In many of my daily prayers, when I am enumerating the things for which I am thankful to my Lord, I say to the Lord "thank you for delivering me from erring in my interpretation of your word, and for teaching me the right interpretation, i.e. correcting me in my thinking, and from delivering me from the heresies of the Hardshell Baptist cult." I look back on the many years when I was a preacher in that cult (far too many) and I see a number of ways (healthy hindsight) wherein I was twisting and perverting God's word, not being honest with the text. I believe I did it, like most, out of ignorance, and not because I intended to do it, on purpose, as does the Devil and his ministers.
I accepted a few unscriptural theological propositions adopted by Hardshell Hyper Calvinists because they seemed to be true. I then took those false premises TO the biblical text (eisegesis) and twisted it in order to make it conform to the traditional views of that group of Hardshells I was aligned with. I should have, of course, rather retained those propositions that are FROM the scriptures (exegesis). I was during those years a fairly good parrot in uttering the traditional interpretations of the cult. That does not mean that I went overboard in practicing twisting the Bible to suit my premises so that I always went along with the announced traditions of the Hardshells, though there was often pressure to do so.
I often took a minority view when in that heretical group, especially on eschatology, interpreting prophecy, and on particular texts, such as the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16), or on the question of whether Satan was a fallen angel out of heaven, and of other angels too. My father preached for the Hardshells for about 55 years and he also took a minority view on the two subjects just mentioned, and for which he was persecuted by many, as I also was.
Back when I was a Hardshell I often found it difficult to find Hardshell propositions taught in the Bible. I would often come across a text that, if interpreted honestly, contradicted those cult propositions. Yet, I either took the traditional view (but not wholeheartedly, but halfheartedly), putting a fuller study on the "back burner" for future study and decision. Contemplating those past days I see where I was often in a fight when studying scripture. I was pulled in one direction in interpretation by Hardshell traditions, interpreting the Bible through Hardshell spectacles, but pulled in another direction by an honest heart and good conscience and by the Spirit of God, to interpret honestly, even if it contradicts the cult.
Things I am glad that I changed my beliefs about
(more fundamental doctrines first)
Hardshell Errors I Once Believed or Was Taught
1. Gospel means is not a means in salvation.
2. God is not the first cause of all things
3. Perseverance in Christ not necessary for salvation
4. Faith in Yahweh or Christ is not necessary for salvation
5. Hyper Calvinism (no offers of salvation via the gospel)
6. Ordo Salutis (regeneration before faith)
7. Depravity involves a physical inability rather than moral
8. Conversion is not necessary for salvation
9. Amillennialism (that the present age is the millennium)
10. Most prophecies are not to be taken literally
11. God has no love for the non-elect
12. Financially supporting missionaries is wrong
13. Paying ministers a salary is wrong
14. Sunday schools are wrong
15. Seminaries to train ministers are wrong
16. Musical instruments in worship are wrong
17. Several Landmarker beliefs
18. Hardshellism is the historic views of Baptists
19. Time Salvation ideology
20. Preparing notes for sermons is wrong
21. Altar calls are wrong
22. Revival or protracted meetings are wrong
23. Calling upon lost sinners to repent is wrong
24. Christ ordained the practice of ceremonially washing feet
25. Those who remarried unlawfully can never be church members
26. The just and unjust will be resurrected simultaneously
27. The Primitive Baptist church is the kingdom of God
28. The new heavens and earth is a figure of the church age
29. The New Jerusalem is not a literal city
30. There is no such thing as angels falling from heaven
31. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is not literal
32. The foolish virgins are disobedient children of God
33. The KJV is without error and can only be used
34. Women cannot vote in the church
35. Women cannot lead singing or prayer or teach
36. All other churches are part of Mystery Babylon
37. Etc.
Some of these things are not believed by all Hardshell Baptists, but they are by many. Many of them I never accepted.
Bible subjects I am glad I came to see more clearly
1. Adoption and Rebirth
2. Weak vs Strong Brothers
3. Christ descent into Hades
4. The intermediate state
5. Prophecies of things to come
6. How Christ is the chief corner or capstone
7. Issues in determining canonicity
8. The nature of regeneration
9. The doctrine of perseverance
10. The doctrine of depravity
11. The fall of the angels
12. The ordo salutis
13. Predestination and free will
14. The problem of evil (theodicy)
15. The Abrahamic covenant
16. The Millennial kingdom
17. The rapture and great tribulation
18. The antichrist
19. Premillennialism
20. The Trinity
21. Antediluvian history
22. The times and seasons of Christ's return
23. The day of the Lord or judgment
24. God's purpose for the ages
25. The bible doctrine on Hell
26. Etc.
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