Perverse Activities - Youth Camps by Liberals WHICH WAY WILL WE WALK
? "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein" Jeremiah 6:16 The above scripture has probably been used
more in the last few years by Old Line Primitive Baptists, as a text, or quoted in
preaching, or written in articles such as this one, than it has been used since the Great
Division in 1832. There comes a time in the lives of God's people when they must decide
Which Way We Will Walk. Some years ago, we were making our annual
trip from Florida to our home in Wyoming. We liked to travel different routes so we could
see different parts of the country each year. As usual, Joanne studied the map, and served
as my "navigator". When we approached a place to turn or change highways she
would tell me which way to go. Once I asked her "Which WAY do you want me to go
?" Her head was buried in the map, and she said "Straight ahead". I asked
again, "Which WAY do you want me to go ?" - Again, she said, "Straight
ahead". I said, "Honey look up !" When she looked up she saw the Dead End
in front of us. We were going to have to GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. We had to decide Which
Way We Would Go. Primitive Baptists must decide Which Way We
Will Walk. We are told in the Scriptures "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so walk ye in him, Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith
-" (Col. 2:6-7). God's people are told to WALK: in newness of life (Rom. 6:4); in the
Spirit (Gal. 5:16), in love (Eph. 5:2), in wisdom (Col. 4:5), in the light and not to walk
in darkness (I John 1:7), to walk in truth (3 John 4), to walk worthy and to walk
circumspectly. We are told "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to
walk, even as he walked" (I John 2:6). We are told that Christ left us an example,
that we should follow his steps. We are told to Walk in the "old paths". But of
late, there are those among us who have brought in new ideas, new innovations, new
directions, and have asked God's people to "Walk in new paths - in New Directions. The Lord Jesus Christ describes TWO Ways
God's people can walk in this time world. One is called the "Narrow Way" that
leads unto life. The entrance to this Way is a Strait Gate. We are told that few find this
way. The other Way is called the "Broad Way" that leads to destruction. The
entrance to this Way is a Wide Gate and we are told that many go in thereat and follow
this way of destruction. (Matt. 7:13-14). The question is Which Way Will We Walk ? There are some traffic directors trying to
direct traffic! Some are called "Watchmen on the walls of Zion". They warn God's
people of the dangers of the Broad way. These Watchmen blow Trumpets with "Certain
Sounds" - and God says "Hearken to the sound of the Trumpet". But those who
go in through the wide gate to walk the broad way, say, "We will not hearken".
(Jere. 6:17). In opposition to the "Watchmen on the Walls of Zion" there are
others who try to direct God's people onto the Broad Way. They are called many things in
the Scriptures. They are referred to as "False Prophets and False Teachers."
They are referred to as "Grievous Wolves" which have entered in among us
"not sparing the flock". In addition to those, there are still others of our own
selves, which arise, "speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after
them". Following in this Issue of The Cords of
Truth are two such examples of "Perverse Things" being spoken by some who would
"draw away" God's people from the Old Paths - from the Narrow Way. First is an article by Elder Harold
Stumbaugh of Russellville, Arkansas. This article was used as "teaching
material" in the 1996 Cincinnati Preacher's Training Seminar. The article advocates a
"departure" from the old paths that Primitive Baptists have been walking since
the time of Christ. I wrote to several Elders who attended an Association meeting with
Elder Stumbaugh and asked them if they knew about and supported this article. To date I
have received NO answer. The Second "Perverse Thing" is the
Advertisement for a Primitive Baptist Youth Camp called "Solid Rock
Christianity" sponsored by the Shoal Creek Primitive Baptist Church of Newborn, GA,
pastored by Elder Jimmy Fulmer. The speakers at the Youth Camp were to be Thomas Mann,
Marty Smith, Zack Guess, Gus Harter and Jimmy Fulmer. This line up of liberals should
speak LOUD and CLEAR to God's people about the new innovations being brought in among us. It is a privilege to get Elder Vernon
Johnson to write some comments about these two perverse things. After you have read these
articles, consider what Paul wrote to Timothy "And the things that thou hast heard of
me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach
others also". In this sense we should be a Rubber Stamp Primitive Baptists. It will
be our prayer that all who read this issue of The Cords will say, "As for me and my
house we will serve the Lord". (BA) |
1992 The First PB Preacher's Meeting |
Following is the reproduced TEXT from an
advertisement for the "Solid Rock Christianity" Youth Camp. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Shoal Creek Primitive Baptist Church would like to
invite you to attend their 'Fall retreat'' on November 12, 3 and 14. The retreat will be
held in Covington, GA. on the beautiful campgrounds of the Georgia FFA-FHA Center. [Following are parts of the Registration Form and List of the Recreational Activities for this PB Youth Camp] The price included covers the cost your cabin, all food, all recreations including horseback riding, etc. A canteen /store is available for the purpose of selling snacks and drinks, for your convenience. Prices: Weekend : Thursday night through Saturday afternoon Bring: Linens, bedding for single size bunk beds, towels, washcloths, Bible, notebook, etc. Not to bring: CD and tape players, radios, or inappropriate literature. Please wear clothing modestly loose, modestly high neck lines, and clothing at least to the knee. Dress will be casual except on Friday night nice casual shirts, dresses, skirts, etc. There will be morning sessions, recreation and sharing time, supper, a night session and on Thursday night a bonfire. Recreational activities include: Team Sports
Individual Activities These registration forms must be returned to the Fulmers by October 26. Please endorse checks to Shoal Creek Primitive Baptist church. The FFA - FHA Camp has graciously given us a large discounted price. Therefore, we will be a self maintanance (self cleaning) group, and each person wi1l be expected to do his part to help clean up. |
Observations by Elder Vernon Johnson |
| From time to
time in the Lord's church people in their zeal to try to attract other people to the
church will come up with activities to try and draw a crowd. One such activity is the
conducting of youth camps for the stated purpose of training the young people. To lure the
young people to the camp, usually flesh appealing activities such as horseback riding,
sporting activities, and other forms of entertainment are also advertised. Supporters of such activities will argue,
"Well what is wrong with training young people? Are you opposed to training the
young? " Well, of course, we are not opposed to training the young. But there is a
biblical pattern for training and for worship. Shall we do it God's way or will we do it
man's way? God's way for training is for fathers to
"bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" and for
mothers "to guide the household." When it comes to worship, the church is to
worship as a body, not divided up into classes. It is the pastor's responsibility "to
take heed to the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made him overseer." Just as a
shepherd does not segregate his flock into small groups or classes when feeding them, so
the pastor doesn't segregate his flock into classes. This is the biblical pattern. A youth camp is a mini-Sunday school with
fleshly appeal. We are not to shift the responsibility of training our children into the
hands of others. We, as parents, are best suited to bring up our children in the nurture
and admonition of the Lord. Youth camps mix fleshly activities with
spiritual activities. Now if it is wrong to do this in the church, then it is wrong to
have youth camps that do this. If you say it is okay to mix flesh-appealing activities
with spiritual activities, then you could not possibly be against choirs, special singing
groups in the church, church sponsored sporting teams, church gymnasiums, political
speakers, specially invited speakers such as actors and sports stars, etc. If these things
are wrong, then youth camps are wrong. Finally, I missed the scriptural precept or
example of youth camps taught in the bible. Which apostle or elder does the bible tell us
headed up or organized the first youth camp? Did God make a mistake when he said in II
Tim. 3:16 that the "scriptures are a thorough furnisher unto all good works?"
After all youth camps are missing from the scriptures! Written in love, Vernon
Johnson |