The false doctrine that the commands Jesus gave the Apostles, commonly called 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 part of the 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 zeal of the current day's builders is the same thing that happened prior to the 1830 split of the Baptist family. In those days the desire to spread the gospel to the world sparked the changers in that day to devise unscriptural missions and methods to carry out their desires, claiming falsely that Jesus commissioned or gave power to the church to accomplish the so called great commission. Although we have been accused of opposing the spread of the gospel, I have not met a Primitive Baptist preacher who is opposed to the gospel being preached wherever the Spirit leads us to go. But there were many in the past and some now, who believe we should adhere to the scriptural record which differs greatly from the unscriptural missions and methods of today and the past. As in the 1830's the present day movement has divided the church with the majority following their departures from sound practice and doctrine.

The Apostles did not understand the commands, called the great commission, gave them absolute power to preach the gospel without exception to all people of the world. The record clearly shows that they, including the Apostle Paul, only went as they were impressed by the Spirit of God. They were instructed to remain in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. As Saul made havoc of the church putting some in prison the scriptures say: "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." (Acts 8:4) I heard one of the present day builders express the believe that this scripture set forth proof that the church (Elders and/or members) were to preach to any and all they met on the streets both Jew and Gentile, anyone that would listen to them! It is not true! This early preaching was directed to only the Jews and not the Gentiles. "Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only." (Acts 11:19) There were two other events which occurred near the time of the preaching to the ones scattered abroad. The two events were: Phillip and the eunuch and Peter and the Centurion. Both of these events clearly illustrate for us the pattern of dependence on the Spirit of God prior to any evangelizing. Peter clearly did not believe he was given a commission or power to preach to any and everyone in the world. The example of Peter and the Centurion has been observed by our forefathers and the Primitive Baptists until recent times. I can remember at an early age listening to the brethren discussing the need for the church and Elders to follow this example when an opportunity to preach to a people outside the church of their fellowship. I believe we should still follow this scriptural example. The early church did not devise plans to share the gospel and rejoice in the execution of those plans but they examined any evangelistic effort before rejoicing, only giving support, after the Grace of God was evident in the matter. This can be seen in the book of Acts, the eleventh chapter verse 21. "And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned into the Lord." This was the result of those who were scattered preaching with the blessing of the Lord. "Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord." Notice it doesn't give any indication that he was glad and rejoiced that the gospel and the commission was being implemented, but only after he seen the grace of God in the matter did he rejoice. The present day movement is dismantling the true practices of the church and introducing Sunday school (bible study groups) and other progressive practices which leads me to believe that the Grace of God is not in their endeavor to spread the gospel. The early leaders of this movement introduced false doctrine concerning the so called great commission. One example is as follows: "In Matthew 28:19-20, baptism was given as a church ordinance and inseparably linked to baptism was the command to teach all nations. You cannot accept baptism as a church ordinance without accepting that the command to teach all nations is also addressed to the church." (Elder Gus Harter, Atlanta Newsletter Jan. 1996)

The resurgence of this false doctrine should encourage us to examine the scriptures more closely and to support only true missionary practices. The 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 churches 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. What we have witnessed in the evangelizing of the Philippines and Africa in the past few years is simply the same unscriptural practices the Primitive Baptist have faced several times since the early 1800's. Today some are teaching that the commission was given to the church and others by their actions show that they are in agreement with that false doctrine. As with all departures from sound practices, the end result is the doctrine of salvation by works of the creature rather than the creator. It is already permeating this movement with the Calvinistic doctrine which says that all the elect children of God will hear and accept the gospel during their life time. This is only a skip and jump to Arminianism.

We have documents such as the Black Rock Address, the Nashville Peace meeting along with other writers that declared our stand against the unscriptural teachings associated with movements such as we have among the Primitive Baptist today. It is alarming to witness the number of Primitive Baptist who have followed the pernicious teachings of the leaders of today's unscriptural missions movement which promote 'outreaches to the word'; something I have found no evidence that true Baptist have ever practiced as part of their preaching of the gospel.

In the editorial writings of Elder C. H. Cayce Volume 1 page 28 will be found the following resolution of the Predestinarian Association held in September of 1905. It gives a good picture of the practices of our forefathers and their stand against the builders in their day.

Called on the committee on resolutions, They reported the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:

Whereas, Information has reached us, the truth of which we have no reason whatever, to doubt, that certain ministers of the church at Fulton, Ky., within the bounds of the Greenfield-Philesic Association, viz., Elder J. V. Kirkland and Elder R. S. Kirkland, are , and have been, introducing new doctrines and practices among the Primitive Baptist, which are contrary to the time-honored principles of the fathers, and is destructive to the peace of the Baptist, to-wit: "federal government of the churches." "that the commission was given to the church," "a national publishing house for the Baptists,"affiliation with, and membership in, secret organizations." Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Predestinarian Association, now in session, that we consider all the above thins unauthorized by the world of God, contrary to the principles held by the Primitive Baptists, for hundreds of years, and is a complete surrender of the principles for which the church has contended since its organization , and we heartily endorse the course of the union meeting held at Martin Church of the Greenfield-Philesic Association in withdrawing fellowship from Fulton Church for holding to and endorsing the principles and practices set out above; and we make this declaration that all our correspondents, and the Primitive Baptist in general, may know where we stand on this question, and further, that we do not desire these things advocated in the churches composing this association.

Resolve, further, that it is the wish of this body that a copy of these resolutions be published in The Primitive Baptist that our brethren everywhere may know at once where we stand on these questions.

Respectfully submitted, Elder S, E, Reid,

R. J. M. Malone, Committee.

Following this resolution it was stated that other associations lined up with the action of dropping fellowship with the Fulton church and one of the main reasons were over their introducing the false doctrine that the commission was given to the church.

May we always support true biblical missions, following the examples in scripture, but oppose the works of men in their attempt to help God spread the gospel to the world.  Elder Claude McKee