All Things to All Men --
Is Lynn a Baptized Member?
by Lynn Ridenhour
January 29, 2001
Lynn, the Christian bridge builder, describes his
experiences as a licensed Baptist minister of 36 years, his revival work among
charismatic circles, his time among the Mormons.
His primary gift and mission in life seems to be to
stir the coals of revival among the charismatic-inclined who are numbered
among the various restoration movements.
-- Sterling D. Allan
So many have asked the question, "…is he or
isn’t he a baptized member?…"
It’s time to clear up the matter. I begin with an analogy.
As followers of Christ, we’re called upon in those rare moments to
perhaps do the unorthodox—or as some would say, even the unthinkable. For
example, I have friends, husband/wife Baptist missionaries, who were called
upon to serve in the remote islands off the coast of Africa. The modest
Baptist missionary wife from Indiana, in order to share the gospel with other
native women on that island, had to go topless. For you see, all native women
on the island went topless; it was a deeply held religious belief--for a woman
to hide her breasts was to hide evil spirits. It would have meant certain
suicide for my Baptist friend had she not complied with the native custom.
Unthinkable! you say. Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Though very few of us are ever called upon to sacrifice like my missionary
friends, still there are those moments in our lives when we too are tested and
led by the Spirit to do what others might tag as unorthodox. And we have
nothing but God to fall back on.
That happened to my wife and me.
Yes, in 1996 we became baptized members in the LDS church, but no, we’re
not members. I’m still a licensed Baptist minister. I still preach in
Baptist churches. And I still perform marriages in Baptist churches. (I know
the statement requires follow-up, and is a bit unorthodox.)
Paul said it this way:
"…For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself
servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as
a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under
the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are
without law, as without law to God, but under the law to Christ, that I
might gain them that are without law…I am made all things to all men, that
I might by all means save some, and this I do for the gospel’s sake…"
--I Cor.9:19-23
Paul too seemed to be talking in circles, if not certainly sounding a bit
unorthodox.
My Explanation
To begin with, I share an actual email I answered just the other day
regarding this very subject. I believe our correspondence will shed some
light.
___________
John, Lynn Ridenhour here, Independence, MO. You write,
"…Just finished reading your pamphlet after having been directed to
it by a link
in an AOL message board. Enjoyed it! You should know that some on this now
believe that you are not nor ever were a Baptist minister because of your
views on Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. One of the LDS posters made
the comment that you had joined the LDS church. Is this so?…"
To answer your questions, yes, I’m still a licensed Baptist minister and
still minister in Baptist churches, as well as other Protestant churches. And
no, I am not a member of the LDS church. I get these questions all the
time--certainly weekly. I thought I would include some of the specifics of my
background.
Background Information
First, I’m 57 years old and have been a licensed
Baptist minister since 1965. That’s 36 years. I’m happily married,
have been for 31 years, and we have a lovely teenaged daughter who’s a
freshman at her dad’s ole alma mater, William Jewell College in Liberty,
Missouri.
Here is some background information…
Regarding my being a licensed Baptist minister. In 1963 during a ceremony
officiated by the deacons and minister of my home-town church, the First
Baptist Church in Belle, Missouri, on one Sunday evening, I was licensed as a
Baptist minister by my pastor, L.M. White, and the deacons of my church. I
grew up in that church, was "born again" (as we Baptists say) in
that church, was married in that church, and was mentored by Pastor White for
the ministry in that church, mostly preaching on Sunday evenings. I preached
my grandmother's funeral in that church. My dad's funeral was in that church.
I have preached in that church throughout the years more than a few times,
have held revivals in it. My sister, Joan Abel, still plays the piano and is
the choir director in that church. Yes, I have been a licensed Baptist
minister since 1963. Yes, I was licensed at the First Baptist Church in Belle,
Missouri, my hometown. And still attend when I go back home.
Having graduated from Belle High School in the early 60s (".…go Tigers!…)
I began my study for the ministry at a Southern Baptist College in Liberty,
Missouri, called William Jewell College. You will find my picture in the
college yearbooks, the Tatler, during the mid-sixties. One semester I was
president of the student ministerial alliance, and often preached in weekend
revivals around the area. I met my lovely wife, Linda Sue Smith, one weekend
as a ministerial student while preaching in her hometown church, the First
Baptist Church, in Blue Springs, MO. My picture is seen in the Tatler taken
along with the rest of the ministerial students. Dr. David O. Moore, chairman
of the religion department, was my personal advisor.
While studying for the Baptist ministry at William Jewell, and majoring in
religion, I also was the youth pastor at Six-Mile Baptist Church in a small
neighboring rural town, Buckner, Missouri. Rev. J.I. Willard was my pastor.
It's safe to say I preached in over 100 local Baptist churches during my
student days at William Jewell. I was also at that time a staff member on
Youth For Christ under the wonderful ministry of Al Metsker, personal friends
with Billy Graham. I took part in the Billy Graham crusades as a counselor,
and was heavily involved with Campus Crusade for Christ.
I have pastored Baptist churches in Eros, La, was the co-pastor at Grace Bible
Camp with Brother Elton Woods. I pastored a Baptist Church in West Monroe, LA.
Was the youth pastor at Milldale Baptist Bible Camp in Zachary, LA. While
living on the campgrounds at Milldale Baptist Bible Camp I lived next door to
Leonard Ravenhill, well-known revivalist who authored the classic Why
Revival Tarries. I was a personal friend with well-known Baptist
Evangelist Manley Beasley who also lived on the campgrounds at Milldale
Baptist Bible Camp. It was Brother Beasley who in fact invited me to come join
the staff there.
In 1972, my wife and I were introduced to the charismatic renewal and
became quite involved, but never have I left my Baptist roots. That's why I
say in my Baptist Version of the Book of Mormon pamphlet, "….to be
exact, I'm charismatic Baptist." I mean that.
For years I have been heavily involved in cell groups. Some would call them
"house churches." Most cell groups are charismatic-inclined and
non-denominational. Since 1972, my wife and I have embraced the operation of
the gifts of the Spirit, as well as believing in the salvation of souls. Our
ministry emphasis, in a nutshell, shifted in the early 70s from "soul
winning" to "discipling." Thus, our keen interest in small
group ministry even to this day.
In the early 70s my wife and I attended the "Sheepshed" in
Ruston, LA, and sat under the ministry of Derek Prince, Bob Mumford, Charles
Simpson, and Don Basham--all leaders within the charismatic renewal. It was
under Brother Basham’s ministry that we received what is commonly called the
Baptism in the Holy Spirit and began operating and moving in the gifts of the
Spirit. From there, we began a Christian half-way house ministry on a 180-acre
farm approximately 60 miles west of St. Louis—a ministry that targeted the
homeless and the drug & counter culture. We ministered in the parks, in
pool halls, taverns and in the streets. Our 180-acre farm was called The Upper
Room. And our ministry was non-denominational. (A drug addict cares less if
you’re Baptist or Catholic.)
In the early 80s, I taught at Jerry Falwell's Liberty Baptist College in
the English department, while discipling a small group of believers in our
home. I also did some evangelism speaking in Baptist churches while on faculty
at Falwell's. Most of Falwell's faculty are also preachers of the gospel, so
it was not unusual for many of us to be in some pulpit on any given Sunday.
While on faculty, world-respected evangelical apologist, Francis Schaeffer,
came to campus one week for ministry. We corresponded throughout his lifetime
and I became an avid disciple of his teachings here in the states.
My contract was not renewed in 1981. To be specific, two of my freshman
composition students--both deaf & dumb--came to one of our weekly home
prayer meetings. While there, both students received the laying on of hands,
and both simultaneously began praising and speaking in another language!
That's the first time either of the two had ever uttered a word. They could
feel & sense their vocal cords vibrating and I don't mind telling you--it
excited them. They were both sitting on our living room floor speaking in
tongues, in another language.
A miracle, indeed.
Word got out on campus that two deaf & mute students "….had gone
over to Ridenhour's house and came back speaking in tongues." Falwell
does not believe in the gifts of the Spirit. He (and the position of his
college) takes the position that the gifts of the Spirit ceased when the Bible
was printed.
I lost my contract for the following year. It was not renewed. I was
labeled a "charismatic" Christian.
The Lord knows our every leading. It was from there that I was hired on in the
English faculty at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, while my
wife was hired down the road twenty miles at Robert Morris College, in a
little town called Carthage. It was while pastoring a small country church
seven miles or so outside of Carthage in Fandon, IL, that I was handed a Book
of Mormon, read it, and had an instant conversion. Yes, the Lord knows our
every leading. Two deaf & dumb students had to receive the gift of tongues
in order to get me booted from Falwell's to Illinois so that I would stop
preaching against the Book of Mormon, stop calling it a cult, and be handed a
copy seven miles outside of Carthage, read it, and fall in love with one of
the most precious books God has ever given to man. Amazing.
In 1985 the Lord directed my family and me to gather here to the Center Place
of Zion. We have lived here in Independence, Missouri, ever since, and plan to
spend the rest of our lives here in Zion. We love it here.
Our Calling in Zion
I'm accepted around town (Independence) here in both camps--that is, I
minister in restoration churches and non-restoration churches. Not too long
ago I spoke at Osage
Hills RLDS congregation in Buckner, Missouri. Here's a short note from the
pastors.
A Word of Appreciation from RLDS Pastors:
Dr. Lynn:
Just a short note of appreciation for your giving your testimony of belief in
the Book of Mormon. Coming from your Southern Baptist background, your
positive testimony was a meaningful presentation enjoyed by all. Again thank
you for your ministry.
We remain your friends and His servants,
CO-Pastors: Osage Hills Congregation
Jay and Vicki Robinson
Buckner, MO
One must be aware of the spiritual climate around town here. This is the world
headquarters for the RLDS, the LDS are here, the Culterites are here, the
Strangites, the Bickerites, the Elijah Messenger group is here, the
Restoration Branches are here. It seems Independence is where most of the
"spin off" restoration groups settled. I have preached in most of
the above groups--and am welcome in all--including having taught a Sunday or
two in the LDS gospel doctrine class. And there are many more spin off groups
located here in Independence that I haven't even mentioned.
Here's my point.
I feel as though I'm a bridge builder. In no way do I compare myself to John
the Baptist. But he too was a bridge builder. If you recall, John's ministry
was neither entirely of grace nor of law. He came on the scene in between
ages, in between the Old & New Testaments. He was a preparer of the way. I
feel, in a much more limited way that's what I do, especially around town
here. I prepare the way for Baptists to listen to Mormons and for Mormons to
listen to Baptists and for RLDS and LDS to talk to one another.
If I may be so bold, I have been preaching the gospel now for nearly 40
years--these past fifteen years the restoration gospel. In all my years of
ministry, I have never seen the Lord move like he has these past few years.
For instance, we have received an invitation to minister the restoration
gospel in India to over 40 Pentecostal pastors. They are anxious to hear. I am
receiving more & more invitations to speak in Protestant churches
around the country regarding the restoration gospel. We're receiving over 250
hits a week now on our website. And growing.
What I'm saying, I try to follow the Lord where He leads. He even led us among
the LDS for awhile, but all the while I continued ministering in Baptist
churches and elsewhere, even RLDS churches. While attending LDS services,
however, we had some wonderful ministry moments. I had an arrangement with the
local Bishop that I would continue ministering in other groups—both
restoration and non-restoration. And I did. In order to teach and to carry out
certain callings, the Bishop wanted me to become a baptized member. I did.
Like Paul, I am willing to become "…all things to all men, that I
might by all means save some, and this I do for the gospel’s sake…" In
1996 I was baptized. Why? It was never my intention to "become a
Mormon" in order to join "the one true church." I became a
member for ministry purposes, because I knew the Lord had led us
there--knowing that our ministry would be temporary. And it was. We’re
evangelists at heart. Thus, we rescinded our membership when our work was
complete. And we left in good graces.
And what is our work & calling among the saints?
We believe it’s the same in every restoration fellowship. Our good
friend, Sterling Allan, said it best:
"…[Lynn’s] primary gift and mission in life seems to be to stir
the coals of revival among the charismatic-inclined who are numbered among the
various restoration movements…."
That’s it.
I believe the gifts of the Spirit are meant for today. I believe the
charismatic gifts should operate in every LDS ward, in sacrament service, in
every RLDS congregation, and in every Baptist church for that matter. God’s
gifts are for His children everywhere--regardless of creed, color, or class.
Joseph himself said, "…The gifts which follow
them that believe and obey the gospel…began to be poured out among us, as in
ancient days…"
I believe those same gifts need pouring out on us. And on
some occasions we witness the outpouring. I remember on one occasion the
Bishop had called my wife—I don’t remember why. In the midst of their
phone conversation, Linda, my wife, felt the promptings of the Holy Ghost to
pray for our Bishop. She commented, "....Bishop, do you mind if I
pray right now over the phone for you? He consented. My wife began
her prayer in English and slipped into her prayer language. The Lord blessed
mightily. Even our Bishop acknowledged His presence.
I tell my Pentecostal/Charismatic friends, the great
outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our day did not begin in 1900 out west in
California on Azuza Street. It began in the Midwest in a little town called
Kirtland, Ohio, sixty-four years earlier! The year was 1836. Most of my
friends have never heard the marvelous story of the great outpouring that
accompanied the early Saints. It was a Pentecost, indeed, and a time of
rejoicing. I would say—a time unparalleled in our day. So few of today’s
Christians know about it.
Zebedee Coltrin, eyewitness, wrote,
"…I have seen the power of God as it was on the
day of Pentecost…I saw the Lord…The angels of God rested upon the Temple
and we heard their voices singing heavenly music…"
Hear Lorenzo Snow, another eyewitness:
"…There [in the temple] we had the gift of
prophecy—the gift of tongues—the interpretation of tongues—visions and
marvelous dreams were related—the singing of heavenly choirs was heard,
and wonderful manifestations of the healing power, through the
administrations of the Elders, were witnessed. The sick were healed—the
deaf made to hear—the blind to see and the lame to walk, in very many
instances. It was plainly manifest that a sacred and divine influence—a
spiritual atmosphere pervaded that holy edifice." --Biography of
Lorenzo Snow, p.11
Daniel Tyler wrote, "…All felt that they had a
foretaste of heaven…and we wondered whether the millenium had commenced…"
Over one thousand people attended these meetings. The
Savior appeared in five different meetings held in the temple. Visions,
including a vision of the Father and Son, were beheld at eight meetings, and
the congregation saw heavenly beings or angels in nine meetings. In other
sessions many Saints reported that they experienced such manifestations as the
gift of tongues, the sounds of a mighty wind, a pillar of fire resting down
upon the temple roof, prophesying, and the voices of angels (Joseph
Smith’s Kirtland, p.170).
So great was the outpouring that our beloved Prophet was
constrained to write,
"…It was a Pentecost and an endowment indeed,
long to be remembered, for the sound shall go forth from this place into all
the world, and the occurrences of this day shall be handed down upon the
pages of sacred history, to all generations; as the day of Pentecost, so
shall this day be numbered and celebrated as a year of jubilee, and time of
rejoicing to the Saints of the Most High God." --History of the
Church, 2:432-33
Joseph, under the inspiration of his pen, writes "…the
occurrences of this day shall be handed down upon the pages of sacred history…"
That hasn’t happened yet. That prophecy has yet to be fulfilled. Church, I
submit—not enough of us are handing down the story of Kirtland to our
children. I believe, because of the lack of knowledge among today’s
Christians regarding these widespread occurrences, events of 1836 have yet to
reach their full impact. There will come a day when the Body of Christ will
know. Eyewitness John A. Boynton’s prophecy shall be fulfilled.
"…Within that house God will pour out his
spirit in great majesty and glory and encircle his people with fire more
gloriously and marvelously than at Pentecost because the work to be
performed in the last days is greater than was in that day." --May
6, 1834, Kirtland, Ohio
We must tell our children, "…the work to
be performed in the[se] last days is greater than was in that day…" Our
children must inherit our mantle, and for them to do so, we must be
storytellers--storytellers of our great beginnings at Kirtland.
In summary, I'm still a Baptist minister who loves the Book of Mormon and
who believes that Joseph Smith was a modern day Prophet of God. If I
have misrepresented this precious gospel in any way or misrepresented my
accolades in any way, my deepest apologies. I desire no notoriety. I simply
desire to share this marvelous story that began in the grove.
His Blessings be yours as we labor together in His vineyard.
Lynn Ridenhour
Southern Baptist Minister
Independence, MO
Visit our website at: www.greaterthings.com/Ridenhour/
