Primitive Baptist Universalist

The Primitive Baptist Universalists are Christian Universalist congregations located primarily in the central Appalachian region of the United States. They are popularly known as "No-Hellers" due to their belief that there is no Hell per se, but that Hell is actually experienced in this life.[1][2]

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History

Although they did not split as a denomination away from other Primitive Baptists until 1924, the Primitive Baptist Universalists (PBUs) have been theologically distinct as Universalists since at least 1907, when the minutes of the Washington District Primitive Baptist Association record a reproval:

Resolved, that whereas, we have been troubled with the doctrine of universalism that we advise the churches that if they have any elders preaching such heresies, or members arguing it, that they admonish them to quit preaching it or talking it, and if they fail to hear them to withdraw fellowship from such, and especially we admonish Hale Creek church to admonish Elder M. L. Compton to refrain from such doctrine.

Recently, there have been several independent congregations develop due to the revival of interest in the unique theological perspective of the Primitive Baptist Universalists. Many of these churches are located in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, and Texas.

Holston Primitive Baptist Universalist Church in Rogersville, TN is among the congregations seeking to unite other churches interested in fellowship without formal associations. This fellowship of congregations allows for variations in interpretations, worship practices, and practical matters which impact their local identity. Calvinistic Universalism, simple services, and local outreach is the prevailing theological and practical glue that binds each church to the fellowship.

Theology

Baptist minister and historian Bill Leonard has characterized PBU beliefs as the result of "press[ing] ... Calvinism to the ... conclusion that Christ's redemption is so powerful that all will be redeemed." According to Leonard, PBUs believe "It's hell enough down here."[3]

Specific tenets of PBU theology include:[4]

  • Universal reconciliation: Christ's atonement was for all humanity, and at Resurrection all humanity will be reunited with Christ for an eternity in Heaven.
  • Hell is a factor of the temporal world, where temporal sins will be punished by an increased separation from God.
  • Satan is an entity solely of the temporal world, existing only as "natural man" warring against "spiritual man."
  • Sin, punishment, and death are factors only of the temporal world, thus ceasing to exist after Resurrection, and sin is punished in the temporal world by a separation from God.
  • The joy of righteousness is its own reward, so retribution and reward are needed only for the here and now.

The two main groups of Primitive Baptist Universalists are similar in soteriology but differ in eschatology. One group holds to a more traditional Amillennial position while the other is Preterist.

Holston Primitive Baptist Universalist Church reports the following distinctives:

  • 1. Sovereignty of God
  • 2. Non-Literal Interpretive Approach to scripture
  • 3. A Thinking Faith
  • 4. Preterist Perspective

Numbers and structure

Primitive Baptists do not participate in censuses of religious denominations, so there are no solid data on the number of PBUs or other Primitive Baptist groups.[5] Bill Leonard estimated in 2011 that there were 1,000 or fewer PBU adherents in total, concentrated in 20 counties in Appalachia.[3]

There are four associations of PBU congregations consisting of a total of thirty-three congregations located in area of northeastern Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky, with three PBU fellowships in Ohio, one in Pennsylvania, and Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church in Grayson, Louisiana:[6]

  • Regular Primitive Baptist Washington District Association
  • The Three Forks of Powell's River Regular Primitive Baptist Association
  • Elkhorn Primitive Baptist Association (1st)
  • Elkhorn Primitive Baptist Association (2nd)
  • Holston Primitive Baptist Universalist Church[7]

Notable Primitive Baptist Universalists

Further reading
  • Howard Dorgan (1997). In the Hands of a Happy God: The “No Hellers” of Central Appalachia. University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 0-87049-962-9

References
  1. Nickels, Charles F. (c. 1937). Salvation of All Mankind; and Treatise on Predestination, the Resurrection of the Dead, and a Bequest. Nickelsville, Virginia: Published by the author.
  2. Dorgan, Howard (1997). In the Hands of a Happy God: The "No-Hellers" of Central Appalachia. Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 0-87049-962-9.
  3. Norman Jameson (March 31, 2011). "Baptist scholar says remember Appalachia before it disappears". The Christian Century.
  5. Dorgan, Howard. "Primitive Baptists". West Virginia Encyclopedia.
  6. Dave Tabler (2011), Hellers or No-Hellers?, condensed and edited from "Stoney Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Carter County, Tennessee: A 'No-Heller' Meetinghouse," by Howard Dorgan, 1996.
  7. Facebook page
  8. Stanley, Ralph (2009). Man of Constant Sorrow. Gotham Books. p. 394. ISBN 978-1592404254.
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