Baptist Courier

BAPTISTS AND MISSIONS.

As Baptists we claim great reverence for the Bible. We claim in a word, that we are Bible Christians. We do not "go much" on confessions, disciplines or articles. We believe in a "Thus saith the Lord." We always strive to cleave to "the law and the testimony." Whatever Christ has commanded we claim that we must do or give up our boast that we are gospel churches. We preach repentance and faith as the first things required—first in order, first in importance. We preach the immersion of a believer in water, in the name of the triune God, as the only baptism of the gospel. We preach the independency of the churches as the scriptural plan and conception of government. And woe to that man or that religious organization that does not harmonize with us in these things! The latter is not a church; the former is not a member of a church. And this is all right.

But do we not know that the same Lord who said "baptize" also said "teach all nations"—"preach the gospel to every creature?" And is not the command to "disciple all nations"—to make men Christians, as the term imports—of greater importance than even that to baptize? Not for a moment would we underrate the importance of baptism; but we would emphasize the importance of preaching the gospel—of discipling men, first of all. And yet there is many a church claiming to be patterned after the model which Christ gave; claiming to take the Bible as the law-book; claiming great reverence for all of Christ's commands, that never gives a dollar to send the gospel of Jesus to the nations! Brethren, if we are Baptists, let us be Baptists. Let our feet be planted squarely upon Christ's final commission; and while we may be sticklers for baptism, let us all be just as strongly such for the evangelization of the world, according to our Lord's final command.—Western Recorder.