Apparently, the staff at First Baptist Church of Glenarden don’t believe the stuff they teach the congregation. Here’s why I say this.

According to their doctrinal statement on the web, they hold to a Trinitarian view of the Godhead. And understand, this is not a trivial matter. Contained in the doctrine are statements about the very character of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The church even has a class entitled “THE TRIUNE GOD” (Course # MI305). I took the class when I attended the church. The book they used emphasized the importance of the doctrine of the Trinity.

Since they view this doctrine as very important (they’ve devoted an entire class to it), you would think they would be at least a little reluctant to allow a person who denies the Trinity access to the pulpit. Right? Well, no.

A couple of years ago, John Jenkins invited a guest preacher to speak on Sunday, for all three services according to the church calendar and the Sunday program. Of course, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. But there was only one problem with this character. The speaker, Charles Ellis out of Detroit, denies the Trinity. He is, in church-speak, a Oneness preacher. That is, he teaches that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are simply roles or titles used by God, but there is only one person - God, and his name is Jesus.

Now you might ask how I know Mr. Ellis denies the Trinity. Well, even though I admitted on this site that I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, it wasn’t very hard even for me to figure it out. There is an organization called the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW). By their own confession they are a Oneness, or “Jesus Only” organization. Take a look at their doctrine. Look at the section labeled “The Godhead”. Add to that the fact that Ellis holds a fairly high position within the assembly (he’s vice president - or assistant presiding bishop). Do you really think these people would appoint someone to that kind of position if he didn’t agree with them? Remember, they think you’re going to hell if you accept the doctrine of the Trinity. However those graciously tolerant people at FBCG apparently don’t really care what you believe.

Think about it. I’m sure John Jenkins, the pastor of FBCG, would never invite a Jehovah’s Witness or a Mormon to speak at a church service. After all, these people deny the Trinity. That is, they deny one of the essentials of the Christian faith. And John would never invite someone who denies one of the essentials of the faith to speak there at FBCG. After all, doesn’t it say in 2 John 10, 11 that we should “receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed” And I would think taking up a “love offering” for the man (at least a couple of thousand dollars per service, and there are three services on sunday) would count as bidding him God speed. So why did he invite this oneness clown to speak from the pulpit?

I know. You�re thinking: “Perhaps John didn’t know Mr. Ellis was Oneness before he spoke at the church.” And that is certainly a reasonably charitable approach. In fact, you are to be commended for being so charitable. However, I can assure you he knew. How do I know he knew? I told him!

Almost two months before Ellis was scheduled to appear, I sent John an e-mail. The purpose of the e-mail was to understand his rationale for inviting a Oneness teacher and preacher to speak from the pulpit at FBCG.

Unfortunately, John failed, or simply refused, to address the issue. Instead, he told me that he didn’t like my attitude. Go figure.

I even wrote a couple of his ministers, Shirley Onque and Daryl Godlock. Shirley, I might note, taught the Triune God course. She never responded to my e-mail. Much more amusing was the response from Daryl Godlock. I promise you, I didn�t change anything he wrote. Take a look at his well-reasoned discussion of the issue. It�s exactly the way I got it from him. Read the e-mails.

Edited, but not altered for contents of the message I sent to Godlock:

From: Jones, Melvin
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 9:39 AM
To: ’sonque@XXX.com’
Subject: The Trinity

Minister Onque,

I hope you are doing well. I haven’t seen you or spoken to you in quite a while. I don’t even know if you are still affiliated with FBCG. However, I did want to take the time to let you know about an interesting development there at FBCG in case you are still affiliated with them. I thought of you almost immediately because in the past you taught the course on the Trinity. Given that, this should be especially interesting to you.

On August 4th, 2002, Bishop Charles Ellis will be speaking at all three morning services at FBCG. Mr. Ellis is the pastor and bishop of Greater Grace Temple out of Detroit. Greater Grace is Apostolic. That is, they deny the Trinity. The following attachment is their response to my query about their teaching on the their teaching on the Trinity.

It could be that I have gotten some information wrong. Perhaps it’s not FBCG here in PG county. To try to avoid that mistake I have included the web address for Bishop Ellis’ itenerary. The text is copied below that. Please go to the site, and see, combined with the very explicit statement in the attached message, I have misunderstood or misinterpreted anything.

http://www.greatergrace.org/pastor/framemain.htm

The following is a cut and paste from the site.

Sunday AUGUST 4th
First Baptist Church Of Glenarden (Three Services)
7:15/ 9:15/11:15 A.M. 3600 Brightseat Rd.
Landover, MD. 20785 (301) 773-3600

Here is the text from their website. It reads identically to many Oneness sites.

In one God who is infinite in power, Holy in nature, attributes and purpose: omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. We believe that He was revealed to us, Father in creation, Son in redemption and Holy Spirit in His comforting grace that never leaves those who trust in Him.
I Corinthians. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; II Corinthians. 5:19; Joel 2:28.

Here are the contents of the response Greater Grace Temple provided.

From: CHE3ELLIS@aol.com Sent: Fri 7/12/2002 5:58 PM
To: Jones, Melvin
CC:
Sbject: Re: A Doctrinal Question

Greater Grace Temple is an Apostolic Church which believes in the “oneness” of God. Please review our website site for details on our belief at:

www.greatergrace.org

Notice Greater Grace is not the least bit shy of stating their position. They are Oneness.

Here is the thoughtful and considerate response from Daryl Godlock (who by the way, is now the pastor at Calvert County Baptist Church in Prince Frederick.

I promise you, I didn�t change anything in his e-mail. What you see is the full force of his well-reasoned response.

From: DGodlock@XXX.com [mailto:DGodlock@XXX.com]

Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 7:30 PM

To: JonesM@XXX-XXX.com

Cc: JKJENK@aol.com

Subject: Re: Confidence in the PASTOR!!!!!

Melvin, I don’t have a problem with anyone who Pastor Jenkins allows in his pulpit.

He is Pastor of this flock and he has not lead/or will lead us astray……..I have FULLCONFIDENCE in his ability to hear from GOD. Furthermore why???? are you concerned with what is going on at FBCG……did not GOD lead to a new home.??!!

Stop being a tool of Satan/Adversary/Accuser of the brethren!!! ….if you have any issue with Pastor Jenkins contact him at the above e-mail address.

Rev. G.

Let me step through it quickly.

Melvin, I don�t have a problem with anyone who Pastor Jenkins allow in his pulpit. He is the Pastor of the flock and he has not lead/or will not lead us astray��..

The first and most obvious observation is the fact that the pulpit is not Jenkins�. It is Christ�s. But his statement pretty well identifies one of the basic problems within First Baptist Church of Glenarden.

If John Jenkins invited a man who denies one of the bedrock doctrines up to the pulpit to speak, then he is leading them astray. But notice in this part of the response, he does not address the issue. Instead, he submits like some silly child to whatever Jenkins chooses to do, never questioning John�s actions.

I have FULLCONFIDENCE in his ability to hear from GOD.

My first question to this statement is: What is the reason for that confidence. If what I said in the initial e-mail is true and John is giving comfort to one who preaches a different Gospel, why should Daryl be confident in John�s decision?

If you �hear� something that is contrary to God�s revelation in the Bible, are you really hearing from God? I suggest not.

Furthermore why???? are you concerned with what is going on at FBCG……did not GOD lead to a new home.??!!

I still haven�t figured out what all the punctuation if for here. But never mind about that. And he really seems to have settled into a �God bless Cave #6 and to hell with all the rest� approach. It�s almost as if worshipping God in one place strips you of the responsibility to say something to someone about the activities in the place they worship. Again, the standard seems to be the person they follow, not the word of God.

Stop being a tool of Satan/Adversary/Accuser of the brethren!!!

Notice the next step. Rather than dealing with the question (Ellis is a Oneness person, so why is John inviting � and paying � him to speak at the church?) he begins the usual personal attack. In that one sentence he says I am:

1. A tool of Satan
2. An adversary
3. An accuser of the bretheren

That sentence has to be the most efficient one of his entire rant.

My response? It follows. But to summarize it, I point out what the Bible says our attitude should be toward those who teach a different Gospel. If you want to skip over it, you won’t hurt my feelings. Otherwise, read on.

—– Original Message —–
From: Jones, Melvin

To: ‘DGodlock@XXX.com’

Cc: ‘jkjenk@XXX.com’

Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 7:47 AM

Subject: RE: Confidence in the PASTOR!!!!!

Rev. Godlock,

I would very much like to contact him at the indicated E-mail address. Unfortunately, he has blocked me. I have, however, included him as a copy in this message. After all, I have nothing to hide from him and am not trying to go behind his back. I appreciate your forwarding that last message and would ask that you forward this one as well, just in case he still has me blocked. I would love to get some feedback from him.

Now, rather than insulting me, could we engage in a conversation centered around The Word?

In response to your last message:

The primary reason I am concerned about what is going on at First Baptist is my wife and youngest child still attend there. If that were not the case, that which goes on at FBG would be no more than a curiousity to me. My responsibilities in the church I attend are more than challenging enough for me. And I have told your pastor as much. However, since I have a responsibility to protect and develop my wife and child as best I can, I am interested. And part of being interested is taking action where I can.

I have accused no one of anything. Bishop Ellis openly admits that he is Apostolic/Oneness. This is not an accusation, it is a fact. Concerning your pastor, I have given him the benefit of the doubt and have assumed that he may not know that Ellis is Apostolic/Oneness. Where in this is an accusation?
Rev. Godlock, is it being a tool of the adversary when you are being obedient to Scripture? Again, perhaps I am missing something, but if Ellis teaches against the Trinity, he is teaching against the “Gospel once for all delivered to the saints…” (Jude 4). Galatians states that anyone who teaches another gospel (and denying the Trinity, and thus the eternal nature of the Son, IS another gospel) is anathema or accursed. That isn’t an accusation on my part. It is a statement from God. Romans 16:17 and 18 says that we should look out for people who teach contrary to the Gospel which we have learned. 2 Thessalonians 3:14 gives instructions on how to deal with error. Specifically it says that we are to “…take special note of that man and do not associate with him, so that he may be put to shame.”

Am I misreading these? If so, perhaps you can help me to see how I am misreading them. If I am not, then what impact do they have on one’s attitude toward receiving a messenger of a false gospel? I’m sure you understand that the command in 2 John 10 and 11 is talking about a preacher of false doctrine and giving that preacher a platform from which to speak. And this is exactly what will be done when Bishop Ellis speaks at the morning services. But again, if I am misreading this, please help me to understand how I am misreading it. If it isn’t saying what I think it is saying, then what is it saying?

But don’t let me put words in your mouth. Is someone (Bishop Ellis) who teaches against the Trinity teaching the truth of God or is he teaching against the truth of God, that is, another Gospel? If you don’t believe that it is another gospel, then I can understand why you would feel no urgency in dealing with such a speaker. I wouldn’t expect you to do or say anything.
But if you do believe that Oneness is a false gospel, then what does the Bible say you are to do with someone who promotes such a doctrine, whether there at FBCG or someplace else? Gal 1:8 pronounces men who preach a false gospel as anathema, accursed. 2 John 9 - 10 says that anyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Titus tells us to refute those who contradict sound doctrine. If Oneness is not sound, then Rev. Jenkins should refute Mr. Ellis, not invite him to speak to the church. Finally, 2 Tim 2:24 - 25 appears to say that the Lord’s bondservant (that would be Rev. Jenkins) is to correct those who are in opposition so that they may come to a knowledge of the truth.

If Ellis is preaching a doctrine against the Gospel (and Oneness with its works based salvation is against the Gospel) then according to the Bible what should our repsonse be to him? If we are not to turn away from him, then what does the Bible say we are to do?

It’s not a question of whether or not Rev. Jenkins hears from God. It is a question of whether or not we are being obedient to the truth, delivered once for all to the saints.

As I said in the first message, does Rev. Jenkins know that Mr. Ellis preaches a Oneness doctrine? I am assuming he does not.
Please understand that I am not questioning your confidence in your pastor. Rather I am trying to understand what you are using for a standard. Is everything your pastor says to be accepted as truth even if it contradicts what the Bible clearly says? Or does the Bible only mean what your pastor says it means? While I understand your confidence in your pastor, I still must ask: Do you, like the Bereans, have a responsibility to “…examine the scriptures and see if these things are so”? If the Bereans could check on Paul, the apostle of apostles, should we do any less for our leadership? Afterall, the wounds of a friend are better for us than the kisses of an enemy.

Melvin

I might note that Daryl is now the pastor of the Calvert County Baptist Church in Prince Frederick, MD. He was appointed to the position by � that�s right! � John Jenkins. I plan on visiting the church some time in late January or early February with the hopes of writing an article on that �ministry�. Would any of you care to contribute to my Kevlar� vest fund? I can link you to my PayPal account.

But let�s get back to the Oneness preacher. Not one to give up too easily, I even talked to a couple of deacons at the church. Specifically I told Lawrence Lee about the planned speaker and asked him if he didn�t think he should say something to the good pastor. His response? �John Jenkins belongs to God and God can correct him.� I had to ask him what he thought God would use to correct him? There was a deafening silence in response.

Posted by Melvin Jones on Friday, January 28th, 2005 at 8:45 pm.