity of Christ.

A little hole in a levee might seem a trivial matter to some, but if it is left unguarded it soon means that the whole levee is broken. In 1935 the Arkansas River bottom below Morriltn was overflowed. I was told that holes made in the levee by moles had so undermined the levee that the whole thing was caused to give way.

For years the pacifists have been seeking to bring a compromise between those who hold the truth and those who hold to error. Little by little this compromising spirit has been eating at the bulwarks of faith until today many have been swept away with the flood waters of modernism. The safest policy is to stay with the Word of God on every point and compromise on nothing.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Word of God calls upon us to come out and separate ourselves from error. Abraham was called upon to come out from his country and his people. The children of Israel were forbidden to intermarry with the nations about them lest they should lead them away from the true worship of God.

Solomon disregarded this teaching and some of his foreign wives led him into idolatry. When some of the other tribes wished to go into a union affair with Zerubbabel and the Jews in the building of the Temple they received this reply, "Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel". (Ezra 4:3)

Perhaps, the most striking example of the evil consequences of one who has the truth, going into a union with one who holds to error, is that of Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab. Jehoshaphat was a worshipper of God; he walked in the first ways of David, and sought not after Baalim. Ahab, while claiming to be a follower of the Lord, had mixed the worship of Baalim with his religion. These two joined affinity.

Ahab wished to go out to battle and desired that Jehoshaphat go with him. Jehoshaphat desired to inquire of the Lord about the matter. Ahab had a bunch of men-pleasing prophets who knew what Ahab wanted to do so they told him to go up against Ramoth-gilead to battle and prosper.

Jehoshaphat was not satisfied with these prophets. Perhaps he discerned the man-pleasing spirit they had. He wanted to know if there were not a prophet of the Lord besides these of whom they might inquire. Ahab said there was one other, Micaiah, the son of Imla, but he said, "I do not like him for he does not prophesy good, but evil concerning me."

Micaiah was sent for by the request of Jehoshaphat. When he came, Ahab professed to want nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord. Micaiah prophesied that the expedition would fail and Ahab would be killed. Then Micaiah was abused and put in prison for telling the truth.

Ahab played a trick on Jehoshaphat by having him to go into battle with his king's robes on, while Ahab disguised himself. When the enemy saw Jehoshaphat with his king's robes on, they thought he was Ahab, whom they wished to kill. Only the mercies of God kept them from killing Jehoshaphat.

Ahab was killed despite his disguise. Then Jehoshaphat returned to his own land. He was met by Jehu who said, "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?" (2 Chronicles 19:2)

After this Jehoshaphat did all he could to make amends for this foolish step. He instituted many reforms and tried not only to turn his people away from idolatry, but those of the Northern Kingdom as well.

But the seeds were sown. His son had married the daughter of Ahab. After the death of Jehoshaphat his son and his evil wife undid all the good work of his father. This is a most solemn lesson.

It shows us the far-reaching consequence of a compromising step. While in a union meeting with others, seeds would be planted in the minds of the younger generation that might lead them away from the truth.

Right here I desire to warn our preachers against an evil that is rapidly growing among us. In most cities and towns preachers of all denominations form themselves into what they call a "Ministerial Alliance," or a "Ministerial Association."

This scribe has always steered clear of such an organization and looked upon it as an unholy alliance. He considers it an opening wedge on the part of unsound preachers to secure recognition for their false claims to being true ministers of Christ.

By such alliances Baptists have everything to lose and nothing to gain. When Baptist preachers join such alliances or associations they virtually acknowledge and recognize preachers of all faiths as true ministers of Christ and thereby put them on the same level with themselves.

If they do not believe that preachers of all denominations should be recognized as being equally Scriptural with Baptists, then they are acting hypocritical when they so pretend by joining their alliances.

Moreover, they put themselves in an embarrassing situation. Unscriptural movements and programs will be proposed in these alliances, which no true Baptist can afford to endorse. He must keep his mouth shut and have the appearance of endorsing some things which he does not believe to be Scriptural, or else find himself in a hopeless minority in objecting to such movements.

Let us remember the mistake of Jehoshaphat in his unwise alliance with Ahab, and the evil consequences of that alliance. Remember the words of Jehu, "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?" (John 14:23) "And he that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings." (John 14:24)

If preachers are unwilling to keep the sayings of Christ, how are we to know they love Him? Then, pray tell me, what fellowship can Baptists have with them?

In this connection I wish to say it is not the preacher's business to so preach as to keep everybody in his community on good terms with one another. Jesus said, Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on the earth? I tell you, Nay, but rather division: for from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two." etc. (Luke 12:51-52)

It is our duty to faithfully declare the Word of God without compromise. This will most certainly bring opposition from those who hold to error. Truth exposes error, and those who have their unscriptural practices exposed will become offended and start an opposition against those who expose their error. It was our Lord's exposure of the sham and unscriptural practices of the Pharisees that brought about their opposition of Him, which opposition brought on His crucifixion.

Not long ago I read in a magazine where a certain writer said there was something he could not understand about Christianity. It was supposed to bring peace and instead of doing that he had seen it divide households.

I said to myself that this man had not read his Bible closely. Jesus taught us that His teachings would divide households. Not because there is anything wrong with His teachings, but because "The carnal mind is enmity against God." (Romans 8:7)

Those who hold to false doctrines will listen placidly to others preach false doctrines which they do not believe, but when someone so preaches as to expose their error they become offended at once. Mr. Kagawa, the famous Japanese who has been speaking in this country, does not believe in the divinity or the vicarious death of Christ. Many who went to hear him speak believed in these doctrines. Yet they gladly listened to him and did not become offended.

But had some Missionary Baptist exposed their false practice on infant baptism and sprinkling and episcopacy they would have been greatly offended. It is the truth that hurts and causes men to take offense. When Christ rebuked the Pharisees, for making the Word of God of none effect by their traditions, they became offended. (Matthew 15:1-12)

Though people may become offended, yet it is our duty to warn them of false doctrines and rebuke their error. "Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." (2 Timothy 4:2) "Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith." (Titus 1:13)

If our preaching does not stir up opposition, then it is a good sign that we are not loyal to the truth. Jesus said, "A servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying they will keep yours also." (John 15:20).