These two groups are listed in the "Denominational Sites" thread as being two separate "denominations". Does anyone know the difference between them? Thanks!
Primitive Baptists
Old Line Primitive Baptists
What's the difference?
Discussion in '2004 Archive' started by peteyo69, Jan 25, 2004.
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Primitive Baptist refers to an overall type of Baptist, under which umbrella exists several different kinds. Primitive and Missionary Baptists came into noticable existence between 1820-1835, when the main body of Baptists in the United States divided over the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions and some other issues. The "Missionaries" supported the Foreign Mission Board, and the "Primitives" opposed it.
First, the Primitive Baptists may be roughly divided into two ethnic groups - predominantly white churches and predominantly black churches. Then they may be subdivided under those two categories:
White Primitive Baptists </font>- Absolute Predestinarian</font>
- Limited Predestinarian</font>
- Progessive</font>
- Universalist</font>
Black Primitive Baptists </font>- National Primitive Baptist Convention</font>
- Old School</font>
Finally, there is one other body that is usually identified as Primitive Baptist - though most Primitives do not recognize them as such, and they do not call themselves Primitive Baptists - the Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Predestinarian Baptists.
This may be much more than you wanted to know, but I believe this will provide the proper context to understand who the Old Line Primitive Baptists are in relation to Primitive Baptists as a whole. I think the reason for "Old Line" being used so much today, is that certain churches want to be known as opposed to certain innovations that are coming into the Limited Predestinarian group. -
BTW, the link above, listed as Primitive Baptist, is from people and churches probably considered as part of the progressive Limited Predestinarians, at least by the "Old Lines".
The Baptist Bible Hour site would also be considered among that type of progressive. - Baptist Bible Hour Homepage -
Yeah, what he said. :D
Seriously though, I am part of what would be best classified as the Old Line Old School Primitive Baptist. Pretty much the same thing described above, but with the names we typically use for ourselves.
Sub groups
Primitive Baptists - as a whole.
Old School Primitive Baptist - no instruments, no Sunday School, no Salaried Ministers etc.
New School Primitive Baptist - musical instruments, Sunday School, Salaried Ministers, etc.
Old Line Old School Primitive Baptist - same as Old School Primitives of olden times...still of the old line faith of Primitives.
New Line Old School Primitive Baptist - Same as we until roughly 15 years ago. Bringing in Calvinism, perseverance, mission movements, etc.
All in all, there is not too much difference bewteen the Old Line and New Line factions, some even fellowship each other...we do occassionally, though it's getting harder and harder to.
Every church in the Houston and surrounding areas is Old Line Old School, so we really don't have to deal with it all that much.
Any more questions, feel free to ask. I'm a Primitive Baptist Encyclopedia. :D
Bro. James -
The Primitive Baptist link is not necessarily of the Progressive wing. I used to post on the discussion forum until it shut down (indefinitely) for new programming.
Elder David Montgomery, the preacher who runs it, leans a little more to the Old Liner side than the New Line, though he quite often straddles the fence. This is probably due to the uneasiness about causing schisms within our churches again.
In case you didn't know, the Primitives were split for about 100 years, beginning in late 19th Century, over pithy matters. Most people remember how bad it was then, not being able to fellowship people who believed the same as you, so no one wants to act too quickly in condemning others of our faith. However, there are those on both sides who are staunchly against the other side and they're making the rest of us "take sides or else", if you know what I mean.
That's the one thing in common among we Primitives and the majority of Baptists in America. We're always squabbling about something and forming new factions.
Oh well. Ever since Christ left man in charge of His church, we have been running it down the drain. We remain hopeful that He will come and take us to where He does the preaching every Sunday and keeps us truly in line.
Bro. James -
James, didn't mean to imply that Bro. Montgomery is all that "progressive", but I think the STAUNCH old liners I know, who are in favor of splitting, tend to look at those in the middle as on the other side. He is a good man who I have personally met and wouldn't find much at all to fall out with him over. He's quite level headed, a thing that some of the more radical on each side could use a dose of, IMO. Well, that's kind of off topic.
I think on the "New School" Primitive Baptists, that is mostly a terminology the Old School uses for them, isn't it? Most of them I know, even in their church names, are "Progressive Primitive Baptist". -
You are right. I've heard Brother David preach many times and I find he is as good a man as he is a preacher. The same goes for his brothers and his dad.
You are also correct about the New School PBs. They don't necessarily call themselves that, but they do refer to us as the Old School, as do we ourselves, so it stands to reason that where there is an "old" there is a "new". Honestly though, I can't think of any PB churches, Progressive or otherwise, that actually use Progressive in their name.
Calling themselves Progressive Primitive Baptists is like saying they're new AND old. :confused: Just a tad confusing if you ask me. Most are so far from what Primitive Baptists have historically believed that they would do better to become Missionary, Southern, or some other kind of Baptists. Nowadays, Primitive is just a name on the sign. :(
What's really sad about the whole mess happening now in our sect is that those of us who see points from both sides are being forced to pick one side over the other or face being black-balled. I suppose the devil is always working in our midst to cause problems. He tempted Jesus, and tempts His church today.
BTW, I was not even aware of the existence of the olpbc.com website until I read this post. Seems like there are PB sites popping up all over the place lately. -
Wow, thanks so much for the info guys, there aren't really any Primitive Baptists of any kind that I'm aware of here in Canada (especially in a big city like Toronto), so I was just really curious, lol! Sounds really interesting!! I'm a "Calvinist" too though that term isn't acceptable to a lot of Baptists.
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peteyo69, there is (or was) a small group of Baptists in Ontario of similar faith and order with the Absolute Predestinarian Primitive Baptists, but operating under a different name. They have generally gone unnoticed, and, due to a recent conflict, may not even exist anymore. Try the link below for a little more info:
Covenanted Baptist Church of Canada -
These assertions will result in divisions between members and churches to the detriment of the Lord's work. We are simply "Primitive Baptist" and we need to get back on that track and keep it that way! We should be able to have some differences among us that do not force us into divisions. If we'd focus more on the whole of God's word and less on the opinions of the preachers we'd be far better off.
We have too much to stand against together to be standing apart. But, like you, I believe that's getting harder to do because the lines are being drawn and open discussion is very difficult. -
Once a Primitive Baptist church has departed from either our faith, or our practice, they cease to be a recognizable Primitive Baptist church. In that case, we are no longer able to recognize them as such. It is unfortunate, but it is something that has to be done in order to keep purity within the true Primitive Baptist church.
If you look back to our original Articles of Faith, you will see that we were only to fellowship with Primitive Baptists of the Trumpet order. So, you see, this is not a new thing.
Our only hope is to stick by our beliefs and pray that God will work everything out in the end. -
Further, if a major split does occur, then either can still claim the name of Primitive Baptist holding that their view is correct and the other is not. In the end, each church stands on its own and recognizes whatever other church it wants. However, I'm not convinced that those who proclaim they are the real Primitive Baptist actually are such!
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Thanks rlvaughn for that link to the Canadian one. I have no idea where those towns are, though. Ontario's huge - it's like the equivalent of 10 states!!
Would this church be one of those universalist ones? http://www.harmonypbc.com/ I don't think I agree with it, but it's interesting. Are the universalist ones the equivalent of like, Old Line, New Line or Progressive? -
Are the universalists the same as the "no hellers?"
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It would appear that this indeed one of the universalists congregations. As for the differences between the universalists and the other branches is principally that they hold that all of human kind will eventually be in heaven. The separation took place now 80 years ago, and no doubt there are other subtle differences.
I read some of the articles on the web site, but not all. Some I would agree with, some not, but that might be the same with the Old Line church down the road. We have no governing bodies to enforce orthodoxy.
As bit of background on the Universalits might be helpful to understand them a bit better. They would no doubt not entirely agree with the characterization below.
At any rate, about 1922 one of our beloved, and at the time elderly ministers had a son who was from all accounts evil personified. About that year, he was electrocuted in Prison, for murder. His father couldn't cope with it. He latched on to certain verses, such as, "Willing that no man should perish, etc." His idea was if God was not willing that any should perish, then they wouldn't. (Mind you I'm not agreeing with it, just stating their position). Howard Dorgan wrote a book about this group of people some years back entitled: Children of a Happy God Dorgan, a scholarly type interviewed many of these people, but when I spoke to him about his research they hadn't realated the above story, which is well known in these parts. The story, however, is generally attested as fact. This, however, would undermine their theology to a large degree. Of course most anyone can find something in the Bible to support just about any whacky idea one might come up with. (Not that all religious ideas are whacky, but will trust you understand without further elaboration). -
Stephen, in common terms yes. The universalists, however, object to the term "no-hellers." It is their contention that hell is right here on earth. See disclaimer above.
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After you mentioned Dorgan, I made the connection.
I did not mean to use a perjorative term in my reference; it just rang a bell.
Here is Dorgan's brief essay on the Stoney Creek church:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnhawkin/Stoneycr.html -
Stephen,
It didn't bother me, just a nit, which I probably shouldn't have made.
Hope all is well in Okie land. (couldn't resist. ) -
peteyo69, as Bro. Jeff noted above, Harmony does appear to be a "universalist" congregation. Here is a quote from their web site:
Stephen, while the "universalists" and "no-hellers" names are often used of the same group, also be aware that there are some Primitive Baptists that do not hold universalism who believe that there is no eternal hell fire punishment. The souls of the non-elect, in their view, either are destroyed or at least are mortal. -
"3. To maintainthe ordinances, doctrines and discipline of the church and of other Primitive Baptist churches of gospel order."
While the exact term "fellowship" is not present, the implied meaning of the term "churches of gospel order" denotes those churches with whom we are in fellowship.
While our Articles of Faith do not spell out every single aspect of our faith and practice, they do lay the ground work for what we all should know is a Primitive Baptist.
Let me remind you, simply because our Articles of Faith read similarly or even exactly as those of another church does not mean we are in fellowship with them. That would be like saying we use the Bible, therefore we are in fellowship with all who use the Bible. It simply will not work because there are so many interpretations and underlying beliefs that simply stating we will fellowship any similar church will not work.
It would be quite hard, if not impossible, to go down and make a list of every single thing that Primitive Baptists believe. Therefore, we just have to study and read from our fathers in the ministry to know what we believe and why we believe it.
I agree that we should allow for subtle differences, but none that would affect the truth. For example, right now there are difference among ministers regarding whether, while Jesus was on the cross, if God turned His face from Jesus or simplay withdrew His presence. Now, this is something not specified in scripture, so the difference of opinion is tolerable.
The above is quite different than say, having a Sunday School, which the PB church has ALWAYS stood against. Having full-time salaried ministers...another thing that the PB church has ALWAYS stood against. I heard one preacher preach on re-thinking timely salvation. There is NEVER ANYTHING which should be re-thought in the church!!! The church holds the truth. PERIOD. Anything else brought in is simply worldly illusions.
So, you see, while these things aren't specifically spelled out in our Articles of Faith, they have and forever will be entwined in the beliefs of the true Primitive Baptist church.
Bro. James
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