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ARE YOU THE PASTOR OF A LAODICEAN CHURCH

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Laodicean church

To the Laodicean church…

“ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22 .

When it comes to the interpretation of the book of Revelation, there’s no shortage of interpretations or opinions. The most prevalent view is that the first four chapters are symbolic of seven stages of church history. There are others who see chapter four as a type of the rapture of the church. John is supposed to be a type of the church. His rapture is preceded by the Laodicean church age, which many believe we are in today.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]There’s no shortage of views of the church.[/pullquote]

Also, there’s no shortage of views of the church. Many believe the church is general, universal and consisting of all truly saved individuals from the beginning of the church until the rapture. Others hold to a partial rapture, which means, only those who are living for Christ and looking for Him, will be raptured. Then, there are some who reject the concept of a universal church and teach that the only valid church on earth is a local Baptist Church whose lineage, like an unbroken chain, extends back to John the Baptist. They believe all the saved will be raptured, but not all will be in the “bride,” which, they say, consist of members of a select group of Baptist Churches.

For those who believe the only scriptural church is a visible local Baptist Church, and believe the teaching that there are seven periods of church history, we ask, which church age are we in? Also, if this is a Laodicean church age, and if the only church is a visible Baptist Church, would that be your church? If yours is a Laodicean church, you may be in trouble. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

Just for the record. I believe all saved people are members of the body of Christ. I do not accept that the body of Christ is the subject of any part of the book of Revelation, nor that the church is the “Bride of Christ.” However, I was graduated from a Baptist College, I pastored three Baptist Churches. One I started with “0” people and pastored it for 40 years. By God’s grace we saw people make professions of faith every Sunday. Many of these are serving God in full-time ministry. Oh, I was also saved and baptized in a Baptist Church. Has the chain been broken from John till then? Beats me.

 

BAPTIST BRIDERS AND REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY

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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.

WHAT IS A BAPTIST?

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MARKS OF A BAPTIST

By Ken Blue

Some time ago I was invited to join another pastor and one of his church members for breakfast at a nearby cafe. We had a pleasant visit. We discussed various subjects, the nature of which I cannot remember. However, as we were finishing our meal, the pastor asked me a question that caught me off guard, and I am convinced he was not impressed with my answer.

The question was, “What is a Baptist?” My answer was, “one who holds to Baptist beliefs.” I proceeded to tell him of the acrostic used to explain what Baptist believe. B-Born again membership. A-Autonomy of the local church. P-Preservation of the saints. T-Total depravity of the lost. I-Inspiration of the Scriptures. S-Separation of church and state. T-Two ordinances.

However, although I agree with the above, I do not think that was the answer he was after. If a Lutheran is a follower of Martin Luther, one might assume a Baptist would be a follower of John the Baptist. I am aware that there are a few Baptist who believe just that.

The facts will demonstrate that Baptist do not, nor can they follow the Baptist.

1. John was sent to Israel only to prepare them for their Messiah. No Baptist today does that.

2. John’s baptism was accompanied with repentance and confession of sins. No Baptist makes that a requirement.

3. John’s ministry was to prepare a people for their King and earthly Kingdom. That is not the goal of any Baptist today.

4. John’s gospel (good news) was that the King was coming to establish His Kingdom, and repentance and baptism were a requirement to enter it. No Baptist preaches that.

5. John’s ministry and message never contained one word about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. That is the central theme of Baptist today.

6. Since John knew nothing about the upcoming death of Christ, his gospel must have contained a different message than that of Baptist today.

7. Since John knew nothing of Jesus’ coming death, his baptism must have served a different purpose, and possibly a different mode, then the baptism practiced today,

8. Since John was sent to baptize and Paul was not sent to baptize, there must have been light years between their two ministries.

9. No one claimed to be a follower of John the Baptist, “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:12, isn’t it strange that no one claimed to be a follower of John the Baptist?

So, the best I can do is stick with the acrostic and follow Christ, since it is impossible, and unscriptural to follow John the Baptist.