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THE FIRST TESTAMENT CHURCH PREFACE Because of the increasing pressures of Protestantism among Baptists and such widespread departure from the Bible regarding the teachings of the church, there is obvious need for serious study in this matter. Baptists have borrowed from Protestants and their education for so long that they have assumed many of the ideas and attitudes of these Protestants. Among these errors probably the most hurtful has been the myth of the "Universal, Invisible Church." According to this theory all the saved of all ages compose some mysterious church, which advocates of this idea refer to as "The True Church." They will tell us that the local church began on the day of Pentecost and is only an organization for man's convenience, and is by no means the New Testament church. This fabrication was invented by the reformers who refused to join the Christians, the hated Anabaptists of their day and submit to Scriptural baptism. Hence the need for a doctrine that would eliminate the problem and also the claims of the Anabaptists. Today many who call themselves Baptists deny any connection with the ancient Anabaptists, and are happy to call themselves Protestants. This is bad, but not the worst. Many Baptist who do claim the heritage of the Anabaptists do not hold their teachings. They have forgotten the authority of the local church (the Bible speaks only of a local church). So they are claiming the Lord has a special people in New Testament churches, but that those outside these churches have the same promises and power, and that they will come into the same inheritance and reward whether they are faithful or unfaithful. Let us rush without caution again to the Bible for our teaching and with reckless abandon commit ourselves to its truth. It is the only thing that will save Baptist and the true teachings of New Testament churches in a day when they are so carelessly throwing away their heritage, and branding every opponent to their prodigality as "heretics." God expects His people, the special people of the New Testament churches, to stand by His Word as they did in the beginning. It will be tragic for those who do not. Let us prepare ourselves that we may be able to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason for the hope we have within us.
Carlton Elkins |