An Article titled "Perplexing Problems"
by Elder Gene Thomas, Scottsboro, Alabama,
and Replies from Old-Line Primitive Baptists

PERPLEXING PROBLEMS

It would probably be impossible to name all of the various problems that arise among Primitive Baptist Churches and totally impossible to find solutions that would be satisfactory to each individual church. I certainly would not claim to uphold a standard to which all must bow.

I very much doubt that all Primitive Baptist Churches will ever come to the exact same answers for some of the problems that arise. One of the most perplexing problems is how to handle the various issues that arise over divorce and remarriage. I think it would be fair to say that there is a diversity of views and each one who holds a particular view believes that his viewpoint is in harmony with Bible teaching.

I am aware that there are positions which may range from ultra-conservative to ultra-liberal. Two times in my life-time Primitive Baptists have held meetings which addresssed this problem as well as other problems. The Nashville Peace Meeting was held in August 1937 (Elder H. P. Houk was moderator). A National Peace Meeting of the Primitive Baptists was held in Donaldson, Arkansas in July 1953. These two meetings were certainly representative of the general body of the Primitive Baptists in the United States. The recommendations at these meetings were made by some of the ablest ministers (i.e., Elders Lee Hanks, J. A. Monsees, James Duncan, T. L. Webb, C. H. Cayce, H. P. Houk, John Harris, W. A. Shutt, R. O. Raulston, J. D. Shain, etc.) of that time. Anyone who wants to know what the general body of Primitive Baptists believed on this subject can refer to the printed proceedings of these two meetings.

It is my opinion that a church which practices according to these recommendations would not be classified as being ultra-conservative or ultra-liberal on the subject of divorce and remarriage. Most Primitive Baptists would agree that there are some rules that govern divorce and remarriage. It is my belief that each church must finally handle her own affairs and each church is in the best position to know the particulars of each case of this nature that arises in her own body.

Another perplexing problem that often affects Primitive Baptist Churches is division. It seems that it is rather easy to have a division, but very difficult to have a coming together after the division has occurred. Very few of the divisions that have occurred in my lifetime were concerned with the fundamental doctrines and practices of the Church. Most of them have taken place without any exact definition of cause. Some of them have been promoted and fueled by ministers. Sometimes, the ministers have been assisted by deacons. In many cases of division the majority of the members in the affected churches were unable to give the reasons or causes for a division.

It has always been a thrill to me to learn of our divided people finding ways to be reunited. One of the saddest expressins that I have ever heard is that "We had to wait for Elder . . . . . to die before we could ever get back together." Something is terribly lacking when one minister can exert such power over the body of the Church.

One of the biggest lessons our Churches need to learn is that a minister belongs to a Church and not that a church belongs to a minister. A minister is not above the Church and he is subject to the same rules that govern each member of the Church. Some practices that have been followed seem to make divisions more far reaching. For example, if one church declares against another church, it is expected that all other churches will join together in declaring against that church. Some big questions should be raised in an example such as this. Should a declaration be made against a church or should the declaration be made against the error, or who is upholding error?

Some of the divisions in Primitive Baptist Churches have occurred over making a brother an "offender for a word."

Almost all divisions among our churches are accompanied by many rumors and much gossip. Each side is striving to gain support and recognition from other churches. In recent years it has come to my mind that it would be well for me to look again to the Bible and check it out on the subject of divisions. I can look back on my attitudes and viewpoints in my younger days andfind that not all of my ideas and actions were based on the teaching of the Scriptures.

Most likely, in my younger years of my ministry, if there had been a Primitive Baptist Church that had just SOME of the things mentioned in the Bible about the Church at Corinth, I would have been advising dropping fellowship with that church. But, upon investigation, I do not find that the Apostle Paul did so. He did not agree with the things wrong, but he did not declare non-fellowship just because the wrongs were there. Instead, Paul, in a loving AND firm way, gave instructions on righting the wrongs. The wrongs not only involved practice, but also involved basic doctrine.

The more I restudy the Bible, the less I find to support some of my former views. Divisions generally lead to a dropping of fellowship. Ths situation is often aggravated by the way "Association Rule" is utilized. In times past (more especially) but even in recent times, Associations have ASSUMED the power to drop fellowship with whole Associations as well as individual churches. Yet almost every Primitive Baptist Association in its own Constitution denies having such power. To prevent the reader from having to take the time to read the Constitution of a Primitive Baptist Association, I will quote from a minute: "This Association shall never possess a single attribute of power to lord it over God's heritage, but forever disclaims all rights to interfere with the internal concerns of any church, and holds each church to be independent in all matters of internal government." The rules of Associations, if followed, would not allow them to be places where divisions take place. But the rules have not always been observed. Thus, it is not fair to put blame on Associations for divisions, but it must be admitted that Associations have sometimes failed to abide by the rules and have thereby promoted divisions.

It has been my observation that in most divisions, that have occurred in the last fifty years, mistakes have been made on both sides. Most divisions are made up of charges and counter-charges. When a division occurs, each side will strive to get as many as possible to take its side. The matter is sometimes reduced to which preacher is on which side and which preacher has the most influence over others.

In treating this subject of divisions it is not my intention to leave the impression that I have all the answers. I do desire that readers will believe that I greatly desire for Primitive Baptists who are presently divided to find ways to remove the barriers that separate them and become reunited in sweet fellowship!

I have spent much time in trying to overcome divisions. I do not claim any skill in this area. One area of my work covered a period of forty years before full fellowship was regained. I did what I could, but it was slow and sometimes required a lot of patience. I met with much discouragement and some criticism, but I felt the Lord was with me.

It is my closer observation that there are a number of obstacles to overcome in healing divisions. Misunderstandings of all kinds seem to crop up so easily. Unreasonable demands are often made. One side of a division will sometimes manifest a "holier than thou" attitude. Perhaps TIME is the greatest ally in healing divisions. The passage of time seems to have a softening effect. One other powerful force in helping to overcome divisions is for each side to maintain communication with each other and to have personal contact when possible.


Replies to the above comments from Old-Line Primitive Baptists:

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Copied from "Selected Writings of Elder Gene Thomas,"
in recognition of his Fifty Years in the Gospel Ministry
(1948-1998), pp. 20-23.


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