Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-19

What Baptlsts Stand For,
which the following is a synopsis;
This day is generally observed b
Baptists as denominational day, tn
object being to re-state some of tn
principles for which we feel it to b
our duty to stand and which justif,
our existence. Denominations are tn
outcome of religious thought and'con
viction. Constituted as we are de
nominations seem to be for the tim,
being a necessity. OF course we dt
not claim that denominationalism il
a good thing in itself, but here it is
and the believer must take his stanc
in the midst Of things as they are and
unite with one or other of the exist.
ing denominations or form another
with himself as head. To say / will
have nothing to do with denominations
alism is to divide still more. Surely
we should seek to unite rather than
divide. But union upon a sound and
permanent basis must be union in love
and in loyalty to the truth. AS Bap-
fists we rejoice that we can cooperate
in Christ's service with all who love
his name and seek to do his will. At
the same time we believe that it would
be great calamity to the world and
would greatly retard the union of
Christendom upon a right basis if the
distinctive principles of the Baptists
were to become lost to the world and
forgotten. To that union we leave
something to contribute of priceless
value and we are ready to give up our
distinctive existence as denomina-
ton when our principles are accepted
by our brethren.
First of all, we stand for the Lord
ship of Jesus Christ and the suprem-
acy of the New Testament as the ulti-
mate and only authority in all matters
of church order and action. We be-
lieve the New Testament is the law of
Christ and that he is the head of the
tluICll anu tlub llt NV lutS HIS dulllDI-
ity with no other. His word is our
final court of appeal and our obliga-
tion to that word is paramount. That
which differentiates us is not a ques-
tion as to the age at which or the
mode by which baptism is to be adj
ministered. 1t is a question as to
whether the words your Divine King
shall be obeyed or whether fallible
man has right to change his COM
mandments. DR.. Chalmers on Romans
VIA, after conceding that the scrip
tural baptism was immersion says,
"but we deem it matter of indiffer-
ence whether the ordinance be so per-
formed or by sprinkling." If DR..
Chalmers and those who agree with ]
him are right then there must be
another Lord than Jesus and a higher
law than the New Testament. But !
"Loyalty to Christ" is the motto we t
inscribe upon our banner. {
2. Baptists stand for soul-liberty. c
Every soul is responsible to God di- l
rectly and to God only i'll matters of t
religious belief We all enjoy relig- v
ious liberty today. 1t is guaranteed e
to us by constitution of the United i
States. But we do not all know at v
what cost this liberty was obtained i
and how joyfully our Baptist fathers h
paid the price in dungeons and in S
stocks, at whipping posts that this
priceless heritage might be ours. 1t
was for this doctrine Roger Williams a
was banished from Mass, and in h
Rhode Island founded the first com |
guaranteeing religious lib a
erty to all inhabitants. For this was c
Obediah Holmes whipped at the stake, c
SO that for weeks after he could find il
no rest except upon his hands and I
Knees. 90
3. Baptists stand for the absolute o
severance of church and state. Others p
han Baptists now advocate and sus- p
ain this doctrine but Baptists were II
he original propagators of it and
ire still foremost in defending it. CO
t. Baptists stand for spiritual cl
.hurch. We believe that the Chris II
ian church is the home for Christian -
people only. We believe that every
me should be regenerated by the e'
pirit of God as an essential condition b
If membership in a christian church. hi
With this high standard of church q
we ought to find high tC
r type of piety in Baptist churches
han in those who hold to birthright cl
membership. If We do not, it must be OF
because we are inconsistent in prac- VI
ice and faulty in discipline but we b'
re sure that We are right in our con- g'
option of a New Testament church. Ell
nd we declare our convictions that &c
'e may more faithfully and constant
Y stand by them. Our conception of of
New Testament church is that of a T.
democracy, every member re- NJ
enerated by the spirit of God, and in pi
'hich there are no grades or ranks he
Seept that of service. Gone is your id