Press Release
Contact: Pastor James Brown Jr. 912-978-0279 or baptistvision@baptistvisiononline.org
On O
ctober 25th, 2009, a group of baptized believers covenanted into a church state to be known as Covenant Baptist Church. Just outside of Barnesville, Georgia, two families covenanted together to “glorify the God of the Scriptures”.
Ordained Baptist minister, Rev. James Brown Jr., has organized this new congregation based upon the historical pattern of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. Covenant Baptist Church is part of a reform movement seeking to return the church to the historic faith and practice.
This modern reform movement is built upon what church history calls The Great Reformation. Although the Reformation started out seeking to call the established church back to the authority of Scripture, eventually its apostacy led the Reformers to separate themselves.
The Great Reformation was shaped from the desire to return the church to its apostolic form. From this came the 5 Sola’s, sola is Latin meaning “alone”, which returned Christian doctrine back to its original foundation.
The 5 Sola’s are:
1. Sola Scriptura (“by Scripture alone”)
2. Sola Fide (“by faith alone”)
3. Sola Gratia (“by grace alone”)
4. Solus Christus or Solo Christo (“Christ alone” or “through Christ alone”)
5. Soli Deo Gloria (“glory to God alone”)
However, within Baptists, this reformation time period is not to be confused with the liberal Anabaptist movement during this same time. The Reformed Baptists of the 1600’s were not of the same lineage or sort of the Anabaptists. This is clearly established in the 1689 London Baptist Confession, where entitled To the Judicial and Impartial Reader, it states their affirmation of orthodox Protestant doctrine and relationship with the orthodox Protestant Christian religion.
It affirms that the 1689 London Confesson of Faith is modeled after the Presbyterian 1646 Westminster Confession of Faith. It details that the main difference in the confession and the two bodies of Christians is that of baptism. However, in nearly all other points the Baptists had “no itch to clog religion with new words, but do readily acquiesce in that form of sound words which hath been, in consent with the Holy Scriptures, used by others before us; hereby declaring, before God, angels, and men, our hearty agreement with them in that wholesome Protestant doctrine which, with so clear evidence of Scriptures, they have asserted.”
In 1644, the First London Baptist Confession of Faith stated that they were, “commonly, but unjustly, called Anabaptists.” Therefore, the first confession was “published for the vindication of the truth and information of the ignorant; likewise for the taking off those aspersions which are frequently, both in pulpit and print, unjustly cast upon them.”
One of the purposes of the 1689 confession was published to deny Arminianism. Taking both confessions together these London Baptists were concerned about making sure they were not falsely identified as Anabaptists or as Arminians. They were seeking to identify themselves in the conservative Reformed element of Protestantism. They publically confessed their identity as Reformed, as Calvinists, and as Baptists.
Though most shy away from the Calvinist title today because of the erroneous negative stereotypes, Covenant Baptist Church chooses to stand upon the truth of Scripture and history in the same manner of our ancestors.
“We will not cower to political correctness,” stated Pastor Brown. “Jesus said it was the truth that would set us free and the Church is the ‘pillar and ground of the truth’ to proclaim liberty throughout the land. If we, because of fear of the truth, do not speak it, how shall we ever be free?”
“The enemies of God can slander it any way they wish but the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.’ The faith is not of ourselves but a gift from God because of His grace lest we boast in our own works, ability and, merit.”
Covenant Baptist Church sees the same issue, Justification by Faith Alone, at the heart of the debate today.
“Although the means have changed the principles are the same,” according to Pastor Brown. The apostate church had its relics that replaced Christ such as the Crucifix, statues, the rosery, and many other things that went from being symbols to being the object of their faith. Today, the modern church has done the same thing with the sinner’s prayer, baptism, church membership, the alter call, making decisions, and other means depending on the denomination. However, none of these things are of any importance in justification. It is faith in Christ alone for justification.”
Covenant Baptist Church is also distinguished by its importance upon the authority of the Word of God. It teaches that the Bible is the absolute standard for the home, the church, and civil government as Christ is the Lord of both heaven and earth. CBC also puts a high emphasis upon the family and believes in family-integrated worship services as the oldest to the youngest worship together and hear the Word of God. The church also opposes democracy and totalitarian forms of church and civil government. CBC believes all forms of government should be under Christ, ruled by His Word as constitutional, representative, and covenantal forms of government.
Covenant Baptist Church preaches the gospel of hope and victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. If you would like more information, contact Pastor James Brown Jr. at baptistvision@baptistvisiononline.org
