The false doctrine that the Great Commission gives the Church the authority to evangelize the world is finding a renewal among the Primitive Baptists. Just as in the past, it is the root false doctrine that propels its promoters to zealously work toward spreading the gospel to the world. The zeal is admirable but when it is not according to knowledge it becomes distasteful.

The resurgence of this false doctrine should encourage us to examine the scriptures more closely and to support only true missionary practices. The following article, Missions and Methods, was published by Elder C. H. Cayce in rebuttal to those who taught the commands Jesus gave his Apostles was to be construed as a commission to the church to evangelize the world. The Kirkland's who participated in the Fulton Kentucky meeting which resulted in the 1689 Baptist articles of faith being reissued, with explanatory notes, were instrumental in the promotion of this false doctrine. About the time this article was written the orderly church withdrew fellowship from the Fulton Kentucky church and the Kirkland's. One of the main reasons was their promoting the idea that God had given the church a commission to spread the gospel to the world. We have the same type movement among us today. Some are teaching that the commission was given to the church and others by their actions show that there are in agreement with that false doctrine. Elder Claude McKee

Missions and methods
November 9, 1906

We have received and read a copy of "Missions and Mission Methods," a book of 287 pages, recently published by Elder J. H. Milburn. In this book he takes the position that the commission, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," was given to the church, and that the obligation of it now rests upon the churches, and not upon boards, societies or other inventions of men. Although we think he is wrong in his position regarding the commission, we agree with him that these boards and societies are simply inventions of men, and deny the authority of Christ. On page 238 he says: "Baptist got along without any such Episcopal machinery for over seventeen hundred years; we can get along without it now; my brother, will you try to be loyal to Christ, and let such institutions of men alone?" This is precisely what our people thought and believed at the time of the division when Cary, Fuller and others introduced those things into the Baptist family. The Baptists got along without those things seventeen hundred years, and we are still getting along without them.

On page 12 he says: "God has always had faithful witnesses; He has now and will have until He shall come again. God has never had less, at any time than a remnant according to the election of grace. At this time, however, God has a mighty host, but alas, many of them are asleep in regard to the perilous times which are upon them. The conflict is on; multitudes have taken a firm stand 'on the Lord's side' against innovations and the inventions of men in religious matters." Etc. The Primitive Baptists took that firm stand all along the line. We remained on that platform when those things (inventions) were introduced into the Baptist family by Fuller & Co. Your people left the "Lord's side" when they went into these things that gave rise to the division.

On page 65 he says: "It is only when men go beyond God's revealed will and teach and practice that which is not required that divisions and strife come among the children of God." This being true, it follows that those men who introduced these inventions and methods of which Elder Milburn complains were the cause of the division in the Baptist family. It must, therefore, necessarily be true that the Missionary Baptists are the seceding party, and are not the original Baptists. Those things are not in God's revealed will. The parties who introduced, taught and advocated those things went "beyond God's revealed will," and, therefore, departed from the original principles, and so are not the original Baptist church. The Missionary Baptist church is, therefore, a new sect, and is not the church of Christ.

On page 107 he says: "Honestly, reader, what do you think of those editors and authors(?) Who persistently assert that those who refuse to adopt Conventionism have 'split off,' but will never tell what they have 'split off' from. There were no Baptist Conventions, nor Convention Baptists, nor churches co-operating with organizations of similar character or kind, for over 1,700 years. We ask again: In the name of right and justice, what is it those churches refusing to co-operate with Conventions have 'split off' from?" This is a question we would like to have answered, too. It is a question the Missionary Baptists have failed to answer for years. If the churches that refuse to co-operate with Conventions have not "split off," then the Primitive Baptists have not "split off," but the Missionaries have, for the Primitive Baptists have, all along, refused to co-operate with their machinery, while the Missionaries have co-operated with those things, and those things caused the division.

Elder Milburn brings some very serious charges against the boards, and shows very clearly and plainly that they are unscriptural and that it is very wrong to co-operate with them, or to aid them in their work. We would be glad to give more extracts from the book, but space forbids. As stated above, we think he is wrong in the position that the commission was given to the church. Neither do we endorse all the doctrinal sentiments he has advanced, but we do heartily endorse the sentiment that the boards and societies they have are the inventions of men and are unscriptural. The book contains much valuable information. The price is one dollar. If you want a copy, send a dollar to Elder J. H. Milburn, Union City, Tenn., and he will send you one. C. H. C