The leadership of the Baptist Missionary Association of America are concerned about the decreasing number of churches in their organization. Also the decline in membership of existing churches. Consequently great concern over the past years have brought forth consecutive methods trying to correct this. Executive Director Don Collins with assistants Jack Cortney and Jerry Kidd hope to turn this around by introducing once again a "new" method of "planting churches." They will ask the BMAA churches to approve this new method at their annual meeting April 13-16, 1998. The directors have entitled their latest campaign "Project Overhaul." The name of this latest crusade implies the present system used by the BMAA needs an overhaul or at least a tune-up. Obviously they feel the New Testament method of Acts 13 is neither perti nent, practical, nor proper for the Lord's churches today to follow in reproduction.
A partial explanation of "Project Overhaul" is covered in the Nov. 1997 issue of The Gleaner, the monthly missions magazine of the BMAA (pp. 15-17). The first explanation given on page 16 begins with these words: "The Bible League has graciously shared with the BMA Department of Missions an exciting church planting model." This is followed by explaining that, ". . . each one of our present 737 national missionaries plus all of our American personnel be retrained in this program." (Emp. mine). Will some group outside the BMAA be employed to train them? If so, how will this group feel about local church doctrine? The article goes on to explain that the new ". . . model has five modules that deal with the following: Evangelism, Discipleship, Doctrine, Leadership, and Worship." It makes even the most casual reader wonder if the Lord's directive in Matt. 28:19,20 has been forsaken if not forgotten. It seems "The Bible" (KJV 1611) alone is no longer an effective guide for reproducing churches apart from some fraternity adding its own design.
According to their own promotional material The Bible League originated in 1938 in the mind of William Chapman. His desire was to place a Bible in every home in America. No believer could honestly oppose his intent. From that time until the present this has been the main purpose of this organization. Today their goal among other things includes "planting churches." Their headquarters is in South Holland, Ill. The Key Explanation in The Gleaner, p. 16, says, "Last year the Bible League helped establish 3,000 churches using this type planting model," referring to the model the BMAA churches are to consider in April. The Bible League literature gives the figure for 1996 as 3,514.
The denomination of the churches is not given so it may not matter to the BMAA directors even if they know. It would be interesting to know how many of these "over 3,000 churches" have the name "Baptist." It may matter little to some even in the BMAA whether or not the name "Baptist" is used on their sign. However, it should matter to the pastors and churches of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Baptist name identifies them today with a doctrine and practice that goes all the way back to Jerusalem.
According to their brochure entitled "Answers To Your Questions" they have adopted the same statement of faith as the National Association of Evangelicals. Since they share the same statement of faith as the NAE they must also take the same ecumenical stand on the church as other organizations within the NAE. The NAE in turn joins "117 national fellowships worldwide which are members of World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF)." Drop them an E-mail at NAE@nae.net for this information. The NAE statement of faith can be seen on their Web site at http://nae.goshen.net/contents.html. Among those listed on their "Member Denominations" link are numerous Pentecostal groups, a couple of so-called Baptist Associations and the Christian Reformed Church in North America.
A news article appearing on the Worldwide Church of God web site May 20, 1997, <wcg.org>, reports, "The Board of Directors of the NAE has voted overwhelmingly to accept the WCG . . . into membership." Herbert W. Armstrong is the founder of this movement who spoke of the Trinity as a pagan doctrine. Joseph Tkach is the leader of this group today. Mr. Tkach is quoted as saying in this article: "The greater Christian community is just beginning to realize what God has done with the WCG . . ." The article reports the WCG joins 48 other denominational members in the fellowship of the NAE, including Reformed, Pentecostal, Free Church, Holiness and various other traditions. Remember the Bible League conforms to the same Statement of Faith as the NAE.
This article is not written with animosity toward any of the people in these organizations. It may be that some individuals in their ranks are truly repentant born again believers. If there indeed are such they should heed 2 Cor. 6:16-18. My concern is why should the Lord's churches be led to lower itself to seek help from those who do not believe in the doctrine of the local church? Neither do they believe in salvation by grace through faith but a salvation that is entirely dependent on sacraments and service.
Rev. Dennis M. Mulder is the present president of the Bible League. I only know about this man through personal correspondence. He is cordial in writing and a photo reveals his distinguished appearance. His credentials are impressive and I'm sure he gained them at great cost and personal expended energy. He is a graduate of Calvin College and Seminary in Grand Rapids, Mich. Giving this information is not a personal attack upon his intelligence or his integrity. Mr. Mulder has a right to his own reli gious choosing. However, his church affiliation should be of great concern to the Lord's churches and their pastors since the BMAA directors have accepted help from the organization which he directs.
Mr. Mulder is a member of the Peace Christian Reformed Church of South Holland, Ill. He states this in a letter dated 2/18/98: "We very much enjoy our fellowship with that congregation and it is very supportive of myself, my wife and The Bible League's ministry." There is an obvious close relationship between The Bible League and the Peace Christian Reformed Church. This church is a member of the Christian Reformed Churches in North America. The CRCNA is listed as a member of the NAE at their Web site under the link "Member Denominations." The statement in Amos 3:3 applies to the world of religion as well as anywhere else. All of these must be in agreement in most areas of belief . . . especially about the local church doctrine.
The CRCNA uses the Belgic Confession as their confession of faith. (See Web site: http://www.crcna.org/creeds/) Consider at least two of the thirty-seven articles they use. "Article 27: The Holy Catholic Church: We believe and confess one single catholic or universal church. . . This church has existed from the beginning of the world and will last until the end . . ." Obviously this union of organizations do not believe what the Lord Jesus said in Matt. 16:18,19. True Baptists do not need further explanation of these verses at this time if indeed their pastor has taught them the doctrine of the local church. One that is independent from all other religious organizations and led by the Holy Spirit to send out missionaries from the local church (Acts 13:1-3).
Another article in the CRCNA's confession of faith should be of concern to every sound Baptist in the world today. Baptist history lists martyrs whose blood cries from the ground against this article. "Article 34: The Sacrament of Baptism:." [After a lengthy explanation of water cleansing from sin the article continues:] For this reason we believe that anyone who aspires to reach eternal life ought to be baptized only once without ever repeating it for we cannot be born twice. Yet this baptism is profitable not only when the water is on us and when we receive it but throughout our entire lives. For that reason we detest the error of the Anabaptists who are not content with a single baptism once received and also condemn the baptism of the children of believers." (Emp. mine.) <http://www.crcna.org/creeds/bc/ bc_art34.html>
I pray this will awaken the doctrinal descendents of these great warriors of the faith once delivered to the saints. Thank God for those who died to preserve the doctrine of the independence of the Lord's local New Testament Church. Does the scripture, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners," (1 Cor 15:33), mean anything? Has the Lord's church learned nothing from (Jer. 8:22), "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?" God had a strong rebuke for Israel in Isaiah 30:1ff for taking counsel of Egypt and not of Him. Egypt had their own religion but it was not of God. Consequently He warned them not to trust in the shadow of Egypt. What a clear reprimand in Isaiah 31:1 "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!" Paul made this clear to the Lord's church at Corinth, "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Cor. 10:11). Why not follow the Lord's "method" and "modules" alone to establish churches?
Where are the BMAA pastors/preachers who claim they would die for the autonomy of the local church? Where are those who will stand up and speak out against such actions? Where are those church members who once earnestly stood for the doctrine of the local church being led by the Holy Spirit? Where are the churches who once believed that the King James Version of the Bible was the only rule they needed for every practice they followed? Where are the pastors and churches who believed it was their personal commission to go into all the world and evangelize, baptize, teach, and establish like churches?
What great perils true Baptists face today. Read and heed Paul's admonition to the elders of the church in Ephesus (Acts 20:28-31). Why are the BMAA directors seeking help from the ecumenical crowd? Will they eventually join those who are ready to drop the name Baptist because it is offensive? Some in the BMAA ranks see no harm in dropping this distinguished identity. Within the same group are those who believe that there are churches who do not bear the name "Baptist" that are as Biblically sound as true Baptists. Would the BMA pastor/preacher who may read this article who believes this please send me a list. Don't bother including Pastor Rick Warren and Saddleback Community Church in California. Paul Gauntt, Department of Church Ministries' Director of the BMA of Texas, sent me his name along with a copy of his book, "The Purpose Driven Church." Does this indicate he believes it would be well to follow Pastor Warren? Pastor Warren's picture appeared in Christianity Today, 9/16/96, p. 48, along with Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church, and others, as a speaker in Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral. He along with 10-12 others who made up "The distinguished faculty for the 1997 Robert Schuller Institute for Successful Church Leadership" held January 27-30, 1997. Obviously doctrinal separation means little to such a group. My wildest imagination will not allow me to believe Rick Warren and Saddleback Community Church qualifies as doctrinally sound Baptists. "Oh, what a tangled web we weave!"