A Letter to Little Flock Church, Edwardsville, Illinois,
Endorsed by the Carthage Primitive Baptist Church, Carthage, Illinois
The following letter was sent to the ordained brethren and exercising brethren of Little Flock Church. There has never been a reply from the church. In 2004 the pastor contacted us, and engaged in some discussion, which further proved his involvement in the same departures which we had stated.
March 3, 2000
Dear Brethren in Christ,
This letter is a long time in coming, and perhaps should have been written some time ago. It is also possible that it would have been better for me to remain silent. However, in the last several days I have felt impressed (I trust of the Lord) to write this to you. Not because I feel any self-importance or qualification to speak (for I don't), but because I love all of you brethren and have a sincere concern and interest for the welfare of your church and the peace of all God's little churches scattered abroad.
In writing to explain why I have not attended services at Little Flock for several months, I want to be as forthright and open as I can. I hope that I can do this without causing offense. It is not my intention to cast personal reflection on anyone, but simply to support the cause of Truth with a clear conscience. I pray that I will be able to write this in a spirit of humility and love. If I should at any point fail in that endeavor, I ask for your charity.
As stated earlier, I do love all of the brethren at Little Flock. You have all been very good to me ever since I moved to St. Louis, and your friendship and love has been much stronger than I have been able to reciprocate, I am sure. I am very thankful for it. I am also thankful for the good meetings I have enjoyed at Little Flock in the past 2.5 years. However, ever since I have been attending there I have been concerned about the Liberal tendencies displayed in the church, and its support for the Liberal movement which has lately sprung up and caused so much disturbance all over the country. It seems to me that these Liberal tendencies have grown stronger over time, just as the Liberal movement has grown and become more audacious over time.
If any of you are in doubt as to what I mean by the Liberal movement, I refer you to the Pitts Resolution of January 29, 2000. This is a document that should be prayerfully read and considered by all Old Baptists in the country. It lists the following unscriptural practices and doctrines being advanced by the liberals: 1. Sunday Schools or organized Bible Study Classes; 2. Youth Camps; 3. Mission Programs; 4. Theological Seminaries (Preacher's Schools); 5. Dedication of Infants; 6. Salaried Ministry; 7. Tithing; 8. Teaching that the Great Commission was given to the church, rather than the Apostles; 9. Accepting and retaining unqualified members; 10. Misdirected Ministerial authority; 11. Ordaining Novices; 12. Failure to recognize church authority.
Expressions of support or acceptance for the Liberal movement or its leaders eventually became so regular at Little Flock that it became almost impossible for me to enjoy the services, or to receive any edification from them. In retrospect, I should probably have voiced my concerns to you earlier, but I have to confess that, to some extent, I was in a state of denial - hoping that these things would soon blow over. Also, I think I was a little afraid of what the answer would be. Brethren, I fear that some of you are also in a state of denial over these things, winking at them because you don't want to acknowledge their consequences.
At any rate, I believe that the Lord slowly opened my eyes and led me to see that these problems at Little Flock would not just blow over and that it wasn't good for me to attend where I wasn't being edified. After the services the second weekend in October, I was so discouraged with the situation that I resolved to myself that I could not visit Little Flock again until I saw some evidence that the situation was improving. I did decide to go again on the third weekend because I had thoughts which I would have spoken to express my feelings, had I been called on to introduce the services. Some of these thoughts are expressed down below. As it worked out, I was not asked to introduce, which perhaps was just as well. At any rate, I have kept my resolution not to return, and subsequent events there have convinced me that I made the right decision.
This was not an easy decision to make, and it continues to pain me that I am unable to attend services at Little Flock. It is no comfort to me to know that I am not alone with this problem. The Liberal movement has already torn up churches and associations in other parts of the country, causing great pain and suffering to many brethren. If it continues to be pushed, it will do the same thing here in the Midwest. Brethren, the Bible makes it clear that we have no choice but to withdraw from such things, or we will be destroyed by them. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
I would ask that you read and carefully consider 1 Samuel Chapter 15. Israel is commanded to utterly destroy Amalek (the world). The church is not given leeway to allow worldly things, or things contrary to the clear instruction of the Lord. No matter how small she may be, the Lord will always give her the victory over the world when she is obediently following His word. The Lord gave Saul and Israel a great victory over Amelek, but then they refused to follow the Lord's command. Instead, they substituted their own judgment, choosing to take the good things they found in the world and bring them into the church.
It is clear that the Lord was not pleased with this (verse 11). He sent Samuel to deliver this message (note that it gave Samuel no pleasure to do so). The first thing Saul said to him was "I have performed the commandment of the Lord." Saul was going around boasting about the "wonderful church meeting" he was having, perfectly self-satisfied that he was doing the Lord's commandment. Yet, it was clear to anyone with ears that he had not performed the commandment: Verse 13.
When questioned about it, Saul could hardly conceal his self-pleasure at how he had "improved" the Lord's original plan. He had destroyed the vile things of the world, but he had kept all the "good" things to sacrifice to the Lord. Samuel immediately pointed out that Saul had grown proud and was substituting his own fleshly will and understanding in opposition of the divine commandment. Brethren, when we are humble and small in our own sight, and trusting completely in the Lord - not leaning on our own understanding - we will enjoy the blessings of the church and of peace, no matter how small in number we may be (Verse 17). But when we become big in our own sight and disobey God, we will bring destruction on ourselves - no matter how big and "powerful" we are.
Saul continued to insist that he was obeying the voice of the Lord, even though it is clear from his own statement that he was not (Verse 20). He tried to place any blame for disobedience on the actions of other people. Besides, he said, their intentions were good since they wanted to use the worldly things to worship the Lord. Samuel replied, "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams." Verse 23 tells us that Israel's action was rebellion against the Lord, and their stubbornness in pursuing their own desires was as idolatry.
We know that Saul suffered greatly for his disobedience. He lost his place in the church. I don't believe he lost his place in heaven, but the rest of his days on earth were miserable. In the end, he destroyed himself. 2 Samuel 3:1 tells us that there was a long war between the house of David and the house of Saul. Consider the terrible suffering on both sides that could have been avoided if Saul and Israel had simply humbled themselves and hearkened to the word of the Lord. Brethren, it is not the place of any man to remove Saul as king. Only God can do that. But it is our place and our duty to make sure we are standing in the house of David.
I know we are all concerned about the fewness in number of the Primitive Baptists. But trying to judge whether a practice or doctrine is right or wrong by the number of people it puts in the seats is a terrible mistake. If that were the case, the Old Baptist church has been on the wrong side of every conflict from the time of the Apostles till now. Isaiah 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!
All of the 12 Liberal practices and doctrines I listed above were not part of the Primitive Church, but this is not the first time they have troubled us. Many attempts have been made in the past to introduce these things to the church by those who wanted to please man or exalt themselves. The results are clear. All the churches which adopted these things have drifted further and further into error, until they hardly resemble their original form. It is folly to expect any different results this time around.
Brethren, I know that none of these things were in the church when I joined it, and I am confident that the same is true of you. I am just as confident that they were not in the church in the day of the Apostles, and that they were not established by Jesus. And I am totally confident that it was not a mistake or oversight on the Lord's part that these things were omitted.
Do you remember when Elder Bill Caraway was at Little Flock in the Spring of 1998? He preached a wonderful sermon from Deut 19:14. Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess. Brethren, we should be doing our best to defend those landmarks, not giving aid, comfort, and encouragement to those who are attacking them. That's why I was quite disturbed to learn that you had invited Elder Lasserre Bradley, the leader of the Liberal movement, to preach at Little Flock. Also other Liberal Elders, including those that advocate and practice tithing, which is heresy designed to exalt man and spy out our liberty in Christ Jesus. Is the membership at Little Flock aware of all the things these men are involved in? All the troubles they have caused? Are they satisfied to become involved in it themselves, by allowing these men to fill their pulpit? Isn't it only right that they be informed what they are getting into?
Brethren, it is not too late to reconsider these things. But with each successive step down the Liberal path it becomes harder to turn back, and harder to resist the things that are ahead.
I have written this letter to you because I have a great desire to walk with you in true Gospel fellowship. That will only be possible if we are all willing to walk according to the plain and simple scriptural order established for us by our head and lawgiver. May God grant us each the courage, wisdom, and faith to support the cause of Truth and to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
In Christian love,
Brother Rob Webb
The above letter expresses the unanimous views of the Carthage Primitive Baptist Church, Carthage, Illinois.
Elder Robert Webb, pastor. Sister Linda Webb, clerk.
