The 1946 Waco Primitive Baptist Articles of Faith

On the 28^th and 29^th of September, 1946 Waco Primitive Baptist Church held a peace meeting to attempt reconciliation with those whom they referred to as "Morgan" or "Trumpet" Baptists.  During the proceedings the Articles of Faith were set forth and confirmed by an appointed committee.  Of particular interest are points 5-7 (emphasis mine – KF) :

5. We believe that all the chosen in Christ shall be called, regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and that they will be justified in the sight of God by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them by faith and will be preserved through grace and never fall finally away.

6. We believe that evangelical faith is the true gift of God and good works are the fruits of faith, and justify us in the sight of men and angels, as evidences of our gracious state.

7. We believe that all spiritual blessings that are essential for the consummation of the eternal salvation of the elect were given them in Christ before the world began, and in time bestowed upon them by virtue of His atonement for them.

In the discussion prior to the selection of the committee, Elder J.O. Collins is on record as follows:

“I would think that all these brethren should be elders that are to draw up these resolutions or recommendations to put before the body.  They should be brethren that can qualify to do it, and all should be appointed by the moderator.  We have the same Article of Faith and Rules of Decorum that our fathers and grandfathers had.  We are the same people today that we were then; our Articles of Faith remain the same; so I say that brethren that qualify should be appointed.”

Of course, there are several things to note here, the most important of which may be the timing.  This was in 1946, about 40 years or so after Hardshellism evolved into its final form.  But not one of the above articles is agreeable to it!  Why were they thus received?  Why was it that no elder stood up, objecting to the wording?  On top of that, you have an explicit testimony from an elder stating that this is what they’ve always been!

There are at least three places incompatible with present-day Hardshell doctrine:

Imputed to them “by faith”?

“Evangelical” faith is the true gift of God?

There are “essentials” for eternal salvation to be bestowed on the elect?

I know nothing about these brethren from Texas, nor the peace meeting for which they convened.  I happened upon the record of this meeting and the published articles while cleaning up my bookshelf over the weekend.  They were part of a larger pamphlet containing as well the Black Rock Address of 1832 and the Pitts Resolution of 2000.  The Articles of Faith are true but are “Calvinistic” in their wording.  So what in the world are they doing sandwiched between these two other declarations which are supposedly representative of Primitive Baptist doctrine?!!!  Did the publishers not see the incompatibility, or were they counting upon the readers not seeing it themselves?

What would happen to an elder today if he were to ascend into the typical pulpit and began to teach that evangelical faith...THAT FAITH WHICH COMES THROUGH THE GOSPEL... is the gift of God, or that there are essentials of eternal life to be given to the elect?

I know what.

Article #5 exists today as slightly modified.  Check here and see if you can spot it.  Was this an intentional change? But the change of the articles isn't complete; that is, if complete consistency with anti-means Hardshellism is desired. See if you can spot what else needs to change on the other points.

But praise be to God if these brethren in 1946 did in fact believe what was written! My concern, however, is if we were able to really hone in on the wording we would discover that they really did not.  As in other cases I’ve seen, the Articles of Faith had not yet caught up to the newly created theology.

I would like to be wrong in this case.