The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-11-10
WHY A BAPTIST CHURCH?
REV. MIR. BAMBURG GIVES REA.
SONS FOR IT'S EXISTENCE IN
MONTPELIER.
Explains lis Tenets and Shows Why
Its Establishment and Maintenance
Is Justitied-The Church Is In the
World But Not of the World, He
Declares

Is JuSuned-Ihe church Is In the
World But Not of the World. He
Declares.
Rev. l.. j. hamburg, of the First
Baptist church preached strong
sermon Sunday forenoon on "Why
Have a Baptist Churcn in Montpel-
ier?" His text was based upon the
subject of union or federation of
churches which is everywhere dis
cussed today
"ln no time in the history of the
Christian church." he said, has so
much been said and written and tried
in respect to bringing into closer re-
latioss and fellowship the members
of different denominations. The feel
ing exists that the divisions and sub
divisions ana resubdivisions ought not
TO be; that so much separation should
Aot divide Christian people who be-
ieve in one God and work for one
purpose the salvation of the race.
Proposals for federation have come
from all sources.
In the face of all this talk and
desire for union, what is the justifica-
ton for a distinctly Baptist church.
They say of churches that We preach
practically alike; that the pulpit ut
terances are much the same.
Even in the Roman Catholic
church are unities of belief and ut
terance. The evangelical churches
have the same ordinances and the
same policy of church government.
Are there any distinguishing fea-
lures Of the aBptist church to man
tain and defend, without which the
kingdom of God would suffer? Would
it he just as well if over our church
door were the sign of the Congrega-
tonal OF the Presbyterian or the
Methodist church?
Such are surface questions which
do not reach the vital issues of de-
n1minatonal life.
There is no justification for the
existence or continuance of any
church or organization except it
renders service emphatically to the
kingdom OF God in behalf of human
ity: service which could not be reu-
dered without it.
The church is in the world. but not
Of it. 1t desires to bring the world
into the church but not worldliness
into the church. 1t shows the way Of
God to men and the ways of God to
men that men may come to realize
the sonship to the Father. 1t teaches
that which is not taught on the street
or in business or purely world enter
prises. Therefore. it is essential that
the church should be the voice Of
God, the spokesman of the gospel.
AS it is thought essential that
there be Methodist or Congrega-
tional church so it is necessary there
he a Baptist church to disseminate
its particular line of truth. | do not
mean to be arrogant. ! do not think
the Baptist church holds the entire
truth of God and no other, nor do ]
believe any other church holds the
entire truth. 1t is not because this
people want this church and that
people want that church that The
church is founded, but because its
foundations are based upon funda-
mental truths and great principles
without which they have no right Of
existence.
= great manly people say we are
called Bap1ists because We baptize iii
q peculiar way The tenn is a mis-
manner il large measure. flung at us
sometimes in derlsion We do NOT
claim baptism is all essential and
mat without it there is no salvation,
but We maintain it for what it stands
for, becau2e it expresses the heart Of
the believer. renews life. resurrec-
ton of the spirit symbolic Of regen-
Grafton and confessing faith in Christ.
Some say ii makes no difference
how you baptize, by sprinkling or
pouring or immersion. If there is nc
significance in the Scrip,ural mode or
new significance i'll the phrase
ology OF the New Testament then 1t
makes no difference now or to whom
baptism is administered, but we do
not gainsay the Interpretation of the
Scriptures nor their significance.
Tho Scriptures teach clearly that they
who believe in the lord, Jesus Christ,
and none others, snail be baptized.
The Catholic believes that if tn >
iafaut is not baptized, and dies, he
will 20 TO hell. The Episcopalan be-
lieves the child is regenerated by
baptism. The Methodist believes the
child is the rightful heir of the king
dom of God and that therefore be-
longs to the church and is baptized
in recognition of that fact.
Nevertheless, others have miners
ed candidates for church membership.
Though Baptists number six mill
lions. if all who We're immersed We're
added to the denomination it would
b multiplied many times. I cannat
believe in baptism WHICH has no sig
nificance TO me. Not all Baptists
even understand the significance Of
hai isn.
Then the Bible is accepted as the
Only adequate guide - not creed or
hook Of discipline or prayer 0r ec-
clesiastical IHonOurcement but de-
pending distinctly upon the word OF
Gcd. Where the Scriptures speak we
may speak. Where they are silent,
we are silent We regard the head