Why We Want To Print This Paper

We are not trying to make a name for ourselves. We are not trying to make money. We are not looking for meetings. We are not mad at anyone or seeking to hurt anyone - except the Devil. We don't think we know it all. We are willing to be instructed - if it is done from the Bible and not from doctrinal books and traditions. We simply want to provoke people to think. Few people are thinking on their own about what they believe or teach. For the most part they are just repeating what they have been told by some professor in a Bible college somewhere or some preacher who has a big name. As a result there is much false and dangerous doctrine being taught and preached and many people are being deceived and many souls are being doomed. All a person has to do is look around at the mess that is called Christianity today and he will know that something is drastically wrong. If he is a child of God his heart is grieved about the mess we are in.

We are not attempting to "straighten everybody out", but simply to challenge serious thought and personal study of the Word of God. We are not afraid to ask questions because that is how we learn. We believe the Bible is inerrant and has all the answers to our questions. Many times when we ask questions, we are not stating our position or our convictions in the matter, but simply challenging the reader to seek the answer for himself from the Word of God. We do not claim to have the answers to all the questions we put forth, but God expects us to think and to study. The television has raised whole generation now that cannot think on it's own, but must sit and have their minds controlled and fed by someone else. This mind-set has gotten into the church and now into most pulpits and this is our little attempt to do something about it.

We would appreciate feedback from the readers. We are not trying to pick a fight and we refuse to argue and fuss over the things of God. We believe that any man who is not willing to be instructed and corrected from the Word of God doesn't have the Spirit of Christ in him. We are sending out this paper with much prayer and a burdened heart, hoping that it will encourage preachers and laymen alike in the fact that the Gospel of Christ is still the "POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH." We are simply grounded through and through in this: that when a man is truly saved he isn't left to wallow in his sins as he has always done. We believe that the salvation of God through Christ makes a man a NEW CREATURE and old things are passed away. The Holy Spirit of God indwells the believer and leads him into all truth and will not lead him into error and sin. We believe Jesus came to save his people FROM THEIR SINS and nothing less. We believe we can stand and tell the sinner that there is hope for him and he really can be DELIVERED from his wretched life of sin. We refuse to preach a Gospel that does anything less than that for him. We do not believe that a man can do any good work to earn salvation, but neither do we believe in any kind of salvation that doesn't produce good works. We believe there is more to the Christian life than just missing Hell and going to Heaven when you die.

If you don't agree with us in this, then you won't like our paper and we would appreciate it if you would let us know so we can save the postage. However, if you are tired of seeing the kind of conversions that do not last and that do not get people out of their sin and into God's house, and your heart is really seeking to know God's truth and to see His power, then we invite you to join us in this effort. Let us know if you have been helped by the challenge or some article we put in the paper. If you have some input, we promise you that it will be received in a spirit of Christian love.

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In our first issue we had an article stating our reasons and goals in publishing this paper. We feel that we need to say a few more words to clarify and reassure folks about where we are coming from with our questions and thoughts.

First of all, we want to make clear that we are not trying to sow discord or doubts. Every question we put in this paper is only intended to challenge you to THINK and STUDY the BIBLE and find the basis for every doctrine THERE instead of from some other source. That source may be a Bible College or some man that you highly respect, or it might be a book written by some man. We are not against any of these things, and we are not in any way attacking any certain college or man. If they are doing their job right they should be pointing people in the same direction as we are trying to do in this paper. No college or man should want to make people into puppets that only mimic what they have been told. Such shallow faith can never stand the trials of life and the fiery darts of Satan.

We don't pretend to know all the answers to the all the problems in the church today, but we should start somewhere and the place to start is with ourselves. After all, that is what we tell the sinner he must do if he wishes to be right with God. Also, that is where we will find the problem. The leaders of the church should no more cast the blame for the condition of the church than the sinner should cast the blame for his sin on someone else. When we speak of the church, we are speaking in general terms, not about a certain camp or clique within the Independent Baptists or any other denomination. Pastors want all the authority and the glory due to their position, but they don't want to bear the responsibility when it all goes sour. They do just like the people in the pew and try to cast the blame on someone or something else.

Again, we are not attacking any certain pastors or preachers and we have no certain people in mind, but we are speaking in general terms. We believe many are good men who love God and holiness and are trying to lead their people in that direction. But the influence of some of the accepted teachings of our day are foiling their efforts to achieve that goal. Among the things that are being taught that we feel are completely wrong are:

There are other things being taught and preached that we feel are being distorted from the way God meant for us to understand and apply them. We intend to deal with these issues, but we know how hard it is to admit it and turn around when you have been wrong, therefore we will do our best not to do so in a confrontational way. We, like everyone else, don't like to make enemies or offend people. Our hope is that men will lay these things to heart and consider what we have to say without being offended or feeling that we are attacking them or their friends. Our primary concern is to preach and teach the truth, that the people of God would be helped and edified.

Don't try to assume too much from the questions we ask and don't jump to conclusions. We have not, and are not departing from basic Baptist doctrine as it has been throughout history, but some of our modern-day teachings are what we are calling into question. If they cannot be proven and defended with the Word of God, then they should be thrown out the door. We believe in eternal security of the believer, but we do not believe that everyone who simply makes a profession of faith is saved forever - you must really be saved in the first place, and we believe there is much evidence to prove whether a person is saved or not. We believe that many have been deceived by a distorted teaching of this doctrine. We believe that a person MUST repent in order to be saved and that repentance includes turning from sin and a sinful lifestyle. We are against Easy-believism, not only in their teaching about salvation, but also in their teaching about sanctification. We believe holiness of life is necessary to please God. If you have any questions about what we believe, please write and simply ask us, instead of assuming things and jumping to conclusions and getting upset. We will give you an honest answer and then you can make a decision.