Baptist Big Numbers-ism and Pragmatism in 1877

The pragmatism that has characterized the vast majority of larger Baptist churches since the 1960s was already showing its ugly head in the 19th century. “While it is true that a Baptist church is, in theory, a body of regenerated, baptized believers, it can hardly be doubted that, in our wild scramble for numbers, we of this generation--preachers and people--are becoming less and less disposed to insist upon what our fathers used to call the marks of a genuine ‘grace experience’ on the part of those who offer themselves as candidates for baptism and church membership. If a long church-roll were any evidence of efficiency, or if large numbers were indication of large graces, it would be easy to understand this all-prevailing anxiety for numbers. But when it is perfectly clear to the dullest apprehension among us, that such is not the case, it must be confessed that this wild desire for counting up our hosts is too highly suggestive of David’s sad sin in numbering Israel” (J.C. Hiden, “Looseness of Discipline,” Working Christian, Mar. 22, 1877).

(Friday Church News Notes, September 6, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

---