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THE BAPTIST NAME ABANDONED
By:
Dr. Art Wilson
Five Times Past President of Baptist Bible
Fellowship International
www.ourchurch.com
SOME CHURCHES ABANDON BAPTIST NAME
SOME OTHERS SHOULD
What a romance! He met her when she was a pretty, vivacious 19-year old. The beam in
her eyes, the upstanding moral decency and her effervescent personality literally stole his attention away from all
other girls.
Before her 21st birthday, he had persuaded her that nothing or anyone else on earth
could make his life as happy and as fulfilling as could she. Embracing her at the wedding he whispered, "I love you
truly, truly dear." Then speaking out before God and witnesses he said, "I will cleave only unto thee as long as we
both shall live." What a romance!
They each had considered God's way was to "be fruitful" and expressed their desires
mutually to raise a family. Not only was she to him all that a man would desire in a mate-- a good cook and
housekeeper-- but an abiding best friend and a lover.
In unison both their desires were met and they were drawn even closer together by the
children born to their happy and enjoyable union. After one year a baby boy brought ecstasy into their home. They
drew even closer in all ways. After 18 years of super joy and satisfaction, he became somewhat cold toward her. It
was hard for her to understand what was changing him.
He had met a man at his job who also had a large family but had begun to grimace
under the financial and social responsibilities. That man caused him to think likewise. So, without notifying
either wife, they left and outright abandoned their own "darling" wife and "precious children" and moved without
even a goodbye note, to another state.
Not only did "darling wife" and "mother" of his seven children get abandoned but it
was learned years later that he even spelled his name differently. I know this story quite well. His "darling" was
my mother and that man led astray was my father. They never saw each other again.
As it was way back then, so it is and far worse today. Some men can't take it when
the burden of a family becomes their's. They are easily led astray and can drop their family and go under another
name because "true husband," "faithful father," and "dependable provider," are too antiquated for them. Neither do
they reflect the more progressive spirit of today's society.
Now think of the thrilling and moving SPIRITUAL romances some of our fine men in the
ministry have had in their past. Courted by the Holy Spirit in a Baptist church, saved by Christ the Saviour in a
Baptist Church, baptized in the name of the Father and the name of the Son and in the name of the Holy Ghost in a
Baptist church; taught and trained in a Baptist Church and/or Baptist school; called of God to preach because of a
Baptist church or Baptist youth camp; and for most of them-- found their wife in a Baptist church or school; then
were ordained to the Baptist ministry (to the upholding of the historical and Biblical Baptist distinctives); and
then ultimately became pastor of a Baptist church, persuading that body of Baptists that they believed what the
Baptists have always believed.
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