Difficulties with Briders Doctrine
By Ken Blue
Recently an article by a Baptist Brider came to my attention. The following quote was the first paragraph. “When did the church start? Baptists, being dispensationalists and not replacement theologians, believe that the church is a New Testament institution so we know that we can find its origins within the borders of the New Testament Scriptures.”
The first mistake our brother makes is his reference to “the church.” You see, in Baptist Bride doctrine, there is no such thing as “the Baptist church.” There are only individual local churches. Now, I am aware that he may have been thinking of only one local church at the time, but I doubt it.
Baptist Briders believe their baptism is the door to the local church. Next, their local church is the bride of Christ. Therefore, you must be baptized into a Baptist Bride church to be in the bride. In fact, years ago, whenever you moved from one Baptist Bride church to another, you had to be rebaptized, because water baptism was the only key to each local church.
This practice became monotonous and burdensome, so a convenient transfer method was devised. It was called a Transfer of Membership letter. However, anyone can see the hypocrisy of this act. If the only church that exists is a local Baptist Bride church, and it alone is the bride of Christ, and the only way into it is Baptist Bride baptism, how does a letter, replace baptism? It cannot, unless you believe a universal Baptist Bride church exist, and one baptism will work for all of them.
[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]If Baptist Briders are not replacement theologians, why is John’s baptism, the parables of Jesus, His teaching and miracles attributed to the Baptist Church?[/pullquote]
Also, there was a Jewish church. (“This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:” Acts 7:38 .) It would be interesting for someone to show us where and when that church ceased to exist. If Baptist are not “replacement theologians” why do they insert themselves in the upper room, replacing the “the little flock” to whom Jesus was going to give the Kingdom of Heaven? (“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32.)
If Baptist Briders are not replacement theologians, why is John’s baptism, the parables of Jesus, His teaching and miracles attributed to the Baptist Church? And, at what point was the nation of Israel rejected? What did God take from Israel and give the Baptist according to Luke 12:32? “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” Matthew 21:43. Is the Baptist Brider that kingdom and nation? If so, was it taken away from Israel in Matthew 3? If it was taken from Israel and given to John the Baptist and his followers, wouldn’t that be a replacement??
A follow-up question is, can you pinpoint where the New Testament began? (“16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”) Hebrews 9:16-17. Even a casual reading of the Gospels, reveals that everyone was operating under the intent of the Law during our Lord’s Jewish ministry. See Matt. 5:17, 18; 7:12; 8:4; 11:13; 22:40; Mark 1:44; Luke 2:22-24, 27, 39; 5:14, 16:16.
There are Bible believers who believe the church began in Matthew, 3, 16, 27; Acts 2, 9, 28, can you prove where it started? The reason many have no idea when the church started is their replacement theology.
Since a covenant and a testament are not the same, and the Old and New covenants were made with Israel, to whom and to what did the new testament testify? Can you describe the difference between a covenant and a testament? The confusion of Baptist Briders on these, and many other subjects, forces them to embrace replacement theology.
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.