The
People Called Baptist
I
was saved at the age of 10 years old in the Baptist church at
Racine, Missouri. From that moment to now I have always been
a Baptist and proud of it. I am first a Christian but I am also
a Baptist. I was taught in those early years that Baptist could
trace their doctrinal succession back to the early days in the
church. In College and also in Seminary I was taught this and
I still believe it to be true. I have watched, as we have gradually
through the years become lax in our moral and doctrinal stance.
Today many of our people do not know what the Bible teaches
and we as Baptist believe. However, we seem to be turning away
from our roots for the fear that we might offend others. One
of the reasons for writing this book is because we as Baptist
seem to be ashamed of who we really are. I do not see the Methodists
being ashamed of who they are. Neither do I see the Presbyterians,
Catholics, Episcopalians, Assembly of God, or any of the other
denominations making excuses for their name. But when we turn
to Southern Baptist we seem to be ashamed of the name that stands
for a great denomination. We have tried to change our name,
along with changing the names of many of our organizations.
We call ourselves by many names but refuse to put the name Baptist
on the church sign. We use everything for the church name but
we don't want people to know that we are Baptist. Yet when we
look at our Baptist Heritage we should be proud of who we are
and where we came from. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 4:4 "And
they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be
turned unto fables." I have been a Christian for 67 years
and a preacher of the Gospel for 55 years. I spent 37 years
in the pastorate and for the last l7 years I have been in full
time evangelism and mission work, leading teams to the mission
fields of the world. Having been to 69 countries of the world
on 104 mission trips, I STILL BELIEVE THAT OUR MESSAGE IS THE
SAME: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which
I also received. How that Christ died for our sins according
to the scriptures. And that he was buried, and that he rose
again the third day according to the scriptures. " I Corinthians
15: 3-4. Our message is also found in Matthew 28: 19-20 "Go
ye therefore, and preach the gospel unto all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the
end of the world." And finally, I BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE
CALLED, "BAPTIST", ARE THE SAME. These are my reasons
for writing this book about "The People Called Baptist".
My greatest mentors have been some of our leading Baptist
Theologians of the past: Dr. B.H. Caroll, on "Baptist Faith
and Polity", Dr. Scarborough, Dr. George W. Truett, Dr.
R.G. Lee, and Dr. Hershall Hobbs (Former pastor of First Baptist
Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and author of, "Fundamentals
of our Faith", "Baptist Faith and Message", and
many other books. Rev. A.L.Lowther, a great soul-winner and
Associational Missionary of Tulsa and Oklahoma City Associations
and Rev. J.E. Outlaw, whom I attribute with influencing me in
my ministry, I count as my fathers in the ministry. I also owe
much to my pastor, Rev. L.C. Robbins of the First Baptist Church
of Claremore, Oklahoma, under whose ministry I surrendered to
preach. And last but not least, to my very dear friend and former
pastor. Dr. Warren Hultgren, pastor Emeritus of First Baptist
Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Warren Hultgren has always encouraged
me and cheered me on when I needed support the most. And so,
I write this book primarily at the request of the Baptist Leaders
of the Malindi Baptist Association in Kenya, Africa.
Therefore, I dedicate this book to all of my friends in Kenya,
Africa, and to those who have meant so much to me and encouraged
me through the years. My wife, Margaret and my daughter Connie
Jean Alsop. And to my grandchildren Alicia, Melissa and Ryan
Alsop. Also, to Tom Alsop, my Son-in-law for his help with arrangement
of the manuscript and its grammar.
I also dedicate this book to all of those who lived, served
with distinction, and died for the faith once delivered to our
fathers. To the Baptist of all ages, I dedicate this book as
a tribute to them and their bravery. I am sure the Lord has
already said to them, "Well done thou good and faithful
servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I shall
made thee ruler over many things." I write this book to
remind us that no matter what we say our roots are still there.
If we would be great again I challenge all of us to take a stand
for the faith once delivered to the Saints. I challenge each
of us to stand up for that which is right and to oppose those
things that are wrong. To accept the Biblical truth and reject
all of that which does not conform to that truth. Let us always
be proud that we are Born Again Believers in Christ and can
truly call ourselves Christian. But, also to be proud of our
Baptist heritage and the sacrifice that millions of our forefathers
endured that we might have the freedoms we have today.
