Who is required to contend for the faith?

                                                                                                                                             Vol. XIX, No. 8, October 2006

[Jeremiah B. Jeter (1802-1880) was born in Bedford County, VA. He was a long term Baptist preacher, present at the founding meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia in 1823, a Virginia messenger to the founding meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Augusta, GA, in 1845, first president of the SBC Foreign Mission Board, and editor of The Religious Herald. The following is an excerpt from his sermon “The Obligations of Baptists to Their Distinctive Principles” given to the 1877 annual meeting of the BGAV in Danville. Emphasis has been added.]

... If we expect our principles to be spread, and our cause to flourish, we must gird ourselves for the task of carrying the tidings of salvation beyond the limits of our churches, and along with them scriptural views of Christian ordinances and of church organization.

But who, it may be asked, are required to contend for the faith? That it is the duty of bishops, elders or pastors – titles used interchangeably in the New Testament – none will deny. They are officially teachers of divine truth, and their duty is not only to teach the truth, but the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. [But] The obligation to contend for the truth is not limited to them. In this war, there is no discharge; nor can the required service be rendered by any substitute. All the "sanctified" are urged, by apostolic authority, to "earnestly contend for the faith." Pious women are forbidden to be preachers of the gospel, or public teachers of Christianity; but there is a sphere of labor and of usefulness open to them, and it is neither narrow nor unimportant. Training the young is their pleasing and momentous mission. If they do not rule the world, they mould [sic] the minds and shape the characters of those who do rule it. The first, and mightiest, and most enduring influence over human minds is accorded to mothers; and it will be a great pity if that power is not wielded in favor of truth and righteousness. Baptist mothers, especially, are bound to see that their children are duly instructed in the principles which they themselves cherish. In short, every church, with all its members, rich and poor, old and young, learned and illiterate, is bound to struggle for the maintenance of its doctrine. Every soldier in the army of Immanuel should stand by his colors.

[The above is from a very interesting, brief (21 page) booklet on Jeter which is available from Jefferson Park Press, 2505 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903; 434-293-6175; or jeffparkchurch@juno.com for $3.00]