Declared Distinctives Displayed Distinctions Proverbs 22:28 – Proverbs 23:10a

“Declared Distinctives”
“Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers
have set.” Proverbs 22:28
God is interested in distinctions which means “different,
not the same, separated, well defined, sharp and clear,
obvious, plain, unmistakable, distinguished by some feature.”
A landmark in the Bible means a border or boundary, and
common sense tells us that refers to a distinct, clear, plain,
obvious, identifiable border or boundary. God made
distinctions between men and women, boys and girls and the
Bible recognizes gender distinctions. God created male and
females. A preacher one time was marrying a couple that both
had long hair … he wasn’t really sure which was which, so he
said, “Would one of you please kiss the bride!”
God wants His people to be different, not weird or odd, but
separate from the world and not conformed to it (see Rom.
12:2). Sadly, we are living in a day when churches are
becoming more and more like the world. Many millennials of
our “Canaanite Culture” prefer the blur instead of a boundary,
a blindfold to borders, a compromise to convictions, a
preference to a precept, choosing cater to carnality!
Lots of churches are just not open to admit or advertise
whatever it is they are and that’s why they’ve removed any
label, tag or landmark of identity. What they are, who they are
and what they believe or stand for is blurred and
undistinguishable. It either means, “We don’t stand for
anything definite” or, “if you come to our casual, comfortable
church, we’ll just make you feel so good.” There motto might
be, “Come as you are and leave as you were.” -G.T.

Prepared by Roger Fulk, from excerpts from the “Baptist Bread” June 4, 2024, devotional by author GARY TROUT, Pastor, Bellpoint Baptist Church, Hinton WV. With permission from Tim Green, editor of Baptist Bread. The Baptist Bread

“Displayed Distinctions”
“Remove not the old landmark:” Proverbs 23:10a
Tags, titles, names, and labels all tell a story, and I am
always happy to stand up and be counted as to who I am, what I
am, what I believe and where I stand! Doctrinally, I am a
Baptist. I wasn’t Baptist born or Baptist bred, but when I die,
I’ll sure be Baptist dead. I stand where the Baptist crowd has
stood historically. The Baptist distinctives of salvation by
grace through faith, the blood atonement, the inspired,
inerrant, infallible Word of God (preserved in the King James
Bible), eternal security of the believer, the Rapture and the
pre-millennial return of Christ.
I realize we are ministering in an age of “itching ears” but
I don’t believe in an undefined theology, and am not ashamed
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Indeed, it is a sad day when
many churches are closing the doors and others are removing
or moving the landmarks, becoming more and more like the
world. One who has friendship with the world is the enemy of
God! (see James 4:4). Leviticus 18:3 says, “After the doings
of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and
after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you,
shall ye not do:” We are supposed to be different and the world
expects us to be different.
So, in this age of compromise, carnality and change, let me
challenge you to “Remove not the old landmark:” Be faithful
and remember that a cold church, like cold butter, never
spreads well! -G.T.

Prepared by Roger Fulk, from excerpts from the “Baptist Bread” June 5, 2024, devotional by author GARY TROUT, Pastor, Bellpoint Baptist Church, Hinton WV. With permission from Tim Green, editor of Baptist Bread. The Baptist Bread