Why Study Baptist History Part-2 – (To Find Out Where we are Going)

‎Dan Nelson‎ to Baptist Church History May 28 at 9:07 PM · 

Why Study Baptist History Part-2 – (To Find Out Where we are Going)

Every Pastor needs to ask if they are catering to the next generation in the now through entertainment and what people feel their needs or are we are teaching what Baptists have believed and practice. Over the banner of oneness, we are losing our Baptist distinctives either intentionally or unintentionally. I know many say being a Christian is really the only thing that matters and just being in Christ is the most important thing. After all, that is all there will be in heaven: Christian.

The question though which for we in our present condition is how obedient we are to the clear directive of Scripture? I want to stand before the Lord knowing I have not compromised His truth and ignored the clear teaching of Scripture.

For instance, one may ask is believer’s baptism a secondary doctrine? It is hard for me to say that when I read about Felix Manz being drowned for his belief in believer’s baptism. When a mandatory decree when out by the Zurich City Council that all who refused infant baptism and practiced what they called falsely “rebaptism” would be imprisoned and executed Manz sacrificed his life by continuing to preach the gospel and baptize those that were saved.

When the last words Jesus said before He ascended was to preach the gospel, baptize believers and instruct them in His commands, I would say baptism is not optional or secondary. Yet, we have made it secondary. A mega-“church” that led out in the seeker-sensitive movement with contemporary music and all the rest gave people the option of being immersed or sprinkled. That is where we are headed if we do not teach Baptist History and Doctrine. The same “church” called woman-teaching pastors to fill the pulpit in various services. I heard the pastor make the remark in talking about how contemporary he was: “We are through with sermon illustrations about dead English preachers in our church. We want to give people stuff for how they live today.” That is a shallow ignorant statement because English and American preachers sacrificed for that group to have the right to exist. A statement like that just means first they are ignorant, and they want their people to live in a state of ignorance. In the last few years, this “pastor” has come under suspicion of various allegations against him and was forced to resign after many years of being with the church and founding it.

Is this example where we leading our youth? Are we living in a day and age that to bring up any core belief, you have about the basic Christian doctrine is deemed as divisive and not in the interest of unity? So, we withhold the truth from our youth saying it doesn’t matter what you call yourselves; just so you are Christian and that is the only thing that matters. We try to lure youth as we have tried with the baby boomers by all contemporary Christian music that is so shallow you have to be dumbed down to sing it. And we say don’t teach history or even the history behind the great hymns because they won’t come for that stuff. I have never seen a generation as ignorant of doctrine and history yet with so much information available to them.

We are asking what kind of music you want to hear or sermon you want to hear or kind of church you want to have. When we should be asking what kind of music we need, sermons they need and church we are going to have under God and not anyone’s wants and wishes. In the meantime, with all this catering the millennials are the most unchurched generation in the history of our nation.

I once visited a young man who had attended our services. His actual words to me were: “You guys just don’t have enough rock and roll for me down at your church.” I didn’t know that was a criteria for being directed to a church: That you have to have a rock and roll service in your church. Well, I love to sing “When the Roll is called up Yonder” and “Rock of Ages Cleft for me”: That’s my Rock and Roll.

I believe better things about our youth and future generations. I think they would thrill to the stories of the sacrifices that have been made in Baptist History and the examples set forth. I surrendered to go anywhere God would lead me in ministry after hearing a Seminary professor in chapel give detailed information about William Carey the “Father of Modern Missions.” His sacrifice and example shook me. I went back to my dorm room and told the Lord: “If a man like that can be used of God under such insurmountable obstacles and hardship; no sacrifice is too great for me Lord.” I could tell you how God has fulfilled my prayer of surrender, but it all started with hearing the full story of great Baptist hero.

We need to help youth and the next generations after them know why our history is not only worth knowing about but also essential for knowing. Oneness does not come from being silent about the explosive truths of Scripture and the wonderful examples we have in Baptist History. The choice is up to us. Let me firmly declare: “No one is prepared for the future until they appreciate their past.”

I for one will not turn my back or close my eyes to these truths and examples in Baptist History that have sacrificed all for the Lord and the right to be a Baptist. For they are liberating truths that free me to solidly practice my faith and stand on the shoulders of what they believed and have been perpetuated by my ancestors. Will you be open to studying these great leaders and what they believed? May they liberate you to freedom and power through what has made Baptists great and can cause us to stand out for biblical truth. That is the pathway to blessing, fullness, and productivity so that when we stand before the Lord we can say we were obedient to His commands.