Is our Faith wrong?

January 28, 1908

(Copied from Selected Editorials of The Primitive Baptist, Volume I page 226)

We have before us a minute of the seventy-ninth annual session of the Conecuh River
Primitive Baptist Association, held in 1906, which contains the Articles of Faith of the
association. Elder C. W. Hardin was moderator. Elder J. E. Henderson, who is well
known among our people, especially in the South, as a sound and able minister of this
association. The second item in their Articles' of Faith reads: "We believe the
Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the revealed word of God and the only
rule of faith and practice."

We also have before us a minute, of the seventy-ninth annual session of the

Echeconnee Association, held in 1907. Elder S.T. Bentley was moderator. The second
item in their Articles of Faith reads: "We believe the Scriptures of the Old and, New
Testaments are the word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice."

We also have before us a minute of the sixty-ninth annual session of the Harmony
Primitive Baptist Association, of Georgia, held in 1907. Deacon B. F. Markett was
moderator and Elder R. H. Jennings clerk. The second item of their Articles of Faith
reads: "We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of
God, and the only rule of faith and practice."

We also have a minute of the Upatoie Association, of Georgia, held in 1907; Elder J.
M. Murry was moderator. The second item in their Articles of, faith reads: "We
believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God, and the
only rule of faith and practice."

We might go on and on quoting from the Articles of Faith of different associations in

different sections of the country; but these are sufficient. They are all practically the
same. Now, if language means anything, the teaching of this article of faith is that the
Scriptures teach all that we should believe or practice religiously. If the Scriptures are
the only rule of faith and practice, then it follows that the Scriptures teach everything
we ought to practice. If there is one single thing a church should practice, or may
rightly practice, that the Scriptures are silent upon, then the Scriptures do not furnish a
sufficient rule, and are not the only rule.

This article of faith, or tenet, is not new among the Baptists. In the London Confession
of Faith, put forth in 1689, we find this language, Chapter 1, Section 1: "The Holy
Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge,
faith and obedience," etc. The same chapter, section 6 says: "The whole counsel of
God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith or life,
 is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scriptures; unto
which nothing is any time to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit or
traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit
of God to be necessary for the saving understanding' of such things as are revealed in
the word, and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and
government of the church common to human actions and societies, which are to be
ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of
the word, which are always to be observed." The same chapter, section 7, says: "All
things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those
things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so
clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not, only the
learned but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to the sufficient
understanding of them."

In this language quoted from the London Confession the same idea is taught as is
embraced in the second item of the Articles of Faith of the different associations
quoted above. Please notice carefully section 6, "The whole counsel of God
concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is
either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scriptures." Notice,
also, carefully section 1, "The Holy Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain, and
infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience," if the Scriptures are an
"infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience," it follows that every
thing to be practiced in obedience is contained therein. Every thing commanded
therein is to be observed which is not commanded, if the Scriptures are an infallible
and certain rule.

Monsieur de Vignaux, who was forty years pastor of one of the churches of the
Waldenses, and died at the age of eighty years, wrote a treatise concerning their life,
manners and religion. He gave a summary of their doctrinal principles, for the sake of
which they were persecuted, such as "that the Holy Scriptures contain all things
necessary to our salvation, and that we are called to believe only what they teach,
without any regard to the authority of man - that nothing else ought to be received by
us except what God hath commanded." See Jones' History, page 294. This was long
before "the London Confession was framed - a hundred years or more. These people
expressly held that "nothing else ought to be received by us except what God hath
commanded." In the year 1120 they put forth a Confession of Faith, the tenth article of
which reads, "Moreover, we have ever regarded all the inventions of men (in the
affairs of Religion) as an unspeakable abomination before God," etc. The eleventh
article reads, "We hold in abhorrence all human inventions, as proceeding from Anti-
Christ, which produce distress, and are prejudicial to the liberty of the mind." These
people held that all the inventions of men in the affairs of religion - that is, every thing
 not commanded in the Holy Scriptures--were an unspeakable abomination before
God; and they proceeded from Anti-Christ and produced distress.

On January 1st, 1886. Elder S. F. Cayce sent out the first issue of this paper, The
Primitive Baptist. Since that time this paper have been published and sent out in the
interest of the Primitive Baptist cause and in defense of their faith. The Articles of
Faith appear elsewhere in the paper and have been inserted in our columns from time
to time since the first issue. The second item says: "That the Scriptures of the Old and
New Testaments are a revelation from God, written by inspiration and that they are
the standard of faith, and the only rule divinely authorized for Christian practice,
teaching, as they do, all that we ought to believe, know, or practice religiously." When
the first issue of this paper was sent out twenty-two years ago, with the express
avowal that this was one article it would defend, no Old School, or Primitive, Baptist
objected to it. It was received by them then. If there is one now who will not receive it
he is not like they were twenty-two years ago; he is not like those were who framed
and adopted the Articles of Faith of the Conecuh River, Echeconnee, Harmony and
Upatoie Associations; he is not like those who framed and adopted the London
Confession of Faith; he is not like the ancient Waldenses. If these people were all
Baptists of the Primitive or first order, then the man who will not or does not accept
the teaching of that article is not a Baptist of the Primitive order.

Now, we believe that whatever is Baptistic is Scriptural. If whatever is Baptistic is not

Scriptural, then the Baptist Church is not Scriptural and is not the church of Christ. If
whatever is Baptistic is Scriptural, then the Baptist Church is Scriptural and is the
church of Christ. That which is Baptistic is that which has been set forth as a belief,
doctrine, or tenet, of that people. We have seen that it has been declared by them all
along the line that the Scriptures are a sufficient rule of faith and practice; that what
the Scriptures teach or command should be practiced, and that all things not
commanded or taught therein are the inventions of men and should be avoided. This
has been taught by them all along the ages; it is therefore Baptistic. Then if it be true
that whatever is Baptistic is Scriptural, it follows that this teaching of theirs is
Scriptural.

We would ask in all candor and earnestness, and in love. Who will dare deny that
whatever is Baptistic is Scriptural, and at the same time claim to be a Primitive
Baptist? For one to deny that proposition or statement is simply to admit that the one
making the denial is either not a Bible Baptist or that the Baptists have not been
Biblical all along the ages.

Is it true that they have been wrong all these years in holding to this point? Our
answer would be, most emphatically, No. But some say, if that is correct. Then why
do you have' associations, hymnbooks, meetinghouses, moderators, clerks and church
 record books? Well. Now, that's easy to answer. We are commanded to meet often
together, to forsake not the assembling of ourselves together. An association is
nothing more nor less than a meeting together for worship and mutual edification. We
are commanded to sing; "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." - Ephesians 5:19. "Let
the' word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to
the Lord." Colossians 3: 16. In these places we are commanded to sing psalms, hymns
and spiritual songs. To do this it is necessary now, as it was then, that they be either
written or printed, that the songs or hymns be collected together - hence a hymnbook.
Did you know a part of the Holy Scriptures might, with propriety, be called a hymn
book? The Psalms of David were written in metre-- hence hymns, a book of hymns.
Yet some have discovered so much "light" that they have found that those who have a
book of hymns (a hymn book) are practicing something that is unscriptural and for
which they have no precedent! But meeting houses - what about them? Mark 3:13 to
19 "And He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto Him whom He would: and
they came unto Him. And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him," etc.;
then the names of the, twelve are given, and verse 19 says, "And they went into an
house." Then it is Scriptural, is it not, to "go into an house?" Numbers of times we
read of the Saviour entering into the synagogue to teach and to preach. A synagogue is
a meetinghouse. Too many instances are mentioned of meeting together and worship
being conducted in houses for any well-informed person to try to "make a play" on
such as that.

"Let all things be done decently and in order." - 1st Corinthians 14:40. If all things are
to be done decently and in order, it is necessary that one be appointed to preserve
order - hence a moderator, and a clerk to do what writing is to be done. Does it not
look as though a Baptist is "hard pressed" who will resort to such as this to justify
himself in unscriptural teaching?

Again, we ask, is it true that they have been wrong all these years in holding to this
point? Again we answer, emphatically, No. The Holy Scriptures themselves pointedly
declare the correctness of this principle, which has been so tenaciously held to by the
humble followers of the Lord from the beginning of the gospel dispensation, on down
through the dark ages of bloody persecution and death to the present time. "All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works." - 2nd. Timothy 3:16,17. If there is one
thing a man ought to practice religiously which the Scriptures say nothing about, then
the Scriptures do not thoroughly furnish him unto all good works. No man under
heaven is able to make it appear that there is one single thing we should practice
 religiously, or as a religious service, about which the Bible is silent, and let this
statement of the apostle remain true. The Scriptures are given that the man of God
may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works - not simply some good works, but
all good works. Then all the works taught in the Scriptures are good works; and all the
good works are taught therein. Then the works not taught, or commanded, or required,
by the Scriptures are not good works - they are not acceptable to God as religious
service. If one does all that the Bible requires of him, he would be perfect in the sense
of that text. He would not have reached a state of sinless perfection, for that is not
under consideration, and no man can do that in this life; but the Scriptures are given
"that the man of God may be perfect," that he may be "thoroughly furnished unto all
good works." Then if he should do all the good works the Scriptures require of him,
and one more good work that the Scriptures say nothing about, then he would be more
than perfect, would he not? If not, why not? If he would not, in that case, be more than
perfect, then he would not be perfect in the sense of the text when he has done all that
the Scriptures require of him. If that declaration of the apostle be true, and it is true, it
follows that it is just as much a violation and a transgression of the teaching of the
Scriptures to practice anything in the name of Christianity, or as a religious service,
that the Bible says nothing about, as it is to leave undone anything that it expressly
commands. This is an unalterable truth, and no man can gainsay it. No sort of
"begging the question" or trying to mystify will change this truth.

Teaching or practicing those things which the Scriptures authorize or command does
not cause strife and confusion, or distress, in the church of God. It is the teaching or
practicing of things the Scriptures are silent upon that brings distress, sorrow, strife
and confusion in the church. When people decide to reform the church and "start right
up-to-date;" or when they decide that the Baptists have been wrong along the line, and
start out to carry them back to "primitive" doctrine and practice - in either or both
such cases, they usually bring trouble and distress in the church.

If the things the Scriptures are silent upon "are matters of privilege, and are to be
used, or not used, as circumstances require, " why not have an "ankle show", or a
"cake-walk," or an "ice cream festival," or an Epworth League, or a Baptist Young
peoples Union, or Christian Endeavor Society, or "a living curiosity show," or any or
all the many different inventions of men practiced "as circumstances require" in the
name of religion and Christianity?

O, that the Lord would grant unto all His ministers a spirit of humility and devotion to
His blessed cause, that they might love peace and harmony upon gospel principles too
well to advocate or practice or teach anything not required by the Holy Scriptures.
May we all contend earnestly, in love and humility, for those things, and those only,
that make for peace, and thus be bound together in love and fellowship. Our heart
bleeds when we see distress and sorrow in our beloved Zion. We humbly ask for our
dear brethren and sisters to pray the Lord to sustain and uphold us, that we may never
depart from the right way. C. H. CAYCE