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| Why "Primitive" Baptist? |
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Our desire is to worship God in the same manner as the first century "primitive" Christians. Obviously much has changed in the realm of technology and convenience since the time of the Lord and his apostles and we gladly embrace these blessings, but no amount of technological advancement can alter the command of God regarding or the establishment and structure of his church.
The primitive church was characterized by the following distinctives which we strive to maintain in our church:
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The gospel is presented free of charge declaring the saving work of a sovereign God.
The gospel does not offer salvation, nor is it intended to make children of God, but to disciple those who have already experienced the saving operation of the Holy Spirit.
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In accordance with the New Testament pattern, our services consist of extemporaneous preaching, prayer, a cappella singing, and integrated family worship.
Preaching: The proclamation of the gospel message as directed by the Holy Spirit. The minister prepares himself through study of the word, but the message is presented extemporaneously.
Prayer: Frequent public prayer led by male members of the congregation.
Singing: A cappella congregational singing with song selection by members of the congregation.
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| Are Primitive Baptists a denomination? |
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By most standards, Primitive Baptist churches fit the definition of "non-denominational". We believe in congregational church government and that the local congregation is the highest ecclesiastical authority on earth and is responsible to Christ alone as its head.
Fellowship between local congregations is loose and informal based upon common heritage and principles of beliefs and practice. The example of fellowship between the churches of Jerusalem and Antioch in Syria is a scriptural pattern for inter-congregational fellowship. |
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| Are Primitive Baptists Protestant (Reformed)? |
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Baptists are not protestant churches because our heritage is traced through a separate line from that of the Roman Catholic Church. We thank God for the truths restored to many in the time of the Reformation and rejoice that God's truths are not limited to one group or heritage of people. Whenever reform is brought to existing organizations, it is certain that much tradition including some error will be retained. We believe that the Lord's promise to preserve his Church throughout the ages is a commitment to preserve, not to re-create or reform.
It is important to any claim of church identity to be able to trace one's heritage to the apostles and the Lord without sustained periods of gross error in either practice or doctrine. |
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| Are Primitive Baptists Calvinists? |
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We embrace the biblical doctrines of salvation (soteriology) commonly known as Calvinism, but are distinguished from "reformed" churches by our insistance that these principles pre-date the reformation and are explicitly taught throughout the scriptures.
We are thankful for the revival of many of these doctrines by men such as Calvin, Luther, Beza, and others but we realize that their understanding was clouded by Roman Catholic dogma.
We prefer to describe our teaching as "Calvinistic" to avoid the presumptions that usually attend the Calvinist label.
Primitive Baptist doctrinal distinctives are as follows:
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As a result of Adam's disobedience all of mankind is utterly depraved and is incapable of pleasing God or establishing a relationship with Him based upon our works.
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Before the world began, God chose a people to be conformed to the image of His son. This choice was not based upon individual merit, foreknown virtue, or human will. The choice is based soley upon the sovereign will, love, and mercy of God.
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Reconciliation or Atonement is accomplished for the elect (chosen) of God through the substitutiary death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Because the death of Christ is substitutiary, his suffering was sufficient only to cover the sins of those for whom he was appointed to die.
The death of Christ is limited to those particular individuals who were chosen in him before the foundation of the world and does not extend to all of humanity either in sufficiency or in application.
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- Immediate Holy Spirit Regeneration
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The grace of God is applied to the life of each of his saints at some point in their natural life and has the effect of bringing instant and irreversible change in the individual through adding a sensitivity to the person of God and overcoming their resistance to belief in His word. This change is wrought through the impartation of spiritual life to a person previously dead in sins and depravity.
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- Preservation of the Saints
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Every individual called to life in Christ by the operation of the Holy Spirit is preserved in grace by that same Spirit and will never lose the relationship that is their's in Christ. Once an individual is saved by the grace of God, they will always be saved. Nothing can separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
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| What about the end times ? |
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We view the prophecy of scripture as having a partial fulfillment in the New Testament age with a future fulfillment at the return of the savior on the last day. We do not embrace the dispensationalist view held by many, but are open to a variety of positions regarding specific passages of scripture believing that the proper interpretation will be made clear at the time of its fullfillment. |
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| What is "family" worship, and why? |
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We believe the pattern of scripture to teach that families ought to worship together. There is no case in scripture where the youth are found to be separated from the adults, and a number of scriptures such as Matthew 19:14, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." which indicate that children are to be valued participants in worship.
The preaching of the gospel is the God ordained means of instructing His people both old and young. Because it is the Holy Spirit who directs the preaching, we are confident that He is able to apply His word to the hearts of all who hear it.
Children learn more from the example of their parents than from the spoken word. When children are able to witness their parents worshipping a sovereign God by choice and with heartfelt joy, they comprehend more than mere words can express. |
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