"Holy Spirit Baptism"
It is refreshing to know that some Baptists are gradually learning the truth as the Bible teaches and as Christians have been proclaiming throughout the entire Christian dispensation. Lately, June 10, 1956, Mr. L. D. Foreman, editor of the "Missionary Baptist Searchlight," has upset all previous Baptist teaching declaring, "There is only one baptism in the church today and that is water baptism."
Mr. Foreman's new attitude is justifiable. The late Dr. Ben M. Bogard held the same view, and boldly affirmed that no one today received the "baptism in the Holy Spirit."
How well do I remember attending a Missionary Baptist Revival, following a debate between E. A. Elam, Christian, and Mr. Ogle, Baptist. In the revival they had what was called a "Mourner's Bench." The bench was always near the minister's stand; in closing the sermon the preacher would plead with the sinners (unsaved persons) to come to the "altar." Those who responded were asked to kneel at the seat — "Mourner's Bench." The saved in the audience were asked to come to the altar, and there they knelt and prayed for God to "Get unto thyself a great name in our midst, just now, baptize these sinners in the blessed Holy Spirit." Numbers of prayers were offered, and each one was prominent in the plea for God to baptize the mourners in the Holy Spirit. Yes, occasionally, one would rise to his feet and declare, "I have it, I have it; I have been baptized in the Holy Ghost, glory!" Then numbers of the members shouted praises to God.
The first of such meetings I attended was in Auburn, Tennessee. (The place is now Auburntown. I was in a meeting there last year.) Mr. John T. Oakley was conducting the meeting. One day I was in the village, and saw him in conversation with some other men. I walked near, and stopped. Mr. Oakley saw me, and soon called my name and said: "Come here."I did, and he told the people who I was. (He had been in our home.)
He enquired: "Charlie, what do you wish?" I made answer: "Over home, (in Murfreesboro, Tennessee) I have been to the Baptist Church, but I never saw them use the Mourner's Bench. Why do they not have one there, like you have out here in the country?" He slapped me, gently, on the back, and said: "You little rascal, your mother has been putting you up to asking such a question; you run along, and come back to hear me preach some more, and learn something about heart-felt religion."
It has been years since I have heard a Missionary Baptist pray for the "baptism in the Holy Spirit" or call for mourners to get religion. Members of the church of Christ, and all who know their Bible, have known that since the days of the apostles no one has been baptized in the Holy Spirit.
It would be most interesting to hear Dr. Foreman tell how one gets into Christ. Romans 6:3 says we are baptized into Jesus Christ. Again in Galatians 3:26, 27, Paul says: "For ye are all children of God by faith in Christ. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Now that Baptists declare that no one is baptized in the Holy Spirit, it must follow that their contention henceforth must be, that it is baptism in water that puts one into Christ. The Bible says "salvation" is in Christ. (2 Tim. 2:10.) How will one obtain the salvation if he is not baptized into Christ? Little by little Baptists are surrendering some of the false doctrine they have taught for years. Hasten the day when they will forsake the commandments of men for their doctrine and accept the Word as written in its purity and fullness.