January 13, 2004 (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -

[The following is by Ron Comfort, President of Ambassador Baptist College, P.O. Box 158, Lattimore, NC 28089. The chief purpose of this school is to train preachers, and the school has a good stand on the inspiration, preservation, and authority of Greek Received Text and the King James Bible in English. We have followed Dr. Comfort's ministry since our conversion in 1973 and have been impressed with his wisdom, his godly family life, and the solid Bible content of his preaching. We praise the Lord for Dr. Comfort's stand in this article which first appeared in the Winter Quarter 1991 issue of The Ambassador. I fear that the stand for Bible separation, which historically has been one of the earmarks of the fundamental Baptist movement, is in grave danger these days of being destroyed. Those who do not see a significant difference between conservative Southern Baptists and fundamental Baptists do not understand even the basics of Bible separation and should not be in the ministry.]

THE MIXED MULTITUDE
By Ron Comfort

Exodus 12:38 tells us that when the children of Israel left Egypt, "a mixed multitude went up with them." Hundreds of years later you read in Nehemiah 13:3, "...they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude." In recent days I have repeatedly been asked, "Why are some fundamental preachers trying to link independent Baptists with conservative Southern Baptists? All we need to do is examine history.

Whereas I appreciate the fact that Charles Stanley, Adrian Rogers, Jerry Vines, Bailey Smith, and many others believe the Bible as much as I do, what price have they paid? Their message is a totally positive message. The problem lies not in what they say, but in what they do not say. You do not hear them preach on ecclesiastical or personal separation. Many times the music employed in their services is not Christ-honoring music.

I believe that it is wrong for young preachers to hold up a Dr. Criswell as an example for fundamental Baptists to follow. Whereas we need to emulate the depth of his message, we certainly do not need to emulate his leading his church to give $1,000,000 yearly to the cooperative program, which supports colleges that deny the Bible.

All through history men have paid a tremendous price to take their stand against a denomination. Charles Hadden Spurgeon had to separate from the Baptist Union. Frank Norris paid a dear price to fight the liberalism of Baylor University, while some of his fellow conservatives, such as George Truett, castigated him because of his stand against the cooperative program.

Robert Ketcham paid a great price to come out of the American Baptist Convention. Ed Nelson and Myron Cedarholm fought a tremendous battle in the division of the Conservative Baptist Association. Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. suffered untold persecution for coming out of the Methodist denomination. Are we going to set forth, as an example to our young preachers, men who have stayed in a denomination to reap enormous financial gain because they would not do what the Bible commands: "Come out!"

There is no Bible foundation for a denomination. As a matter of fact, Jesus preached against the denominational mentality. Whereas the conservatives in the Southern Baptist Convention may have won a battle, they will eventually lose the war. No denomination ever has been able to keep itself pure.

We are endeavoring to train our young people at Ambassador Baptist College to think! It is astounding to me that many men who have been recognized as leaders in fundamentalism do not do some basic thinking. For instance, we have propelled young preachers into the limelight and made them especially vulnerable to the attacks of Satan. All of us want to take shortcuts, but God warned the people of Israel not to take the short route to Canaan lest they should see war and repent. Case in point: An eighteen-year-old evangelist quit college and started preaching in independent Baptist churches across America. He succeeded in getting many recognized pastors to promote him. I recently read where he is on the cover of Charisma magazine and spends much time in charismatic churches.

I know of two other young men who were given honorary degrees at age twenty-three. Both are now divorced from their wives and out of the ministry. Obviously, God knows human nature to the extent that He has warned us about promoting youth. He says, "Lay hands suddenly on no man." "...not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." Did not Rehoboam make a tragic mistake when he took the advice of the young men rather than the old?

After thirty years in evangelism, I still feel like a novice. However, I have realized that with each passing year God gives me scope of responsibility greater than the previous year. I am concerned that a young evangelist, having been in evangelism for twelve years, now assumes the position of being a spokesman for fundamentalism. I am bothered that he is trying to equate independent Baptists with conservative Southern Baptists. Being in evangelism for twelve years does not qualify one to be an authority on fundamentalism or evangelism. I am constantly amazed at men like Monroe Parker, Paul Levin, and Fred Brown, who have been in evangelism for over fifty years. They have earned the right to speak authoritatively.

My greatest desire at Ambassador Baptist College is to raise a generation of young people who love their Bible, who are Spirit-filled, and who exercise their right as believer-priests to think and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit.