We know today there are many denominational names listed for groups of the Lord's people who meet together to worship the Lord according to their personal beliefs. In consideration of that, I would like to proclaim to one and all, in as proud, and yet as humble manner as I can: “I am a Baptist!” Not just any Baptist, but a Primitive (Original) Baptist!

The following is an excerpt taken from the book: “The Bride and Seven Other Women, By Monroe Jones.” He wrote this book in 1948, when the nation was healing from World War II, and people had a renewed feeling of the need to turn to the Lord by pressing into His Church, and into a spiritual worship, longing to build upon the sweet union and renewed purpose found in the struggles of war, to a better service of God, family and Country.

At God's appointed time, John the Baptist came preaching in the WILDERNESS of Judea saying, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt. 3:2 (also S. Sol. 8:5). John was “sent from God” John 1:6.

John baptized Jesus and soon after, Jesus began preaching: “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt. 4:17 His message was: “The gospel of the kingdom.” Matt. 4:23

John said the Kingdom was at hand, Jesus said it was at hand. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” Luke 16:16 Men were pressing INTO this Kingdom, which does away with preposterous arguments of some that this “kingdom” is not an organization but is something spiritual “in the souls of Christians!” Men don't press INTO the soul or hearts of Christians!  Remember this kingdom was “at hand.” The preposition “at” means simple presence or nearby. So, evidently, the Church came into existence about the time John baptized Jesus.

Why does the word “Baptist” begin with a “capital B?” There is but one answer: BECAUSE IT IS THE NAME OF SOMETHING.  Yes, I know all the arguments that: “John was a baptizer, a dipper, an immerser, etc,” but all the frantic explanations on the part of the enemies of the Church can't side-track the fact that the word Baptist was the NAME of something in the very beginning of John's ministry.  John came as a fore runner of Jesus, His ministry and baptism was no doubt the harbinger (Or prepared place to shelter and rest - Editor) of the Lord's Church.

Elder Monroe Jones, Feb. 1948
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Remember the point he made above: “When the word 'Baptist' appears in the Bible, it is not printed as a proper noun accidentally; it is printed as a proper noun “BECAUSE IT IS THE NAME OF SOMETHING.” It is the description of who John was, “a Baptist.” How could he be called a Baptist as a title? Because he was a person who baptized PEOPLE, by immersing them under the water. How did he baptize Jesus? The same way he baptized everyone else who came to him, by immersing them under the water. Jesus came to John's baptism to fulfill righteousness, saying: “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” That the Lord of Glory might say unto His disciple: “Thus it becometh us,” both of them (Matt. 3:15); the Lord being righteous and without sin, and John being a man sent from God, but still a mortal man, and a sinner saved by grace. We see once again how the Lord of Glory submitted Himself to the baptism of John, pleasing the Eternal Father, and setting Himself, as the door into the Kingdom of Christ on Earth, and into His Church, to all who come in answer of a good conscience toward God.

We proudly wear the same title which John the Baptist wore in the days of our Lord's walk among us on earth. We are Baptists because we baptize in the same way John the Baptist baptized our Lord and Saviour; We have never been recognized as anything else, because we steadfastly remain sure and committed to following our Lord into baptism: The baptism which was symbolic of His death, burial and resurrection, the identity of John the Baptist, and the door into His Kingdom on Earth, His Church; and as members of one body in Christ, in the belief, that we must walk humbly and obediently in His Church, worshiping Him only, and in Spirit and in Truth.