SEPARATE PEOPLE, A,
Elder Earl Daily,
The Church of Jesus Christ is in the world, but is not of the world, and is commanded to keep separate from the world. When a church brings the world and worldly practices into its borders, then it becomes a part of the world and will lose its identity as a church of Jesus Christ.
“Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth. In mine ears said the Lord of hosts, Of a truth, many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without habitation” (Isa. 5:8-9).
We are commanded to “come out from among them and be ye separate.” The church of Jesus Christ has ever been separate from the world and have not joined with other religious organizations. This has distinguished the Primitive Baptists apart from other religious orders, and we are recognized as a peculiar people. Because of this aloofness they have been characterized as selfish.
The Church of Jesus Christ has not always borne the name of Primitive Baptists, but their identity is established upon the doctrine and practice that corresponds with the Apostolic churches in all ages. This distinguishes them as a separate people, and in this they stand alone in this world.
Many churches that were once flourishing have long since ceased to exist and have become desolate and uninhabited because they have tried to become popular in the world, and have joined house to house and field to field. “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other; ye cannot serve God and Mammon,” (Matt. 5:24).[from Primitive Monitor, January 1959. Elder Daily was the editor of the Monitor at that time. This is a most profound article that I wish our people would strictly heed. It is alarming how many who bear the name Primitive Baptist seem determined to see how much they can take in of the Missionary and Progressive churches’ practices. May God save them from that suicidal tendency! –Eld. Mark Green, The Christian Pathway, Aug. Sept. 2017]