PRIMITIVE BAPTIST

'Primitive Baptists' are a group of Baptists that have a historical connection to the missionary / anti-missionary controversy that divided Baptists of America in the early part of the 19th century. Those currently denominated Primitive Baptists consist of descendants of churches and ministers that opposed the ''Baptist Board of Foreign Missions'' (organized in 1814), as well as other man-made additions to the church such as seminaries, Sunday schools, and temperance societies. Early leaders include Joshua Lawrence, John Leland, Daniel Parker, and John Taylor. Other names by which Primitive Baptists are known are Predestinarian Baptists, Old School Baptists, Regular Baptists, Particular Baptists and Hardshells. The word "Primitive" is sometimes taken by outsiders to mean "backward," but in context of this division among Baptists, it means "original." These churches attempt to retain and/or restore primitive (or original) patterns of the church, such as family worship, a cappella singing, and feet washing.
The Primitive Baptists can be sub-divided into four main groups: (1) "main stream"; (2) '''Absolute Predestinarian'''; (3) '''Progressive'''; and (4) '''Universalists'''. This last group is the smallest and consists of 5 or 6 small associations in Appalachia and 2 or 3 in Louisiana that adapted the theory of universal atonement to the doctrines of Primitive Baptists.
The main stream Primitive Baptists are the largest group with around 50,000 members in about 1500 churches. While opposing the aforementioned "mission boards", some churches among this group are still very evangelistic, with ongoing works in the Philippines, India, Africa, Russia, and Mexico. They hold tenaciously to the doctrines of grace, as contended for in such historic Baptist documents as the Philadelphia Confession of Faith, the 1st and 2nd London Confessions of Faith, and the Fulton Confession of Faith.
The Absolute Predestinarians hold to the absolute predestination of all things. They reject the teaching that gospel (or "time")salvation is conditioned on obedience. They are often charged with believing that God is the author of sin, but only a minority actually adhere to that idea. They number about 350 churches.
The Progressive Primitive Baptists separated from the main body around the turn of the 20th century, and have adopted such practices as Sunday School, instrumental music, homes for the aged, and various auxiliaries to the church. They have about 8000 members in over 100 churches.
In addition to these predominantly white Primitive Baptist groups, there are at least two types of Black Primitive Baptists - Old School & National Primitive Baptist Convention of the U.S.A.. The Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Predestinarian Baptists and Old Regular Baptists departed from the Primitive Baptists in the latter part of the 19th century. The Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit because their doctrine was not accepted by orthodox Primitive Baptist and the Old Regular Baptist because of their rejection of the doctrine of Absolute Predestination of all things to make God the direct author of evil and the doctine of Eternal Actual Vital Union.
The division of "Primitive Baptists" and "Missionary Baptists" cannot be recognized as occurring at one particular time. The Baptists of the early 19th century were separated by distance and lack of communication. In addition to this, each congregation was independent and autonomous. Though some confusion still existed as late as the 1840s, the declaration now known as the ''Black Rock Address'' clearly defined the issues and marked the separation of the two different philosophies. Representatives convened at Black Rock, Maryland on September 28, 1832 and set forth the "Primitive" position on tract societies, Sunday schools, Bible societies, missions, theological schools, and protracted meetings (revivals).

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Sources

External links

Related subjects

Sources

★ Primitive Baptists association minutes

★ ''A Portion For the Singers: A History of Music Among Primitive Baptists Since 1800'', by R. Paul Drummond

★ ''Baptists Around the World'', by Albert W. Wardin, Jr.

★ ''Handbook of Denominations'', by Frank S. Mead & Samuel Hill

★ ''History of the Church of God'', by Cushing B. & Sylvester Hassell

★ ''In the Hands of a Happy God'', by Howard Dorgan
LINK: http://geocities.com/primitivebaptistbible

External links

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★ Absolute Predestination of All Things

★ Angier Primitive Baptist

★ Baptist Bible Hour

★ Black Rock Address

★ Cincinnati Primitive Baptist Church

★ Gold, Silver, Precious Stones

★ In The Master's Service

★ March To Zion

★ Old Line Messenger

★ Primitive Baptist Library

★ Primitive Baptist Online

★ Primitive Baptist Universalists

★ Sovereign Grace Publications

★ The Primitive Baptist Page

★ The Primitive Baptist Webstation

★ The Remnant

★ White Unto Harvest

★ Union Primitve Baptist Church

★ Primitive Baptist Church of God, Philippines!

★ History of First Independent Primitive Baptist Church in Metro Manila, PHILIPPINES

★ Westboro Baptist Church - Topeka, Kansas

Related subjects

★ Unconditional election

★ Regular Baptist

★ Reformed Baptist

★ Charles Spurgeon

★ John Gill (theologian)

★ Covenanted Baptist Church of Canada

★ Strict Baptist

★ Extemporaneous preaching

★ Singing school

★ Closed communion