In recent years there have been some among the Primitive Baptist which have been advocating changing some of our practices because they claim them to be man made traditions. A leading proponent of this movement is Elder Lasserre Bradley Jr., pastor of the Cincinnati Primitive Baptist church. In several articles appearing in the Baptist Witness of which his name appears as Editor in Chief, he has implied that we are following 50, 100 or 164 year old traditions rather than Biblical traditions. As our forefathers in the faith did, it has become necessary to once again openly challenge those who actively and publicly endeavor to change our doctrine and practices. In the articles referenced on this page I have underlined certain expressions used in the article, which illustrate my assessment of the articles and/or bear further scrutiny by the reader.
In The Baptist Witness dated November 1996 you will find an article entitled "A visit to Black Rock", in which 'church sponsored' missionary endeavors are supported as opposed to 'board sponsored' missions. This in effect supports the false doctrine which states that the Commandments known as the Great Commission were given to the Church rather than the Apostles. It can be clearly demonstrated by historical writings that the Primitive Baptist family have never taken that position. The present Philippines missionary endeavor is defended by using the same argument, declaring it to be a church approved but not board approved endeavor. The article touches on protracted meetings, camp meetings and Sunday schools; inferring that the Primitive Baptist have developed man made traditions in these areas by not wanting to " look like others" or being more concerned with "opposing the other side" than being biblical correct. This clearly implies that the Primitive Baptist have been biblical incorrect in their practices. An accusation is made that some are not able to "distinguish Appalachian folk religion from true primitive Christianity." These are serious accusation against the Primitive Baptist .
In the March 1997 issue of the Baptist Witness you will find an article entitled "Preachers meetings" in which there is agreement with the 1832 stand against theological schools but in effect the writer started a baby one (theological school) at the Cincinnati church in 1992. The article claims the Cincinnati preacher's school is the same thing as when older ministers were 'fathers in the ministry' to the younger ones. Clearly there is a vast difference in the two practices. The Cincinnati preachers meeting is a planned seminar style teaching school. The fathers in the ministry in days past encouragement the younger ones during visits at each others churches. They dropped little bits of instruction to the younger ones during conversations and correspondence. The stated reason for starting a preachers' meetings can be found in the February 1992 issue of the Baptist Witness. as follows: " I have had several ministers request that I meet with them to share some of my experiences in biblically-based counseling. On March 17,18,19, I plan to hold sessions for that purpose here at Cincinnati Church. Any minister who would like to attend may write or call me at --------- for more information." It appears the same excuse as Aaron used in Exodus chapter 32 'for they said unto me' was used to start something that has never been a practice of the Church of Christ. Take time to get and read the literature put out by the Cincinnati meetings. It will be abundantly clear that it is a man made tradition and not within the true paths laid down by Christ, the Apostles and followed by generations of faithful Baptist. See other rebuttals of the Cincinnati Preachers' meetings on The Primitive Baptist Library website In this article you will also find a very insensitive and derogatory remark against those that express their unworthiness and lack of ability to speak a word without the out pouring of the Spirit by ridiculing and misrepresenting the practice as 'Mysticism'. The writer correctly states that the Lord does not just pour a sermon into a man but greater emphasis is put on the man and his preparation; than on God and the Spirit being needed in order for the Gospel to be preached. As a young man I distinctly remember that the expression of unworthiness and the need of the Holy Spirit before one could preach was a common thing to hear Old Baptist ministers say. The reason you heard it back then is because most the minister's felt that way. Today it is very different, expository sermons is being promoted as the most effective way to enlightened the congregation rather than the Spirit of God.
In the April 2002 issue of the Baptist Witness you will find an article entitled ;The Old Paths" in which it is inferred that the choice of Hymnal books, types of building material used, opposition to missions in foreign lands and opposition to the full support of the ministry are man made traditions. It is also implied that the commandments know as the "Great Commission" were given to the church and not to the Apostles. Thus promoting the idea that the church is the one instructed and obligated to circulate the gospel to the entire world. This naturally would call for and obligate the church financially also; therefore changing the teachings of the scriptures which say the commandments were given specifically to the Apostles. The Baptist family prior to the late 1700's have almost totally agreed that these commandments were given directly to the Apostles and onto ministers after them. The term 'Spread of the Gospel' was coined by the New School Baptist in the 1800, today the term 'circulation of the Gospel' is being used in the same way to promote unscriptural practices. The Baptist of old went as they were moved by the spirit to do so and greatly rejoiced to see the Lord had prepared people in those locations to receive their preaching. There is no indication that the main stream Baptist of old, believed the church had been given the job of spreading the Gospel until that ideal was ushered in by Fuller and Carey in 1792.
The question of Hymnal books and building materials are clearly debatable and the truthful enquirer must know the circumstances of each case before you could say without exception that man's tradition is being followed in opposing the change of a hymnal book or selection of building materials. Concerning those two items I will agree in some cases some have opposed changing just because it is different than the way we've always done things. But the accusation against the Primitive Baptist that we are following man's tradition in regards to our opposition to: foreign missions, full support of the Ministry, protracted meetings and schooling (theological schools) is a serious charge and claims more attention. I believe that Elder Bradley once understood the position of old Baptist on these issues and appeared to be overjoyed that he had found a people that opposed each one of them. Please read a Sermon concerning the Old Paths that Elder Bradley ably and humbly preached prior to coming over to the Old Baptist . There is a sharp contrast between the thoughts expressed then and the thoughts in the April 2002 article "The Old Paths."
It is a undeniable historical fact and the honest enquirer will find, that prior to the late 1700's the following were not generally practiced by the Baptist Family: 1). bible study groups (Sunday Schools) outside of home family worship, 2). handing out religious tracts, 3). Bible societies for the purpose of handing out bibles to the World, 4). Religious Schooling for the training of ministers to preach , 5). endeavoring to circulate the gospel through missions societies in or out of the church, 6). teaching that the commandments referred to as the Great commission were given to the church, 7). teaching that ministers should not work with their own hands but be fully supported by the church, 8). having protracted meetings for the purpose of attracting sinners ( new church members) or circulating the gospel. Neither are there any direct commandments or any patterns set forth in the scriptures that teach us to adopt any of the afore mentioned practices as being biblical. So it should be clearly evident which are man made traditions and which are the Biblical old paths.
(Written in 2001)
Elder Claude Mckee
1497 Bailee Way S. W.
Jacksonville, Al 36265