Giving Thanks

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever." (Psalms 136:1)

Sunday, October 5th, 2003, we at Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church were blessed when Brother Sam Owens came forth expressing his wishes to be baptized into our membership. Sam, age 19, has attended Ebenezer for nearly a year. He is also the third young man under the age of 23 to join our congregation since spring. I also attended a baptism for a man, over age 70, last Sunday at Grants Mill Primitive Baptist Church. It is certainly wonderful to experience such growth, when the world around us seems to continue down a dark path.

The Primitive Baptist Church is a church of truth, holding as close as possible to the teachings of God’s word not only in our beliefs, but in our practices as well. We teach free grace, we wash the feet of our brethren, we sing as a whole congregation unaccompanied by instruments, and our pastors do not become Elders by obtaining college degrees. We have no ball teams, youth trips, choirs, Sunday schools, or any other means of attracting people, young and old, to our services. In this day and age, to the world, we are out of touch. That’s fine, we are to "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world" (1st John 2:15). A child of God will only find misery trying to meet the requirements of this sinful world.

I thank our powerful God that he keeps and maintains a people in this world. A people that seek the "old" and "good" ways. The blessing of receiving members show God’s strength; that He can lead His sheep, regardless of their age, into His house. It gives the message from the Lord that His church will continue forever. It is certainly a blessing to see the church grow in such a time as which we live. In the Primitive Baptist Church, there is absolutely no reason to attend, other than to worship our Lord. What more IMPORTANT of a reason can a child of God need? I thank the Lord for his mercy, showing as much of His glory as we are able to see in this sin cursed flesh. For without Him, we would all be lost.