Day: November 20, 2008

The SBC & Alien Baptism In the 1950’s

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

The following is from Ben Stratton of the Landmark Southern Baptist yahoo group list.  It expresses the reason for our refusal for accepting the “baptism” from other denominations who do not scripturally baptize.

“To accept as valid the baptism of those holding the ‘strange doctrine’ that baptism is a necessary part of salvation, or who practice a variety of modes (sprinkling, etc.) is a gross indignity to the simple ordinance given by Jesus for believers as a testimonial of their relation to Christ in His ‘death, burial, and resurrection.’  The practice of accepting as valid the baptism of churches other than Baptist is commonly known as ‘alien baptism.’  Generally, Southern Baptist churches do not accept into membership those coming from other denominations, except by baptism; but those who do are guilty of contributing to the indignity of this ordinance as sanctioned by unscriptural churches.”  John M. Snawder
 
(John M. Snawder was pastor of the Ralph Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, KY in the 1950’s.  The above quote is from his article “The Dignity of Baptism” which appear in the Western Recorder on August 27, 1959.  Notice that while Snawder pastored near the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, which was a hotbed of liberalism in the 1950’s, he stated that the majority of Southern Baptist churches rejected alien baptism.)
Posted by Tim A. Blankenship

Reserved For Darkness

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;” Jude 6 (NKJV).

Apostasy is a horrible thing. It even affected the very first beings which God has made, and that is the angels. There was one angel who was evidently more beautiful to look upon than all the others, and that was the one named Lucifer. Read Ezekiel 28:11-19. He eventually got too full of himself, and led others to follow him in rebellion in heaven, and it has been said that one third of the angels followed him. Read Revelation 12:7-12.

Isaiah the prophet mentions Lucifer; “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!” (Isaiah 14:12ff). Five times following, he shows his rebellious heart, and says he will take the throne of God, he says, “I will be like the Most High”. If there was ever a case for “I” trouble he had it.

The angels of heaven had a home in the presence of eternal God, their Creator. One led one third to be cast out, and are awaiting the judgment of God. Lucifer, ie., the devil knows that he has but a short time, and in this day is working to condemn the souls of men, women, boys and girls to eternal torment. Let us never begin to take the devil too lightly. He does not care, nor does he have an inkling or concern for our problems. He is a thief, robber, murderer, and does not desire to do anything but to “steal, kill, and destroy” you. He knows his destination is the Lake of Fire, and he and his minions are out to snare, trap, and lead you there with them.

The proper, God made domain for the angels was in the presence of the LORD. God’s proper domain for you and I is to be eternally in the presence of God. Let us never think, though, that just because we were the ones made in the “Image of God” that that destiny is secure. It is only secure in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; shed on the cross for our sins. When we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then and only then, is that destination secured. He holds us in His strong hands, and will never let us go. Praise Him.

-Tim A. Blankenship