The Old Baptist: What's In A Name?

Names are illustrative. Ad executives invest millions in order to secure the right product names for their clients. Parents labor joyfully and tirelessly over the selection of an expected child's moniker, usually one with family significance. Names are windows - they reveal; they illuminate. In this inaugural post I wish to begin my merry jaunt through the "blogisphere" by reflecting upon the name of my blog site: The Old Baptist.

Let's begin with the first word in the blog name: The. The definite article lends gravitas. It is a token of weightiness and solemnity. It sets its attendant concept within a specific context. It speaks of membership in a group or class. In a day of democratic self-exaltation and delineation, as well as postmodern ambiguity, my use of the definite article is an act of puposeful opposition to such detachment and individualization. I do not see myself or my comments as arising out of or existing within a ideological vacuum; with the use of The, I am seeking to identify with something definite and substantial.

Next we have the adjective: Old. In a day of "new and improved," the use of this descriptor may strike some as odd at best, suicidal at worst. This blog is launched with the promise of unoriginality. I wish to provide neither a new interpretation of old ideas, nor a new language which is sanitized of any allegedly offending or supposedly confusing theological terminology, traditionally drawn from the rich reserves of historic orthodox Protestantism - all of this being done in service to that which is often hailed as the the most noble of modern aims: "relevance." Relevance at the expense of reverence - to both God and His truth! In 1 Timothy 4:6, in contradistinction to the afore-mentioned trend, the Apostle Paul decribes "the good minister of Christ Jesus" as one who labors to put the brethren in remembrance of apostolic instruction; the Bible applauds faithfulness to orthodox tradition and abhors theological innovation. The Old Baptist pledges to serve Christ's Church by honoring that which has recently been described as "the Old Evangelicalism."

Thirdly, a consideration of the substantive Baptist is in order. One of the most disconcerting developments of recent years is the all-too-common practice by Baptist congregations of veiling their theological commitments from outside observers and inquirers. Thus, Baptist Churches have morphed themselves into Community Fellowships. In the pursuit of the quick but ephemeral thrills of expedience and pragmatism, many are happily down-playing their denominational heritage. This is nothing new. There has always been a certain scandal associated with the name Baptist. Our Particular Baptist forefathers who emerged from the Church of England during the 1630's and 1640's suffered mercilessly at the hands of crown and Parliament. Their uncompromising adherence to the theological tenets of biblical soteriology, also known as the "doctrines of grace" or Calvinism, brought the unrelenting scorn from Anglican and Dissenters of the Arminian stripe. But today's migration away from overt allegiance to the Baptist position has less to do with an outright denial of historic Baptist theological and ecclesiastical distinctives (although that is certainly and lamentably the case among far too many who claim a place within the Baptist family), and more to do with a plague of ignorance of epidemic proportions. Too many Baptist seminarians view the study of Baptist history as irrelevant and unhelpful; they would rather study John Maxwell than John Gill. Therefore, The Old Baptist is unabashedly committed to the preservation and dissemination of that which is truly Baptist in the tradition of Bunyan, Keach, Gill, and Spurgeon.

The Old Baptist: what's in a name? Everything! Eschewing the trendy, the emergent, and the avant-garde, The Old Baptist is decidedly avant-hier, promising to address the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow with the time-proven, biblical principles of faithful Baptists from the honored past (as well as a few from the present). May God grant to us the desire to call for "the old paths, where the good way is" (Jeremiah 6:16).

Grace and peace.