ZION IS NO MORE

 

I live near a road called Mt. Zion Road. I have passed it countless times throughout my life. The other day, I thought to myself "There must be a church on that road. Who names a road "Mt. Zion" unless it's named for a church?" I decided to drive the entire length to see what church may be there. I found none.

As I was driving back the other way, I caught a glimpse of something in the woods. I slowed down to a crawl, and saw a cemetery. I assumed it was one of the numerous private family cemeteries that dot the landscape around here. I saw an opening that allowed my truck to easily pull in for a closer look. I discovered a bit of history that has evaded me for years, even though it is literally 3 miles from where I live. 

I got out of my truck and walked toward the cemetery, and noticed a sign that said "Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Cemetery". To the right was a clearing where I believe that church must have stood. How could I have missed this in my history searches?   They must have been in the same association as the Bald Rock PB Church which existed just a few miles away. For years I have been trying to find info on that church as well. The building still stands but has been used as a private school as early as 1985, a day care and other entities. Evidently, both churches at some point, took their records, turned out the lights, and closed the doors, never to return. 

I found out that Mt. Zion ceased holding services at least 25 years ago. The last surviving members decided to deed the property over to the Methodist church about 4 miles away, as they had members related to those buried at Mt. Zion. Shortly after, a storm came through the area, blew the building off the foundation and dislocated the walls. The Methodists didn't have the funds to repair it, and it was condemned and torn down.

Condemned and torn down. What a statement. Condemnation is what comes when a church turns its back on the clear teaching of Scripture to preach the Gospel to all without exception, compelling lost sinners to come to the house of God. Though there is much I disagree with about Calvin's teachings, he stated clearly some things that today's predestinarians and so called Reformed Baptists need to recover.

The following is recorded at the General Association of Regular Baptists website here  https://www.garbc.org/news/calvin-still-making-points-with-baptists/

In his commentary on Romans 5:18, Calvin affirmed, “Although Christ suffered for the sins of the world, and is offered by the goodness of God without distinction to all men, yet not all receive Him.” In his commentary on Galatians 5:12, Calvin declared, “God commends to us the salvation of all men without exception, even as Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world.”

 A sermon on Isaiah 53 warned, “Our Lord Jesus suffered for all and there is neither great nor small who is not inexcusable today, for we can obtain salvation in Him. Unbelievers who turn away from Him and who deprive themselves of Him by their malice are today doubly culpable. For how will they excuse their ingratitude in not receiving the blessing in which they could share by faith? . . . Let us not fear to come to Him in great numbers, and each one of us bring his neighbours, seeing that He is sufficient to save us all.”

Calvin’s sermon on 2 Timothy 2 declared, “For it is no small matter to have the souls perish which were bought by the blood of Christ.” Similarly, a sermon on Ephesians exhorted, “Also we ought to have good care of those that have been redeemed with the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we see souls which have been so precious to God go to perdition, and we make nothing of it, that is to despise the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Calvin would even state, “So we must beware, or souls redeemed by Christ may perish by our carelessness, for their salvation to some degree was put into our hands by God.” Calvin clearly was not as guarded in his wording as many later “high” Calvinists tended to be.

 We can see what happens, when the above sentiment is discarded in favor of a "logical conclusion". Condemnation, tearing down, until Zion is no more.