Where Two Or Three
How To Organize A Baptist Church
By Elder John R. Blalock
"A Baptist Church is an executive body, not a legislative body," is a statement agreed upon by all my old Baptist teachers, my own father as well.
This means, that churches are not to make laws, rather they are to carry out the laws and commands in God's Word.
Concerning the number needed to organize a New Testament church, Baptists have always gone to the Bible, where Jesus said, "Where two or
three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20. Therefore we believe that a church may be organized, if necessary, with no more
than two members, though this is seldom done except on a mission field where only two or three qualified Baptists are available to form a church with authority in baptizing new converts.
But a large number is not necessary.
My own father, who organized many churches over the Pacific Coast in his day, always said that if he found one sound and dedicated Baptist family in a place,
he had the nucleus for organizing the church there.
As Baptists, we understand a New Testament Church to be a group of Scripturally baptized followers of Christ, who have voluntarily fellowshipped together as
a church in order to worship and serve God. Baptists have never made any laws and are unable to make any laws as to just how or by what method such a group shall come
together and organize into a church.
Usually a group of Christians are led by some missionary or other ordained minister into bringing about the organization of a church, however the first
Baptist church ever organized in Oregon, before 1850, had no ordained minister to help them or to pastor them until quite some time after they had organized.
With the many churches all about today, usually nearby churches of like faith and order are invited to send their pastors and ordained deacons to take part
in the organization program. Usually this is planned before hand, and the visitors are given parts such as reading the articles of faith, reading the covenant, prayers, special
exhortations and of course the main sermon. Primarily these visitors are invited to witness to the testimonies as to experience of salvation and of baptism of those going into
the organization, and the soundness of the doctrines upon which they are agreeing as a church. If they are satisfied with these, it is customary, then, for the ordained visitors
to meet as a council and to vote to recognize the new church as a Scriptural church of Christ. This report is of course carried back to their home churches so that the new church
is immediately admitted into full fellowship with them. These practices are entirely Scriptural, being based upon Christian principles of mutual respect and cooperation.
However Baptists recognize no authority in this matter except the local church. If the members of the new church have met the Scriptural qualifications
as to salvation and baptism, and were united together upon doctrines that were Scriptural and Baptistic, even though the whole council or part of the council should vote not to recognize them,
they would still be no less a Scriptural, New Testament Church. Among true, independent Missionary Baptists, I don't think such a thing would ever happen, but among others it sometimes does.
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Letters To The Editor
There are no letters to the editor. At least so far, but when there are this is where they will go. You have read the articles posted here on the internet.
I am sure some of you have found something you disagree with. If so fire into us. Just remember to support your argument well with God's Word as that is the final judge.
If this should cause us to search the Scriptures carefully to see what they say on the subject, it will be a good thing.
ABOUNDING GRACE
by Elder John R. Blalock
Just now I am moved to write upon this subject because there are those who teach that God's grace is extended to only a certain chosen few, "the elect", who receive that grace
simply because they have been chosen, while others have not had grace extended to them because, it being "irresistible grace," they, too, would receive it and be saved. God's word does not teach
such favoritism as this.
"But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Romans 5:20. This verse from Romans 5, the "much more" chapter, makes plain the extent of God's grace.
I. WHERE SIN ABOUNDED
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Romans 5:12. How far did sin abound?
Surely no one can deny that the Bible teaches that sin abounds to all men from Adam down to the end of time. "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:10. "For all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. Again and again the Bible teaches that sin is universal, the penalty, death, is universal. "It is appointed unto men once to die."
Everywhere, on every hand, the dead and dying, the funerals and cemeteries bear mute witness to the truth of God's Word. Sin and death have abounded to all mankind.
II. BUT WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND.
How can anyone interpret this otherwise then that God's grace does abound to all mankind? Moreover that this grace is much more abounding even than the sin?
This grace must of necessity be more abounding, for it was procured by the precious blood of God's "only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father." (John 1:18)
The sin committed was by mere creatures of this earth, but the price paid and the suffering made were by the infinite Son of God from heaven. No wonder Paul declares that grace did much more abound!
I cannot deny that God's grace was irresistible to me. Truly it is irresistible to everyone who turns with simple faith to the Christ who loved them so.
However God's grace and love, which are inseparable, are extended to all mankind. Some sinners repent and receive this grace of God, but others resist to their own condemnation, (John 3:18-21)
It is God's marvelous grace that His Holy Spirit works on the hearts of men. "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised of heart and ears," cried Stephen, "ye do always resist the Holy Ghost:
as your fathers did, so do ye." Acts 7:51. Paul explains that "the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine unto them." II Corinthians 4:4.
"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." How great are these words! How marvelous the grace of God! Truly He is no respecter of persons
(Romans 2:11), and even the vilest, even the chief of sinners can be saved, if he will humbly repent and trust in God's Son, Jesus Christ, who died for him.
HE MAKETH NO MISTAKE
My Father's way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I'm glad I know
He maketh no mistake.
My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But still I'll trust my Lord to lead,
For He doth know the way.
Though night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break,
I'll pin my faith, my all in Him;
He maketh no mistake.
There's so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight's far too dim;
But come what may, I'll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.
For by and by the mist will lift
And plain it all He'll make.
Through all the way, tho' dark to me,
He made not one mistake.
by A. M. Overton
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