fisher

While it is not our purpose to enter into a detailed account of the division among the Baptists in 1830--1835, yet we would say there was much opposition in this section to the system of Home and Foreign Missions, which was being practiced in Yadkin and the adjoining associations, to which the term “Missionary System” is applied. The churches were so much opposed to the “new system” that they refused not only to send contributions for Missionary purposes, but also refused to sit in conference with, or to fellowship those who did.
The casual observer might infer from this that they were opposed to the spread of the gospel. This, however, is not true; for they favored the spread of the gospel as much -- if personal sacrifices on the part of the ministry is any evidence -- as any people on earth. But their objection was that if a compensation in dollars and cents is offered, and he who goes is sure of such compensation, there is not only danger, but great danger of men who are not only not called of God to preach, but designing men who know nothing of the grace of God, going out under the title of Missionaries, and preaching such doctrine as would not only dishonor God, but would burden His people. The system of High Schools or Colleges for the preparation of young men for the ministry was also objected to strongly, on the ground that many might take the advantage of such opportunities, not for the truth’s sake, but to benefit themselves.
Sunday Schools, as nurseries for the church, were also vigorously opposed. In opposing these “new institutions”, as they styled them, the ministry of this body, or association of believers, rather, went to such extremities that the churches almost entirely left off helping their own pastors; and some of their members came to the belief that it was wrong to give to a preacher who was worth more than the giver, no matter what his sacrifices might be. Thus, the ministers, few in number, and all poor men, had a hard struggle to serve their churches, obeying their heavenly calling to preach the word, and support their families, remembering the Scripture that says, “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” -- 1 Timothy 5:8. Yet, in their hearts and minds they, if their words and works did not lie, felt that their greatest duty was to honor the cause of the Master who had called and sent them forth. The greatest theme of their preaching was the power of God in the salvation of sinners. They claimed that God was not dependent on any conditions, means, circumstances, or environments for the preaching of the word; that if His work demanded an educated man He could call one, as He did Saul (Paul) of Tarsus; or if it demanded ignorant and unlearned men He could call them, as in the case of Peter and John; that He was not dependent on schools of learning to tame the hearts of sinful men and women, but that He writes His laws in the hearts of men of His own will and pleasure.