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When is a "Bible Church" actually a "Baptist church"
- Thread starter Salty
- Start date
When they are biblical.
The term "Baptist" is not a denomination but a distinctive. Within this distinctive there are denominations. "Bible Churches" (and "non-denominational churches") that fall within what it means to be Baptist are Baptist, even if they don't recognize the fact.
The term "Baptist" is not a denomination but a distinctive. Within this distinctive there are denominations. "Bible Churches" (and "non-denominational churches") that fall within what it means to be Baptist are Baptist, even if they don't recognize the fact.
Since when do Baptists ever agree on anything? The only distinctives that are common among Baptists are believers baptism, baptism by immersion, and the autonomy of the local church. After that, it becomes a free-for-all. Need proof? Just look at the debate forums on this board.
Exactly. And that is what makes a church a Baptist church.
You are still considering "Baptist" to be a denomination. It is not. It is that distinctive that is common among Baptists. You hit the nail squarely on the head. Does this mean all Baptist churches agree? Of course not. There are denominations of Baptists (SBC, Free Will Baptists, Independent Baptists, ect.). But what they have in common is the Baptist distinctive, without which they would not be Baptist.
We are NOT a Denomination from the point of view that we have a higher Headquarters, such as the United Methodist Church.
but we are a denomination in that we have similar beliefs From Merriam-Webster
Bottom line - this concern over the term denomination is Much Ado About Nothing
Yes, Autonomy of the local church is a very important doctrine for me. Even though we are SBC,
they do not direct us to do anything. They may advise us - but it is up to our local church - as to weather we decide to follow that advice. Often we dont.
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One Baptism
Active Member
Would 7th day Baptists be considered "Baptist" by the definition given by those on this forum?
Excellent question
I would say yes -
Concur with Salty. The SDAs aren't the only ones who meet on Saturdays.
AwesomeMachine
Member
The 8 distinctives form a noble creed. But I can't help but notice that without a centralized authority structure the Baptists are fragmented, divided, and as a result, only as strong and authoritative as each individual church. And each individual church has authority only over its members, and then only to certain degree.
If the members of a Baptist church are unaware that they belong to a Baptist church, and the church itself doesn't realize it's a Baptist church, it really doesn't matter what semantics are employed, because Baptist is only another name for Protestant.
Protestant is more than just a word. It's a worldwide movement over 500 years old. It has defining doctrines that have been observed by many miliions of the faithful for centuries. It is a movement that has stood the test of time and thrived.
If the members of a Baptist church are unaware that they belong to a Baptist church, and the church itself doesn't realize it's a Baptist church, it really doesn't matter what semantics are employed, because Baptist is only another name for Protestant.
Protestant is more than just a word. It's a worldwide movement over 500 years old. It has defining doctrines that have been observed by many miliions of the faithful for centuries. It is a movement that has stood the test of time and thrived.
Easy Salty... What else would you expect from a Non Baptist Christian!... I'm only saying... Well actually I could say a few other things but I'm being nice... Brother Baptist Glen
If we were to look back through the mists of time, we would probably find most Bible churches were started by or are descended from churches started by Baptists. In the denominational battles of the last century, many sought to distance themselves from the "blood shed."
Easy Salty... What else would you expect from a Non Baptist Christian!... I'm only saying... Well actually I could say a few other things but I'm being nice... Brother Baptist Glen
Would be interesting to see what the doctrine statement of his church reads!
I don't think that "Baptist" meets the definition Merriam-Webster provides. If you were to say Southern Baptist, then I'd agree because we are united by belief (not church structure). But there are Baptists who fall outside of what other Baptists would consider enough of an agreement in belief for unity.
It is like other words...."Reformed"..."Calvinistic"..."Charismatic"..."Baptist". Those words describe a distinction that fails to meet the definition of a denomination.
Maybe if you ask him nice he will give you his church website... No harm in asking... Brother Glen
The original 'Bible Christian' churches were a breakaway from the Methodists.
Bible Christian Church - Wikipedia
Where I live you can still see the words 'Bible Christian' over the door of some Methodist chapels.
The most famous Bible Christian was a chap called Billy Bray. There's a link to him on the Wiki article.
'If they put me in a barrel, I'd shout "Glory!" through the bung hole!'
Bible Christian Church - Wikipedia
Where I live you can still see the words 'Bible Christian' over the door of some Methodist chapels.
The most famous Bible Christian was a chap called Billy Bray. There's a link to him on the Wiki article.
'If they put me in a barrel, I'd shout "Glory!" through the bung hole!'
