Baptist Briders

There are some Bible topics many missionaries don't wish to discuss with others.  It's because they are afraid Pastors who support them will not agree with them.  So they are mute on certain Biblical doctrines in various circles. 

One of those topics is that of "Baptist Briderism," or the teaching that each individual Baptist church, according to the tradition of many Baptists, is a local body of Christ.  In other words, to them, the Body of Christ is only the local Baptist Church.

Not only is this illogical, for there are many local churches, and therefore that would make MANY bodies of Christ when the Bible says there is only one, but it is also completely anti-biblical.  For the Bible tells us the body of Christ is also the Bride of Christ.  Is Jesus a poligamist?  Does he have many different Brides, or only one?

Those who believe the body of Christ is only the local church, therefore, have been labeled "Baptist Briders." for their teaching, if true, makes Jesus the husband of many different brides, instead of just one - the Church.

The Baptist Brider teaching is very common in Baptist circles, and even in our world today, but those who know their Bibles don't adhere to or accept it's ridiculous premise, for it is very foreign to the scriptures.  I even have a sermon of my third-great Grandfather, J.M.C. Breaker, in which even he went against this teaching in his day (the 1800s), and used the Bible to prove that the bride of Christ, the Church, is made up of all born again Christians, not just "Baptists."  I guess it falls on me as well in my day to expose this heresy as well.
Let me state that I believe what I believe not because my grandfather or even my father believed it.  I believe the Bible.  And in the Bible, it's clear who the body of Christ is, and who is Christ's bride.  And it's further evident that "Baptist Briderism" is not a biblical doctrine, rather a heretical baptist tradition.    

Let us now look at the verses of Scripture which speak about the body, the bride, and the Church.  And as we study the scriptures, I want you to ask yourself, "Should I believe what the Baptist Briders teach, even though it's Baptist tradition, or should I believe what the scriptures teach instead?"

You must decide for yourself.

First, let's look at Romans chapter twelve:

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Here God is speaking to Christians and he says they are one body in Christ, and members one of another.  Baptist Briders are quick to point out, "See, the local church is the body of Christ and those members of that local church are members one of another!"

But is this really what Paul is speaking about here?  Or, could it be Paul is talking to all Christians here?

Let's look at a cross reference in 1 Corinthians chapter twelve:

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Here Paul says pretty much the same thing.  But he adds that membership in the body is by baptism.  But this is not water baptism (As many Baptist Briders so wrongly assume).  This is Spirit baptism, or being born again.  And when one is saved, they are immediately sealed with the Holy Spirit of God (Eph. 1:13). 

Baptist Briders pervert this baptism and say it's water baptism and this act of baptism is what makes a man a member of the local church, which to them is the body.  That's fine if they want to believe that, but that's not what this passage of scripture is saying at all.  Again, it's speaking of a Spiritual baptism (i.e. being born again).

They further say that in this passage Paul is only speaking to the local church of the Corinthians, and this strengthens their teaching that each local church is a body of Christ.  But let's just look at the very beginning of the book of 1st Corinthians and see exactly who Paul is writing to:

1 Cor 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Here the apostle Paul is saying he not only is writing to the local church in Corinth, but he dogmatically states the book is also written to "...ALL THAT IN EVERY PLACE CALL UPON THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, BOTH THEIRS AND OURS!"

Clearly, the book of Corinthians is written to every born again child of God!  That means, those who have been baptized Spiritually (i.e. born again) are those who are members of the Body of Christ.  This means everyone who is born again is a member of the body of Christ, for the body of Christ is made up of all saved people in every place that call upon the name of Jesus.  To say otherwise is to make "many bodies" of Christ, and this is to go against the scriptures and the many places in which it says there is only one body.  Below are just a few:

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  (Eph. 4:4-6)

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  (Col. 3:15)

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:  (Eph: 3:4-6)

In Ephesians chapter four we read about those in the body:

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Notice two things.  First, no Baptists are mentioned here.  (Baptist Briders are so proud of their Baptist heritage, that many of them try to make the church start with John the BAPTIST).  Instead, we read of apostles, prophets, eveangelists, teachers, etc.  So where does this leave the "BAPTIST Briders" who claim only their denomination or their local church is the body of Christ? 
Second, we read about the importance of the edifying of the body of Christ.  Does this mean they were only to edify those members of the local church in Ephesus, but no where else?  No!  It means they were to edify all born again Christians everywhere!

Now let's ask the question, "Who is the body of Christ according to the scriptures?"
Baptist Briders say it's their denominational local church only and none else.  But they twist the scriptures to their own destruction to arrive at this interpretation.  Let's look at the scriptures and find out more.

In Colossians chapter one we read of Jesus:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven,

and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Here we are dogmatically told that Jesus Christ is the head of the body of Christ, and that the body of Christ is the Church.  So, who is the church?  Why, biblically, the church consists of all born again Christians, and not just any one local church.  We see this clearly in the type of Christ and the church in Ephesians chapter 5:

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

As we read this, we find the relationship between Jesus Christ and his church is just like the relationship between a husband and wife.  And in verse 25, we read that Jesus loved his church (i.e. his bride) enough to die for it.  If we take the Baptist Brider viewpoint that the church is only the local church, then Jesus must have only died for Baptists, and only for those Baptists in certain individual local churches, and not for the sins of everyone.  This is a tremendously evil doctrine!  For we know Jesus died for the sins of the whole world.  (1 John 2:2).

Thus, the "church" or the "bride of Christ" must be everyone who has received Jesus Christ as Saviour.  It cannot be just Baptists, or just Baptists in a local church, for we know there are many Baptists in Baptist churches today who aren't even saved!

The Bride, then is all saved people.  And the apostle Paul makes this clear in 1 Cor. 11:2, "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

Is Paul only speaking to those Christians in Corinth here?  If so, then only they are the bride of Christ and no one else.  Or maybe they are a bride of Christ.  If so, then Jesus must have many other brides, for there were churches in Ephesus, Colosse, Thessalonica, etc.  See the mess you get into when you don't believe the Bible?  Either there is ONE BODY and ONE BRIDE and it's made up of all born again Christians, or there are many Bodies and many Brides, and they are made up of many various local churches.  It has to be one way or the other.  I choose the ONE BODY, and the ONE BRIDE, for this is the only interpretation that the scriptures support.

As we look at Ephesians chapter two, we find exactly who the body is made up of:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Notice this passage defines who the body is.  It is those who have been reconciled unto God.  In other words, it's SAVED people (i.e. born again).  Whether they are Gentile or Jews, those who have received the free gift of eternal life are made members of the body of Christ.

Further we are told they are a part of the "household" of God, and are a "building" fitly framed together.  This is interesting, because as we read the book of Revelation, we read of the bride not only as a building, but as an entire city:

Rev. 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev. 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

Rev. 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.

SUMMARY

To preach the doctrine of the Baptist Briders is to teach heresy for the scriptures plainly define there is only ONE BODY and ONE BRIDE of Christ.

Sure you can call a local church a body of Christ if you like.  But you'd better be careful not to confuse it with the body of Christ, which is the Church--Christ's bride.  To confuse the two is to make God guilty of poligamy, a grevious sin if there ever was one.

Brider doctrine is also guilty of confusing water baptism with the spiritual baptism of being sealed with the Holy Spirit of God at the moment of salvation.  If true, then a saved person is not a member of the bride or body of Christ until he is baptized in water.  How is this biblical?  There is a difference between being a member of the body of Christ and being a member of a local church.  But being a member of the body of Christ (all saved people) is not dependent upon water baptism, otherwise that would be essential for salvation!
Finally, many Baptist Briders teach that only the Baptist church is the true church and only they will be the Bride of Christ.  Where does this leave others who are truly saved but belong to different denominations?  Many Briders say, "Well, if they are saved, they are only 'friends of the bridegroom' and not really a part of the body of Christ."  So where does this leave men like Martin Luther, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, Sam Jones, Billy Sunday, etc. and etc.  Are they not a part of the body of Christ?  Are they not a part of the Bride of Christ?

I'll let you decide for yourself.  As for me, I believe the scriptures are plain and clear.  The body of Christ and the bride of Christ are the same, and they are made up of all born again believers.  I believe this not because my third-great grandfather did, but because that's what the scriptures teach!