Baptist Cameo: Noah Alden
Church Coaches - By Bill Mosley
Clinton-Flynt Duo - By E. L. Bynum
Dumb Dogs Don't Bark - By Bill Mosley
News & Views, January 1999 - Edited By E. L. Bynum
The Importance Of The Whole Truth - By Gordon R. Silcox
Why Keep The Whole Ordinances - By Dean Robinson

38th ANNUAL MISSIONS CONFERENCE THEME: "The Real Business of The Churches" Make Your Plans to Attend This Year! March 15-17 Our Conference text will be Matthew 28:18-20 The Conference will start on Monday Night and continue through Wednesday Night. The Tabernacle Baptist Church will furnish breakfast and the noon lunch to all of our visitors. Motel rooms can be obtained at very modest prices in Lubbock. Call us for recommendations. Our phone number is: (806) 744-4443. Why This Theme? We believe that many have forgotten the real task that Jesus gave to His churches. It is so easy for a church to become involved in activities that are not commanded by our Lord. This Conference will be going back to the basics. Sermons On Such Subjects As: · Soul Winning The Biblical way · The Real Task of Making Disciples · The Unscriptural Ways Of Doing This · The Importance of Scriptural Baptism · The Danger of Alien Immersion · Teaching Them To Observe The Lord's Supper · The Danger of Open or Close Communion · Teaching Them To Tithe · Teaching Them To Give To Missions · Teaching Them To Win Souls · Teaching Them Godly Living · Teaching Them Separation From False Doctrine · Teach Them How To Have A Christian Home These and other important subjects will be dealt with. Some of the speakers will be selected in advance. Some speakers will be chosen from those who are present. Make Your Plans to Attend!

Baptist Cameo:

Noah was born in Middleborough, Mass., on May 30, 1725. He had a rich history on his father's side. His ancestor was John Alden, who was one of the pilgrims of Plymouth.
Noah was raised in the Congregational church, as was his wife. After studying the Word of God he came to a firm conviction on the mode and subjects of baptism. In 1753 Noah led his family to leave the Congregationalists and join the Baptist church. Two years later God called him to preach and he was ordained at Stafford on June 5, 1755. He was installed as the pastor of that church for 10 years.

In 1766 he was called as the pastor of the church in Bellingham, Massachusetts where God greatly blessed his ministry and he served for the rest of his life. One of his most notable converts was John Leland, whom he baptized in 1774, two years before the war. We will say more of John in a future article. He also baptized Aaron Leland, who in 1786 moved to Chester, Vermont. Noah had received a letter from 15 people who desired a church in their town. He dispatched Aaron to their town to survey the situation. In subsequent years a church was gathered and a great work of God was done in that area because of the ministry of Noah Alden.

During his ministry he was also active as a delegate to the State Convention. He was heavily involved in drafting the Constitution which ultimately gave religious liberty to that state.
His wisdom was recognized by many. He was often called to judge in church matters where difficulties had arisen and was a sought-after preacher for helping in the examination and ordination of candidates for the ministry. Noah went home to be with the Lord on May 5, 1797. His life was held in esteem as is seen in this remark by Dr. Fisher: "He was for many years one of our most distinguished and honored ministers, and his name deserves to be held in grateful remembrance."

New church positions and titles are surfacing with more rapidity than ever before. Although "Church Coaches" are not exactly new the position is becoming more popular as polls reveal a decline in church attendance. At a time when our nation's addiction to sports is second only to ancient Greece and Rome, it is no wonder that some churches would figure this concept into their annual budget.

Although the idea of using other than biblical methods of reaching the lost for Christ has long been in operation, an article in the Lubbock AJ, 1/9/99, pg 4C, reveals the mentality of "Church Coaches." Consider some things that the idea of church coaching involves.

A good church coach knows when a "lost soul seeking spiritual guidance wanders into church" the last thing he/she is seeking is a sermon that makes "them sleepy." I would judge also that a sermon that would arouse a desire to repent of sin and trust the Lord to deliver him from his lost condition would also be distasteful.

"Cracked paint" on the walls, it seems would also be a distraction. How many "lost souls seeking spiritual guidance" would consider the church decor over Christ's deliverance? The publican "would not lift up so much as his eyes" because of his spiritual poverty and the Philippian jailer "fell down trembling before Paul and Silas" desiring to know what to do to be saved. (Luke 18:13; Acts 16:29,30) According to coaches Daniel Allen, Fuller Theological Seminary graduate, and his wife, Lainie, who has a master's degree in education, it will take the "seeker" only eleven minutes to decide he will never return to a church that does not meet suitable standards.

Earned degrees of education in any field are commendable, but spiritual leadership and knowledge of the Bible program is also essential. Hear Paul's admonition to the elders in Ephesus: (Acts 20:28) "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Pastors instructed by the Holy Spirit with the Bible for their text book is the design of the Lord for the edification of His churches. Minding the flock and feeding the church is the Bible's game plan, and the God called pastor is instructor.

Since the title (coach) smacks of worldly acceptance so does the plan. This couple doesn't claim to be guided by the Bible plan, but "Guided by studies of American views on religion and the consumer service emphasis of successful businesses." While making disciples, baptizing, and teaching "lost souls" is the business of the Lord's church, its methods are far removed from those of the world.

"Business thinking" is the way to reach your target according to Mrs. Allen. Much of the business world is using deceitful advertising to get customers. Lawsuits abound in U.S. courts pertaining to this very thing. This kind of dishonesty has also reached into some Baptist(?) churches as well. Some are dropping the name "Baptist" from their church property because it just might discourage some "wondering lost soul" if they saw the name Baptist. They claim that once the "lost seeking sinner" comes into their fellowship THEN they will be taught the church's doctrinal position. That is deception pure and simple. I have never heard of a non-denominational church dropping their identification from their sign. That holds true to many other tags placed on church signs. They are more honorable than churches who claim to be Baptist in doctrine and yet conceal their claim by leaving "Baptist" off their church sign.

Like their counterparts in the sports world, the "church coaches" don't come cheap. "They charge about $1,000 for a one-day review." These coaches also pattern after the business world giving a discount of "between $6,000 and $10,000 for year long contracts." Among their discoveries of why people do not attend church is to avoid feeling "pressured to give money." Obviously it doesn't bother these church coaches to bring up finances. Not only are the coaches concerned about the lost soul's spiritually but also their substance.

Another problem addressed is that most sermons are "irrelevant" to their need. Remember these are "lost souls seeking spiritual guidance" we are talking about. Details "such as cleanliness and good music" count, so say this church coaching husband and wife team. If their assessment of clean and good music is standardized by the world as is their method, churches that hired this team are in for long hair and pop music. Is this what a lost soul seeking spiritual help needs?

Be reminded all this will cost the floundering church is $1,000 for a one day review. How many churches with double vocational pastors have fallen into this trap?

Many will likely be more critical of this evaluation than the writer is of the enterprise. My first concern is people who seek this sort of help to save "their church" is as guilty of forsaking God as His people were in the days of Jeremiah. "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" (Jer. 8:22) It is a matter of executing 2 Chron. 7:14.

Second, the Lord has empowered the local church with the Holy Spirit to teach and to guide. He also has given the church a God called leader known as the pastor. God has set the pastor in the church, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." (Eph. 4:12) According to 1 Tim. 5:17 he is the one worthy of double honor (double pay), not self appointed $1,000 a day "church coaches."

Many worldly gimmicks sound good but the Word of God is best.

"His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter." (Isaiah 56:10,11)

The most unpopular position a person can take in this day of permissiveness is to point out sin and call it by its first name. This is especially true in the area of religion. However, God is not intimidated by the opinion of others as to how He feels about righteousness and unrighteousness. The prophet quoted above is relating the mind of God concerning those to whom He had given the responsibility of being watchmen. God makes clear to Ezekiel the obligation of the watchman as he occupies his appointed station. (Ezek. 33:7) "So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me."

The importance of God's desire for alertness in His watchmen is distinct. The watchman has a God given charge and to ignore being entrusted with such a responsibility reveals insensitivity to His command. Nevertheless, the Ancient of days, whose throne is as a fiery flame has issued His assessment of watchmen who will not warn.

God does not think kindly of watchmen who seek popularity. He vehemently disapproves of those who seek the approval of men and not of God. Obviously the watchmen were weary of speaking the stinging judgment of God against sinning Israel. They would generally fall into the category of which Paul spoke in Gal. 1:9,10: "If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." The faithful among Israel's prophets continually warned, however, Israel became weary with God's original, traditional methods of proper worship. (Mal. 1:13) "Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD."

This is not isolated to the OT watchmen. Peter makes this evaluation of the same type of NT false prophets of his day. (2 Pet. 2:17) "These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever."

The trend toward lowering standards has not slowed down today but rather escalated. Men who once held tenaciously to Bible standards now seem to make seemingly rational excuses for indulgent convictions. Once it was unnecessary to urge the church to dress by Christian standards. When the trend toward worldly attire first attended church there were any number of pastors/preachers who were unabashed about outward appearance. However, many quickly found and memorized (I Sam. 16:7) which has nothing to with proper attire then or now. There are multi areas that fall under the same biblical scrutiny. Among those is the sin of sodomy. Those who remain staunch and firm in the same mind with God about such moral corruption are becoming fewer by the day. Those who were once `safely concealed in the closet' are in some places `seated comfortably in the church.'

Let us examine what God has to say about these prophets who are unwilling to be true to their post (Isa. 56:10,11). Their responsibility is to warn of the impending dangers in verse nine.

The idea clearly states this was a self-imposed blindness. They had become so accustomed to the darkness they cared not to see. They were dull, lacking insight, unwilling to perceive properly. It is as if they had joined the ranks of those who cared not for the souls of men (Psa. 142:4). The unconcern for the will of God to be first in their lives was so pronounced that it could no longer be ignored by God. They needed a touch from the Master so that men no longer looked like trees walking but could see clearly their lost condition (Mark 8:23-25). The sad condition of such watchmen can only be overshadowed by the dismal situation of those who are not warned. To ignore the sad fact of so-called watchmen in many pulpits of America today would indicate as much blindness as the prophets in our text. Blindness in part happened to Israel because of their prophets. However, they were also personally responsible because of their unwillingness to hear the warnings of the true prophets. (Isa. 30:8-11) "Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." Spiritual blindness is a sad commentary for the chosen of God. When preferred over the truth it is reprehensible.

The prophet is informed about their ignorance. This description of them indicates their lack of desire to know the truth. The truth should somehow arouse in them a desire to warn of impending dangers. Surely no person would hesitate to warn those in perilous places to turn before they fell to their death. Yet when it comes to such doctrinal error that would condemn souls to eternal hell the "dumb dog" disorder steps forward. Tongues that once barked loudly of wrong steps suddenly are silenced because of fear of being banished from the group.

Hear the warning from God to Ezekiel in 33:8. "When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand."

Warning men of the error of their way seems to be one of God's priorities for His watchmen. Paul warned Timothy of the last day tendency to stray from sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:3,4). He also reminded Timothy of his responsibility in the face of this condition. (2 Tim 4:5) "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." There is no room for "dull, dumb dog, degenerate" watchmen in the ministry of the Lord. That brings us to this condition of watchmen.

This condition illustrates the lack of spiritual ambition in these watchmen. Sleeping is generally associated with rest, and yet there is more involved here in this characteristic than needing rest. They were not only sleepers but dreamers. Jeremiah 27:9 warned of these "dreamers." They were hobnobbing with sorcerers, enchanters, and diviners of their day. How typical it is for the prophet who is deficient in moral and doctrinal conviction to feel God is uninterested or unaware. What a display of the lack of intelligence for Israel to say, "The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it" (Psa. 94:7). Sleep on, O dreamers, and cease to warn, but as you rest remember the words of Paul: "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Heb. 13:17).

Not only are they `sleepers' (dreamers) but also `slothful' (lying down). There is little difficulty to attach moral repercussions to this feature of such watchmen. Eli's sons were guilty of this in their moral decay as leaders. Although they were in prominent positions as the sons of Eli, he had been seriously delinquent in proper teaching. They were in a position of trust and status yet practiced immorality (1 Sam. 2:22). "Lay" in that verse is the same Hebrew word translated "lying down" in the text under consideration. Is there a New Testament counterpart? Indeed there is. See and compare (2 Tim. 3:1-7). How many nationally known preachers do you know who have fallen by the wayside morally in the last few years? More serious yet, how many who claim to be Baptists in high places have had moral deficiencies? Yet because of their elevated position in the social gospel circle it is hard on credibility to take an earnest stand against sin in high places. Nevertheless, God is not intimidated by the exalted position of man.

Isaiah said of them also, " . . . loving to slumber." "Loving" also has a slant toward the iniquitous. This is not simply an idea of mine but Strong's Hebrew Dictionary defines it so. Slumber lends added credence to this thought. When every sordid fleshly desire is satisfied there is little wanting for anything but slumber. Alertness to the ominous dangers approaching their flock is the furthermost thought from their mind.

These watchmen were also vehement and harsh. They were like dogs ready to attack when their immoral traits were exposed. Not only would they instantly attack any challenge to their methods they would do it with a vengeance. Without doubt many would (mis-) use our Lord's statement in Matthew 7:1 for their defense. Keeping scriptures in their proper context is the most difficult task for slumbering watchmen. God has already judged this matter of dog-like greediness. Few things will arouse the greedy heart of a slumbering watchmen as pointing our error in their practice. "Wherein have we robbed thee?" is the cry of error exposed.

These "greedy dogs" can "never have enough." They were gluttonous as well as greedy. Their spiritual posture would fit the physical posture of King Eglon of Moab. He, too, was rounded out and full of dirt (Judges 3:15-22).

The last descriptive term applied to such watchmen was their desire for "gain." "They all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter." They pursued a course of action that was their very own. It was of their design with its own lustful end. Paul's description of the Islanders of Crete for being "slow bellies" (Titus 1:12) would fit them well. They were useless and barren and would produce followers of similar character. All their involvement was for their own gain. Their gain was their godliness and their wealth was their hope (1 Tim. 6:5). They searched their borders from one side to the other as scavengers after their prey to heap to themselves a better affinity to their own kind. It was in their "quarter" they searched for their gain both positionally and politically. Nothing will fortify the ego of such watchmen as encouragement from those with like interest.

Notice an additional commentary of the character of these "barkless, biteless, boasting" watchmen. They were also:

(Isa. 56:12) Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant." What a brash statement to make considering God's assessment of them. To say they were indulgent is putting it mildly. Gluttony comes to the surface once again. "Come, let us fill ourselves" is a current description of much of religious activity today. Remember the great sin of Israel? Jerusalem was a sister to Sodom in this sin. (Ezek. 16:49) "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."

Their insidious maneuvering of the mind of others is obvious. "Tomorrow will be as this day," they say, "except it will be better." The subtlety of Satan saturates every word they speak. "Just follow me," such watchmen cry, "and all will be well and better." Not every change is good especially when it leads to a departure from the truth of God's word.

Beware, dear friend, of watchmen who try new methods especially when the methods are not Bible based. Beware when the organizing of other congregations simply for the sake of "more" takes precedence over proper procedure. The Holy Spirit was the perfect guide for Antioch to follow in starting new congregations (Acts 13:2). So far as I know those instructions have not been repealed. The Holy Spirit is not merely the best but the ONLY mission director the early church had. It must be so today if God is to be pleased.

God, give us the appetite for and the ability to grasp the leadership of the Holy Spirit in all we attempt! May all flesh diminish and Christ be exalted. To God be all the glory through Christ Jesus. Amen.

When President Clinton was mired in the predicament of his own making, he needed a valiant defender. Lo and behold there came forth a knight in shining smut that was willing to ride to his defense. Decent God-fearing Americans are embarrassed, mortified and ashamed that the office of the President has been sullied by such disgusting behavior of the President. Larry Flynt, the king of smut is proud of Clinton and has been willing to spend millions ($4) of dollars to try to defend him, by digging up dirt on the opponents of perjury, obstruction of justice, and sordid sex. All the defenders of Clinton must be proud to have such an outstanding citizen on their side.
What a pair they make (Clinton and Flynt). In his Hustler Magazine Flynt prints his pornography, while the President practices pornographic behavior in the White House. One prints it and the other practices it.

Without a doubt pornography is one of the worst industries in the world, and Flynt is the king of the publishers. No, I haven't read Hustler Magazine, and furthermore I am not going to do so. I don't have to crawl through the sewer line to know that it is a filthy stinking mess. While the sewer line is a necessity, Hustler is as necessary as a bullet through your brain. This kind of sordid smut is demoralizing this country, and anyone that reads it should be ashamed of themselves a thousand times. A stagnant pond contains two kinds of scum. There is the kind that floats on the top, and there is the worst kind that settles to the bottom. Flynt and Hustler have settled to the bottom.

Not for one minute will I defend the wrong doing of any Senator or Congressman. If they are guilty of adultery, they should pay the price. However, for Flynt to expose them, is like a skunk telling a cow that she stinks. Everyone must surely know that he is not trying to clean up Washington, but rather that he is trying to save the hide of his soul mate.

Flynt is scheduled to go on trial in Cincinnati this month. He is "accused of obscenity and other charges for selling sexually explicit videos at their Hustler Magazine & Gifts store. The trial is set for Jan. 19." (LAJ 1-13-99) His lawyers and his doctor say that he is not physically able to go on trial. Of course he is physically able to be interviewed by reporters and to appear on TV broadcasts. If the courts let him get by with this, they ought to be ashamed. A 14-year-old boy says that he bought a video at Flynt's store. Cincinnati has valiantly tried to stop the flood of pornography, but people like Flynt will do every thing they can to keep the filth flowing. They convicted him in 1977, but the conviction was overturned in an appeal.

Several years ago, Ruth Carter Stapleton, the sister of President Carter, proudly announced that Flynt had been converted under her tutelage. I think it took place on an airplane. Of course we all knew that his conversion was as false as a three-dollar bill. He did not change any of his ways, and I am sure it was just a joke to him. Mrs. Stapleton was a good Southern Baptist, who pictured herself as a preacher and a guru of sorts. She was a proponent of a touchy-feely sort of religion. Her idea was that we should all get in touch with our inner child. I read her pathetic book, which was totally devoid of any Biblical truth. The poor soul, she went out into eternity believing that psychic mumbo jumbo. She knows better now, but it is too late.

Several years ago Flynt published a cartoon about Jerry Falwell. It was supposed to reveal that Falwell lost his virginity in an outhouse with his own mother. I am no fan of Falwell, but that brought forth my indignation. If the Hustler subscribers had one ounce of decency, they would have canceled their subscriptions and had public demonstrations against it. Falwell sued, but in the end he lost in court. How can you fight the millions of smut dollars that Flynt has at his disposal?

Months ago Falwell visited with Flynt, and they posed for pictures together. When we published some criticism of this, Falwell's son wrote me in protest. He said his father was only there to win Flynt to the Lord. Maybe so, but it hasn't happened yet. I figure the chances of that happening is about the same as winning Saddam Hussein to Christ, and then baptizing him into an Independent Baptist Church. I know that God can do anything, but Jesus warned us about casting our pearls before swine.

I am sad to say that they probably will in the short time. However, there is coming a day when they will come before the judgment bar of God, and there will be no escape. Lying lawyers, and porno millions will have no influence there.

The saddest thing about the whole Clinton scandal is not that he did these things. The sad thing is that the American people do not care. That is scary beyond my powers of description. There are more people interested in Michael Jordan or some other sports hero, than there are in the future of truth and honesty in our nation. It is all going down in flames, while people are more interested in soap operas, immoral programs on TV, and filthy movies. Thank God for the faithful few, but they are getting harder to find every day. In America there is no revival, there is no repentance, and there is no returning to God. Unless there are some changes, I say, look out America for the judgment of God.

I know that some of you will think that I am irreverent and off base in my comments. You probably would have thought the same about John the Baptist when he rebuked wicked King Herod for taking his brother's wife. "For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her." (Matt. 14:3-4) I would tell Clinton, "it is not lawful for you to practice perversion in the Oval Office." Recently some joker wrote me, asking if I would meet with the President, if he could arrange it. I didn't take him seriously, but I wrote him that I would do so, if I could be allowed to take the Bible and show him the truth. Of course I haven't heard any more from him, and I never expected to in the first place.

A great deal of publicity has been given to the fact that Clinton has been meeting regularly with some spiritual advisors, or in some instances talking on the phone with them. They include, Gordon MacDonald a confessed adulterer, and senior pastor of Grace Chapel, Lexington, Massachusetts. The well-known preacher, Tony Campolo Professor of sociology at Eastern College, St. Davids, Pennsylvania, is one of the counselors to the President. I have before me a press release by Campolo, in which he says that he and MacDonald can vouch for the sincerity of the president. He also stated that at least one of them would meet with the President each week. We also know that Bill Hybels and Robert Schuller, have in the past regularly met or talked with the president. The newspapers have reported that the pastor of the apostate Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. has also been giving him advice. They should be very proud of their support of Clinton, now that they have Larry Flynt on their side. Can you imagine these, apostates, new evangelicals, and pornographers, who are all giving comfort to Clinton?

With tongue in cheek, I might suggest that Larry Flynt may have a future in our government. After all we had Joselyn Elders as Surgeon General, so why not Flynt as Secretary of Education. After all he is a big publisher and is educating everyone that he can. Why not do so, since many homosexuals have been appointed to high offices in the government? How much lower can you get?

Seriously, it will take more than an election to change the course of this country. No political party has the solution to this plague of iniquity. It will take repentance and revival to save our country. Our children, our grandchildren and future generations are depending on us, if the Lord does not come soon. Their future will be bleak and terrible to behold if we do not have a moral awakening and a real revival.

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you." (1 Corinthians 11:1-2)

It is generally assumed that most Baptists believe and teach that the two scriptural ordinances of a New Testament church are baptism and the Lord's Supper. True Baptists believe that these ordinances are church ordinances to be administered by the authority of the church. Through these two ordinances two great truths of the gospel are presented: Christ's atoning death and His victorious resurrection. Baptism and the Lord's Supper not only point and picture our relationship with Christ and His church but they also point and picture our fellowship with Christ and His church.

The truth concerning the two church ordinances stand or fall together -- they are inseparable. When a Baptist church begins to compromise on its belief and practice of the Lord's Supper, it usually follows that such a church will compromise and bend on the ordinance of baptism. The sins of open communion and alien baptism are generally found together. True Baptists practice closed communion and accept only Baptist baptism.

As the apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth, he issues a command for them to keep the ordinances. In the context of I Corinthians 11, Paul specifically deals with just one of those ordinances, the Lord's Supper. From a careful study of the Scriptures, one must conclude that the ordinances were placed in the New Testament churches. If that be the case, then there are basically two things the church is to do when it comes to the subject of the ordinances: the church is to administer the ordinances and the church is to keep the ordinances.

The word for "keep" means to hold or hold fast to, possess; to keep secure or hold on with a firm possession of. Notice that it is the church's responsibility to keep the ordinances, not change them in order to accommodate the opinions and whims of man. Also it is the church's responsibility to administer the ordinances, not some man-made religious organization. The New Testament church has the authority, no one else does. For someone else to administer the ordinances is to act with sinful arrogance and without God's authority.

Jesus Christ built His church and committed to it the ordinances (Mt.26:26-30; 28:19). Since that time the authority to baptize and conduct the Lord's Supper resides in the church that Jesus built and all other churches who pattern themselves after His church. Such authority to administer the ordinances does not lie in any priest, pope, or preacher on the face of the earth, but in the New Testament Baptist church.

The ordinances of the church were given as the symbolic interpreters of the salvation we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. Through these ordinances the church requires its members to give a right interpretation of the experience which they have had in Christ and are having with Him daily as they grow in His grace. The ordinances were given to the churches because they are the only institution through which our Lord chose and authorized to preach to this lost world His message of salvation. It is so important that we see and understand the proper relationship between the church and the ordinances. Why is it so important that the church keep, guard, and preserve the ordinances? Such a question may be answered in the two following ways.

Baptism proclaims our salvation in picture form of how any sinner is eternally saved: through the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism does not save but it does symbolize that which does save -- the precious and glorious gospel of Christ. (Rom.6:4; Col.2:12-13; I Pet.3:21)

The Lord's Supper was given as a memorial of Christ's broken body and His shed blood for our sins (1 Cor.11:23-26). The ordinance of the Lord's Supper does not impart eternal life nor does its elements change form, producing saving grace.

The Catholic church and all her stepchildren (i.e. the Protestants) have departed from the simplicity of the New Testament teaching on the church ordinances. They all hold to either the sacrament or spiritual blessing idea, which makes the ordinances to be something they were not intended to be. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are not sacraments, i.e. a means of obtaining God's grace, a channel through which our salvation comes. Instead they are symbolic ordinances, designed to picture salvation by God's grace through faith in Christ. By these two ordinances we preach both the initial experience of a once-for-all salvation as it is written on God's record in heaven and the living out of that experience as it works in our daily lives here on earth.

The fundamentals of the gospel message are set in the ordinances. The church ordinances must be kept as strictly as they were given, if the gospel is to be kept pure and unadulterated. When man tampers with the ordinances, he also then tampers with the message of salvation. Not only is the gospel to be faithfully preached, but it must also be vigorously protected. Paul gave a clear warning by saying: "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:9) Such a passage could also be applied to any church that would dare to change or alter the purpose and design of the ordinances.

Those who repent of their sins toward God and trust in faith the Lord Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour are saved forever without any further conditions. They are created in Christ Jesus by the new birth to do good works, but any act of obedience to God must follow salvation and cannot possibly be a condition or cause of it.

Baptism and the Lord's Supper have nothing to do with our salvation; they are symbols which picture of what the saving grace of God has already done in our hearts and lives. Strict obedience to the ordinances will not only keep the message of the church pure from error but it will also help keep the congregation of the church pure from ungodliness. As someone once wrote: "Baptism guards the door to the church; the Lord's Supper keeps the body in spiritual discipline." The scriptural observance of the church ordinances will separate the church from the world. The act of baptism implies that the one making the profession of faith has died to sin and the world in all its connections and has arisen to walk in newness of life (Rom.6:6,11). The Lord's Supper will help maintain the purity of the church by separating those believers who are living for the Lord and those living in world (1 Cor.11:28). It is a public declaration that one is in fellowship with God and His church in the continual experience of dying to the world and living unto Christ.

It should be evident from this brief study that the strict observance and application of the ordinances in the church will have a definite effect upon the message and character of the church. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the symbolic interpretation of that message which saves, and they serve as both a guard and a guide to the church which carries that message.
The New Testament church is the body of Christ commissioned to declare the gospel of salvation. It must therefore be united not only in the experience of salvation, but also in its interpretation. The ordinances are the visible interpreters, the ceremonial portrayal of the salvation experience. Thus the church must be agreed in the form, meaning, and purpose of the ordinances. This immediately limits the administration of these ordinances to the authority of a scriptural, independent, New Testament Baptist church.

The responsibility for a proper observance of baptism and the Lord's Supper rests with the church. It was not the Baptists, but the Lord in His Word that has placed certain restrictions and qualifications upon the participants in baptism and the Lord's Supper. He was the One, the founder and builder of His church, that has placed the responsibility of carrying out these restrictions and requiring these qualifications upon every true church. As someone once wrote: "The ordinances, baptism and the Lord's supper, are symbolic to the churches for the double purpose of keeping the truth of salvation at the center of church life and to keep the churches in the center of the truth. The logic of Scripture demands that they be administered only by the churches which preach their truth."

Many Baptist churches today are forsaking, instead of keeping, the ordinances by practicing alien immersion and open communion for the sake of convenience, crowds, and the cash. They do not want to offend anybody by shutting them out, they want to notice an increase in their attendance, and they want to see the offerings grow.

May God help every true church to never let down their guard and forget the awesome responsibility of keeping the ordinances as they have been delivered to them.