WHY DOES A BAPTIST BRIDER CARRY CREDIT CARDS TO TOWN?
By Ken Blue
“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.” Matthew 10:5-15.
There are a few Baptist Briders who teach that the church, the body of Christ, had its beginning in Matthew four with the ministry of John the Baptist. They are bold enough to teach that the church today is the same church we find in the Gospels, and that Jesus was baptized into its membership by John. It, they claim, is the model church, and preached the same gospel we preach today. There are many problems with this teaching and no Baptist of any variety follows it.
First, the people to whom the church was sent were Jews only. These Baptist preachers were not permitted to go to any Gentiles. Is this the pattern for the church today? You would expect the brider to go first to the Jews in their city as their church was commanded by Christ.
The proclamation or message of this brider church was different from that preached today. I have never heard a Baptist preacher say, “repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Why this change of message? What happened to this “Kingdom of Heaven” message? Is the Baptist Brider ignoring the people to whom it was sent, and the proclamation given to it?
The power of the Baptist Brider church has also disappeared. “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8. The Baptist Church of today doesn’t have the power to heal the common cold. To hear Baptist speak of the church today being the church of yesterday is a joke. Have you ever seriously considered why the church today is not like the church of the Gospels? While many are defending their denomination, it might be wise to pause and think on these things. No Baptist church is “healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, or casting out devils. Many of them are casting out the sick, and raising the devil!
The provisions were limited. “Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.” Matthew 10:9-10.
One can see what these Baptist preachers were not permitted to take with them. They were to depend completely on God’s care and provision. Have you seen any preacher follow this order? Most preachers travel with three suitcases, a laptop, and Iphone, and a wallet full of credit cards. What happened to the Baptist pattern and why?
Note the peril of cities that rejected these Baptist Preachers. Is the fate of all cities in the hands of Baptist Briders? I hope not.
Those who claim the church in the Gospels was a Baptist Brider and the pattern for Baptist churches today, have a real problem when attempting to obey the above. Why do they not follow the New Testament pattern? They can’t. So, don’t take your cards to town, Bill!
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Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.