Duck River and Kindred Associations of Baptists
The Duck River and Kindred Associations of Baptists is also known as the General Association of Baptist. Other names associated with them are the Baptist Church of Christ, and the Separate Baptist.
The Duck River and Kindred Associations of Baptists is mainly located in middle Tennessee and northern Alabama. They are considered to be Primitive Baptist and do not share the strong Calvinism views but rather prefer the Arminian doctrine.
The Duck River and Kindred Associations of Baptists do have Sunday schools, but they do not have organized support of missionary or benevolent institutions. They hold to three ordinances; Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and Feet Washing. Their worship services are informal and the preaching is done impromptu.
The Duck River and Kindred Associations of Baptists are congregational in government. The membership is voted on by local congregations. Their ministers are ordained by two or more ministers.
History
The Duck River and Kindred Associations of Baptists was formed in 1826.They are confined to four southern states. They originated as a protest movement within the Old Elk River Association which was Calvinistic. The protest was over the legitimacy of missions and the support of a public society of a denominational school, and the choice to follow Calvinism or Arminianism. Those who withdrew were known as the Missionary Baptist or the Baptist Churches of Christ. There were more than a third of the member churches that left to form the Duck River Association of Christ. The Elk River Association was in the south part of Tennessee. This was in a valley formed by the Elk and Duck Rivers.
Alexander Campbell became united with the Baptists for a time and preached Arminian doctrine. There were some Baptists that found the Arminian doctrine appealing and chose to preach the unlimited atonement and unconditional election, thus claiming Jesus Christ died for all mankind. This was the beginning of the division.
The Duck River Association of Separate Baptists was formed under the leadership of Elder William Keele. This started the Campbell-Stone restoration movement in 1827. The Campbell followers became known as the Disciples of Christ and Alexander Campbell stopped being a Baptist. The Duck River Association maintained the Baptist course.
The Arminian doctrine originated with James Arminius. He existed at the same time as John Calvin. James Arminius taught conditional predestination stating God predestines those He knows ahead of time will accept Him while John Calvin taught unconditional predestination which means that once predestined, always predestined without condition.
James Arminius also taught men had free will and could in reality choose God. He believed and taught that Jesus Christ died for more than just the elect. He taught that since man had free will if God calls man specifically to salvation, then man has the right to say no to God. He taught that man can lose salvation, totally rejecting eternal protection. Man must live righteously to remain saved; if man sins after being saved they can be damned.
In contrast, John Calvin taught about the condition of total depravity of a man where there dwells no good thing. Because of this depravity the elect come only through the Will of God. John Calvin taught that Christ died only for the elect. Every man who receives an effective call by the Spirit of God to salvation will be saved. No man can refuse God. John Calvin teaches those saved by the power of God are forever eternally protected and will remain in that righteous condition.
Belief
The Duck River and Kindred Association of Baptists are considered to be Primitive Baptist and do not share the strong Calvinism views; yet they prefer the Arminian doctrine. They do retain the teachings of total depravity and eternal protection as taught by John Calvin. They believe Jesus Christ died for every man.
The Duck River and Kindred Association of Baptists believe God will save those who come to Him on gospel terms. They believe sinners are justified by faith and saints will persevere in grace.
The Duck River and Kindred Association of Baptists believe there is one and only one true God who is intelligent and spiritual in being. They believe God is the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the Universe. They believe God is perfect in knowledge, and holiness. They believe God reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit with distinct personal attributes, but without any division of nature, essence or being.
They believe Christ is the eternal Son of God and that he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. They believe Jesus Christ revealed himself and did the Will of God. They believe Jesus took human form and was without sin, that Jesus died on the cross, and made provision for the redemption of men from sin. They believe Jesus was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person he was before His crucifixion. They believe Jesus ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the mediator, fully God, fully man, who can reconcile between man and God. The Duck River and Kindred Association of Baptist believe Jesus now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.
They believe the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and is fully divine. They believe the Holy Spirit inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures, and enables men to understand the truth as he exalts Christ. They believe the Holy Spirit convicts men of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, and calls men to the Savior as well as effects regeneration. The Duck River and Kindred Association of Baptist believes the Holy Spirit baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ, cultivating their Christian character, and comforts believers, as well as bestows the spiritual gifts, and the Holy Spirit seals the believers unto the day of final redemption.
The Duck River and Kindred Association of Baptists believe salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; it was by the blood of Jesus they may obtain eternal redemption for believers. They believe salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. They believe there is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
The Duck River and Kindred Association of Baptists believe The Holy Bible was written by men who were divinely inspired, and it is the revelation of God of Himself to man, and divine instruction. It is without any mixture of error and is totally true and trustworthy.
The Duck River and Kindred Association of Baptists believe in the believer’s Baptism done by full immersion. They believe that Baptism is a Spiritual ordinance along with the Lord’s Supper and feet washing.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Duck River and Kindred Associations of Baptists:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2006.<https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2670,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2006, January) “Duck River and Kindred Associations of Baptists:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2670,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2006) “Duck River and Kindred Associations of Baptists:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2670, (accessed).
