Monday, January 22, 2018

Hardshellism's Sales Pitch

At a Hardshell Internet Web page, the PrimitiveBaptist.Net, we have these words to the reader which give the soteriological views of the cult:

"Primitive Baptist believe that heaven will be populated with thousands of millions from among mankind, (Genesis 24:60, Hebrews 11:12 & Mark 10:45) we know that only a few will find the church and the truth of God in this life and will be able to walk the strait and narrow way which leads to life in the kingdom of God. (Matthew 7:14 & Matthew 22:14)" (see here)

Only a few of the elect millions will "find the church and the truth of God"? Only a few of the regenerated will "be able to walk the strait and narrow way"? The strait and narrow way does not lead to eternal life in the world to come, but only leads to the Hardshell church?

What is the message they want to convey? We believe only a few are going to Hell! Your chances, just based upon numbers, of going to Heaven, are greater than your chances of going to Hell! You can live ungodly, be a heathen in faith, and still go to Heaven!

How can the narrow road apply to an event in life when the narrow road signifies that life as already lived? The "life," like the "destruction" that marks the destiny at the end of the broad road, comes at the end of the journey, at the end of life. How can one miss what is so plain?

Hardshells are so good at offering hope of salvation to unbelievers, to those who live ungodly, to those who have no knowledge of, love for, or faith in the one true God, in either the Father or the Son.

The web page also has these words:

"Primitive Baptist are not attempting to help God populate heaven, we believe Jesus did a prefect work in that regard...Nor are Primitive Baptist attempting to get people to know The Lord, because scripture says in Hebrews 8:11; And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest."

It is a common misrepresentation of the Hardshells to say that those who believe that evangelical faith and perseverance in the same are necessary for salvation are "helping God" and that in order to "populate heaven." I don't see how God using prophets and preachers of the word can be interpreted to mean that God needs and is getting help from those means. It is a classic case of what is called in fallacious reasoning a non sequitur. It reminds me of what author Bob Ross said about many Hardshell preachers - "they really need to study the rules of logic and know what constitutes logical fallacies."

I have one simple question for those Hardshells who argue this way - "are you helping God in your efforts to convert others?" You may not be trying to be a means of getting souls saved and to heaven, but you certainly are trying to populate your own cult.

As far as the verse in Hebrews 8:11 upholding Hardshellism and being a condemnation of all soul winners, it actually teaches just the opposite! For my refutation of this misinterpretation of the passage, see my posting Hardshell Proof Texts XII.

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