Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: January 2, 2005
A Reply (?) From The Germantown Baptist Church
B.J. Clarke
[NOTE: In last week’s bulletin, there appeared “An Open Letter To The Germantown Baptist Church,”
written by brother B.J. Clarke. Also, the reply from Ken Story, now the former preacher for the
Germantown Baptist Church was given. Again, the reply from Ken Story is stated below, along with
brother Clarke’s comments and response.]
Dear BJ
As we were moving the church office your letter of April 30 was found. I appreciate your interest in GBC’s TV
ministry and also the opportunity I had to meet you. The information you indicated you are looking for is stated clearly
in the Bible so I don’t know how you missed it. Look again — May the Lord guide you. Ken Story
Pardon me for saying so, but this is not exactly the “scriptural reply” I was waiting for! Mr. Story’s response
communicates one of two things: (1) He doesn’t care enough about my soul to take the time to give me a
“book, chapter, and verse answer”; or (2) He doesn’t have any book, chapter, and verse answers to support his
doctrine. Either way, his “reply” leaves much to be desired.
Quite frankly, his “reply” borders on being insulting. Mr. Story says that he doesn’t know how I could have
missed what he alleges is so clearly revealed in the Bible. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53
when Philip ran up to his chariot. The eunuch asks Philip, “of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself,
or of some other man?” (Acts 8:34). It is impossible to imagine Philip saying, “the information you are looking
for is stated clearly in the Bible, so I don’t know how you missed it. Look again — May the Lord guide you.”
In other words, “Good luck; you’re own your own. Don’t ask me any questions.”
The apostle Peter declared that we are to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (I Pet. 3:15). Why won’t Mr. Story give me an answer for
the reason of his hope? Philip answered the eunuch’s question by opening his mouth and preaching Jesus
(Acts 8:35). The eunuch’s response to Philip’s preaching may help to explain why Mr. Story won’t answer my
questions. Upon hearing Jesus preached, the eunuch said, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be
baptized?” (Acts 8:36). The Bible clearly states that the eunuch was baptized and then he went on his way
rejoicing. This order of events is contrary to the way that Mr. Story and the Germantown Baptist Church
practice things. They believe and teach that one is saved first, rejoices at his/her salvation, and is then
baptized to symbolize having already received forgiveness of sins. Now, don’t you dare ask Mr. Story to show
you a Biblical example of someone after the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) rejoicing in forgiveness of sins prior to
their baptism. He will promptly rebuke you for not seeing what he alleges the Bible so clearly states.
Since Mr. Story has encouraged me to “look again” for the answers to my questions, I will do that very thing.
Let us see what the Bible clearly states about the essentiality of water baptism. The following chart should
assist us in this regard:
HEARD BELIEVED REPENTED CONFESSED BAPTIZED SAVED
3000 Repent Baptized Sins
Acts 2 Acts 2:38 Acts 2:41 Remitted (38)
Samaria Believed Baptized
Acts 8 Acts 8:12 Acts 8:12
Eunuch Believed Confessed Baptized Rejoicing
Acts 8 Acts 8:37 Acts 8:37 Acts 8:38 Acts 8:40
Simon Believed Baptized Saved Per
Acts 8 Acts 8:13 Acts 8:13 Mark 16:16
Cornelius Acts 11:18 Baptized Saved
Acts 10-11 Acts 10:48 Acts 11:14
Lydia Baptized
Acts 16 Acts 16:15
Jailor Believed Repented Baptized Rejoiced
Acts 16 Acts 16:34 Acts 16:33 Acts 16:33 Acts 16:34
Corinth Believed Baptized Washed
Acts 18 Acts 18:8 Acts 18:8 I Cor. 6:11
Paul Confessed Baptized Sins Washed
Acts 9, 22 Acts 22:10 Acts 22:16 Acts 22:16
The point of the above chart is to show the tremendous emphasis placed upon baptism in the New Testament
as a prerequisite to forgiveness of sins. You will observe that not every case explicitly states that the
converts “believed”; but we know that they must have for except one believes in Jesus Christ, they will die in
their sins (John 8:21, 24). Furthermore, “without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto God” (Heb. 11:
6). Not every account of conversion in the book of Acts explicitly states that the convert/converts repented of
their sins. However, we know that they did so because God has commanded all men everywhere to repent
(Acts 17:30), and if one does not repent they will perish (Luke 13:3). Not every case of conversion specifically
records that the convert/converts made the good confession. Yet, we know that this must have occurred for
“with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10).
Now, the readers should note that every single account of every single case of conversion represented in the
chart explicitly states that the convert/converts were baptized! This is not to suggest that baptism should be
exalted above faith as a step in God’s plan of salvation. It is to say that the essentiality of baptism in God’s
plan of salvation is too clearly documented to be denied! Furthermore, in not one case of conversion is
forgiveness of sins ever placed before baptism. Mr. Story invites us to “look again” at the Bible for what it
clearly states. We have done so!
HOW YOU CAN PREVENT “CHURCH PROBLEMS”
1.) Don’t wear your feelings on your shirt sleeve.
2.) Accept human weaknesses in others as you recognize your own.
3.) If someone offends you, go to that person FIRST; discuss it with love for a brother.
4.) Always be READY to forgive, and to take the INITIATIVE in forgiveness.
5.) Manifest genuine concern for all weak brethren, those who have wronged you, and those who are
causing disturbances in the congregation. Pray for them.
6.) Consult the elders with problems which are too big or dangerous for you.
7.) Do not panic. It has likely happened before.
8.) Do not engage in gossip, slander, or backbiting. Do not provide the audience for those who engage in
such.
9.) Pray for wisdom.
10.) Be careful of the carping critic’s attitude. Constructive and open criticism with alternatives
presented will alleviate many frictions.
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and
the prophets” (Matt. 7:12). — via “The Minister’s Monthly, April, 1969