Are Reformed Baptists really Baptists

Are Reformed Baptists really Baptists?

We need to find a middle ground tool to defeat doctrinal error.

Confessions, Creeds, Statements of faith, etc... are those tools.

They can be referred to as "necessary evils" or perhaps better yet "necessary weapons of defense".

It is evident that we are not all "of the same mind in the Lord".

These defenses can be temporal, as error crops up in the passage of time or geographic or to defeat nonsensical movements.

Also, we may not readily know the history of a local church and whether "ravenous wolves" had entered in at one time, with the adopted creed, confession, statement of faith, etc, a "necessary evil" of defense.

So we identify these "necessary evils" of defenses by the shibboleths we hang on them.

When we see the phrase "reformed" or "charismatic" in the context of a local church its a kind of short cut ID to know where they stand and whether (in the event of disagreement) we can tolerate the disagreement and fellowship there.

Personally, I would "test the waters" of a reformed church before I felt comfortable with regular fellowship but wouldn't even visit a charismatic church.

It has been this way from the beginning with the church(es) battle with the infiltration/influence of error - gnosticism, arianism to today's war with the influences of neo-orthodoxy, neo-evangelicalism, post modernism, secular humanism, etc, etc...

So, yes, of course (assuming adherence to the distinctives) "reformed" Baptists are Baptists , the confession(s) being a declaration in human terms of where they stand. If one is in disagreement and can't find enough self-tolerance (or local church permission) to fellowship, then exercise "soul liberty" and relocate (ideally in a quiet manner).


HankD

 

The "No creed but the Bible" is a Creed which condemns creeds. Such people who voice this creed should say, "no creeds but the Bible and this one creed." To hold to "no creed but the Bible" is a self contradictory statement, as it is a creed condemning creeds.

We would be better off saying, "No creed except Biblical Creeds."

 

Icon, I think you hit the nail on the head. Everything this man is writing indicates an agenda. He did not go to that church to learn but to resist, and I would add, oppose.

I have no problem with someone disagreeing with certain theology, et. But to go into a congregation and just fight with the pastors and some sort of pretended "reformer" themselves, then walk out and act "holy" is reprehensible.

 

EWT:

Since you have come to these boards to condemn and fight against certain Christians, I am going to respond to a few things of yours.

You accepted "Reformed Theology" as "the truth faith" and you tried to "build your life on it" ??? Really? I know of no one who has done this. What we as Christians do, whether Reformed in our theology or no, is build our life on Christ Jesus and His Word. This is the Rock. If you precieved a Reformed Church as something to build your life on, then I am glad for your sake you left it and went somewhere to build your life of Christ Alone.

And what should happen should a person find something detestable about you? I am appalled that you would posture this is your stand, maligning your brethren and referring to God's heritiage as "detestable" Remember, to their Master they stand or fall, and God is able to make them stand.

I suggest both to you and your brother that you make distinctions between true religion and false. Every church, baptist or not, can fall into legalism. It's a danger for us all and we should prayerfully be guarded against it. But there is true religion which the SCRIPTURES praise, namely, James 1:27

This is wholly absurd. How can you renounce what is written in some creeds. That is insane in my opinion, because the creeds are statements that entirely biblical, declaring what the Bible teaches. And furthermore, there is NO Reformed church I know of that does not hold the Bible as their primary reference point.

This statement is suggestive that those who are part of a Reformed church do not have the true Christ or His Kingdom. If this is your stand, then I would believe you have joined a cult. Your Reforemd brethren are just that, your brothers. And your command by Jesus Christ as His disciple is that you love your brethren. But I am wondering concernign you.

When did you check your sanity at the door? The papacy no longer, in the main, fights witht he sword but with the pen. And if your family was among a legalistic congregation then they should have left it, but not malign and attack the people...as you are doing. You paint with broad brushes and do err greatly. Are you calling all Reformers legalists? Really? Luther, Calvin, et.

Or recently, Spurgeon, Bunyan and others?

We can have for sure a respectful disagreement with many. But to lay the kind of charges and calumunies that you are laying is disgusting to watch.

And you know what my hunch is...you have jumped from one church, condemning them as legalists and false Christians, to join a cultish independant one that is twice the son of heII you suppose the former to be.

 

I attended a similar type church over 20 years ago. On the surface they were kind and friendly. But, the preacher would make remarks that caused me to wonder exactly what he was saying. Once I asked the preacher and one of the deacons if they were Calvinistic in doctrine, and they were very evasive in their answer. As the months went on I discovered that they were very hardshell in their beliefs. I left. Later the pastor died and the church pretty much disbanded.

 

I have no idea what reformed means; I am born again. I haven't read anywhere that Jesus said, "Ye must be reformed", but He did say, "Ye must be born again." I've heard of reformed alcoholics, but what is a reformed Christian?

 

If your referring to me, then I am glad you think its funny. I don't. But it is neither here nor there. This is a discussion board and a debate area, and you have backed down. No problem.

But I get passionate about my brethren in Christ, even those with whom I greatly disagree, when they are despised. At the very least I wanted to expose your hyprocrisy.

 

It's not that hard John. It simply refers to the period of the Reformation.

 

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself...

...God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. Luke 18:11

Sorry, wrong translation!

 

I am glad that you are reporting that your following Jesus and your wife is also. Thanks to Jesus for that. Just stop falsely accusing your brethren.

 

Actually it is quite easy to point the wrongs in Campbellite theology by using just the Bible. That is not a problem but using one's standard of faith and practice.

I have not seen Lk. 14:33 in any doctrinal statement.

Lk 14:33 "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions."

Yet what did Jesus teach?

 

I have listened to you. I have read your words. And you come accross and act rather strange. Also, your words indicate that you believe that we who are reformed/calvinist are not saved.

 

You really need to get over yourself and get a grip.

 

Then you have no idea what is meant by Reformed. As I told Jon, it simply refers to the Reformation.