MY REASONS, By George M. Landis (Ex-pastor of First Baptist Church)
My Reasons
by George M. Landis
The Reasons For My Resignation
as Pastor of the First Baptist Church
of New Castle, Pa.
and From the Baptist Ministry
by George M. Landis
The Reasons For My Resignation
as Pastor of the First Baptist Church
of New Castle, Pa.
and From the Baptist Ministry
(Read Lord’s Day morning, July 31, 1932, before the congregation of the
First Baptist Church of New Castle, Pa., the last day of the pastorate
of George M. Landis, after a service of seven and one-half years.)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus:
In accordance with the promise made when my resignation was read a few weeks ago, it is now my purpose to set forth the reasons which have led me to take this action. Justice to the congregation which has supported us so loyally during the past seven and one-half years demands that I give these reasons. Already rumors are afloat to the effect that I am leaving because the church has not supported me as it should have done; because certain individuals in the church have opposed me; because the congregation found it necessary to reduce my salary. Let me say most emphatically, that one of these are my reasons for resigning.
The congregation has most loyally and graciously supported us. It is not to be expected that in a group of a thousand personas, all should see eye to eye with us. Perhaps they show rare spiritual discernment and good judgment by not agreeing with us in everything. However, we are amazed at the almost unanimous approval of our ministry. As regarding the recent reduction in our salary, it was eminently just and proper. Money did not bring us here, and money is not taking us away. Therefore we trust that no one will thing that we are leaving because of anything which this congregation has done or has failed to do; or because we have the slightest grievance against any person, persons or organization in the church. This church has established an enviable record for being kind to its pastors. This record has been maintained and strengthened during the last seven and one-half years. You have abundantly supplied our needs, you have most graciously sustained us during several illnesses, you have extended to us every Christian courtesy, you have been most indulgent with our many faults, and you have been exceedingly generous with your praise for our few successes. We shall ever cherish the memory of your love expressed in countless ways during the past years.
Before proceeding further, we feel constrained to briefly restate the things which we believer and which we have tried to preach in the power of the Holy Spirit.
1. I believer the Holy Scriptures to be the verbally inspired Word of God, inerrant and authoritative, and the only all sufficient rule of faith and practice.
2. I believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are one in substance, equal in power and glory, and each has a distinctive part in the work of salvation.
3. I believe in the absolute Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ; that He is the eternal Son of God equal with the Father. I believe that as to His body, He was conceived by the Holy Ghost and was born of the virgin Mary; that He lived a sinless life; that upon the cross He died for the ungodly; that He was raised from the dead; that He ascended into Heaven where He now intercedes for His own, and from whence He will someday return.
4. I believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person and not merely an impersonal influence. He inspired the Scriptures, He is the Agent of conviction and regeneration; He baptizes, seals, indwells and anoints every believer; and He will fill al believers who yield to His operations.
5. I believer that man was created and not evolved, that he fell through sin, that he is now totally depraved, and that unless he is born again he can neither see nor enter the Kingdom of God.
6. I believe that redemption is wholly by the precious blood of Christ, Who offered Himself without spot to God, Who died upon the cross as a Substitute for all who believe in Him.
7. I believe that salvation is wholly of God’s grace, received alone through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that it is entirely apart from human works, but that it produces good works as its fruits. I believe that it is the blessed privilege of every believer to know that he is saved and that he is eternally secure in Christ Jesus.
8. I believe that it is the duty of every Christian to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ, such witnessing to be in harmony with the New Testament order; that it is the mission of the church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole world.
9. I believe that the hope of the Church is the personal and pre-millennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ; and that peace and blessing will come to this world only through His reign as earth’s righteous King.
10. I believe in the resurrection of the body, in the conscious and eternal bliss of the saved, and in the conscious and eternal punishment of the lost.
11. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ established two ordinances to be observed in His church, baptism and the Lord’s supper. I believe that Scriptural baptism is the immersion of the believer’s body in water, thereby symbolizing the fact of his identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. I believe that only those who have personally repented of their sins and have put faith in the Lord Jesus Christ should be baptized.
Beloved, these things we believed when we came here. These things have we endeavored to preach for seven and one-half years and these things we believe more firmly today than every. Certainly no charge of departure from the faith can be brought against us; and surely these are the things believed among you and which you will insist that your next pastor believe and preach.
Perhaps you have noticed that in this declaration of faith, we have made no reference to Church organization, policy, and government. Of this we now desire to speak.
From the early years of our Christian experience we recognized that there were many things in modern church life which were not found in the New Testament. For a time this gave us but little concern. We regretted the departure from New Testament principles, but supposed that good men throughout the ages had altered certain practices as they believed the circumstances demanded. We felt that it was for us to accept the “status quo” and make the best of the situation.
However, about fourteen years ago as we studied the Word and sought to conform our faith and practice to its precepts and precedents; we discovered that there were a number of doctrines and practices authorized by the communion of which we were then a member and in which we were then ministering, which we could no longer defend much less declare to others. Consequently, we withdrew from that denomination, and looked around to see if there was a body of Christians with whom we could agree, and who seemed to be the most nearly in accord with the Holy Scriptures.
At that time we felt definitely led to the Baptist Church with whose doctrines and practices we were in substantial agreement. We were impressed with the fact that the Bible was declared to be “the only rule of faith and practice.” We reveled in the doctrines of grace which were held by the congregations which we thereafter served. We enjoyed the Christian liberty which the Baptist church afforded us. In its fold we have spent thirteen happy years of service. Therein we have a host of devoted friends whos love we shall ever cherish. It has been our privilege to enjoy the fellowship of a number of consecrated ministers of the Word, men full of faith and of Holy Ghost; men who would die for the “faith once for all delivered unto the saints.”
During the subsequent years, as we have ministered in three Baptist Churches, and as we have continued to study the Scriptures; we have been impressed with the wide difference between the church of today and that of the New Testament. With vastly superior equipment, with superb organization calculated to produce the maximum of efficiency; with the esteem of the non-church members; the church of today is not to be compared in spiritual power, and in personal piety with the church of the New Testament; wich was without the supposed advantages of wealth, equipment, efficient organization, and worldly favor. After all had the church gained by its departure from New Testament simplicity and in its adoption of many devices dictated by human wisdom?
About the tim these questions were perplexing us, we discovered that there were a number of companies of devout Christians who were meeting along New Testament lines and were endeavoring to maintain the “simplicity which is in Christ.” We were impressed with the evangelistic zeal, the missionary fervor, the almost unbelievable knowledge of the Scriptures possessed by the rank and file of these believers. While we would not be so bold as to affirm that the approached the high standards of spiritual power and effectiveness manifested by the New Testament Church, we had to concede that they were far in advance of the standards of the various Denominational churches.
So, being good Baptists, we went to our “only rule of faith and practice,” the Holy Scriptures. Previous experience had demonstrated the wisdom of such a course. Surely we could not be blamed for going to the fountain head of all authority for the church on earth. Can we be blamed for examining every phase of church life and policy in the light of the New Testament, and for weighing all of our ecclesiastical doings in the balances of the sanctuary?
On other principle of interpretation guided us in our investigations. We had long since learned the truth of God’s statement: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). I had found that in respect to salvation, spiritual development, and God’s prophetic program; God’s thoughts and ways were much higher than man’s thoughts and ways, that were it not for the enlightening ministry of the Holy Spirit, none of us could understand them. God’s thoughts do not contradict human reason, they transcend it. We have discovered that when the statements of Holy Writ are accepted on their face value, all is perfectly reasonable. Postulate a personal, all-wise, all-powerful omnipresent Being; a living and loving God; and everything in the Scriptures becomes as logical as a syllogism, and as clear as the sunlight at noonday.
Therefore, as we carefully and prayerfully pursued our search of the New Testament, we were not surprised or shocked to find many facts concerning church truth which were absolutely contrary to the views and practices generally held throughout Christendom, and even in the Baptist denomination. We found that human tradition and human expediency had in many points supplanted, amended or altered the simple teaching of the New Testament relative to the Church. What path should the child of God take in the light of these facts? Should we acquiesce to the practices of man, even of good and devoted men; and make the best of the situation as we found it? Having been instructed in and having instructed others in the Baptist principle of making the New Testament the sole rule of faith and practice, there was but one thing we could do, whatever the personal cost might be, and that one thing was to obey the Word of God. And certainly we have Scripture for so doing. We read, “And this is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment that as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it” (II John 6). To everything we should put the question of our Lord Himself, “Is it of heaven or of men”? (Luke 20:4)
We read again, “Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psa. 119:104).
We have been further convinced of the fact that the Church is not only responsible to do God’s work, but that it is responsible to do it in God’s way and only in the Scriptures do we have His way made plain.
(Pages 1-8. To be continued)
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus:
In accordance with the promise made when my resignation was read a few weeks ago, it is now my purpose to set forth the reasons which have led me to take this action. Justice to the congregation which has supported us so loyally during the past seven and one-half years demands that I give these reasons. Already rumors are afloat to the effect that I am leaving because the church has not supported me as it should have done; because certain individuals in the church have opposed me; because the congregation found it necessary to reduce my salary. Let me say most emphatically, that one of these are my reasons for resigning.
The congregation has most loyally and graciously supported us. It is not to be expected that in a group of a thousand personas, all should see eye to eye with us. Perhaps they show rare spiritual discernment and good judgment by not agreeing with us in everything. However, we are amazed at the almost unanimous approval of our ministry. As regarding the recent reduction in our salary, it was eminently just and proper. Money did not bring us here, and money is not taking us away. Therefore we trust that no one will thing that we are leaving because of anything which this congregation has done or has failed to do; or because we have the slightest grievance against any person, persons or organization in the church. This church has established an enviable record for being kind to its pastors. This record has been maintained and strengthened during the last seven and one-half years. You have abundantly supplied our needs, you have most graciously sustained us during several illnesses, you have extended to us every Christian courtesy, you have been most indulgent with our many faults, and you have been exceedingly generous with your praise for our few successes. We shall ever cherish the memory of your love expressed in countless ways during the past years.
Before proceeding further, we feel constrained to briefly restate the things which we believer and which we have tried to preach in the power of the Holy Spirit.
1. I believer the Holy Scriptures to be the verbally inspired Word of God, inerrant and authoritative, and the only all sufficient rule of faith and practice.
2. I believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are one in substance, equal in power and glory, and each has a distinctive part in the work of salvation.
3. I believe in the absolute Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ; that He is the eternal Son of God equal with the Father. I believe that as to His body, He was conceived by the Holy Ghost and was born of the virgin Mary; that He lived a sinless life; that upon the cross He died for the ungodly; that He was raised from the dead; that He ascended into Heaven where He now intercedes for His own, and from whence He will someday return.
4. I believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person and not merely an impersonal influence. He inspired the Scriptures, He is the Agent of conviction and regeneration; He baptizes, seals, indwells and anoints every believer; and He will fill al believers who yield to His operations.
5. I believer that man was created and not evolved, that he fell through sin, that he is now totally depraved, and that unless he is born again he can neither see nor enter the Kingdom of God.
6. I believe that redemption is wholly by the precious blood of Christ, Who offered Himself without spot to God, Who died upon the cross as a Substitute for all who believe in Him.
7. I believe that salvation is wholly of God’s grace, received alone through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that it is entirely apart from human works, but that it produces good works as its fruits. I believe that it is the blessed privilege of every believer to know that he is saved and that he is eternally secure in Christ Jesus.
8. I believe that it is the duty of every Christian to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ, such witnessing to be in harmony with the New Testament order; that it is the mission of the church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole world.
9. I believe that the hope of the Church is the personal and pre-millennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ; and that peace and blessing will come to this world only through His reign as earth’s righteous King.
10. I believe in the resurrection of the body, in the conscious and eternal bliss of the saved, and in the conscious and eternal punishment of the lost.
11. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ established two ordinances to be observed in His church, baptism and the Lord’s supper. I believe that Scriptural baptism is the immersion of the believer’s body in water, thereby symbolizing the fact of his identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. I believe that only those who have personally repented of their sins and have put faith in the Lord Jesus Christ should be baptized.
Beloved, these things we believed when we came here. These things have we endeavored to preach for seven and one-half years and these things we believe more firmly today than every. Certainly no charge of departure from the faith can be brought against us; and surely these are the things believed among you and which you will insist that your next pastor believe and preach.
Perhaps you have noticed that in this declaration of faith, we have made no reference to Church organization, policy, and government. Of this we now desire to speak.
From the early years of our Christian experience we recognized that there were many things in modern church life which were not found in the New Testament. For a time this gave us but little concern. We regretted the departure from New Testament principles, but supposed that good men throughout the ages had altered certain practices as they believed the circumstances demanded. We felt that it was for us to accept the “status quo” and make the best of the situation.
However, about fourteen years ago as we studied the Word and sought to conform our faith and practice to its precepts and precedents; we discovered that there were a number of doctrines and practices authorized by the communion of which we were then a member and in which we were then ministering, which we could no longer defend much less declare to others. Consequently, we withdrew from that denomination, and looked around to see if there was a body of Christians with whom we could agree, and who seemed to be the most nearly in accord with the Holy Scriptures.
At that time we felt definitely led to the Baptist Church with whose doctrines and practices we were in substantial agreement. We were impressed with the fact that the Bible was declared to be “the only rule of faith and practice.” We reveled in the doctrines of grace which were held by the congregations which we thereafter served. We enjoyed the Christian liberty which the Baptist church afforded us. In its fold we have spent thirteen happy years of service. Therein we have a host of devoted friends whos love we shall ever cherish. It has been our privilege to enjoy the fellowship of a number of consecrated ministers of the Word, men full of faith and of Holy Ghost; men who would die for the “faith once for all delivered unto the saints.”
During the subsequent years, as we have ministered in three Baptist Churches, and as we have continued to study the Scriptures; we have been impressed with the wide difference between the church of today and that of the New Testament. With vastly superior equipment, with superb organization calculated to produce the maximum of efficiency; with the esteem of the non-church members; the church of today is not to be compared in spiritual power, and in personal piety with the church of the New Testament; wich was without the supposed advantages of wealth, equipment, efficient organization, and worldly favor. After all had the church gained by its departure from New Testament simplicity and in its adoption of many devices dictated by human wisdom?
About the tim these questions were perplexing us, we discovered that there were a number of companies of devout Christians who were meeting along New Testament lines and were endeavoring to maintain the “simplicity which is in Christ.” We were impressed with the evangelistic zeal, the missionary fervor, the almost unbelievable knowledge of the Scriptures possessed by the rank and file of these believers. While we would not be so bold as to affirm that the approached the high standards of spiritual power and effectiveness manifested by the New Testament Church, we had to concede that they were far in advance of the standards of the various Denominational churches.
So, being good Baptists, we went to our “only rule of faith and practice,” the Holy Scriptures. Previous experience had demonstrated the wisdom of such a course. Surely we could not be blamed for going to the fountain head of all authority for the church on earth. Can we be blamed for examining every phase of church life and policy in the light of the New Testament, and for weighing all of our ecclesiastical doings in the balances of the sanctuary?
On other principle of interpretation guided us in our investigations. We had long since learned the truth of God’s statement: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). I had found that in respect to salvation, spiritual development, and God’s prophetic program; God’s thoughts and ways were much higher than man’s thoughts and ways, that were it not for the enlightening ministry of the Holy Spirit, none of us could understand them. God’s thoughts do not contradict human reason, they transcend it. We have discovered that when the statements of Holy Writ are accepted on their face value, all is perfectly reasonable. Postulate a personal, all-wise, all-powerful omnipresent Being; a living and loving God; and everything in the Scriptures becomes as logical as a syllogism, and as clear as the sunlight at noonday.
Therefore, as we carefully and prayerfully pursued our search of the New Testament, we were not surprised or shocked to find many facts concerning church truth which were absolutely contrary to the views and practices generally held throughout Christendom, and even in the Baptist denomination. We found that human tradition and human expediency had in many points supplanted, amended or altered the simple teaching of the New Testament relative to the Church. What path should the child of God take in the light of these facts? Should we acquiesce to the practices of man, even of good and devoted men; and make the best of the situation as we found it? Having been instructed in and having instructed others in the Baptist principle of making the New Testament the sole rule of faith and practice, there was but one thing we could do, whatever the personal cost might be, and that one thing was to obey the Word of God. And certainly we have Scripture for so doing. We read, “And this is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment that as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it” (II John 6). To everything we should put the question of our Lord Himself, “Is it of heaven or of men”? (Luke 20:4)
We read again, “Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psa. 119:104).
We have been further convinced of the fact that the Church is not only responsible to do God’s work, but that it is responsible to do it in God’s way and only in the Scriptures do we have His way made plain.
(Pages 1-8. To be continued)
