What Causes Baptist Churches to
Depart From the Faith?
1 Timothy 4:1
by Pastor Ben Stratton

I. The Unique Story of First Baptist Church, Morehead, Kentucky
      On April 20, 2024 the First Baptist Church (FBC) of Morehead, KY posted on their public Facebook page, “Happy Pride of Morehead Festival Day” stating they celebrate the “LGBTQIA+ community.”

      Underneath the words “Happy Pride” (in all caps and rainbow colors) this post declares, “Yeah, we know. We’re not your ordinary Baptist church.”

      It is surprising enough that a (formerly) Southern Baptist church started in 1885, located in the county seat of Rowan County, Kentucky is doing this. Yet there is more to the story.

      Buell Kazee (1900-1976) pastored the FBC of Morehead, Kentucky from 1930-1952. One of the most conservative Baptist pastors in Kentucky, in 1965 Kazee authored the book “The Church and the Ordinances.” Still in print today, this is one of the best books ever written on the subject and is highly recommended by men such as Hershael York and Charles Blair.

     In 1952 Kazee stepped down from pastoring to begin teaching at the newly formed Lexington Baptist College. He had a positive influence upon a large number of young Baptist preachers including Bro. Charles Cloyd, who taught for years at Mid-Continent Baptist Bible College.

      So what causes a Baptist church to make a 180 degree turn in 72 years? This wasn’t a sudden change. Rather it was a downward progression. FBC Morehead first moved to begin practicing open communion and open baptism.

      Since the 1990s, FBC Morehead has been associated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), a group that denies the infallibility and inerrancy of the Scriptures. Around 2000 FBC Morehead left the Bracken Baptist Association because they wanted to ordain women. This congregation is also no longer a part of the Kentucky Baptist Convention (KBC) or the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

II. New Testament Churches Can Depart From the Faith.
      The Bible is clear that churches can turn away from sound doctrine. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” 1 Timothy 4:1

      With “the” in front of it, “faith” is speaking about the doctrines of the Christian Faith. In the last days, it will be common to see “Christians” holding to lies and deception.
“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:5

      A candlestick was a source of light and a symbol of life in homes. If the candlestick is removed, it signifies that church has lost the light of God’s Word (Psalm 119:105) and is devoid of life – i.e. dead.
     A church may drift on Biblical morality (such as homosexuality), Biblical inspiration (the nature of the Bible), Baptist distinctives, or other theologically issues.
Regardless, these three Biblical principles will keep a church on a solid foundation.

III. Regularly Teach Biblical Doctrine To the Congregation.
“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” Titus 1:9

&nbp;     Here Paul is describing the responsibilities of an elder (i.e. a pastor).
A pastor must know “sound” (safe, wholesome, true) doctrine. (“doctrine” = teaching)
      Positively: Then he can “exhort” (encourage) the people to believe biblical doctrine.
      Negatively: He must also convince (rebuke) the gainsayers (the contradictors).

      For years Kentucky Baptist pastors did a good job teaching doctrine to their church members. This was done through Bible Institutes, Training Union, Denominational literature, etc. and of course the pulpit. Unfortunately most churches stopped doctrinal instruction in the 1950s. A pastor should pick a service (Sunday or Wednesday night) and repeatedly and plainly teach Bible doctrine to his congregation. (This is different from normal expository preaching).

IV. Pass on Biblical Truths to the Next Generation in the Church.
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2

     Paul told Timothy that Biblical truth must be passed on to future generations. Notice the four generations in this verse. Paul - Timothy - faithful men - others also. If we neglect this Biblical principle, the result is: What one generation believes, the second generation assumes, and the third generation forgets and loses. When it comes to Biblical truth, many Kentucky Baptist churches are at that 3rd generation.

      Example: In 1948 only 6 of the 2,254 Southern Baptist churches in Kentucky accepted alien immersion and practiced open communion. What has caused the numbers to rise today? This is why our churches must intentionally teach the Bible to the younger generations.

V. Stand For Sound Doctrine in the Life of the Church.
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3
     Jude wanted to write an epistle about salvation, but the Lord compelled him otherwise. He instructs us to “earnestly contend” (intensely struggle) for the faith (Biblical doctrine).
Note: This faith was “once delivered” (literally “once for all”) – it doesn’t ever change.

     How can Baptist congregations “earnestly contend” for sound doctrine? They can make sure that biblical doctrine is going to be held to in their church. Churches can make sure they call a pastor who holds to sound Biblical, Baptist doctrine. The entire congregation (not a hierarchy) decides on who will be their pastor (Acts 1:23). Multitudes of Kentucky Baptist churches have been ruined by calling a new pastor who may have been a good preacher, but was not sound in his doctrinal beliefs.

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[Taught by Pastor Ben Stratton for Farmington Baptist Church, Farmington, Kentucky on April 24, 2024]

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