Land Says the Only True Ecumenism Is for All Christians to Become Baptists - Richard Land, president of the SBC's Ethics Religious Liberty Commission, initially agreed to sign the ecumenical "Gift of Salvation" agreement, but reversed course Nov. 13 and removed his signature. He concluded that readers will misunderstand the document and possibly feel it is contradictory (11/25 Ind. Bapt.).

He is right on both counts, but we are disappointed that he could sign it and the ECT in the first place. Land said (11/24 Chr. News) the only acceptable institutional expression of unity "is for all Christians to all ultimately come to an understanding that they are saved by personal faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and they are obedient to him by being immersed according to the ordinance of baptism - an act of obedience and testimony to the fact that they have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and thus become members of a New Testament church. In other words, the successful conclusion of true ecumenism would be that all Christians would become Baptists." (Plains Baptist Challenger (1/1998)

[Editor] A message posted on the CNV Discussion Forum follows below.

Dear Andy,

I think the doctine/heresy of Baptist Brideism should be addressed by yourself. I found this "doctrine" in the literature of David Cloud, who is a good man, I believe, and faithful to the Lord.The way I understand, this doctrine is that only Christians who adhere to the Baptist school of thought will be the Bride of Christ. All other Christians will be friends and guests. If this is true, it is a discouraging doctrine, to say the least. If we are not, in this dispensation, a people called out to be the Bride of Christ, and that by faith in the Work of Christ alone, how can I hope to do enough work to attain to this position. If it is not because of Faith and faith alone, I would have to give it up as none of my works would profit me anything. To my mind, Baptist Brideism boils down to nothing but works and creates a hierarchy in Heaven, which I believe the Bible is very adamant in condemning as "the deeds of the Nicolaitans". It smacks of Roman Catholicism.

See my article "Baptist Brideism, or The Elite Elect." In the May 1998 CNV Newsletter on-line http://www.cnview.com . Ask for it if you have e-mail only.