Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; Isaiah 51 v1

Spurgeon and the Baptist Union

the Downgrade Controversy and Censure by the Baptist Union

Although Spurgeon was a prominent Baptist and known as the Prince of Preachers, his later years were marked by a dispute with the Baptist Union as he fought the advance of dilutions of the Gospel by progressive teachers.

Read the whole story of Spurgeon as told by Peter Morden. cwr.org.uk - - ISBN 978-1-85345-497-4

 

The text of Spurgeon’s writings on the matter, as well as a large body of his sermons, can easily be located on the Internet by using Google.

Several key-words or phrases will find documents relevant to this matter.

Spurgeon, downgrade controversy, anythingarianism, progressive theology, Pan-indifferentism, Robert Shindler, sword and trowel

The progressives appear to have been advancing teaching that Spurgeon identified with the Galatian Heresy and leaning towards salvation by works; denying justification by faith and salvation by free grace

Here, one sees a "Moderate" declaring his advance to "another gospel" in the boldest terms; and there, another, highly esteemed for his supposed love of the truth, stubbing it after the subtle manner of its most malicious foes. While some of the most perverted cunningly endeavor to appear orthodox, others of a braver nature come out in their true colors, and astonish us with the glaring hue of their heresy.

The idea of a progressive gospel seems to have fascinated many. To us that notion is a sort of cross-breed between nonsense and blasphemy. After the gospel has been found effectual in the eternal salvation of untold multitudes, it seems rather late in the day to alter it; and, since it is the revelation of the all-wise and unchanging God, it appears somewhat audacious to attempt its improvement.

Downgrade Controversy - by C. H. Spurgeon From the April 1888 Sword and Trowel Progressive Theology

He described his position as follows -

It is thought to be mere bigotry to protest against the mad spirit which is now loose among us. Pan-indifferentism is rising like the tide; who can hinder it? We are all to be as one, even though we agree in next to nothing. It is a breach of brotherly love to denounce error. Hail, holy charity! Black is white; and white is black. The false is true; the true is false; the true and the false are one. Let us join hands, and never again mention those barbarous, old-fashioned doctrines about which we are sure to differ. Let the good and sound men for liberty's sake shield their "advanced brethren"; or, at least, gently blame them in a tone which means approval. After all, there is no difference, except in the point of view from which we look at things: it is all in the eye, or, as the vulgar say, "it is all my eye"! In order to maintain an open union, let us fight as for dear life against any form of sound words, since it might restrain our liberty to deny the doctrines of the Word of God!

The prince of the power of the air is loosed in an extraordinary manner for a season, misleading even the godly, and triumphing greatly in those whose willing minds yield full assent to his deceitful teachings. On this account our fears are great for the Baptist churches, which have in former ages been the strongholds of the gospel of the grace of God.

We have tried to deal with the spirit of error in its abstract form; but we have also recommended, as a practical action on the behalf of the Baptist Denomination (which we believe to be upon the whole sound in the faith), that it should accept an Evangelical basis. Its churches and Associations in most cases have such a basis; why not the Union which is made up of them?

In March 1887, Charles Spurgeon published the first of two articles entitled "The Down Grade" in his monthly magazine, The Sword and the Trowel. The articles were published anonymously, but the author was Robert Shindler, Spurgeon's close friend and fellow Baptist pastor. Shindler wrote the articles with input from Spurgeon, who footnoted the first article with a personal endorsement: "Earnest attention is requested for this paper. . . . We are going down hill at breakneck speed."

Tracing the state of evangelicalism from the Puritan age to his own era, Shindler noted that every revival of true evangelical faith had been followed within a generation or two by a drift away from sound doctrine, ultimately leading to wholesale apostasy. He likened this drifting from truth to a downhill slope, and thus labeled it "the down-grade."

Spurgeon campaigned for the Baptist Union to address the problem by adopting a statement of evangelical faith to which Baptist churches should conform. This was resisted to the point where Spurgeon withdrew from the Union and the Union censured him for his conduct in damaging unity.

Spurgeon, who for decades had been almost universally revered by evangelicals, was suddenly besieged with critics from within the camp. What he was proposing was diametrically opposed to the consensus of evangelical thought. All the trends were toward unification, harmony, amalgamation, and brotherhood. Suddenly here was a lone voice — but the most influential voice of all — urging true believers to become separatists. The church was neither prepared nor willing to receive such counsel — not even from the Prince of Preachers.

Spurgeon apparently hoped the evangelical leaders of the Baptist Union would see his side and opt for reform. The Union had never required adherence to a doctrinal statement of any kind. From the beginning, it had more or less been the assumption that members of the Union were all evangelical. The only point of doctrine required for membership, therefore, dealt with the mode of baptism. Spurgeon believed that was an insufficient guard against the erosion of truth, so he appealed to the Baptist Union to affirm a new structure that would ensure doctrinal integrity among its members.

The Baptist Union Censure

In January 1888, the full Baptist Union Council met again.

They voted to accept Spurgeon's withdrawal. Then they voted to censure him.

The Council recognises the gravity of the charges which Mr. Spurgeon has brought against the Union previous to, and since, his withdrawal. It considers that the public and general manner in which they have been made reflects on the whole body, and exposes to suspicion brethren who love the truth as dearly as he does. And as Mr. Spurgeon declines to give the names of those to whom he intended them to apply, and the evidence supporting them, those charges in the judgment of the council, ought not to have been made.

One writer at the time, Richard Glover, accurately assessed the issues in the Evangelical Nonconformist: “The policy which they adopted was to attempt to put the responsibility for disturbing the peace of the Union back on Spurgeon.”

Spurgeon said, (February 1888 Sword and Trowel )

THE censure passed upon me by the Council of the Baptist Union will be weighed by the faithful, and estimated at its true value. "Afterwards they have no more that they can do." I brought no charges before the members of the Council, because they could only judge by their constitution, and that document lays down no doctrinal basis except the belief that "the immersion of believers is the only Christian baptism." Even the mention of evangelical sentiments has been cut out from their printed program. No one can be heterodox under this constitution, unless he should forswear his baptism.

Spurgeon hated schism. He did not want to be divisive. But his conscience would not permit him to align with the enemies of the gospel. In the end he concluded that separating from the Union was actually the best way to promote true unitySpurgeon saw separation as a biblical necessity for himself. "Whether others do so or not, I have felt the power of the text, 'Come out from among them, and 'be ye separate,' and have quitted both Union and Association once for all."

The Lord graciously purge His Church of all false doctrine, all false teachers, and all who are traitors in the camp of Israel! And may the Spirit from on high be poured out upon all flesh, that all the ends of the earth may see, and own, and rejoice in, the salvation of our God!

 

So, fast forward to the present day.

Where does the Baptist Union stand now?

Check out the official web site -

http://www.baptist.org.uk/baptist_life/what_is_a_baptist.html

WHAT IS A BAPTIST

Baptists do not have one distinctive Baptist belief. It is a combination of various beliefs, which make Baptists distinctive.

What makes a Baptist?

The Lordship of Christ

The authority of the Bible

Baptism for Believers

A Believers Church

The priesthood of all believers

Church members and church meetings

Interdependence

Sharing the faith

Religious Freedom

Religious freedom for all has always been a keystone of Baptist understanding.
Acceptance of differences of outlook and diversity of practice is encouraged within Baptist churches, as well as in our wider world.

What are the Implications of all the above for Baptists at odds with Anti-Israel thoughts emanating from the Baptist Union?

The Baptist Union does not impose any doctrine (apart from Baptism) on its churches, therefore anti-Israel thought and theology cannot be imposed. (or rather - Should not be imposed)

Baptist churches committed to a Biblical view of Israel may receive no encouragement from the BUGB, but they can not legitimately be censured and should consider themselves free to pursue and advocate the truth.

Terms used in the controversy

Anythingarianism the holding of no particular belief, creed, or political position. When the word was coined in 1704, it was meant as a term of contempt, something like the word "Unitarian" in the early 19th century

Calvinism - emphasizes God's sovereignty in salvation.

“ Those who turned from Calvinism may not have dreamed of denying the proper deity of the Son of God, renouncing faith in his atoning death and justifying righteousness, and denouncing the doctrine of human depravity, the need of Divine renewal, and the necessity for the Holy Spirit's gracious work, in order that men might become new creatures; but, dreaming or not dreaming, this result became a reality.”

Arminianism - makes human will the decisive factor.

Arianism - denies the full deity of Christ.

Socinianism   A version of Arianism, denies the divine nature of Jesus Christ – says that Jesus was an extraordinary man.  Held by Unitarians and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Pan-Indifferentism – “ We are all to be as one, even though we agree in next to nothing. It is a breach of brotherly love to denounce error.” (Spurgeon - April 1888 Sword and Trowel .)

 

Created 23/01.09

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