LONG RUN BAPTIST ASSN. (KY) CALVINIST OR NOT?

 In a history of Kentucky Baptists, by J.H. Spencer, it gives the history of the Long Run Baptist Association, which was organized as a Regular Baptist assn. in 1803. Here is a clear example of how many Regular Baptists deleted portions of the Philadelphia Confession with which they disagreed. I do not know how calvinistic this association was, but I can certainly tell from the history given, that they ignored certain portions of the Confession, and a few problems they had, that makes one wonder how calvinistic they could have been.

On page 150 it says the following;

 "Agreed unanimously, that this Association be constituted, on the Philadelphia Baptist Confession of Faith, excepting some things contained in the 3d and 5th articles"  Articles 3 and 5 deal with God's decrees and the predestination of some persons to salvation. 

On page 152 it says;

" Beargrass was destroyed by Campbellism. Brashears Creek changed its name to Clear Creek. Most of its members went into Shelbyville church, and the remnant dissolved. Chenowiths Run was greatly reduced by Campbellism."  On page 153 we see the same thing again. "South Long Run was considerably reduced by the Campbellite schism in 1830. Most of the members who remained Baptists went into a church at Simpsonville, in Shelby county, about two miles distant, and the remnant dissolved" On page 155 it says "Flat Rock church petitioned for admittance. But having been formed of the disorderly majority of Long Run church, referred to in the minutes of 1803, it was rejected. However, a committee was appointed to visit the church, and to endeavor to set it right. The next year it was cordially received. It was located some three miles west of Long Run church. A large majority of its members became Campbellites, and held possession of its house of worship. Those who remained Baptists organized what is still known as Pleasant Grove church, in Jefferson county." On page 158 we see both pastors of First Baptist Louisville go with the Campbellites. "But both of its preachers apostatized to Campbellism, and carried with them all the church, except eighty-five members." On page 159 it says "Union Spring was located on Little Kentucky river, in the northern part of Trimble county. It lost nearly half of its members by the Campbellite schism, in 1830." Wouldn't it be a little strange, that a highly calvinistic association would have trouble with Campbellism? How do churches go from being a 5 point Calvinist, to the works based, baptismal regeneration of Campbellism, especially so quickly?

On page 160 we have the following;

 "In 1823, Drennons Creek church called to its pastoral charge, Thomas Chilton, a Separate Baptist. He was both a lawyer and a preacher of extraordinary ability. He soon induced the church to establish a correspondence with the Separate Baptists." The Separate Baptists were always known to be less calvinistic with many Calvinists calling them"Arminian".

On page 165 it says the following;

 "...in order to unify and purity in the churches, that we have a written declaration of faith. . . . Respecting the revisal of the Philadelphia Confession of faith. . . . as we have lived happily for more than twenty years, we think it improper at this time to intermeddle with it." Obviously they were not shy about revising the Philadelphia Confession, nor were they disposed to meddle with that revision.

On page 168 is the following;

 After the Campbellite schism, the Association moved on harmoniously and prosperously for a number of years, with few vicissitudes. Some disturbance about doctrine began to be manifest, about 1836. The Licking Association, with which Long Run was in correspondence, was accused of advocating, through her ministers, "That it is not the duty of unregenerate men to repent and believe the gospel." A committee, composed of William C. Buck and W. Stout, was appointed to inquire as to the truth of the accusation. The report being confirmed, Long Run dropped correspondence with Licking, in 1837. Here we can see that whatever doctrines Long Run held, they did not tolerate hyper Calvinism. This coupled with the revisions they made to the Philadelphia Confession, the inroads made by Campbellism, and churches calling Separate Baptists as pastors, gives me suspicion as to how calvinistic this association was. 

And finally, on page 169 we read the following from the association's Corresponding Letter, sent to other associations to make clear where Long Run stood.

 "For ourselves we would say that we feel an increased desire to share in the honor of instrumentally converting the world to Christ. Our prayer is, 'O send out thy light and thy truth.' Hasten, O Lord, in thy time, the period when 'the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.' With the Psalmist we would say, 'Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy gates, O Jerusalem;' and with the Prophet, 'For Zion's sake we would not hold our peace; and for Jerusalem's sake we would not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof, as a lamp that burneth.'" 

I applaud their desire to convert the world to Christ, rather than merely asserting that God will bring in His elect. Perhaps the Long Run Association really did mean "world" and excluded no one from it.