THE FALLACY OF BAPTIST BRIDE SUCCESSION
By Ken Blue
I have read the Trail of Blood many times and sold it in our bookstore for years. The little red book is supposed to show that Baptist were the ones who have shed their blood back to John the Baptist. Thus, this is their visual proof for the doctrine of succession of the Baptist Church back to John. Therefore, all other churches are not “true” churches, but are “harlot churches” and not part of “The Bride of Christ.” However, when examined against church history and the Bible, Baptist succession cannot be proven. Why start with John? Did Paul die by the sword? Why not start there? Or, if a blood trail is a proof why not go back the Abel? No one can “prove” their denomination has secession back to John, Jesus or Paul. It is interesting that none of carnal Christians at Corinth claimed to follow John the Baptist. Yet, some were following Apollos.
Some speak of “the church” when speaking of the Great Commission. But, briders do not believe in “the church.” They only believe a local Baptist Church which was birthed by John the Baptist. Even Jesus was a member and baptized into John’s Baptist Church. Thus, they argue that the commissions in the Gospels were not given for the Twelve Apostles to continue preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, first to Israel in the land, and then to the dispersed in Gentile nations. (They think the gospel the Apostles preached was the gospel we preach today.) After they fulfilled the commissions to preach to Israelites, they were then, and only then, to preach the same message to the Gentiles.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Briders do not believe in “the church.” They only believe a local Baptist Church which was birthed by John the Baptist.[/perfectpullquote]
Thus, they argue that the commissions in the Gospels were not given for the Twelve Apostles to continue preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, first to Israel in the land, and then to the dispersed in Gentile nations. (They think the gospel the Apostles preached was the gospel we preach today.) After they fulfilled the commissions to preach to Israelites, they will then, and only then, preach the same message to the Gentiles.
However, no local Baptist churches have ever obeyed these commissions from the time of Christ to the present, nor can they. We challenge any Baptist bride church to prove they obey the commissions, including Mark 16. They cannot, nor will they ever do it.
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.