What About The Baptists?

By CHARLES PERKINS, Pastor

GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

1097 STATE HWY 176

GALENA, MISSOURI 65656

"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:1,2)

To some people the word "Baptist" is a "dirty word." Baptists haven't always been liked throughout the centuries. Even the first Baptist, who was John the Baptist, was hated by many of his day. As a matter of fact, he lost his head because he had courage enough to speak out against adultery.

Baptists Churches have existed all the way back in history to the first church at Jerusalem. Jesus Himself was baptized by John The Baptist." There are, of course, two kinds of Baptists: Baptist Baptists, and Protestant Baptists.

Most Baptists of today are Protestants. Real Baptists are not Protestants and never were. Many Protestant churches are running back home to Rome and the Pope (Rev. 17) via the World Council of Churches, the National Council and/or the charismatic movement. Some Protestant Baptist churches subscribe to one or all of these organizations.

There is Protestant Baptist churches who have nothing to do with any of the above mentioned. Yet their soul-winning fervor and the stirring of baptismal waters has waned or disappeared altogether. Protestant Baptists as well as all other Protestant churches historically are the product of the Reformation.

True Baptist churches, however, were never a part of the Reformation. Their history predates the Reformation by many centuries. They have always held to real Bible doctrines, such as: The inspiration of the scriptures, the virgin birth of Christ, the deity of Christ, the blood atonement of Christ, the priesthood of the believer, the bodily resurrection, salvation by grace through faith, eternal security, believers baptism by immersion, and the pre-tribulation return of Christ.

True "Baptist" Baptists have never been a denomination, but independent. The Lord Jesus Christ is their Head, the Bible is their rule and the Holy Spirit is their Teacher.

Some of the greatest Preachers this world has ever known are Baptists. They are Independent Bible believing Baptists. Some of the names that come to mind (in no certain order) are: J. Frank Norris, J. Harold Smith, Lester Roloff, Jack Hyles, Bob Gray Sr., Harold Sightler, Dennis Corle, Hugh Pyle, Peter Ruckman, E. L. Bynum, Harold Boyd, Joe Boyd, Jerry McDonald, Keith Gomez, Larry Brown, Mickey Carter, Randy Taylor, Jim Vineyard, Jack Trieber, Tim Green, Don Green, Bob Smith, Ken Graham, Jon Jenkins and hundreds more over this land.

These are the kind of preachers who have "stuck by the stuff" in these last days just before the rapture of the Saints. These men are the men who have not been fooled by the Bible correctors and new version promoters. These are the preachers who believe the old King James Bible is the inspired, inerrant, preserved word of God.

When the world of "Christianity" has gone after the Rick Warren’s, the Joel Osteen’s and the Promise Keepers, these men of God, Baptists, have stayed true to the word of God. You would do good to find a good Baptist Church that has a preacher such as these and get in it and be faithful.

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:1-8) V