What main Factor made you to choose to be a Baptist?

[JesusFan]

Doctrines, fellowship, location, family raised up in it, or what?

 

[Tom Butler]

My mother sent me to a Baptist church about two blocks from our home when I was seven years old. She was Baptist but inactive, and my father was unsaved.

The Lord saved me at age nine, my mother got active at the same time, and my father was saved a year later.

As a teenager, then later as a college student, I compared the different denominations. The Baptist beliefs and practice survived the tests.

So, I'm a Baptist by conviction, not by my raisin'.

 

[Christos doulos]

Doctrines, fellowship, location, family raised up in it, or what?

I grew up as a pentecostal and use to make fun of baptists. When I received Jesus as my savior; the Lord pointed me to wonderful teachings of men who considered themselves reformed.
I could have remained a pentecostal as there are reformed pentecostals, but far and few in between. So instead of going on a reformed hunt in the pentecostal safari. I decided to surround myself with those of my ilk and talk about God.

 

[glfredrick]

The Baptist stance on the Bible and the way that they preach the gospel, starting with the gospel preached and later learning that they preach that way because of the Word.

I came into a Baptist church by happenstance or by God's leading, however one chooses to see that happening. It was not a foregone conclusion for me to find a Baptist church -- far from it -- rather, I head one man speak on the radio and he sounded like other teachers I heard on the radio who were dealing with the Scriptures from a conservative theological understanding instead of from a liberal anthropological understanding as in the liberal churches I attended in my youth before becoming first agnostic and later atheistic.

I am a "Christian" by Christ's atoning power which justified, regenerated, and adopted me. I am a Baptist by choice (again, as far as choice is actual -- it appears to me that God led me).

 

[JesusFan]

I grew up as a pentecostal and use to make fun of baptists. When I received Jesus as my savior; the Lord pointed me to wonderful teachings of men who considered themselves reformed.
I could have remained a pentecostal as there are reformed pentecostals, but far and few in between. So instead of going on a reformed hunt in the pentecostal safari. I decided to surround myself with those of my ilk and talk about God.

The Lord used baptists to witness to me while in College, and received jesus, but found myself attending the local Assemblies of God!

was there over 10 years, but NEVER bought into second Act of grace, Baptism in HG evidenced by speaking in tongues, nor believed in junk like the hagins/Copelands?hinns etc of the Charasmatic world, so eventually left in good grace and joined an Evangelical Free Church, than past 7 yeras local baptist church!

Still "open" to Spiritual Gifts operating, but NOT in the fashion many Charasmatics see them, as their theology is based many times in heretical stuff from the likes of Copeland/hagin/Hinn etc!

As My baptist church is NOT officially ceasing of the Gifts, but not heavy empahsis, just as long as done in Biblical order and fashion!

 

[Deacon]

Doctrines, fellowship, location, family raised up in it, or what?

Fellowship fer sure the deciding factor was either the fried chicken or the buffalo wings.

Rob

 

[David Lamb]

I don't think I chose, in the sense of sitting down beforehand with a list of possible churches, and selecting one to join. At the time of my conversion I was a member of a high Anglican church, that is, an Anglican church with strong Roman Catholic tendencies. I had come to see, albeit dimly, that so much of what was done in that church was not in accordance with God's Word. But I had been brought up in the Anglican church - I knew nothing about non-conformist churches. I remember going to the nearest non-conformist church building to where I was then living (so in that sense, it was "location"), and even though I had only just been converted, I could see that what was said and done agreed with what was in the bible. It was a baptist church, and I have been a baptist ever since.

 

[plain_n_simple]

"What main Factor made you to choose to be a Baptist?"

I did not choose to be a Baptist. God pre-determined me to be a Baptist. I'm glad He gave me a choice to be a Baptist.

 

[marke]

Doctrines, fellowship, location, family raised up in it, or what?

I spent 27 years in an independent, fundamental Christian church with a Christian school and the name of the Church is Calvary Memorial Church. I no longer attend services there but not because it is not a good church - it is. I have spent the last 10 years or so involved with mission work which allows me to visit independent Baptist Churches mostly, which I favor over other churches. I must admit that I find churches all different.

Some of my favorite Baptist churches have included anabaptist, independent Baptist, and even Freewill Baptist, with others espousing 'Baptist Bride' doctrines and even others espousing doctrines with 'shady' or 'slightly off' doctrines of God's sovereignty. I don't agree with 'Baptist Bride' doctrine, but some great and honorable preachers I know do believe in it. I just admire the preachers, and tell them they will see more clearly after the rapture. I don't agree with those who believe they can lose their salvation, but neither do I agree with pumping fake believers full of 'once saved always saved' ideas that don't pertain to them.

I find independent Baptist churches warmer and more energetic (I favor those) than larger denominational types (several Southern Baptist, Northern Baptist, American Baptist, and other denominational Baptist churches.) I'm not criticizing all churches in a denomination, but I have found independent Baptist churches more to my liking (and, I might add, more in accordance with what I think doctrinally). Those are my opinions.

 

[JesusFan]

I spent 27 years in an independent, fundamental Christian church with a Christian school and the name of the Church is Calvary Memorial Church. I no longer attend services there but not because it is not a good church - it is. I have spent the last 10 years or so involved with mission work which allows me to visit independent Baptist Churches mostly, which I favor over other churches. I must admit that I find churches all different.

Some of my favorite Baptist churches have included anabaptist, independent Baptist, and even Freewill Baptist, with others espousing 'Baptist Bride' doctrines and even others espousing doctrines with 'shady' or 'slightly off' doctrines of God's sovereignty. I don't agree with 'Baptist Bride' doctrine, but some great and honorable preachers I know do believe in it. I just admire the preachers, and tell them they will see more clearly after the rapture. I don't agree with those who believe they can lose their salvation, but neither do I agree with pumping fake believers full of 'once saved always saved' ideas that don't pertain to them.

I find independent Baptist churches warmer and more energetic (I favor those) than larger denominational types (several Southern Baptist, Northern Baptist, American Baptist, and other denominational Baptist churches.) I'm not criticizing all churches in a denomination, but I have found independent Baptist churches more to my liking (and, I might add, more in accordance with what I think doctrinally). Those are my opinions.

Just curious, what is "baptist bride' doctrine?

 

[govteach51]

Just curious, what is "baptist bride' doctrine?

I was taught in seminary that it was the belief there was always Baptist churches.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I always saw Credo Baptism as being the baptism of the scriptures so when I got into an argument about where my dead child was (they told me hell) with the Presbyterians & the Reformed, my brother told me that that isnt the way Baptists think about it. I checked & he was right. However I limit it to Reformed Baptist & Primitive Baptists who agree with my salvation theology.

 

[Jim1999]

I grew up in the High Church of England, which was very fundamental and evangelical, and an Anglican All-boys public (private) boarding school. I received Christ as my personal Saviour at Confirmation. After finishing school and returning to London, I attended a Plymouth Brethren assembly and learned to appreciate the freedom from the High Church assembly.

In Canada, I became a military chaplain, and they were all Anglican or Roman Catholic. After 8 years, I left the military and a Baptist Seminary had an opening, this is where I became a Baptist by conviction. I have been a baptist ever since...from 1959.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[JesusFan]

I always saw Credo Baptism as being the baptism of the scriptures so when I got into an argument about where my dead child was (they told me hell) with the Presbyterians & the Reformed, my brother told me that that isnt the way Baptists think about it. I checked & he was right. However I limit it to Reformed Baptist & Primitive Baptists who agree with my salvation theology.

I agree with you on the ole "salvation" theology, and I happen to be in neither of those 2 baptist camps!

Why did the reformed hold that your child did not go to heaven?

 

[Tom Butler]

Just curious, what is "baptist bride' doctrine?

It is an offshoot of Landmarkism, though not every Landmarker subscribes to it.

Here's the way it was first explained to me: Since Baptists are like the church established by Jesus during his earthly ministry, Baptist churches are true New Testament Churches, as are those who may not call themselves Baptist, but hold similar basic doctrines. That means other faith groups, which differ with Baptists, are not true New Testament churches.

Thus Baptists, in heaven, will comprise one true church, the Bride. And, at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, only Baptists will be allowed to be seated. Other believers, since they are not the Bride, will have to stand around at watch.

Don't laugh, the Baptist Briders are serious.

I'm not a Baptist Bride guy, but I do have some Landmark tendencies.

By the way, this is straying from the OP, so if anybody wants to discuss this further, let's start a new thread.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I agree with you on the ole "salvation" theology, and I happen to be in neither of those 2 baptist camps!

Why did the reformed hold that your child did not go to heaven?

Neither my wife nor I were members of their Covenant churches at the time & he died before being infant baptized, a real sin to those imbeciles. Thats Covenant theology for Judaizers (for which I want no part of)!

 

[marke]

Just curious, what is "baptist bride' doctrine?

Baptist Briders believe that only Christians who are members of an acceptable Baptist church will be raptured while other Christians who are not Baptists will go through the tribulation. I am not of that persuasion.

 

[plain_n_simple]

Baptist Briders believe that only Christians who are members of an acceptable Baptist church will be raptured while other Christians who are not Baptists will go through the tribulation. I am not of that persuasion.

Now there is a twist, only Baptist Brides lol

 

[Thousand Hills]

I didn't grow up in a Baptist church, as a teenager though, those I knew at school that seemed to take their faith most seriously were Baptists. In college I visted a non-denom church, and an IFB church some. Also got involved for a little while with BSU on campus.

My wife grew up Free Will Baptist, and I went to church some with her while dating. After marriage we eventually chose to look for a church on our own and visited several IFB and SBC churches. I liked the church we attend now (SBC), I agree with the Baptist Faith and Message, and believe the SBC does more than any others in local and world evangilism. The Pastor was different, I liked his expository preaching and alot of what he said seemed to hit home with what I understood. I was used to a pastor reading a verse, then following a rabbit trail with cute stories about his kids that made everybody chuckle (I must have heard the same ones 1,000 times) then finishing up in the alloted time, with me sitting there wondering what did this have to do with the verse he read.

Anyways, before we joined the SBC church the pastor told us he was reformed. I was already going through the dilema in my mind about whether or not you can lose your salvation, this just led me more to examine the Cal/Arm debate. We joined the church eventually, and today I consider myself more of the reformed persuasion. At the end of the day though, all I am is a rotten sinner saved by Grace :godisgood:

 

[Tom Butler]

Baptist Briders believe that only Christians who are members of an acceptable Baptist church will be raptured while other Christians who are not Baptists will go through the tribulation. I am not of that persuasion.

What's your source for this view? I've never heard this and I come from an area which was a Landmark hotbed. I've read extensively from Landmark writers and not one of them ever espoused this.

In fact, the only Landmarkers I know are either post-trib or A-mil.