Celebrating our commonalities

[Luke2427]

We war so much on here fighting for what we feel is right and I think that is a good thing.

But I thought we might take a break and love on each other as brothers and sisters for a little while in this thread.

Let's celebrate some things we all believe about the Bible and our wonderful Savior. Whether you are Calvinist or Arminian or whatever. Share some things you appreciate about the folks on this board and what things you feel we all have in common.

I'll start. I think even Winman and Webdog and Skandelon and everyone else on baptistboard and myself believe:

- That God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, eternal, immutable, and sovereign.

- That the Bible is the Word of God. It is God breathed and preserved and is the final authority on all matters of faith and practice.

- That Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven for any person man, woman and child.

- That Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, rose triumphantly over death and hell on the third day and is coming again.

I appreciate Winman's desire to place the Scripture as the exclusive source of authority.

I appreciate Skandelon's intelligence.

I appreciate Willis' heart.

I appreciate Webdog's tenacity and humor.

I appreciate Amy's stand for Scripture.

I'll do more later.
Who's next?

 

[Old Union Brother]

I appreciate the fellowship and friendship that I have found on the board.

I appreciate Luke's bold stand for what he believes in.

I appreciate Bob's post with pictures that sometimes tell a better story than words.

I appreciate Kyrednecks straight forward way of approaching topics.

I appreciate Jauthor's knowledge and causing me to study deeper and praying more.

I appreciate Amy for giving me the first words of encouragement when I almost quit the board.

I am thankful for being able to communicate about Godly topics with brothers and sisters over then world

 

[Amy.G]

Ok here goes.

I appreciate Luke for starting this thread as we need to love on one another. I also appreciate his fire and passion for God.

I appreciate Old Union Brother for his peaceful nature and just thinking about him sometimes makes me try to be nicer in my posts.

I appreciate Willis for his good naturedness (is that a word?) LOL and his love of God.

I appreciate Webdog because of his love of his family and his passion for scripture.

I appreciate Ann for her graceful posts.

I appreciate Scarlett for her intelligence and her stand for us girls.

I appreciate Winman's knowledge of scripture and ability to post so many that relate to one topic.

I appreciate Pinoybaptist just cause I have always liked him. LOL and he tells amazing stories and testimonies about his past.

I actually appreciate everybody on the board for something and I could go on and on but I'll shut up now.


Edit: I also appreciate all you guys for putting up with me!

 

[Old Union Brother]

The greatest commonality between us is Christ being our savior

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Ahhh, all this Koom By Ahhh! :laugh:

 

[Osage Bluestem]

I appreciate baptist unity on the gospel and the evangelism of it.

 

[Tom Butler]

I echo all those who have posted. I'm especially grateful that despite our differences in some areas, we agree on a lot. Those things we agree on make us fellow Baptists. I wish all of us could gather in one place for worship. I would be perfectly comfortable being with all of you, and I have no doubt that God would inhabit our praise to him.

Well, maybe there are a couple of folks who wouldn't fit in. Sorta reminds me of a big billboard on the south side of Clinton, Kentucky (far Western Ky) several years ago. It said, "Welcome to Clinton, Kentucky. Home of 1,500 happy people and one old grouch."

That's the Baptist Board. A bunch of happy believers and a couple of old grouches.

 

[BobinKy]

I love all you guys!

...Bob

 

[Luke2427]

I think it is unfortunate that we cannot get any more participation on this type of thread.

What do you think we can come together on?

 

[Old Union Brother]

I think it is unfortunate that we cannot get any more participation on this type of thread.

What do you think we can come together on?

This happens all to often it seems that some folks do not want to look for things we have in common. How sad. Not looking for common ground has divided us for centuries.

 

[Amy.G]

I was thinking the same thing the other day, that threads like this get very little attention. The most popular threads are the ones where everyone is at each other's throats. Tells a lot about us doesn't it?

 

[Osage Bluestem]

We also all have baptism right.

That is the main reason I am Baptist and not Presbyterian.

I also believe that the autonomy of the local church is biblical.

 

[Andy T.]

I too appreciate Skandelon's intelligence and his desire to do Biblical theology, and he is very clear and succinct in his posts.

I appreciate Amy G's desire to learn more about God and give all sides a chance - I see that in her posts.

I appreciate Winman's desire for the truth and for God's Word.

I appreciate Webdog's constant use of Scripture and his willingness to see both sides and his stand for truth vs. error (like the ME heresy a few years ago and his stand for the Gospel in general). And I appreciate that he is a Cleveland fan, because as a Detroit fan I know the heartache, although maybe for not quite as long and tortured time as he's endured!

There are others I appreciate like Willis, quantam and Cypress who struggle with the same issues we all struggle with, but with much more grace than I sometimes do.

 

[Osage Bluestem]

I appreciate all the future calvinists in here who are hashing through their current synergist misunderstandings.

:laugh:

 

[Skandelon]

A group of fourteen Baptist historians has endorsed a statement titled An Affirmation of Common Baptist Themes:

Here is a snippet from the statement:
It is no surprise that we found affirmations of the following: believer’s baptism, personal “heart” experience of God, the priesthood of all believers, personal and communal devotion to God, a commitment to the church as the body of Christ, the autonomy of each local church, congregational polity, the regular practice of ordinances (baptism/Lord’s Supper), voluntary cooperation among churches, and strong voices for religious liberty and the separation of church and state.

As the foundation for all of these Baptist principles, we have seen a commitment to sola Scriptura—the belief that the Bible alone, neither creeds nor tradition, is the authority for religious faith and practice.

In this year’s reading, the emphasis found among seventeenth-century Baptists that was most provocative was the affirmation of the role of individual conscience, especially when voluntary faith was threatened with coercion or compulsion. Baptist writings from prison were a reminder that Jesus Christ is “the one and the only Lord over our Consciences, and Law-giver to our Souls.”

 

[Skandelon]

I appreciate everyone on this board because even by being here you express a love for truth, biblical doctrine and better understanding of God.

I know when we all get to heaven God will gather us into one big room and explain all the details of these difficult subjects. Just so you are aware, He has personally asked me to help with this explanation, so I'll expect you all to be in attendance and listening carefully.

Seriously, I love you all, and any time you want to grab a beer and cigar and talk theology let me know, I'll be there. :laugh:

 

[jbh28]

I appreciate everyone here. What I love most about this board is that we are all baptists. Though we disagree on some issues, we do have common ground which is nice. What's nice is that when we get done fighting, we can still be nice. I've had good posts from both winman and others I have disagreed with.

 

[Winman]

I think it is unfortunate that we cannot get any more participation on this type of thread.

What do you think we can come together on?

Luke, I respect that you make a stand for what you believe. I disagree with almost everything you believe, but I respect a person of conviction.

I like Tom Butler because he listens.

I like Amy because she gives a soft answer (very wise).

Jhb28 is engaging, and always courteous.

Webdog knows how to say a lot in few words, that is a true gift. Very knowledgeable too.

PinoyBaptist is out there, I don't understand what he believes at all, yet he comes across as a very nice and loving person.

BobinKy is a peacemaker.

stilllearning is humble.

Skandelon is very patient.

I like Willis a lot, he is a true man, who seeks the truth.

Iconoclast is like Luke, a man I disagree with, but a man of conviction.

I like Ann, she is a nice person who loves the Lord.

Quantamfaith is an encourager.

Hey, I could go on for an hour, but I like everyone here. I know we don't always agree, in fact, we almost never agree, but I enjoy the comradery.

So, if I have left out your name, I am sorry, but I love you too!

 

[annsni]

I hate to post on posts like this because I know I will forget someone and hurt feelings - and I really do hate to hurt feelings. So let me just say that I count all of you as my brothers and sisters. Just like I will fight with my real life brothers, we'll fight here too but that doesn't change the fact that we will spend eternity together. You guys have sharpened me, uplifted me and yes, at times hurt me but I've grown so much since coming here. Thank you all.

 

[Cypress]

I am glad I have been able to interact with you all on this side of heaven.........It's great to have so large a family! Our greatest commonality may be expressed here......if you disagree........nah, couldn"t happen! I need you all!

Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Love Is Indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.