Unto These Hills

 The Bethel Baptist Association was formed out of the Red River Association in 1825.   In 1823 Elder Reuben Ross began preaching general atonement doctrines in the Red River Association. At first, he preached that the gospel should be preached to all persons without distinction. This caused some in the Red River to lift an eyebrow. In 1817, Elder Sugg Fort was commissioned to speak with Elder Ross in an effort to bring him back to the Calvinist view. Instead, Elder Fort ended up agreeing with Elder Ross. His views were tolerated for several years, and eventually about half the members in the association embraced his views, with some churches split evenly between Calvinism and general atonement, until certain Baptists from the northern counties settled in the area, joining the Red River Association. These new comers were so strict in their Calvinist views, that they believed the alarming of sinners to repent  is not the object of the Gospel. In 1823, the Red River Ass...

  (1911) Z. T. Cody (1858-1935) , a Mercer University graduate, studied theology under James P. Boyce at Southern Seminary while earning the Master of Theology degree there, who later earned the Doctor of Divin- ity degree from Bowden College. He served as pastor of several prominent churches in the South, including First Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina, and served as editor of South Carolina’s Baptist Courier from 1911- 1935. He is described as “a theologian of the first rank” by the Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists . In 1919, he was appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention to be on a five-member committee to write a historical document, a fraternal letter to Baptists around the world. The committee was comprised of Cody, J. B. Gambrell, E. Y. Mullins, L. R. Scarborough, and William Ellyson. The article cited below, published originally in the Baptist Courier on “Are Baptists Calvinists?” was so popular that it was reprinted in Baptist World magazine an...

When discerning whether old Baptist articles of faith are Calvinist or Non Calvinist, it is important to know the nuances of how they are written. Below are the articles of faith of the Concord Association in Georgia and the Coosa Association right next door to them. You may notice a few spelling "errors" but I have posted these exactly as originally written. The similarities between the two are striking, especially considering they hold two different doctrines. The Coosa Association is the OLDEST of the two, being founded in 1835, from churches in in an even older association founded in 1796, in a rare example of being called simply "the Association of the Baptist Churches of Christ" carrying with them the same articles of faith. Concord Association Articles of Faith  1. We believe in the only true and living God: and that there is a trinity of persons within the God-head, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. 2. We believe that the Scr...

 The Sandy Creek Baptist Association, which still exists, was founded 1758 as a Separate Baptist association, by Shubal Stearns, and is the fourth oldest association in America. Modern day Calvinists are convinced they were ardent Calvinists. They NEED this to be so, as Sandy Creek was one of the two "streams" that formed the SBC, the other being the Charleston. As a side note, The Baptist Church of Charleston (now First Baptist) was founded as a JOINT effort of Arminian and Calvinist Baptists. I will write more on that at a later date. Separate Baptists had a small minority of Calvinists, who refused to unite with Regular Baptists who were mostly Calvinists, Why? Calvinists within the Separate Baptist movement denied determinism, and rejected the notion that regeneration preceded faith. My research has led me to believe that no more than 10-15% of Separates could be labeled Calvinist by today's meaning of the term. Another 10-15% could be labeled Arminian or Free Will. J...

  BAPTISTS----REFORMED OR REFORMERS? PART 1       I've been studying Baptist history for over 30 years now. Until the past few years, I had never heard of a "Reformed Baptist". When I first saw the term, I genuinely thought it was a support group for ex-Baptists who for whatever reason either had a bad experience growing up Baptist, or converted to another more liberal faith group. Once I realized that the term referred to theological views, I immediately went to work to find the answer to the question, "Can Baptists be both Reformed and Baptist?" Let's take a look.    First you need to understand that I will not be quoting Scripture in this article. This is not a theological debate, and most of my readers will be familiar with the theological views mentioned. What I wish to point out, is that once you understand the Reformed positions, can a Baptist be united with it? It is my view that he cannot.    First where does the word "...

  REFORMED BUT NOT CALVINIST?   REFORMED BUT NOT CALVINIST?   Recently, I spoke with a minister from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. (this is a denomination not a singular church). This denomination sprang from the Great Revival of 1800. It was originally a part of the mainline Presbyterian Church. In short, a certain faction within the Presbyterian Church embraced revivalism. As their numbers began to grow, they asked the hierarchy if they could have permission to ordain preachers without the usual steps of going through a formal 6 year seminary education, because they were founding churches faster than they could find preachers. Most of the ministers of the mainline church frowned on revivalism, as they didn't see it as necessary from their overly Calvinistic doctrinal standpoint, and they frowned on the "undignified" revival style worship. So the Cumberland Presbytery was dissolved by the mainline church for not bowing to their edicts.   The ...

  REFORMED THEOLOGY ON THOSE WHO DON'T HEAR THE GOSPEL    It seems to me that the main thrust of this blog is the error of the hardshell faction of Primitive Baptists, specifically the belief that God regenerates BEFORE conversion, and that He regenerates without means, without hearing the Gospel. It is my theory, that they acquired this heresy from reformed theology, and took it even further. As I have shown in previous articles, Reformed theology teaches "means" on one hand, including unscriptural ones (sacraments, including baptism) and the Gospel (the only means in my view).    However, many Reformed folk also teach that God has regenerated many who are never converted and who never hear the Gospel. Many more think it is possible but just aren't sure. I am well aware that "Reformed Baptists" definitely hold these teachers in high esteem, so I must assume that the same thoughts about regeneration occurring BEFORE conversion, and regenera...

  WHO REMOVED THE CANDLESTICK? "REFORMED BAPTIST vs PRIMITIVE BAPTIST"   In Revelation 2:5, Jesus gives gives us a warning we had better heed. He says, “Repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick.”   In my last few articles, I have concentrated on the errors I believe "Reformed Baptists" have embraced. I have also stated that I believe the errors of the hardshell faction of Primitive Baptists had their origins in Reformed theology. I realize those who call themselves "Reformed Baptists" will state that they are not in agreement with the hardshells, however, the hardshells themselves did not embrace what they now do in the beginning. Could it be that we are seeing circular reasoning before our eyes? Has a new "breed" come along that will one day espouse the very same views the hardshells now embrace? After all, before they adopted the name "Primitive Baptist" ...

  QUESTIONS FOR "REFORMED THEOLOGY"  In light of what I have learned about Reformed theology, there are some questions I wish they would (or could) answer. It is true that from the perspective of the natural mind, that there are a great many mysteries that we can not now understand, such as the trinity, or how could a being be self existent and uncreated as God is. Nevertheless, when we form theology based on a certain system or through a certain lens that we must look through, then it is possible that questions which can't be answered, may reveal flaws in that theological system. So let's ask. 1. If we assume that the Reformed position of  predestination is true, then why did the reformers require church attendance of the whole city or nation? Were they trying to "save" them? Didn't this mean that the vast majority of church members were unregenerated, or was every citizen of Geneva and Switzerland already among the elect? Forced chur...

  WHAT ABOUT THE OLD REGULAR BAPTISTS?     The Old Regular Baptists are another primitive sect of Baptists. Mainly found in the Appalachian region of Kentucky, where in some rural counties they are the predominant group among all churches, except Missionary Baptists. Where did they come from and how are they different from other Primitives? Let's take a look.     Originally, they were called "Old Regular Primitive Baptists". This name lasted until the 1890's. They dropped "Primitive" from their name in response to new doctrines and extremes that other Primitive Baptists were beginning to embrace. These extremes include the new teaching among Hardshell PB's that  hearing and believing Gospel has nothing to do with eternal salvation, as well as absolute predestination of all things among some Old Liners. Until this time, most Old Regulars had correspondence with other PB's, yet they were always distinct from them in many ways. The ...