Undercover Baptists

“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews…” (John 19:38)

What is an Undercover Baptist?

An ‘undercover’ or secret Baptist is someone who holds to the scriptural validity of believer's baptism, including immersion as the proper mode of baptism, but fails to be committed to a credobaptist church.

Such people are satisfied that they personally have come to faith in Jesus Christ. For some of them, they are satisfied with having been personally baptised in the proper mode. For others, they are satisfied that their own children are not sprinkled as infants. There are even some that are vocal about personally holding to the credobaptist position. They are clearly Baptists in their personal convictions, but are not inconsistent in holding onto that same conviction.

Their actions fail to match their confession. They will not attach themselves to a Credobaptist congregation. In some cases, they even sign up to a confession or a statement of faith that openly declares paedobaptism to be the practice they hold to.

In doing so, they are like Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, but in secret. He knew Christ to be in the way of truth. Yet, his circumstances and his fear prevented him from following Christ openly. In fact, the Undercover Baptist undermines his convictions for much less than what Joseph faced.

This article is written in order to encourage the undercover Baptist to reconsider their position, and like Joseph of Arimathea, the undercover disciple, reveal themselves for the sake of the truth.

At the outset we must state that this article is not written to denigrate or attack our paedobaptist brethren. We might disagree with them on the matter of baptism, yet we can appreciate them for their strengths and their own deeply-held convictions. Our attitude toward them echoes the Apostle Paul: "Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity" (Ephesians 6:24)

To the undercover Baptist we extend this same affection, yet what is said here is intended to be challenging. May the Spirit help each one to respond to the truth and for the glory of God.

The Prevalence of the Undercover Baptist

In writing this article and issuing this challenge, are we targeting one or two individuals that we are unhappy with, and being overly pedantic? Our answer must be ‘no’, for the problem is far more widespread than most people realise. The author has been told of a paedobaptist church where some 90% of the members, including the Pastor, hold to the credobaptist position. While many other churches would not fall into such extreme circumstances, there are certainly many undercover credobaptists to be found in paedobaptist congregations.

Dr Fred Malone, in his book The Baptism of Disciples Alone tells us: "I have come to believe that our good Presbyterian assemblies have a lot of Baptists sitting in their pews out of frustration with local Baptist churches. Further, it might be surprising to discover how many Presbyterian pastors were once Baptists. I receive regular reports of Baptist seminary students who have accepted the Reformed theology of our Baptist forefathers, often taught it by Baptist pastors, then subsequently accept a job in a paedobaptist church as a paedobaptist. Often the reported accounts express ‘no opportunities and too much opposition to Reformed theology in Baptist churches’ as a major reason for the switch."

This seems to be an issue particularly in places where Baptist churches are unclear about the doctrines of grace, and where paedobaptist churches are more established in the community. There are many factors that lead to someone becoming an undercover Baptist, but they tend to centre around the lack of suitable Baptist churches in a given area. Individuals might find the teaching or the fellowship to be better in the nearby paedobaptist church, or they might be tired of disagreements within an existing Baptist congregation. We recognise the strengths of our paedobaptist friends, and rejoice when they grow and honour the Lord. Nevertheless, we find it right that credobaptists should be part of credobaptist churches.

The Problems of the Undercover Baptist

The initial problem facing the undercover Baptist is that they fail to recognise the importance of the doctrine of Baptism.

Why is it that many who would never dream of denying Christ, or disregarding many other doctrines, would be willing to deny their Baptist convictions? More than anything it is because they don't realise its importance. As a result, there is a widespread downgrading of credobaptism into a secondary, or tertiary issue.

Dr Malone clearly rejects this line of thinking: "it is unworthy of Baptist pastors and laymen to consider baptism a secondary matter in order to serve in a paedobaptist church. The right administration of the sacraments is not secondary. It is one of the three Reformed marks of a true church governed by the regulative principle."

We can see that the doctrine of baptism is not inconsequential from how it affects many key areas of theology.

• The doctrine of baptism affects salvation. Paedobaptism has deceived many into thinking that they are saved, when they are not. Sometimes, the heresy of baptismal regeneration (that baptism imparts spiritual life) is taught. Even in paedobaptist churches that are more clear-minded, there is still the presumption of salvation for children who have been baptised.

• The doctrine of baptism affects the nature of the church. Infant baptism compromises the membership, government, and ultimately the purity, of the church.

• The doctrine of baptism affects worship, because baptism is an ordinance given to the church. As an example, the confirmation service practised by paedobaptist churches is nowhere to be found in the Bible and is a clear violation of biblically regulated worship.

• The doctrine of baptism affects the interpretation of Scripture. In order to justify infant baptism, we have to interpret the Scripture in a way that gives the Old Testament priority above the New, while entertaining arguments from silence above the clear commands of Scripture.

• Many other reasons beside. If we remain unconvinced that it is an important issue, we would do well to read R.B.C. Howell's polemic, The Evils of Infant Baptism, where he lists nineteen reasons why infant baptism leads to a decline in Biblical Christianity.

Abraham Booth, the great Baptist theologian, once said, "If error be harmless, then truth must needs be useless". In this matter of baptism, it is the truth of God's Word that is at stake. If we have the conviction that infant sprinkling is wrong, then we must stand for the truth. We must not pretend that it is an unimportant issue. We must not allow a love of ease to lead to an unwillingness to contend for the cause of truth. To do so is to walk the dangerous paths of compromise.

A further problem confronting the undercover Baptist is that they encourage a similar compromise in others.

By failing to take a stand for biblical baptism, the undercover Baptist is not just compromising himself. He is declaring to the world that it is no great error to be paedobaptist, and that it is perfectly fine for there to exist churches which are a mixed multitude by default. He asserts by his example that it is alright to witness and approve of the unscriptural baptising of babies, and the extrabiblical practice of confirmation.

This encourages other would-be undercover Baptists to share in the same compromise. It is rare for someone to consider committing fully to a paedobaptist church when they are alone. However, when there is precedent, we see many become willing to silently join their ranks.

Furthermore, it also hinders many paedobaptist brethren from coming to the truth. Joseph of Arimathea was ineffective as a disciple until he was no longer one in secret. Many paedobaptist brethren may well be open to the Baptist position. After all, the Baptist position enjoys the plain support of Scripture. When examined without prejudice, the author believes that many will come to a conviction that credobaptism is the correct teaching. However, the undercover Baptist does such brethren a disservice by hiding his own correct convictions.

The undercover Baptist is declaring by his actions, and by his silence, that he does not care whether someone becomes, or stays paedobaptist.

Additionally, undercover Baptists contribute powerfully to the present weakness among Baptist churches.

We recognise that there are many shortcomings among Baptist churches at the present time. It may be precisely these weaknesses that have led to Baptist churches losing some of their most outstanding members, who go to hide in paedobaptist congregations as undercover Baptists. Even as we identify the problem of the undercover Baptists, we do not doubt that there are many fine Christians among their ranks. What we lament is that they have brought their gifts and graces to paedobaptist churches. They have given up on the Baptist cause. They have chosen to play no part in building up of Baptist churches.

John Quincy Adams, in his excellent book on Baptist principles, ‘Baptists, Thorough Reformers’, points out God's displeasure with those who remain sinfully neutral in the work of ongoing reformation.[1] He appeals to Judges 5:23 – “Curse Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, Curse its inhabitants bitterly, Because they did not come to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the mighty.”

The undercover Baptists, like the Merozites, are content in taking a neutral position on the issue of baptism. They will not oppose believer’s baptism, but they are not prepared to make sacrifices for Baptist churches. Like the Merozites, they will not come up to the help of the Lord’s cause.

The weakness of the Baptist churches is in no small part due to the fact that many of her people remain in hiding as undercover Baptists. Like the Merozites, they hide themselves in the battle for the truth. They wait to see if the situation among Baptist churches will improve, but they do not lift a finger to assist the situations themselves.

But the foremost problem confronting the undercover Baptist is that God is displeased with them.

This leads us to the last and most serious problem for the undercover Baptist, which is the fact that God is displeased with such sinful neutrality. The Lord curses Meroz, and curses them bitterly. When Israel was enjoying her victory, Meroz was cursed. Striking a neutral position by remaining undercover may seem peaceful and uncontentious. It may seem to be the path to greater usefulness in a more established church. But let us not forget that such neutrality is sin; sin that greatly displeases God.

The undercover Baptist may have never seriously considered these problems. He might have thought that his own personal circumstances necessitated his choice. He might have thought that as one person his choice wasn't really a problem. Having now been made aware of the problem with his position, however, what should he do?

What should the undercover Baptist do?

Ultimately, the undercover Baptist must come out of hiding, just as Joseph of Arimathea did. However, this article is not intended to stir up a sense of guilt, but rather a firm conviction to voluntarily commit to Baptist causes. The following actions, by the help of the Spirit, are intended to help build Baptist convictions.

1. The undercover Baptist should read Baptist literature and reason with himself on Baptist principles.

The compromise to which they are given to is far more than just a one-off accommodation of an external ordinance. Like many other commands in Scripture, there are many principles which are tied to this ordinance.

The aforementioned book by Adams was used by Spurgeon in his Pastors’ College curriculum, as "the best manual of Baptist principles he had met". Adams makes clear for us that "the distinguishing features of that reform in which Baptists are engaged" include:

1. The exaltation of the Word of God above tradition, in all matters of religious duty.

2. The restoration of the spirituality of Christ's kingdom.

3. The propagation of religious liberty and the rights of conscience.

4. The equality of all Christ's disciples.

5. The establishment of the correct principles of Biblical translation.

6. The restoration of the order of the primitive church.

A thorough understanding of Baptist principles helps us to understand that there is a lot more to being Baptist than merely the amount of water one uses in baptism![2]

2. The undercover Baptist should seek to reacquaint himself with Baptist history

How well acquainted is the undercover Baptist with his own religious heritage? Can many undercover Baptists name or recognise more than three of the signatories of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith? Along the way, they might have read Luther, Calvin, Perkins, Owen, Baxter, Brooks, Boston, Edwards. Yet, apart from Bunyan, Carey and Spurgeon, who among the Baptist worthies are known or read by them?

Spurgeon himself is a grand example of being a steadfast Baptist while maintaining a gracious Christian spirit. He writes in his Autobiography: “If I thought it were wrong to be a Baptist, I should give it up, and become what I believed to be right”. In the same work, he stated that “we are Baptists, and we cannot swerve from this matter of discipline”. On another occasion he wrote, “We are Calvinistic Baptists, and have no desire to sail under false colors, neither are we ashamed of our principles; if we were, we would renounce them tomorrow”.

Time would fail us to speak about such Baptist giants of the faith Knollys, Kiffin, Keach, Beddome, the Stennetts, Gill, Booth, Fuller, the brothers Haldane, Dagg, Broadus and many more beside. The undercover Baptist, and indeed any serious Christian, for that matter, would benefit greatly from understanding the history behind the Baptists, what they stood for and the persecutions that they faced, often for holding to Baptist convictions.

3. The undercover Baptist should re-examine his own commitment to the truth of God's Word.

Adoniram Judson, the first American foreign missionary, shines as an example of unflinching commitment to the truth. On his journey to India, prompted by the need to understand how household baptisms would work in the mission field, he began a theological inquiry into the subject of baptism. According to Courtney Anderson's biography of Judson, To the Golden Shore, Judson "determined to read candidly and prayerfully, and to hold fast, or embrace the truth, however mortifying, however great the sacrifice…if he should renounce his former sentiments, he must offend his friends at home, hazard his reputation, and what is still more trying, be separated from his missionary associates. Funds, location of a mission, support, organisation – all these hung in the air. But Adoniram had never concerned himself over such matters. He was satisfied that Baptism was the only correct creed…For the rest, let others worry".

Judson's wife Ann is also to be commended for the strength of her own personal convictions over the issue of baptism. The couple were baptised by immersion together by William Ward, Carey's associate soon after arriving in Calcutta. Ann wrote to a friend back home: "Thus, my dear Nancy, we are confirmed Baptists, not because we wish to be, but because truth compelled us to be. We have endeavored to count the cost, and be prepared for the many severe trials resulting from this change of sentiment. We anticipate the loss of reputation, and of the affection and esteem of many of our American friends. But the most trying circumstance attending this change, and that which has caused most pain, is the separation which must take place between us and our dear missionary associates. Although we are attached to each other, and should doubtless live very happily together, yet the brethren do not think it best we should unite in one mission. These things, my dear Nancy, have caused us to weep and pour out our hearts in prayer to Him whose directions we so much wish and need. We feel that we are alone in the world, with no real friend but each other, no one on whom we can depend but God."

Adoniram and Ann Judson certainly did not consider baptism to be a secondary issue. They paid a great price to hold fast to it. In Judson's sermon on Christian baptism, he concluded: "If you love Christ, you cannot consider this question unimportant. You will desire to discover the will of Him whom you love, and to testify your love, by joyfully obeying. ‘If you love me,’ said Jesus, ‘keep my commandments’ (John 15:15). ‘You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you’ (John 15:14). If, when your mind adverts to this question, you fear the consequences of an examination, and dread those sacrifices which a discovery that you have been mistaken, may enforce on your conscience — or if you feel the influence of long established sentiments, or you imagine that the subject is too dark and intricate for your investigation — look to the Son of God, who did not hesitate to make the greatest sacrifices, and to endure the most painful sufferings for you. And look up to the Father of lights, to send the Holy Spirit, according to the promise of his Son, to guide you into all truth. Especially, my brethren, diligently use the means of discovering the truth. Put yourselves in the way of evidence. Indulge free examination. Though the sun shines with perfect clearness, you will never see that light which others enjoy, if you confine yourselves in a cavern which the beams of the sun cannot penetrate. Be assured that there is sufficient evidence on this subject, if you seek to discover it. But if your love for truth is not sufficiently strong to make you willing to seek and strive for the discovery of evidence, God will probably leave you to be contented with error. Therefore, in order to stimulate your minds to candid and energetic research, prize truth above all other things. Be impressed with the conviction that nothing can compensate you for the loss of truth. ‘She is more precious than rubies; and all the things you can desire, are not to be compared to her’ (Proverbs 3:15). She will keep you in the right way, the way of duty, of usefulness, of happiness. She will lead you to heaven. Seek her, therefore, as silver, and search for her, as for hidden treasures. Finally, ‘If anyone desires to do the will of God, he shall know about the doctrine, whether it is of God” (John 7:17).’”

The Lord certainly blessed the conviction and labours of Judson in Burma. When we are committed to God's truth, the price paid for it may be great, but the glory given to God will be far greater.

Conclusion

If Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple in secret for fear of the Jews, what fears keep the undercover Baptist in hiding? Perhaps there is a great fear of the unknown? Committing to the cause of truth, particularly when pioneering is required, will require great sacrifices.

Dr Malone comments: “Oh that we had more Baptist ’pioneers’ willing to endure hardship to build new churches or to reform our established Baptist churches! Where will Reformed Baptists of conscience worship in coming generations if we do not take up the cross now?"

In many ways, we sympathise with our undercover brethren. We know their situation to be difficult.[3] We know that in some cases they do not intend to stay long in a Paedobaptist refuge, but they see few prospects. There will be many concerns on their mind that we have not addressed in our short article. We are ready to be of help, and we hope that many other Reformed Baptists will be also. Nevertheless, the onus to act is on the undercover Baptist.

Look again at Joseph of Arimathea. We read in Mark 15:43 "Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus." He did not reveal himself because the circumstances were now favourable, in fact Jewish opposition to the gospel had just culminated in the crucifixion of Christ. But he took courage, emboldened by the sacrifice of His dear saviour, and went straight to the most fearsome man in all of Judea, Pilate.

God used Joseph of Arimathea's courage and commitment. Isn't baptism an act of commitment and obedience to the Lord? By God's help, shouldn't it inspire us to have the courage to stand for His truths, on the issue of baptism, and in all matters where the Scriptures lead us!

[1] John Quincy Adams was a Baptist pastor who lived between 1825 and 1881 and is not to be confused with the US president of the same name.

[2] For more information, please also find a series on Baptist Distinctives by DRBC.

[3] This article on church searching may be of some help: https://damansararbc.com/church-searching.