A BAPTIST BRIDE CHURCH; YOUR KIDDING ME

By Ken Blue

It is amusing to watch Baptist Briders compass land and sea for any scrap of Baptist history to prove the only real church today is a local Baptist bride church, and that Jesus became a member of the Baptist church; which is His bride. Because of the great ministry of Charles Spurgeon, his name is often used to prop up Baptist bride teaching. However, Spurgeon would reject most of those who use him as their predecessor.

I have read much written by Mr. Spurgeon, and I would recommend his writings to all. We have sold many of his books in our bookstore over the years. I have no argument with Mr. Spurgeon. My complaint is with those who use his name to give authority to a false doctrine, while ignoring, or going completely counter to other things he believed and did.

For example, if you would like to see the wrath of the Brider; remove or leave the name Baptist off your church; Spurgeon did. The church he pastored for 38 years was The Metropolitan Tabernacle! Take the name Baptist off, and witness the sweet, sweet spirit fly out the window.

Also, Spurgeon followed John Calvin’s teaching of the TULIP. Spurgeon was a five point Calvinist. I am not sure most Briders would go so far as to preach that the non-elect were pre-destined to hell.

Baptist Briders pride themselves in their belief that they have maintained a true Baptist heritage since the first Baptist, John the Baptist. Do Baptist Briders have musical instruments in their churches? The early church did not, and all Christians opposed them for centuries.

Note again what Spurgeon said about musical instruments. “What a degradation to supplant the intelligent song of the whole congregation by the theatrical prettinesses of a quartette, the refined niceties of a choir, or the blowing off of wind from inanimate bellows and pipes! We might as well pray by machinery as praise by it” (Commentary on Psalm 42:4).

On another Psalm, Spurgeon said, “Praise the Lord with harp.’ Men need all the help they can get to stir them up to praise. This is the lesson to be gathered from the use of musical instruments under the old dispensation. Israel was at school, and used childish things to help her to learn; but in these days, when Jesus gives us spiritual manhood, we can make melody without strings and pipes. We who do not believe these things to be expedient in worship, lest they should mar its simplicity…We do not need them, they would hinder than help our praise… ‘Sing unto him.’ This is the sweetest and best of music. No instrument like the human voice. As a help to singing the instrument is alone to be tolerated, for keys and strings do not praise the Lord” (Commentary on Psalm 33:2).

Another Baptist said, “Staunch old Baptists in former times would as soon tolerated the Pope of Rome in their pulpits as an organ in their galleries, and yet the instrument has gradually found its way among them…How far this modern organ fever will extend among our people, and whether it will on the whole work a RE- formation or DE- formation in their singing service, time will more fully develop.” (Benedict, Baptist historian, Fifty Years Among Baptist, page 204-207)”

The Baptist, Andrew Fuller presented the history of the music of the early church. ““The history of the church during the first three centuries affords many instances of primitive Christians engaging in singing, but no mention, (that I recollect) is made of instruments. (If my memory does not deceive me) it originated in the dark ages of popery, when almost every other superstition was introduced.”

So, which is it? Shall be build our church of the Scriptures, rightly divided, or on the tradition of men? Briders will need to search for someone other than Spurgeon to validate their perpetuity. Remember, history is always tainted by those who write it. The Word of God must be our authority.