Emphasis on Missions

Not enough options.

Of course, what would you expect from an anti-missions Baptist?

 

It was a joke.

That's the name we were given way back when by the Missionary Baptists because we were against what they were doing.

Missions in the classic sense, yes, most Primitive Baptists are against them, but "mission" in the sole sense of preaching the good news of salvation to God's people, wherever they may be, we are wholeheartedly in favor of that.

In such instances, we are all missionaries when someone asks us about God or our church and we tell them.

 

It depends on how you define the word "missions".

Here is an excerpt from the Black Rock Address decribing one cause (Missions) for the split between Missionary and Primitive Baptists.

I don't necessarily agree with every single thing they say in this, but since when has that been unusual for a Baptist?

The point should be well made for you within the quote though.

 

Primitive Baptists are not against mission work. Primitive Bapitsts are against certain ways in which mission work is administered.

 

I would add "and for what purpose it is carried out".

 

The big objection can be summed up in 2 words...Mission Boards.

They are an extra-biblical establishment which takes the place in authoritative matters of the church.

Also, remember, that this Address was written almost 200 years ago, so we could probably assume that the goings-on were a little different than now.

As for me, I believe that a man should go where God leads him, not where a Board of Directors sends him. Just like Jonah, God sent him to where he needed to be and he went, eventually. When he went the other direction God punished him. If God wants a minister to go someplace he will either go or be punished.

I also firmly believe that God will provide for that man to go where God sends him.

Many of our preachers will go to an out of town meeting not knowing if they will even get their gass money re-paid. They go on faith. I think a man ought to be willing to do as such.

Anyway, mission boards are not biblical, so that's why we don't like that aspect.

The other aspect is that most missionaries today, along with the major religions, believe they are saving souls and saving people from hell by preaching them the word. Primitive Baptists do not believe the written or spoken words have that power. We do not believe that anyone can be saved eternally through the preaching of the gospel.

Anytime a minister goes anywhere to preach he is, in a sense, doing missionary work. He's going to where God's people are gathered in order to hear His word preached.

Wherever God's people are, and have a zeal for the truth, there should be someone to go and preach to them if there is none available to them.

Foreign missions kind of remind me of international aid. If you want to help people, you should start at home. There are so many people here who want to hear the gospel and just aren't in a locality near to hear it. Add that into keeping those people in the church that we already have and you really wouldn't have time for much other missionary work. But, still, the gospel shuld be available to all who want to hear it, no matter where they are.

I've probably not done justice in explaining our position, but it's late and I worked late today, and I'm tired. Perhaps there are some other PBs who can put words for our position together better than I can right now.