Association of Reformed Baptist Churches

Yes I do & no I dont.

 

How do you mean "be the next SBC"?

Yes, I'm familiar with it and know of ARBCA churches. I wish there were more.

 

They hold to what they call the "Doctrines of Grace." Currently we are seeing a trend in this direction. Hopefully, it is just a trend.

 

I was a member of a Reformed Baptist church for 4 years, and this church affiliated with ARBCA. So, yes I know them. I am not attending there at the moment because of distance and 6 kids...they didn't have the ability to help manage the little ones.

Awesome churches. 1689 London Baptist Confession. Very Puritan. Very Reformed.

 

It's not a trend. It's the restoration of biblical truth.

 

What is a Reformed Baptist Church?

Many reformed baptists would have a very intellectual answer for you. Allow me a layman's take.

1. They are born-again Christians.
2. They love the Bible
3. They love other born-again Christians

What makes them distinct?

1. They are confessional. By that I mean they do place importantance on the use of a written confession, IN NO WAY to be accused of supplanting Scripture or being equal to it, but as a confession of what they believe Scripture teaches.

Reformed Baptist churches would affirm the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.

2. They are Reformed. That is, they affirm the five solas of the Reformation.

Where are they different from other baptist churches?

1. They are not Arminian, they are Calvinists. But not all Baptist churches are Arminians.

2. They are covenantal in their understanding of Redemptive history, not dispensational.

3. They hold very closely the Regulative Princple of Worship.

I am probably leaving things out that ARBCA or a Reformed Baptist congregation would say. This is just my take having been a member in one for 4 years.

 

When many churches reject biblical truth, to work to restore it is reformation. You need to study history a bit brother.

 

That part is not any different than what the Presbyterian churches have historically taught. If you compared the Westminster Confession of Faith with the 1689 London Baptist Confession (which is what our family uses) then you will see on the matters you isolated here in your reply, they are identical.

 

They are making TULIP a hill to die on. They attribute the current state of many Baptist churches to be related to their non-reformed ways.

 

I couldn't answer. The reason being, I have never heard an ARBCA/Reformed Baptist pastor preach on those verse together. I could only answer for myself.

 

I have met some non-tulip folks having the same struggle..

 

What are the areas of TULIP...depravity of man, election, atonement, God's calling of sinners, and His preservation of His saints. These are essential doctrines.

I would suggest reading The Downgrade Controversy by Spurgeon. It sheds some light on the effect of Arminian theology.

 

I have been a member of an ARBCA church. I do not think they would make TULIP a hill to die on. In our church, we prayed for the ministry of non-reformed brethren and supported non-reformed men and women in missions.

They do have in common the confession the 1689 London Baptist Confession . While they believe this document is a great summary of Biblical Teachings, they do not make it a hill in which to pray, support, and love others who disagree.

 

I go to a churc that was once affiliated with ARBCA and our church still has a lot of fellowsip with existing ARBCA churches.

It should be noted that it is possible to be a member of both the SBC and ARBCA.


As for restoring biblical truth, the truth was never lost. At least not entirely. However there has been a resurgence of truth.

I am sorry if any of you have come across unfriendly reformed folks. I know such exist but please consider the theology for what it is rather than the personality of those holding to it.