Sister Tanda Linde, WebServant wrote:
In reply to Bro. A.D.Smith of Caldwell, ID:
Dear Sir,
Thank you for taking the time to reply to our guest book. As the WebServant of www.flmbc.org, I would like to apologize for the delay in replying to your comments. Your entry raised four unique points that I would like to address.
You comment that there are people attending the church in Caldwell, ID during the hunting season. I do not disagree that some of the brethren attend worship services at the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Richard Campbell Pastor, while vacationing. The bible teaches us in Hebrews 10:25 we are “not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;” but to come together to “exhort one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” When traveling, we see the example Paul set forth in the book of Acts. During his second and third missionary journeys, he sought out churches to fellowship with while traveling, even though he remained a member at the Antioch church.
Your entry implies that there has been no investigation on the part of these brethren as to the lineage of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Caldwell, ID. This is not true. There has been an investigation into the lineage and doctrinal positions of the work in Caldwell. There are quite a few of the local, visible, independent churches in the Oregon and Washington areas that can trace a lineage through the Lord's work at Caldwell. The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church has a lineage that, so far as one can trace, has been documented through physical historic local church records and is found to be sound.
Your entry also implies that the work in Caldwell may not be doctrinally sound. The First Landmark Missionary Baptist Church of Springfield, OR has recently sent a letter and questionnaire to Brother Campbell and the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church investigating the stand on doctrinal issues and bible teachings. Upon examination of the responses, we found no reason, that we know of, to not be in fellowship with them and to send missionary support for the work there.
This leads to the last point. The comment “The work in the Northwest has dwindled down to just a handful and has done so due to Bible doctrines.” I am not sure what you meant by saying this. Are you implying that there are Bible doctrines that are causing churches in the Pacific Northwest to fall away? If so, which specific ones are you referring to? Or are you saying that because of our stand to keep these doctrines pure has caused a dwindling? In either case, the dwindling of churches was warned of in 2nd Thessalonians Chapter 2, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped.”
I hope this helps to clarify your understanding and answer any questions that have arisen from your guest book entry. If you would like to receive a copy of the research into the lineage of the Springfield First Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, which includes Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Caldwell, ID, please feel free to contact Brother Crabtree at the below address.
Sincerely in Christ,
Sister Tanda Linde,
www.flmbc.org, WebServant
Brother Roger Crabtree, Pastor,
First Landmark Missionary Baptist Church,
421 S. 40th St.,
Springfield, OR 97478
(541) 747-3549