Cannibals?

The following story is taken from the book "Macartney's Illustrations" under the heading CHURCH...

"A ship was once wrecked on an island in the South Pacific. The sailors who had survived the buffeting of the waves were now seized with a dread lest the island should prove to be inhabited by cannibals. They sent one of their companions before them into the interior of the island to explore. He made his way to the top of a hill, took a look at the valley in front of him, and then, turning, waved to his companions and said, "Come on, boys; here's a church!" That is so all over the world and all through the ages. Where there is a church there are no cannibals."

Sadly, today one must be very careful, for what we call a "church" (or a convention for that matter) may just be a crowd of cannibals meeting under a steeple. Many people are also using blogs to eat their brothers and sisters in Christ. May God help us not to join in the feast.

"Neo-Landmarkism" Is Neither New Nor Landmark!

The charge has been made by Wade Burleson that the "Baptist Identity Movement is Neo-Landmarkist" and that it is on the rise. Les Puryear has also shared his understanding of Landmarkism with a post enumerating 6 tenants of Landmarkism.

First, let me begin by saying that I am not a Landmarker. I do not believe that the Baptist church is the only true church. I do not believe there have necessarily always been Baptist churches. I do not even believe that there is a theological necessity that there has to have always been Baptist churches. So while I am a convinced Baptist, I am not a card carrying 6 point Landmarker.

Now, there are several mischaracterizations taking place on these two gentlemen's blogs. The main one, however, is that "Closed or Close Communion" is a Landmark doctrine. But the fact is this... closed, close, strict or restricted communion has been the consensus, though not unanimous, conviction of most Baptists (especially American Baptists) since at least the mid-17th century. So while it is likely true that "ALL Landmarkers" affirm close communion, it cannot be inferred that close communion is a Landmark doctrine.

In fact, I would argue that it can be clearly demonstrated from history that Baptists were practicing primarily close communion well before J.R. Graves and Landmarkism became popular. That close communion is a Baptist Doctrine and not a Landmark doctrine is also evident in all three of the Baptist Faith and Messages (1925, 1963, and 2000). They affirm that... "Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." And, all three of the BF&M's state that Baptism "Being a church ordinance, it is PREREQUISITE to the privileges of church membership AND to the Lord's Supper."

If one wants to debate open or closed communion, I am all for it. However, the tone and practice of "labeling and linking" needs to stop. Both of these men are reformed in their theology, both want the SBC to practice cordial unity... I think both of them should lead by example. What do you think?

Princess Diana Bible Version?

According to Alison Flood of the guardian.co.uk... The Princess Diana Bible is a gay version of the Bible, in which God says it is better to be gay than straight. The New Mexico-based Revision Studios will publish the Princess Diana Bible – so named because of Diana's "many good works"(it says – online at princessdianabible.com) in the spring of 2009. A preview of Genesis is already available online, in which instead of creating Adam and Eve, God creates Aida and Eve. Cain and Abel are also said to be offspring of the Serpent and Eve.

"There are many different versions of the Bible; I don't see why we can't have one," said Max Mitchell. "I got the idea for the Princess Diana Bible from Horror In The Wind," he added. "Horror In The Wind is a movie set in 2017 when Pat Robertson and James Dobson win the White House with a campaign theme of the "War on Sex." Robertson spreads an untested sex suppression formula throughout the world. To everyone's shock, Formula 4708 does not suppress sex drive but changes it. Within a week the entire world is gay. Eventually people prefer it and amend the constitution to ban heterosexual marriage. After the world becomes gay, religious people create The Princess Diana Bible, which says that gay is right and straight is a sin. Then they burn all the King James Bibles." Mitchell further added: "There are 116 versions of the Bible, why is any of them better than ours?"

I stand amazed at the depths of man's depravity! What do you think?