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Sectarian Inconsistencies

by W. Curtis Porter

I have often called attention to the fact that sectarian preachers cannot preach or write without involving themselves in endless inconsistencies. They not only contradict the Bible but they constantly contradict themselves. What they preach or write on one phase of their theology is in direct conflict with their teaching on some other point. This is apparent to any one who will carefully note their declarations. Further evidence of these inconsistencies is presented herewith. Note carefully the following from a Baptist preacher:

"The Bible teaches that repentance and faith are sacred duties (in other words, repentance is something we DO, and faith is something we have), and the Bible teaches that these two graces are inseparable."

"Repentance, in the sense that God demands repentance, is a three-fold work that we ourselves do."—James MacKrell in Orthodox Baptist Searchlight.

These statements relative to repentance are easily understood. Even this Baptist preacher understands that repentance "is something we do," and he emphasized the word "do" by spelling it in capital letters. Furthermore he says that the kind of repentance that God demands "is three-fold work that we ourselves do." Repentance, then, according to this sectarian preacher, is not something that God does for us, but it is some thing we do ourselves. And being something "we ourselves do," it is declared by this preacher to be a "three-fold work." What? Repentance a work? This is exactly what this Baptist preacher says about it. He says it is a work that we do, not a work that God does for us. So a Baptist preacher goes on record to the effect that repentance is a work that men do.

But of what value is repentance? Is it necessary to the salvation of the sinner? Can the sinner be saved without repentance? Mr. MacKrell declares in the quotations already given that repentance and faith "are sacred duties." That looks a little like they might be important. Would it be possible for a sinner to be saved and leave off his "sacred duties?" Then, too, he tells us that repentance is something that God "demands." If God demands it, is it something that must be obeyed by the sinner, unless he can be saved without doing what God demands him to do. Later in this same article Mr. MacKrell refers to the steps which he endeavored to enumerate in repentance and faith and said: "Any man or woman, boy or girl, who experiences these six steps or conditions passes from a lost state to a saved state. And this is exactly what the Bible means by repentance and faith." This shows the place that repentance occupies in the plan of salvation, according to this Baptist preacher. A sinner cannot pass "from a lost state to a saved state" unless he repents of his sins. When we put all of this together, what do we have? Simply this: "Any man or woman, boy or girl" who would pass "from a lost state to a saved state" must do something that is called repentance. So in passing from a state of condemnation to a state of salvation we must perform some "sacred duties." Salvation, therefore, comes as a result of "a threefold work which we ourselves do." But note how consistent this is with the following statements from the same man in another issue of the Orthodox Baptist Searchlight:

"We are not saved by something we do to enable God to save us."

"His salvation is free to everyone, not because we do anything, but this is a blessing of Christ to us and is obtainable by us through the gospel of Christ."

It is utterly impossible to make these statements harmonize those already given.

Bible Banner – Aug 1942 

Other Articles
Why I Left the Baptist Church
The Faith Once Delivered to the Saints
Why the Good News is Treated Like Bad News