Friday, August 17, 2007

B.H. Carroll: A Great Baptist

I am a Baptist. I do not esteem being a Baptist above being saved by God's grace. But, I do not shy away from being known as a Baptist. I am a Baptist not because I grew up in a Baptist home nor because I was saved under a Baptist pastor. I am a Baptist because what the Baptists believe that I identify with is as close to what the Scripture teaches as any other group I know.

A giant of a Baptist was a man named B.H. Carroll. I don't know that I have ever read an account of a man's conversion that had more of an effect upon me than B.H. Carroll's. I encourage you to go to this link. There you can read of his life and the effect it and his death had upon great Baptists of his day.

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Is It Right?

When we are faced with decisions and we see no clear cut Bible verse to tell us what is right or wrong then here are a few observations and questions that may help us do what is pleasing in the Lord's sight:

  1. We should trust him to lead us (Proverbs 3:5-6)
  2. He will guide the meek in judgment (Psalm 25:9) Note: AT Pierson defined 'meekness' as 'a real preference for God's will'.
  3. Are we willing to do what is right once we know God's will? (John 7:17)
  4. Does it agree with all the Scripture has to say on the subject? (2 Peter 1:20)
  5. Have we prayed about it? (Philippians 4:6)
  6. Do we have the leading of the Holy Spirit? (Romans 8:14)
  7. Does it please God? (1 John 3:22)
  8. Can we do it in the name of the Lord Jesus? (Colossians 3:17)
  9. Can we give God thanks for it? (Colossians 3:17)
  10. Does it bring glory to God? (1 Corinthians 10:31)
  11. Does it offend other Christians? (1 Corinthians 8:13)
  12. Am I fully persuaded that it is right? (Romans 14:5)
  13. Have I sought the counsel of fellow believers? (Proverbs 24:6)

The Peril of Serving Other Gods

After the fire fell on Mount Carmel and the people of Israel confessed their allegiance to the Lord God there were consequences for the prophets of Baal. In complete agreement with Scripture (Deuteronomy 13: 6-9) Elijah and the people lay hands on them and Elijah slays them (I Kings 18:40) .

Christ has introduced another dispensation under the New Testament; and the summary punishments of the Old Testament have been exchanged for long-suffering. Hence the righteous and the wicked grow on together until the harvest; but were the same mode of procedure adopted now as in the days of Moses and Elijah, there would be no end of the slaughter...But the woe pronounced against them "will surely come, it will not tarry" beyond the "appointed time".

Go on, ye hirelings and grievous wolves, in your thousand places of concourse, and persuade your poor flocks to sacrifice unto other gods than Him whom Abraham called his Lord, and whose goings were heard on the mountains of Israel. Go on, ye corrupters of youth, ye blind leaders of the blind, and, amidst the plaudits of the ignorant and ungodly, despise the sovereignty of the Ancient of days, that ye imagine on his throne a being of your own defining, that ye may dream the Almighty to be such a one as yourselves. Go on, ye people of rank and fashion, and proudly sneer at the true incarnate Jehovah of the Bible, and pay worship to the wisdom of the day! Alas! the angel is already flying in the dist of heaven and crying, "Wo! wo! wo! to the inhabitants of the earth!". The sword is already drawn to slay you, the pile of Tophet ordained of old is already erected, on which, forsaken by your imaginary gods, you will become flaming monuments for ever of the Divine justice, and of all holy vengeance."

From Elijah the Tishbite by F.W. Krummacher