Over the past week I have had several thousand visits to this blog and to my Baptist Gadfly blog. This is the highest number of hits I have ever had on these blogs in this time period. Looking at the sources or audience statistics, it seems that the huge upswing in visits is from Russia. I have tried to figure out why this is so. I will give you my "interpretation" for this interest from people in Russia.
Some of the Hardshells who have begun to do "mission" work in foreign countries in the past decade or so have visited churches in Russia and Ukraine in order to convert them to Hardshellism. They have also made efforts in the Philippines and in Africa.
I have over the past few years heard from some in the Philippines who confronted the Hardshell proselytes and have written about it. (See Philippine Brother Confronts Hardshellism) Though I have not personally heard from anyone from Russia or Ukraine, I have no doubt that some of these people are doing research on "The Primitive Baptist Church" and have thus, via the Internet, found my writings.
I know that these Hardshells, probably connected with the Hardshell Liberal Movement, have made such efforts in Russia. At "The Pastor's Blog" Elder Herb Hatfield of the Aberdeen Primitive Baptist Church speaks of preaching in Russia and Ukraine with Elder Jeff Harris.
The churches that they preach in (how I do not know) believe in the 1689 London Confession of faith. Wrote Hatfield:
"These are men who say they believe the Baptist London Confession of Faith of 1689. Pray that I may be blessed of the Lord to teach and encourage these dear pastors and saints." He also says - "I will fly on to Moscow to meet up with Elder Harris and we will continue on to Irkutsk, Lord willing. We are looking forward to a great time of fellowship with the saints and pastors in the four churches there."
He also speaks of Harris and him "discussing doctrinal issues" with them, for he says:
"I will conduct a two day teaching/preaching seminar among the saints there. Four native pastors from other churches have made plans to be at the seminar."
Well, I just believe that many who have been taught "hardshellism" are having a hard time swallowing it and are doing research on how they might find the truth and fight this error. All I can say is that such makes me very happy. To know that our writings are helping to save people in places other than the USA from the hurtful heresies of hardshellism, is cause for rejoicing. I hope some of our Russian brethren will contact us personally and let us know how things stand with them.
7 comments:
I'm from Ukraine and I know the church those Primitive Baptists organized there. I've never been at that church but I spoke with a former deacon that left it for doctrinal reasons. He said those Americans preached damnable heresies. I'm not sure I understand what is meant by hardshells and hardshellism. I never heard these terms before. Can you explain?
Dear Anon:
Thanks for your comment and interest.
The damnable heresies of hardshell baptists is that they deny that one must believe in Jesus to be finally saved in heaven. They believe that preaching the good news to sinners has nothing to do with saving them eternally. They deny that one must persevere in grace and holiness to be saved. They believe that most people are going to heaven, and only a few going to hell. Many non Christians will be saved, they say. Again, these are damnable heresies indeed.
I hope our Russian Baptist brethren can be spared entanglement in this cult.
If you read our writings you will see that we fully destroy the heretical teachings of the Hardshells.
Blessings,
Stephen
Thank you for your explanation. However, I am totally confused. How can anyone who calls himself a Christian deny that one must believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved??? This is a basic truth. What do they say one must do in order to be saved from hell? And what is the good news all about if it has nothing to do with salvation???
Also, why do you call them hardshells?
God bless
Cults deny "basic truth."
They have been called "hardshells" since their beginning in the early 19th century. They have had other labels, such as "old ironsides," "old schoolers," etc.
Blessings,
Stephen
What about Rev. 5:9? "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"
Are you saying if one has not heard the Gospel and believed, that they are not going to Heaven?
Is believing a "work"? Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Christ died for the sins of His children. His last words on the cross were "It is finished" (John 19:30), not it is ready for us to do our part.
We should do our best to strive to be like Christ. Looking forward to the day that we join Him above.
No, faith is not a work. Throughout Romans 3 and 4, Paul sets faith and works in opposition to one another as means of salvation. For example: "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." We are justified through God-given faith, not works of the law.
Dear Anon:
Thanks for visiting. Please keep reading as this blog has all the answers to your questions.
As Jeremy said, "faith is not works"! That is what Paul said! Hardshells are against Paul! Can't you see this?
About faith being necessary for salvation, we have many articles on that subject. For example, see this posting
http://old-baptist-test.blogspot.com/2011/11/fate-of-unbelievers.html
Blessings,
Stephen
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