Hardshell Mysticism & Esoteric Christianity

In previous postings I have contended that "The Primitive Baptist Church" of today has become a cult, a secret society, a kind of "mystery religion." In some of those postings I cited these words from Hardshell leaders of the past and present.

Elder Lasserre Bradley, Jr. wrote:

"Mysticism has had its influence among our people."

Elder Lemuel Potter (Hardshell leader at the end of the 19th century) wrote:

"About half a century ago metaphysics was introduced among the Old School Baptists..."

(See my posting here for these citations)

See Also These Postings

Hardshell Cults "Key"

Hardshellism & Masonry & The Irony

In an Internet article we find this heading:

Question: "What is Esoteric Christianity?" (here)

Here is the reply:

 Answer: Esoteric means “requiring special knowledge to understand; designed for only a select few.” Esoteric Christianity, then, would be a version of “Christianity” that can only be understood or practiced by those who have been properly initiated in secret knowledge. Esoteric Christianity teaches that Christianity is a mystery religion and that only a small minority of people ever achieve the enlightenment necessary to crack the arcane teachings of the Bible and truly know God.

Esoteric Christianity views “salvation” as a stepping stone to greater truths. The Christian should not be satisfied with just being “saved” but with being “enlightened” and reaching “spiritual liberation.” Esoteric Christianity promotes introspection with the goal of attaining the knowledge of Self. Repentance, to an Esoteric Christian, is the “turning in” of one’s thoughts toward oneself and away from the world.

For those of us who have been in this cult, we know how true this description is of "The Primitive Baptist Church" as we generally find it today.

Next, from his fine work Christianity Through The Centuries (CTTC) noted Church historian Dr. Earle Cairns tells us that:

"The Quakers appeared on the English religious scene during the chaotic period of the Civil War and the Commonwealth. They set aside the doctrines of an organized church and the Bible as the sole and final revelation of God’s will in favor of the doctrine of the Inner Light, by which they meant that the Holy Spirit can give immediate and direct knowledge of God apart from the Bible." (381)

Is this not what Hardshells also teach?