The Lord taught his disciples to "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." (Matthew 7:15,17) In verse 19 the Lord reveals the outcome of every tree that bears not good fruit. "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." In the Kingdom of heaven (his church) God purges and prunes according to his righteous will. Oh, the recipients of His pruning may continue to preach and increase in numbers but when God removes the candlestick they cease to be a Church of Christ. Many, who measure success by numbers, are deceived and captivated by wolves in sheeps clothing.

Lasserre Bradley Jr. and Gus Harter are prominent ministers who the Primitive Baptists embraced in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Both these men accepted the doctrine and practices of the Primitive Baptists at that time. They both are now, directly or indirectly, promoting practices which true Primitive Baptists have always opposed. Worldly outreach ministries, missionary endeavors, bible studies (Sunday School), preacher conferences and/or preacher gatherings as conducted by the Cincinnati Primitive Baptist church are among the things they now are promoting. Their fruits leave no doubt that they are intentionally trying to change the Primitive Baptists. Like all their predecessors they want to retain the name while they lead their followers further away from the precepts of true Primitive Baptists. If they ever loved what they embraced in the early 1960's, they should have left the Primitive Baptists when they lost that love rather than cause division and offence.  Their work has borne fruit which has culminated into a new movement among the Primitive Baptists. There are a number of other ministers who have joined these men in this Apostasy. They should likewise be named and marked where and when appropriate. It is past time that the remaining true old line Primitive Baptists publicly mark and avoid these men and all who continue to actively support them. False prophets always cause divisions and offences with the fruit they bear and we are instructed how to oppose them. "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. "(Roman 16:17) We as a people have not adequately done so! We have been slothful in our duty while these false prophets converted many within our ranks to partake of their evil fruit. They have also recruited many proselytes in reaching out to the world. The result is that the majority of Primitive Baptist churches are no longer sound old line Primitive Baptists.  

The Lord also taught his disciples to "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." (Matthew 7:6) Surely this verse applies to the present situation among the Primitive Baptists. The result of not following this admonishment of the Lord is being displayed before our eyes today. These men with their disciples and followers have trampled the precious pearls of the church and have now turned and they are rending the Primitive Baptists. What a shame and disgrace that the members of the precious old Church did not put on the whole armour of God and mark these men early enough to save many of God's children from being deceived into bondage. There were plenty of warning signs from the days they first came among us.

Although the Primitive Baptists have failed to adequately oppose these departures, false prophets will not escape the great I AM "Be not deceived; God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap". (Galatians 6:7) Neither will they or their followers enter into the true kingdom while doing as they are, The Lord said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) Many false prophets have built large churches with multitudes following them but they have never placed one stone in the building of the true kingdom of God because it is Jesus Christ who builds his church, not man.

I declare these things, knowing that my soul is in the hands of an Omnipotent, loving and merciful God, who knows the intent of our heart. "The Lord is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts, and intents of the heart." (Hebrew 4:12) If Im wrong He will chastise me according to my deeds. But if Im right, Ive done my duty and any rebuke or suffering I endure is tempered by our Lord's answer to the rebukers (Pharisees) "And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. (Luke 19:40) Fare ye well. Elder Claude McKee