In Revelation 2:5, Jesus gives gives us a warning we had better heed. He says, “Repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick.”
In my last few articles, I have concentrated on the errors I believe "Reformed Baptists" have embraced. I have also stated that I believe the errors of the hardshell faction of Primitive Baptists had their origins in Reformed theology. I realize those who call themselves "Reformed Baptists" will state that they are not in agreement with the hardshells, however, the hardshells themselves did not embrace what they now do in the beginning. Could it be that we are seeing circular reasoning before our eyes? Has a new "breed" come along that will one day espouse the very same views the hardshells now embrace? After all, before they adopted the name "Primitive Baptist" they styled themselves "Reformed Baptist".
These two groups have the same starting point theologically. They both claim the London Baptist Confession. They both claim to be the the continuing generation of past Particular Baptists, especially those from England. Is it possible that we can see into the future, and know what the "Reformed Baptists" will be 100 years from now?
It is true that "Reformed Baptists" have no squabble with music, Sunday Schools or missions (yet) etc as the Primitives do, but what about salvation? Did the hardshell Primitives merely take Reformed theology to its logical conclusion? This conclusion would lead them to abandon any evangelistic preaching, any call to repentance and any call to believe the Gospel. Neither group gives an invitation to come to Christ, or an "altar call". Both groups have those that embrace the belief that the elect were "saved" before they were even born. Both groups cannot know with full assurance, if they are among the elect. The hardshell Primitives however believe "95%" of people are elect, although most don't know it, contrasted with "Reformed" Baptists who say only "5%" are. (my estimation to prove a point) The hardshells take pride in "knowing" the "secrets" of the Gospel, and the "Reformed" in having a gospel of "secrets", only revealed by their particular expression. Both groups have doubts that one must hear the Gospel and believe in order to be among the elect, the Primitive hardshells embracing that doubt and the "Reformed" debating it.
In a blog by "the ears to hear" who is a hardshell PB apologist, he says this "...because the Second London Confession is in no small measure directly copied from the WCF (Westminster Confession of Faith) which preceded it, those who believe it represents an authoritative standard for Old Baptist orthodoxy are admitting, at least in part, that Old Baptist heritage is a product of the reformation, rather than a product of the Anabaptists who long preceded and were persecuted by the reformers". Could he be on to something here? "The ears to hear" is a hardshell that embraces their heresies, and defends them,he is wrong on just about everything that has to do with salvation, yet there is a nibble of truth in what he says here. If the starting point of your theology is the Reformation, then don't be surprised when the road you travel ends with the candlestick being removed from your churches, and soon after the people will be removed, and soon after that the churches will dwindle and close.
In closing please know that I am not here to attack the Second London Confession, nor those that now embrace it. It is just one among many Baptist confessions, some of which I subscribe to and some of which I do not. That is my (and your) liberty as Baptists. However, some so called Baptists are not convinced that something is true unless it is found in their respective confessions. Maybe sometimes we need to go to the beginning and re-read them. All Baptist confessions that I know of have at least one complete sentence with which I definitely agree, and it's usually contained in the beginning. And so it is with the Second London Baptist Confession, the beginning line with which I will ALWAYS agree.
“The Holy Scripture is the ONLY sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all SAVING KNOWLEDGE, faith,
and obedience.” (Second London Confession of Faith, 1.1) A KNOWLEDGE THAT SAVES, must be a KNOWLEDGE THAT KNOWS.
SELAH, Ken Mann
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