Comments on The Roanoke Times article dated June 11, 2017

Entitled: Fundraiser brings new roof, and new life, to tiny Patrick County congregation

  • Monthly Meetings

What is a circuit preacher? A circuit preacher (sometimes called a circuit rider) is a gospel minister who traveled a region of the country with a set schedule. For example, a circuit preacher may have had a first Sunday appointment in City A, a second Sunday appointment in City B, a third Sunday appointment in City C, a fourth Sunday appointment in City D, a floating fifth Sunday appointment, and back to City A the first Sunday of the next month … thus completing his circuit. Circuit preachers were quite common in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Several denominations utilized circuit preachers; some to evangelize America during its westward expansion, others out of necessity because of preacher shortages, but no denomination used circuit preachers claiming a biblical mandate.

As preacher availability increased and America’s westward expansion came to an end, nearly all denominations discontinued the use of circuit preachers. With resident preachers, churches returned to worshipping weekly, just as they did when America’s eastern seaboard was first settled. Monthly meetings are a blip in America’s history. Monthly meetings were not practiced by the English churches which planted American churches.

  • Doctrinal Differences

Who were the first Primitive Baptists in America? According to articles of faith and early American history, the Pilgrims were the first “Americans” who believed and practiced the doctrine which is today called “Primitive Baptist doctrine.” One must differentiate between Pilgrims and Puritans. Puritans were Calvinists who came to New England after the Pilgrims, and persecuted the Pilgrims severely for doctrinal differences. For a better understanding of this persecution, I suggest reading the account of Obadiah Holmes who converted from Puritan doctrine to Pilgrim doctrine, was jailed and whipped for doing so.

As oppression from Puritan minded individuals increased, Pilgrim minded individuals relocated to southern states in America. Hence, the number of Primitive Baptist congregations in the South far exceeds the number of Primitive Baptist congregations in the North.

  • The Primitive Baptist Name

When did the Primitive Baptist denomination begin? This question, in and of itself, is misleading. The name Primitive Baptist was born in the 1830’s out of a division between Baptists in American. Prior to the 1800’s, Baptists in America agreed on doctrine, that is if we can trust the articles of faith published by these early churches. Names given the two groups after the split were Old School Baptists and New School Baptists. Old School Baptists continued with the status quo, their articles of faith in place; whereas, New School Baptists modified their articles of faith to accommodate changes in theology.

As for the word “Primitive” and how this label came to replace the “Old School” label, I suggest listening to the mini-sermon on our church’s web site which defines the word, describes its history and the intended purpose of the people who chose it. In any case, the Primitive Baptist “denomination” is older than its name.

  • Predestination

Do Primitive Baptists believe in predestination? This also is a complicated question; complicated because different folks define predestination differently. Some congregations place every act of every human under the umbrella of predestination (including sin). Other folks place only aspects of eternal salvation under the umbrella of predestination. Mount Olive is in the later camp. The ramifications between the two definitions is colossal, ramifications which permeate child rearing, evangelism, and everything in between. The only way to know a particular Primitive Baptist church is to visit that church.

So, does Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church believe in predestination? Yes. The word appears in scripture four times. As a matter of fact, we didn’t know rejecting predestination was an option. On the last page of our Bible is a warning to those who cherry pick verses (Rev 22:18).

  • Evangelism

Do Primitive Baptist churches evangelize? Yes, the vast majority of Primitive Baptist churches in America evangelize. They have web sites, radio broadcasts, newsletters, church signs, contribute to local newspapers, and have been known to invite friends, neighbors, & coworkers to church. Some go into prisons, volunteer at rescue missions, run food pantries, publish books, and are invited to speak overseas.

Evangelism was not a divisive issue during the 1830’s split, although the creation of mission boards was. Old School Baptists believed the leading of the Holy Spirit guides when and where preachers preached, not a denominational body which usurps congregational authority. Old School Baptists evangelized, and so does Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church (but without denominational oversight).