What Does it take to be a "Baptist"?

Are you advocating a philophy that does not hold to any church assembly and no church powers? Are each of us to act as independent agents without any consultation among us? Please clarify.

I do not believe in an assembly for the purpose of having dominion over people. I do believe in the assembly for the purpose of edifying and praising God.

What do you mean by no church powers? If you mean to kick people out of the church, I'm not too sure there is any actual Biblical example for this.

What would happen if someone was asked to leave and didn't? Do you call the cops? Somehow that doesn't fit the model of how we deal with each other.

With the age of the Apostles past us and all things brought to completion, how may I ask did you obtain the authority to speak alone for God on a matter of excommunication?

Excommunication is more of a Catholic thing. The word has a 'you no longer have a chance to go to heaven because of what we are doing' feel to it. In fact, the only reason to excommunicate someone is because they are already living a life that shows they are not going to heaven. Anyone who demonstrates the signs of the flesh, without repenting would be a good candidate.

 

Bro. Curtis,

All of these scriptures deal with false prophets, not the need to have denominations.

If anything, the scriptures you posted support the exact point I am trying to make. Where in these scriptures does it say that in order avoid false prophets we need to form denominations? That we should know who is a false prophet and who is a true prophet by the name on the building that they preach?

I believe that one can find false teahers within every denomination, especially Baptists who's name is claimed by all ends of the "Christian" spectrum.

By the way, I don't claim any denomination. I may attend a church that has a name on the building, but that is not how I define my beliefs. By what I believe, based on scripture, I define who I worship.

rsr,

The purpose of excommunication is not so much to punish the offender as to protect the congregation.

That is one reason, the other is so that the errant brother might wake up and repent and therefore be found righteous on the day of the Lord.

[ October 08, 2002, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: Tuor ]

 

rsr,

My problem isn't with denominations. That is just the way it is. My problem is when people start making divisions based on the names of buildings (which is unbibilical) and stop making divisions based on beliefs (which would be bibical).

 

I never said you did.

Do you believe that in order for you to consider a church Baptist, you would first have to consider it Christian?

 

A follow up question:

Is it possible for a Christian congregation to teach herecies such as homosexuality is good in the sight of God?