The Ohio Independent Baptist, April 1954

April 1954 Pa~c i~ THE OHIO INDEPENDENT BAPTIST ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ----~~~~~~~~~ - PROBLEMS \\Tit l1c)ll t <1-t1estio11 I a l) t i t "l111r 11 'S 11,1,.,c J)roble111 a11c.l it i t lie 1-)111·1)0 e of t l1i a1·ti -.1e to cl,1.. - ~ifJ· tl1 111,1.ior proble111 a11tl to set £01·tl1 tl1 b,1 --ic Cclll e. Tl1e p1·0ble111 of cl1t11·che n1ig·h t be di,·idcd b1·oadl1r i11to tl1ree di- • ,·i "' io11 : Doctri,zal Do11z e tic a11d P1·ater11al. TRI TL Bapti t have wide latitl1cle i11 1oct1·inal determination and ,,,ith thi libe1·ty come co11fu ion anc1 0111e li ag1·eeme11t. Thi diffe1--– e11ce of opi11ion extend all the ,vay f1..on1 the ft1ndamental literalj, t to the keptically-mi11c1ed modern– j t. 111 the b1"'oad en e there are certain doctrine ,vhich l1a,,e bee11 l)a ic a111011g~ Bapti t from tbe be– ginning, t1ch a bapti m by im– n1er ion a.nd the ete1 ..nal er11ritv ., of the , aint . And certain po– . jtion are characteri tic of Bap– t · t , t1ch a eparation of chl11--ch a11d tate, but at n1any other point the1·e i , ancl ha been, va1 ..iance. Bapt · t b}T thi.. libe1·ty of opin– io11 do acrifice ome org·a11ization– al peace. The atl1olic i told ,vl1at lie belie, 1 e even befo1--e he i able to llnder tand it. The cloctri11e i · p1 ..e-d etermi11ed f 01· every co1n- 111 unicant, and tho e ,vho 1·emain -nrithi11 the fol cl, accept it. 'J'here i8 no doctrinal cliffe1"en ce among the e, and 111any othe1· g1·ol1p ; for the r ea on tl1at the ra11l< and file cloe not det er1ni11e the doctri11e, a11d a111ong· the , ,a t n1ajo1'ity tl1e (EDITORI .t1L) doct1·ine i co11 ·iclerecl of mall i1111)01i:a11ce. Bapti t hl11·cl1e do 11ot excel other religious groups in relation to doct1·i11al unity. In fact, only a1nong non-denominational church– e wo11ld one expect to find an equal 1nea u1"e of rl1gged i11divid– uali m. Doctr·ine i con ider"ed im– porta.nt by Bapti t , with expos– itory preachi11g, and empba is p laced llpon t11dy of the crip– i t11 .. e . Bapti t elect to i.: acrifice 011eness of tho11ght on the alta1· of Liberty 1·ecognizing the Word of God as the 011ly at1thority in faitl1 and practice. Even though ome may pervert it doct1'ine and tray far £1 ..om the Faith of our Father , that fact doe not n11llify 11or make unacceptable the Liberty ,vhich has been gi, 1 en the aint. by Ollr ble ed Lord. It i far better to e1"'ve God i11 Libe1·ty even amid t clifficulty, than to attempt e1 .., 1 ice i11 bondage • or ignorance. The (Jhri tia11 hurch i com- po ed of people each per on ,vitb l1i characte1--i tic idio yncra ie , talent , ambitio11 , and baclcgro11nd. 'l'he Libe1·ty me11tio11ed i11 the p1·e– ceding pa1·agTaph extend not only among chlll"Che , bl1t among church people, a well . With no inve ted at1tho1~ity, except that conferred by tl1e local church t1pon ce1 ..tain of it · own member , t1·ife ma11y tim BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATES • There is a sentiment connected with the Baptismal Certificate which is recognized by many pastors and church leaders. Believers treasure these certificates through many years . This folder type certificate, with a page for the pastor's signature and other data, has become a favorite among Baptist churches. $1.75 per dozen BELIEVER'S BIBLE & BOOK COMPANY 120 Pa1·k Avenue Elyria, Ohio p1·evails, ,vh 11 the law of love is ove1·loolted. Bapti. t chl1rehe. c1o 11ot excel other ~:rol1 ps i11 poi11 t of clome tic tranquility, dl1e to the fact that the individt1al ha the rif?,·ht of expression. Strife is less promi– ne11t among- other religiol1. organ– izatio11 where Bi hop or their repre entative holdino· title to the pr·operty are able to tep i11 a11cl make the deci ion . Then, on the dome tic f1·ont, we point to the pa to1 ..al differences. J11 manjT gi-·oup ' appointment' ' j a matter of cour e · w he1"'ea , a- 1nono; Bapti t the pa tor goes forth withol1t political a. . u1'ance. Bapti t churche a1·e 11nable to guarantee the eco11omic fl1tl1re of it. pa tor , . ince the de11omination 01~ local a ociation, ha no Bi hop to who e political organization hi kite tring might be attached. 'The ju t hall live bjT faith.' ' FR TER~ TAL It i generall}" co11clt1ded that ' ' In t1nity the1'e i trength,' ' and th proO'ran1 of ma11}r 1"'eligiou g·1 .. oup point to co11 olidated ef– .r rt. Bapti t tal{e the po ition that Power belongeth 1111to God.' ' Reo·11la1· Bapti t do not affiliate ,vith 11atio11al, tate 01' local or– ga11ization which contain chu1·che Jo11 iderecl apo tate. ' an two ,,·all{ tog·ethe1' except they be a– g·reed ? ' (Amo 3 :3 ) ' ' tome out f 1·0111 an1on0' the1n a11cl be ye ep– a1--ate, aith the Lord, and touch not the t1nclea11 thi11g· · a11cl I will re– ceive yoll. ' (2 01·i11thian 6 :17 ) Reo·t1la1' Bapti t do 11ot lool~ ,vith fa,,or 11po11 ,vo1·ldly practice ec le ia tical co1nn1ercial 01'" ocial i11 the l1ot1 e of ,,,01· hip 1101.. do they co11do11e ,, 1 01 ..ldli11e an1ong tl1e meml)e1-- . The grot1p cloe not jclr11tif}'" it elf l)y ,,Tea1·ing· a g-arb 11or doe tl1e pa to1· ,,. a1· hi collar ba k- ide f1--ont, bl1t i11 1~elatio11 to tl1e anctity of the ho11, e of ,, 1 or- hip a11d eparatio11 of the ai11t tl1 e daily walk i to be a tP t imony <)f '}1ri tian cha1·a cte1·. L I X In matter of doctri11e and clo– me tic relation , Regt1la1" Bapti t to 01ne de 0 '1 .. ee, ac1 ..ifice peace a the p1·ice of Liberty. In matters of f1-.ate1 ..nal I'elation Regt1la1· Bapti t tand 1 ..eady to acrifice popularity i11 obedience to Divine command. . .