The following Document is the existing Constitution of Cowan First Baptist Church as it was given to me in its printed form. (The same constructs as the Constitution printed by the Harold Chronicle) This is the constitution that was directed during the October Business meeting to be placed on the CFB website for our members to read and review. It was never posted and if you wanted a copy you would have to e-mail the web administrator to send you a copy. I have retyped the document and placed it into boxes. It also includes the misspelled words and grammatical flaws. These are noted in red ink and all my comments will be noted in blue ink.In order to assist the reader in understanding the meaning of terms and words found in the constitution, I have placed in green writing Webster’s 1828 Dictionary definition of the term and its grammatical usage.The terms are in agreement with the implied meaning found in the majority of Southern Baptist Church’s constitutions. I know that this document is several pages but this work that I have done is to assist those who are truly concerned in the affairs of their church, its effectiveness, and future fulfillment.

PREAMBLE

We, the members of First Baptist Church of Cowan, Tennessee, in order that we may secure to ourselves and those who come after us the rich blessing of serving Christ, the Son of God, in peace and love; to insure that this church may be governed in a orderly manner consistent with New Testament teachings; to preserve the liberties inherent in each member of this church and the freedom of action of this body with respect to its relation to other churches of the same faith; to preserve and protect the highest kind of spiritual unity, Christian love and fellowship which we seek to know and share, ad that we may not forget our duty to fulfill the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28:19-20, we do declare and establish this Constitution and these By-Laws.

Interpretation: The words “in order”are used for addressing the security of the end goal of the constitution. It is the Constitution that establishes blessings, proper governing, liberties, freedom of action, and preservation of unity, that we may as a final product fulfill the “Great Commission”. This form of Government is known as a ConstitutionalRepublic. Sound familiar? Because of the churches forming 501(c)3 Not for Profit Corporations, it became necessary for them to be governed by procedures and documentation that protects them from internal abuse and illegal activity. As citizens of the United States, we are able to voice our opinion through a process that votes into office the candidate in which we think will follow the constitution. This method of is called the democratic process. Contrary to modern thought, the United States of America is not a Democracy. Thomas Jefferson said, “Democracy is two wolves and a sheep, voting on what to eat for dinner; Liberty(or constitutional republic) is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote.”A democracy is a form of government that is motivated by those who are ignorant of the constitution’s content, is governed by those who are willing to disobey it in order to gain power and prestige, and is filled with individuals who use their position in its administration to gain financially for themselves.When our leaders ignore or disobey the constitution, they use the democratic process to become “majority” or “mob rule.” This is a core reason that officers in our military are sworn in by oath to defend the constitution from foreign or domestic attack. The oath states as follows:

"I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God." (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.) For if our elected officials turn against our constitutional republic form of government, the only way they would be able to control the citizens of the land is through the strong arm of the military. If our officers are true to their oath, they will stand against the attack on our constitutional government even if that attack or couporiginates from within its own ranks. (Google the Army General named Smedley Butler)

  1. MAME. This body shall be known as First Baptist Church of Cowan, Tennessee.
  2. PURPOSE. The purpose of this church shall be to provide regular opportunities for public worship and Christian fellowship; to sustain ordinances, doctrines and ethics set forth in the new testament for the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ; to nurture its members through a program of Christian education; to channel its offerings to the support of the objects of the Redeemer’s Kingdom, and to preach and propagate among all people the gospel of the Revelation of God through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Why should we receive the suggestions and input of individuals who do not attend the regularly provided opportunities(PROGRAM) of the church? Seems to me someone does not have their spiritual priorities correct with the scripture nor in compliance to the unity provided by and protected through the COVENANT. Essentially, these individuals want the faithful believers (those full and in regular standing) to attend the three services provided by the church and then attend one or two more services each week to accommodate their schedule. After all, these individuals spend Wednesday evenings in sporting activities, family entertainment, home renovation projects, or simply stay at home because the kids have school work to complete. “Mt 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”Heb 10:23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)Heb 10:24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.What football coach can win games when his players do not attend all the practices? This is why being at the practices is a requirement for being on the team. Yet, do we feel that football is more important our should have a more astringent set of rules than the work of God? This is why our constitution gives requirements for the membership of the church. But what about conflicts and obligations outside of church? We may want to build believers in our church that have the spiritual fortitude to change the leaders of our community’s scheduling decisions and school’s conflicts that causes hindrances on the church and its program. Twenty five years ago there were no ballgames on Wednesday night, Sunday evening, nor were there any conflicts placedupon our children from the school system. If we continue to allow the world to set our schedules and priorities then is it not logical that we will eventually become more and more worldly?

III. ARTICLES OF FAITH

  1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were written by men divinely inspired and that they are the Christian’s rule of faith and practice.
  2. Thant there is only one true and living God, revealed to us as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, the same in essence and equal in every divine perfection. (grammar error - number agreement)
  3. That man was created holy, innocent, and happy, but by the disobedience of one man, sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned.
  4. That salvation is by grace through faith in the atonement and righteousness of Jesus Christ.
  5. That it is the duty of all men to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and having believed to teach the faith through actively witnessing in words and deeds.

The Bible is the Christians rule of faith and practice. (Also listed as a Baptist Distinctive) This will include the commands of what we are not to do and the commands of what we are to do. If our members are following the commands of actively witnessing then there will be evidence by their converts. If there are not converts then it is evidence against them they are not obeying the constitution of CowanFirstBaptistChurch.1Ti 5:24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 1Ti 5:25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

  1. That nothing can separate true believers from the love of God.
  2. That believers’ baptism is administered only by immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  3. That there will be a resurrection of the dead when all mankind will be judged according to their deeds, that the unsaved shall go away into everlasting punishment, and the righteous into eternal life.
  4. That the Christian ministry is a divinely appointed means for the spreading of the Gospel throughout the world, and that it is the duty of all Christians to contribute to its support.

It is the duty of all Christians to spread the gospel, especially those who are in leadership or receive income set forth for that purpose. Evidence of those who are obedient to this command is only found in the presence of new converts, baptisms of new converts, and individuals brought into the fold that are not transfers from another church. New members added to the roll that have transferred from other churches do not indicate that the “Great Commission”is being followed or fulfilled.Ac 2:47

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. The direction that a church is taking (revival or entertainment) can be judged by the quality (caliber) of membersand not quantity that are transferring into the church. If they are simply individuals that were not doing anything for the Lord at their previous church and come here to continue to do nothing but to “enjoy” the work of someone else, then we see the Lord is not sending revival to our church. If they are someone who was evangelistic and busy in the Lord’s work at their old church and the Lord sees fit to transfer them here…then we know that God is fixing to advance our church toward revival.

As preached from our pulpit on a recent Sunday night, no one wants to have brain surgery performed by someone who just read a book (or took a correspondence course). We would rather have someone working on us who has had the proper schooling, completed an intern program, and had been successful in their residency. Yet, in Christian work we do not hold these same standards of thought or discernment. When choosing leaders over ministries we will not base our judgment based upon years of successful work that is tangible and observable but instead, we take anyone who has a “strong” desire to serve and put them in a place of authority over the eternal destinations of souls wavering in the balance. (???)

  1. That the church is a fellowship of baptized believers who reflect their commitment to Christ in every area of their daily lives.COMMITMENT, n. 1. The act of committing; a sending to prison; a putting into prison; imprisonment. It is equivalent to sending or putting in simply; as a commitment to the tower, or to Newgate; or for the sake of brevity, omitting the name of the place, it is equivalent to putting into prison; as, the offender is secured by commitment.Individuals that profess, “I come to church when I feel like it,” or“if I don’t have a ball game” do not exemplify a life that is committed to Christ. Activities that conflict with commitment to the Lord’s church such as scrapbooking, yard work, home projects, or jogging through the neighborhood indicate what priority such “members” have on spiritual matters. After all, what would Jesus do? Would he attend the ballgame or be faithful to his bride?
  1. COVENANT

COVENANT,n. [L, to come; a coming together; a meeting or agreement of minds.]

1. A mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or to forbear some act or thing; a contract; stipulation. A covenant is created by deed in writing, sealed and executed; or it may be implied in the contract.

2. A writing containing the terms of agreement or contract between parties; or the clause of agreement in a deed containing the covenant.

3. In theology, the covenant of works, is that implied in the commands, prohibitions, and promises of God; the promise of God to man, that mans perfect obedience should entitle him to happiness. This do, and live; that do, and die.

The covenant of redemption, is the mutual agreement between the Father and Son, respecting the redemption of sinners by Christ.

The covenant of grace, is that by which God engages to bestow salvation on man, upon the condition that man shall believe in Christ and yield obedience to the terms of the gospel.

4. In church affairs, a solemn agreement between the members of a church, that they will walk together according to the precepts of the gospel, in brotherly affection. .

Since we have been brought by divine grace to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ and by the influence of His Spirit to give ourselves up to Him, so we do most solemnly covenant with each other, that God enabling us,

We will walk together in brother love:This is only possible if the two are in agreement on the scriptures and the context of this document..Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?Conflicts arise because of ignorance to the word but once the word is explained…reaction to its message is either submission or rebellion.Pr 22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

That we will exercise a Christian care and watchfulness over each other, and faithfully warn, rebuke, and admonish one another as the case shall require; and in all things we will seek to guard the honor and true function of the church:

Exercise is a strong verb. It implies that this is something we do. In order for the reader to get the true scope of this part of the COVENANT, it is important that you get a true definition of the words so carefully chosen by the charter members of the First Baptist Church of Cowan. These terms are defined in the 1828 edition of Webster’s Dictionary which is considers to be the paramount work of Christian etymology.

Christian Care: CARE, n. 1. Concern; anxiety; solicitude; nothing some degree of pain in the mind, from apprehension of evil. They shall eat bread by weight and with care. Ezek. 4. 2. Caution; a looking to; regard; attention, or heed, with a view to safety or protection, as in the phrase, take care of yourself. A want of care does more damage than a want of knowledge. 3. Charge or oversight, implying concern for safety and prosperity; as, he was under the care of a physician. That which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 2 Cor. 6. 4. The object of care, or watchful regard and attention; as, Is she thy care? CARE, v.t. 1. To be anxious or solicitous; to be concerned about. Master, carest thou not that we perish? Mark 4. 2. To be inclined or disposed; to have regard to; with for before a noun, and to before a verb.

WATCHFULNESS, n. 1. Vigilance; heedfulness; heed; suspicious attention; careful and diligent observation for the purpose of preventing or escaping danger, or of avoiding mistakes and misconduct. 2. Wakefulness; indisposition or inability to sleep.

WARN, v.t. [G.] 1. To give notice of approaching or probable danger or evil, that it may be avoided; to caution against any thing that may prove injurious. Juturna warns the Daunian chief of Lausus danger-- being warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. Matthew 2.

2. To caution against evil practices. 1 Thessalonians 5. 3. To admonish of any duty.

Cornelius--was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee. Acts 10. 4. To inform previously; to give notice to. --Warned of the ensuing fight. 5. To notify by authority; to summon; as, to warn the citizens to meet on a certain day; to warn soldiers to appear on parade. 6. To ward off. (Not in use)

REBUKE, v.t. [See Pack and Impeach.] 1. To chide; to reprove; to reprehend for a fault; to check by reproof. The proud he tam'd, the penitent he cheer'd, not to rebuke the rich offender fear'd. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor. Lev. 19. 2. To check or restrain. The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan. Zech. 3. Is. 17. 3. To chasten; to punish; to afflict for correction.O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger. Ps. 6. 4. To check; to silence. Master, rebuke thy disciples. Luke 19. 5. To check; to heal. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever. Luke 4. 6. To restrain; to calm. He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea. Matt. 8.