Baptism Trumps the Gospel

Two posts from earlier in the week on the IX Marks blog  got me thinking:

Thabiti asks the question (presumably to pastors), would you ever recommend people moving out of your church and out of town to join a church of another denomination?

Mike McKinley's response begins with 'it depends' - and then ends here:

Assuming that there isn't a healthy Baptist congregation in town, if the person is spiritually weak or even just not strong enough to resist the influences of a less healthy church then I want them to find a Word-centered church that is clear on the gospel. If that church is Presbyterian or Methodist or Bible Church... it's not my preference, but so be it.

But if the person is mature in the faith and able to withstand the downward pull of an unhealthy church, then I might encourage them to find the Baptist church in town and work to make it healthy.

OK, here's my initial thoughts (and I'm on vacation, so my brain's running on auxillary power):

What?!

Why would you rather place someone in an unhealthy church (and I'm assuming that's a church that isn't Word-centered and/or clear on the gospel) than in a healthy church that happens to not be baptistic?

Seriously, this just seems backwards and upside down. I think where we fall out on issues like baptism and polity is important, but given that those are secondary issue, why would we emphasize those things rather than the gospel?

Comments

[Paul B.]

I think McKinley's response depends on optimism with regard to the possibility of the Baptist church being reformed through the efforts of one or several mature believers. If you take a more pessimistic view toward reformation in churches, then your response makes sense.

[James Grant]

Even though his position depends upon that optimism, I find it difficult to give advice like that without some kind of leadership structure in place at that church to move towards Reform. In fact, I think it would actually be somewhat divisive and subversive if there is a pastor who is already there and doesn't agree with the direction of Reform.

[Arthur Sido]

I think the assumption here is that given the presence of credo and paedo churches in an area, the preference between two churches who preach the Gospel would be to go to the one that has the correct view of baptism and church membership, i.e. the Baptist church. Baptism and polity are secondary issues, but they ARE issues. I have been in a number of great services at Presbyterian churches, but since their mode of church membership is invalid, I wouldn't consider membership at them.

Unfortunately the town with a plethora of Bible preaching, Reformed churches to choose from is pretty rare.

[vic]

i really wish i could say what i want to but i'm afraid that you would delete it due to the long string of profanity...seriously this is everything that is wrong with "baptists" and i am one

[Keith Watson]

Easy, easy... I have known a presby or 2 who would say the same the thing with preference to the presby church. Likewise, I have heard Methodists who would consider no other denom. Not saying it is right in any denom - we are fractured and splintered, all of us!

[Adam Clark]

I agree that this sort of advise doesn't make sense, given that issues of the gospel are some of the only valid reasons for leaving a church for another one, in my opinion. I guess it depends on what McKinley means by "unhealthy."

Tradition is important. But it must certainly always be secondary to the gospel...

[Stephen Dancer]

Matt,
I had the same response - What?!

[Frank McKinley]

I would agree with McKinley's emphasis on the Gospel. But my question is this: if a church is relentlessly pursuing the Gospel would it not be a strong church?

Regarding the second point, I am generally not in favor of going to an unhealthy church because I know that only Jesus can affect real change in people. When institutions are unhealthy for an extended period of time, there has to be a desire for change within the congregation in order for anything to improve. An outsider who is uninvited will not likely have much sway.