The Independent Fundamental Baptist Blogosphere

I recently stumbled upon the blog of a self-described "fundamental conservative Christian Republican of African-American ancestry." He may or may not be a member of this organization - no confirmation or denial as of yet. I kid.

Kevin the Independent Fundamental Baptist caught my attention with a post entitled "A Coalition of Liberal Baptists" in which he took a few potshots at moderate Baptists, Jimmy Carter and the upcoming Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant.

We've all heard the criticisms - nothing new there.

But Kevin's strong dislike for President Carter did not catch my eye. This statement did:

Oh and BTW, Baptists are NOT Protestant. They existed long before Martin Luther split the Catholic Church. I really get irked when people call Baptists Protestant or lump them together with protestants.

Well, apparently Kevin does get irked - rather easily I might add.

In a follow-up post addressed to yours truly, Kevin shows off that fine fundamentalist learning that he's aquired along the way. He writes...

1. Baptists are Ancient, and our Ancestry can be traced through the vital principles established and set forth by our Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples in the New Testament Churches


2. Baptists are not "Protestants," as our testimony extends much further in History than that of Martin Luther or John Calvin.


3. Baptists are not "Reformed" in Theology or practice, for our view of the church could never allow the marriage of church and state.


4. Baptists are not "Calvinists," for the doctrines of grace were believed and preached long before John Calvin Preached in Geneva.
   


5. Baptists are not "Arminian" in theology, for our forefathers preached the Gospel with fervor long before the time of Jacob Arminius, and believed they were enabled by God to Persevere.


6. Immersion was in common use among Baptists before 1641. We reject the 1641 theory of William Whitsitt and oppose the Conclusion of Henry Veddar About Baptism. We View as Suspect the modern histories of Robert Baker, Leon McBeth, Walter Shurden, Robert G. Torbet, and James Edward McGoldrick as they submit to the thoroughly disproved theory of William Whitsitt.


7. Baptists heritage is far older than "Fundamentalism," or the era of the city-wide revival campaigns, or the time of the old Evangelical Alliance.


8. Because Baptists have suffered at the hands of Papists and Pedobaptistic Protestants alike, we ought to venerate and remember our historic testimony far above the testimony of our persecuting enemies. That is, we ought to revere the testimony of the Paulicians, Peter de Bruys, Henry of Clugny, Balthasar Hubmaier, Henry D'anvers, John Clarke, Obadiah Holmes, Valentine Wightman, Isaac Backus, Shubal Stearns, Samuel Harris, John Leland, John Taylor, Isaac McCoy, et. al. These names should be more commonly known among Baptists than those of D. L. Moody, Ira Sankey, R. A. Torrey, Sam Jones, Gipsy Smith, John Wilbur Chapman or Billy Sunday.


9. Infant Baptism is the badge of the antichrist, and flirtation with that badge is akin to treason against God's word.


10. Ignorance of Baptist heritage, which is so infectious in our pulpits and pews today, is dangerous and must be overcome with a renewed teaching of our Baptist heritage and heroes of past generations.

#6 and #9 were my favorites. Apparently the anti-Christ will be a Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, or a Catholic.

I bet Kevin's money is on Catholic. Just a hunch.

Kevin and I do agree on one point. Many in the pews are ignorant of their Baptist heritage. But unlike Kevin - my Baptist heroes only date back 400 years or so. We definitely need a renewed interest in Baptist history....