THE WORDS EVANGELISM AND MISSIONARIES AMONG OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS (SANTAMARIA)

[We wrote this article to clarify some confusion among some circles of Old School Baptists - ed]

FROM THE BLACK ROCK ADDRESS OF 1832:

ARE OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS INHERENTLY OPPOSED TO "MISSIONS"?

We will now call your attention to the subject of Missions. Previous to stating our objections to the mission plans, we will meet some of the false charges brought against us relative to this subject, by a simple and unequivocal declaration, that we do regard as of the first importance the command given of Christ, primarily to His apostles, and through them to his ministers in every age, to “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” and do feel an earnest desire to be found acting in obedience thereunto, as the providence of God directs our way, and opens a door of utterance for us. We also believe it to be the duty of individuals and churches to contribute according to their abilities, for the support, not only of their pastors, but also of those who go preaching the gospel of Christ among the destitute. But we at the same time contend, that we have no right to depart from the order which the Master himself has seen fit to lay down, relative to the ministration of the word.

ARE OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS INHERENTLY OPPOSED TO ALL MISSIONARY SOCIETIES?

Brethren, we cheerfully acknowledge that there have been some honorable exceptions to the character we have here drawn of the modern missionary, and some societies have existed under the name of Mission Societies which were in some important exceptions from the above drawn sketch...

Black Rock Address

So it seems to us that Missionaries were not a problem to the writers of the Black Rock Address, but rather huge moneyed interests outside the control of local church!

As for the word missionary, it is not an evil word.  It is the Latin equivalent of an apostle.

A missionary is one who is sent on a mission, especially one sent to do religious or charitable work in a territory or foreign country. The Latin root from which the word "missionary" is derived is equivalent to the Greek word apostolos (^ [[Strong's](Strong's_Concordance)\ #652]^), meaning "one sent forth", from which we get "apostle". It has been defined as one who attempts to persuade or convert others to a particular faith (or set of beliefs) [1], often an evangelist or other representative of a religious community who works among those outside of that community.

PREACHERS TODAY SHOULD ONLY GO TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE CALLED THEM TO COME

This is another unsupported assumption.  Yes, Paul indeed had a vision of a man calling him to come to Macedonia.  But this man was unidentified and it could have been just a vision and not an actual man.  Since we profess as Old School Baptists to follow APOSTOLIC TRADITION AND NOT MAN-MADE TRADITIONS, EVEN IF THEY COME FROM OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST CIRCLES, WE MUST DISENTRHALL OURSELVES FROM ANYTHING THAT IS NOT IN THE BIBLE.

We will show some scriptural examples.  What men called Paul Barnabas to leave the church at Antioch?  Did the church tell them to go?  No!  The Spirit of God told the church at Antioch to separate them for his service.

What men in Athens called God to come and preach to them?  Let us read the text:

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him.

 It was Paul who initiated the discussion, first in the synagogue and then in the marketplace.  To some confused Old School Baptists, this approach would sound Arminian.  Did Paul go door to door?  No.  But he did go to the synagogues!  Was he asked to speak to them?  Sometimes, yes; sometimes, no!

We have the following words from Elder Beebe:

The apostles have decided that no man taketh this honor (of the gospel ministry) upon him, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron (to the priesthood). In the calling and qualification to the work, God by his Spirit makes such impressions on the mind of his chosen ones for that service, as are to them unmistakable, and at the same time, by the same spirit, it is made known also to the church, that such a gift is among them. As when it was said, "Separate unto me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto the Holy Ghost has called them." April 15, 1868, Signs of the Times 

OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS DO NOT BELIEVE IN EVANGELISM OR PREACHING TO THE LOST

There is nothing wrong with the word "evangelism."  Why should we let the Arminians have it as was their own? Do they deserve a right to it, and their abuse of it? 

We again quote the words of Elder Beebe:

THERE is a general murmuring among the New School tribes that the ministers of the Old School, or Regular order, do not preach to sinners. Let us examine this charge a moment. If they do not preach to sinners, to whom do they preach? If we be answered that they preach to the saints, we reply, that they only preach and apply the promises and encouragements of the gospel to that description of saints who know and acknowledge that they are sinners, and hope that they are sinners saved by grace. And is it not right to preach to saints? The direction is, “Feed my sheep, and feed my lambs.” “Feed the flock of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” These they endeavor to feed and comfort. But do they not also preach to another description of sinners, viz, to sinners in Zion? Do they not warn the unruly of the evil consequences of abandoning the divine rule given in the scriptures for our faith and practice and of running with the multitude into the New School operations of the day? Certainly, they do. Again. Do not the Old School Baptist ministers preach to, and warn the New School Baptists, and labor incessantly to convince the unconvinced among them, of the abomination of their way, while they profess to be disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, are laying in wait to deceive the people of God, and are teaching for doctrines the commandments of men? Do they not warn them of the awful judgments and fearful threatenings of wrath which will soon overtake them? They certainly do. But, why, says one, do they not preach to that class of sinners who make no pretension to religion? We answer, they do preach to all who come within the sound of their voice, and leave all who have an ear, to hear what the Spirit saith to the churches; but where they have no ear to hear the sayings of the Spirit of truth, they do not attempt presumptuously to furnish them; nor do they feel themselves at liberty to preach what their Lord has not authorized them to preach, for the sake of accommodating their discourses to the condition of any class of sinners. But why should it be thought more important to preach to and warn the class last described, than those who pervert the word of God, and bear a false testimony in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are these less dangerous to the simple, less troublesome to the church of God, or less sinful in the sight of a holy God, or less exposed to that judgment which now of a long time lingereth not, and that damnation which slumbereth not? To what description of sinners did our Lord apply these expressive words: “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Was it to professors or non-professors? It was to those whom he addressed as Scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites. And let it not be forgotten, that all the prophets of the Lord in olden time, were stoned by zealous professors of religion; our Lord was crucified by the most popular class of professors of religion then upon earth; the apostles and primitive saints, with all the children of God in subsequent ages, down to the present, from those who profess the most ardent zeal for the Lord. If, therefore, we have in the ranks of the Old School Baptists, those who do not preach to such sinners as these, on all suitable occasions, we shall feel constrained to preach to them as sinners, for the wicked neglect of their bounden duty. We therefore wish to be understood as calling on the New School sinners; (these being the worst sort) we warn them in the language of the scriptures, saying, “Ho, ye despisers, wonder and perish; for behold I work a work in your days, which ye shall in no wise believe, though one shall declare it unto you.”  

ALEXANDRIA, D. C., October 19, 1838.