About your particular Baptist denomination?

Not true. Many baptist churches do not hold to the inerrancy of scripture, but instead say that the Bible is infallable (read as infallable on matters of faith and practice not in areas of science, history, etc.).

I am a General Baptist and trying to answer these questions in a blanket way is simply impossible. There are churches that teach inerrancy (but the denominational statement is infallable). Versions vary from KJVO to NRSV (that's me ). There are legalists and libertarians. Services range from traditional frontier to traditional liturgical to contemporary (may churches have two of the three). They meet at all different times.

If you would want to characterize GB's as anything, it would have to be inclusive. Unless you belive OSAS.

Grace and Peace, Danny

 

Hi

A link to my church is here - although we're called a 'Free Church', we are in fact a Baptist church affiliated to the Southern Baptist Union (not to be confused with the American Southern Baptist Convention ), with pastor/ minister, elders and deacons but congregational government, believers' baptism etc; you can find out a lot about us by visiting the web-site, but to comment on the specific questions of the OP:-

Innerantcy of the Bible. I think if you took a straw poll of our members you'd get some who were inerrantist and infallible but a lot who were merely infallible eg: the opening chapters of Genesis are allegorical rather than science - see our 'Literalism' page.

Bible versions. The bible we use in our church readings is the NIV, but when we have our home groups during the week, we try to encourage people to bring along a lot of translations. I personally have the NIV, KJV, Vulgate translation (complete with Apocrypha ), Women's NIV study bible (don't ask!), Good News, the Message and a NKJV Greek-English interlinear NT, plus a JN Darby translation, at the last count!

Seperation from the World: ie: movies, modest dress etc. Up to the individual mainly - no transvestites at the last members' meeting, porn movies tend to be frowned upon, dancing is fine, trousers are fine, erotic clothing would probably be a no-no but AFAIK that's never arisen, we try to avoid 'evangelical sub-culturalism' but don't always succeed, alcohol generally OK AFAIK although our trust document forbids its consumption on church premises. Er...run out of things to say - anything else you want to know?

Church service. (what members are expected to do to serve the church, such as ushering, nursery, teaching, greeting etc.)- 10am and 630pm Sundays. Weekday housegroups for bible study etc. All members encouraged to do daily quiet times etc. 10 am service tends to be more formal - hymns rather than choruses - but more family oriented with Sunday school/ children's classes etc; whereas 6-30pm is the other way round - more CCMish, choruses (incl some Hillsongs for my Oz bros and sis'!). Priesthood of all believers=all members are encouraged to do something - steward, usher, children's groups, tea and coffee after the service, housegroup leading. preaching tends to be by the minister or elders, but anyone can do it if they volunteer (or are 'volunteered'!) including women

Music.- as above, tends to be Baptist hymnal-types in the morning and Delirious?, Matt Redman etc in the evening. Mixture of 'hands-up' and 'hands-down' worshippers

Frequency of services.- two on Sunday and housegroups mid-week

Soul winning - big on this - we have missionaries abroad whom we support and also several ongoing community outreach programmes.


Hope that helps!

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

Laurenda,

I have belonged to three different types of Baptist Churches, and will attempt to explain the differences as I have understood them.

Free Will Baptist:

Adamant about inerrancy of scripture, and also use of KJV only. Church covenant exhorts members to avoid the appearance of evil, and to abstain from sinful amusements. Zero tolerance for both the sale and use of alcohol. Members encouraged to use their God-given talents for the edification of the church. Music was primarily the older gospel hymns, but rarely anthems. Special music, such as solos, trios, etc was encouraged. Sunday School, morning and evening worship services on Sunday, also mid-week prayer meeting on Wednesday night. Soul winning was heavily emphasized. One thing in Free Will that I haven't seen in other Baptist churches was that foot washing services were held at least once every quarter.

Missionary Baptist:

Same as FWB in most respects, except that MB adheres to the doctrine of Eternal Security. Also does not limit itself to KJV only, but does reject any translation that changes gender or avoids references to the blood. I have never seen a foot washing service here.

Southern Baptist:

More formal style of worship, was a large church, so music director and organist were professional. Congregation sang the old hymns and anthems, choir music did special arrangements of hymns, and also cantata style music. Except for the ocassional solo by a choir member, there was no special music here. Altar calls were not usually directed toward those who might be seeking salvation, but rather were invitations to join the church.

 

I've also seen the similarities in the IFB and the SBC... I'm SBC... and I come from a very conservative church... (my pastor's on the SBC executive board)

 

I'm just going to say what my church holds to, because I've learned that even people in the same group differ on some things.


Innerantcy of the Bible. Definatly. The KJB
Bible versions. KJBO
Seperation from the World: ie: movies, modest dress etc.
Yes we believe in a seperated life. When you get saved, there is going to be a change. You aren't going to want the sin of the World. Yet I know my own convictions differ from those at my own church.
Church service. (what members are expected to do to serve the church, such as ushering, nursery, teaching, greeting etc.)
pretty much volentary. Just about everyone has something they do, no matter how small without these people, we'd be in for it!
Music. The congregation sings hymns, and sometimes those that sing specials do southern gospel music. When I sing, I general stick to hymns. Either a cappella, with a sound track, piano or organ.
Frequency of services.
Sunday morning, sunday night, wenesday night, occasional revival service, and a yearly missions conferance. Also we have choir practice and spanish class, and diffrent groups meet alternate Saturday nights.
Soul winning. Saturday visitation, and we also believe in going out ourselves during the week and doing it, wheither at work/school, or actualy going into a neighborhood. We believe living a seperated life is what you ought to do, but we also believe in a confrentationl soul winning.
And I guess my own beliefs are stricter than this!
~Abby

 

And both intersperse themselves between you and the One you're trying to call.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies equally. Has our phone service gotten better since AT&T was broken up? Nah. Has our Baptist freedom to worship God improved since the SBC went fundamentalist? Nah... sadly not in my church.

--Ralph </font>[/QUOTE]Ralph - Still bitter about the changes in the SBC hunh? Well here's what you can do about it. Get all your friends and show up at the convention this year in Arizona and vote.

Last time I checked we Southern Baptists were still doing business in the SBC the way we've always done it. Democratic vote, majority wins.

Why is it the Minority always whines instead of pitching in and working?

If that happened in your church you'd have a lot to say about it.

 

Where do your churches stand on matters such as these?

Innerantcy of the Bible.
Bible versions.
Seperation from the World: ie: movies, modest dress etc.
Church service. (what members are expected to do to serve the church, such as ushering, nursery, teaching, greeting etc.)
Music.
Frequency of services.
Soul winning.

Thanks... I really appreciate your thoughts on these subjects.

I didn't read all the posts so forgive me if this has already been posted as I am going to do.

We are Landmark Missionary Baptist (I also call us independant) and here is how we predominantly line up on the following:

Innerantcy of the Bible.

We beleive the Bible is completely inerrant.

Bible versions.

KJV only is not required, but our preachers and pastors use this version and teach it's superiority over other versions (the extent to which the congregations adhere I cannot say, as I said, we are independent in that we don't follow a man)

Seperation from the World: ie: movies, modest dress etc.

I know of some members who do go to movies, I don't quiz them, but separation is urged on them. As to dress we don't make a show of visitors if wearing blue jeans, but we do expect modesty of members.


Church service. (what members are expected to do to serve the church, such as ushering, nursery, teaching, greeting etc.)

Members serve as they feel led of the Spirit to do so. We have no 'ushers' offering is taken up, but not by specific members, often members just take turns about doing this. We have no nursery, anyone unable to preach through or over the sound of a child or baby crying perhaps missed his calling. Everyone greets. We do have Sunday School teachers are nominated and elected by the body.

Music.

We do have a piano in our singing.

Frequency of services.

We meet on Sunday mornings Sun. School at 9:45 a.m. Worship is at 11:00 a.m. Sunday evening begins at 6:00 p.m. and Wed. prayer meeting at 7:00 pm. Usually our services include about 30 minutes of congregational singing, prayer, and preaching often 1/2 hr to 45 mins. Our services are not 'scheduled' in any way. Whenever a movement is on the church of the Spirit the singing, praying, preaching, testifying etc may be extended, or services may be shortened. This depends on the Spirit we feel in the service.

Soul winning.

This is perhaps the most difficult one. We do have what is called a 'mourner's bench' in our church. There is not an altar call given as in some places, the only way any thing is mentioned in this way is if the preacher really feels impressed upon to do so. We are 5-pt. Calvinists, this is why I say this is the most difficult. I find myself agreeing with bro. Jeff's post in this area and see almost a contradiction in believing in the election but providing such altar calls. I believe if there is a call it will be sufficiently made by the Holy Spirit through the Will of God, I cannot say that our members all agree with this, though the most of our preaching brehtren do. (The irony is that most of our people will 'Amen' sermons in this direction, but they will insist upon seeking opportunity to make offers to people, sometimes especially the young. I guess this is the zeal of the missionary. I beleive souls were all won at Calvary.

Hope this explains our standing on these, I am not sure that it does. All I can really answer you is what I believe.

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas

 

Innerantcy of the Bible:
The Bible, in its original form, was completely
without error.

Bible versions:
Some are preferred and some are unacceptable.

Separation from the World, ie. movies, modest
dress etc.:
Separation from lawlessness begins in the heart
and mind. It cannot be dictated by leaders; either
it is there or it is not. No rules other than those
stated in the Bible are allowed.

Everyone is expected to dress modestly, and we
do without anyone measuring hemlines. There is
an easy way now to choose a movie: check the
rating.

Church service. (what members are expected to
do to serve the church, such as ushering, nursery,
teaching, greeting etc.):
We simply do what we see needs to be done.
Teaching is limited to those with the proper
education.

Music:
We have music during services. I am not sure
what is intended here, so I will say that our
singing is accompanied by musical instruments.

Frequency of services:
We have one on Sabbath morning and one that
evening. Other than those two, there are weekly
services I know nothing about and have never
attended, because I have classes there on both
Monday and Thursday nights. I cannot add any
more to my schedule, with all the homework.

Soul winning:
This is completely up to the individual members,
and we are expected to do it. What we are not
expected to do is bring people into the
synagogue who are not already committed to
our Lord. We are expected to deal thoroughly with
that issue before they come.

 

Abiyah, by Sabbath morning and Sabbath evening do you mean after sundown on Friday and then again the following morning?

Joshua

 

the church where I am pastor is missionary Baptist in the great state of Tenn. check our church site if I can post it on here.
www.freespirit.jesusanswers.com

 

Joshua --

There is always a service on Sabbath evening
(Friday after sundown), in order to separate the
day from the rest of te week, but it is not often
held at the synagogue; most of the time, each
home has its own, because it is a very special
family time, especially if there are children to
bless.

The morning service is on the next morning
(Saturday morning). The evening service on that
day actually starts as Sabbath is ending, but
the candles are not lit until after sundown in
order to separate the day, once again, from the
rest of the week.

 

abiyah,

in your shabbos services, how much do y'all hold to the traditional prayerbook? do you recite the shemoneh esrai/amidah? on friday night do you sing l'cha dodi?

[ March 11, 2003, 12:49 PM: Message edited by: timothy 1969 ]

 

As a congregation, we hold to most of it. However,
my husband is Christian, so the only time I get to
do the services on Sabth evening is when I am
invited to somone's home or when we have it in
the synagogue.

When it comes to Sabbath morning, we have our
own sidur, which holds to much of the traditional
service, but being believers in our Lord, there are
many Scriptures added in to reflect that. For
example, sometimes, we all say the Apostle's
Prayer together, sometimes in English, sometimes
in Hebrew, sometimes in both.

Some of the Scriptures included in our siddur are
Philippians 2:5 - 8, 1 Timothy 3:16, andTitus 2:11 -
12, all of which may be read in Hebrew or English.
(Everything in our siddur is in both Hebrew and
English).

After lunch at the synagogue on Sabbath, many of
us get together and do the Birkat, too, before our
class.

 

Oh, I forgot to say, Timothy, that we do only part of
the Amidah, not the whole thing -- for obvious
reasons!!! 8oD

 

Wisdom Seeker: Thanks for your quick reply! But,none of those verses have anything at all to do with the question that I asked you.So,I'll rephrase it and maybe you'll be able to answer it.Were you in fact infering that" praying to accept Jesus Christ as savior is required?"when you asked"is praying to accept Jesus Christ as savior is not required"in that individuals particular church? Michael,Psa.121

 

Earlier in this thread someone gave a viewpoint of southern baptist churches, both liberal and conservative. For most of my life, I was a member of conservative southern baptist churches, and I found several errors in the thread concerning them.
I am no longer a southern baptist, mainly because there are none in this area. I would like to point out that the KJV is not the primary version of the Bible used in conservative sb churches anymore. That statement may have been true twenty years ago, but now the NIV is probably the most widely used. My favorite still is the NAS.
The thread also stated that separation of the world was not addressed. I say that although there was no legalistic rules saying don't do this or that, the Holy Bible was taught. The Holy Spirit will convict and lead us rightly.
Also, the services aren't composed of appointed members only. True, deacons are appointed, but first they must meet the Biblical requirements, then they must be willing to serve, and be prayerfully backed by the entire congregation. As for other jobs in the church, they are mainly volunteer(nursery, youth help, choir, etc...)
Finally, the thread stated that soul winning wasn't part of the conservative SBC. From the three different SB churches(all conservative) that I have been a member of, soul winning was stressed in several different ways from "cold" calls to handing out tracts to evangelism on the front lines of daily life.

 

Wisdom Seeker; can I please get an answer?

 

To Daniel Dunivan

From your post dated 3-6

I stand corrected...I should have said 'most Baptist Churches.'

Historically, Baptist churches were known to be true to the Scriptures regarding Innerancy, divine inspiration and infallability. Contemporary churches which have adapted modern christian theology apart from these fundamental elements have departed from that tradition, they literaly call in question whether or not they are truly 'Baptist.' Thats my point.

God Bless,

Jeptha

 

Wisdomseeker: I'm surprised that you are taking so long to give an answer to your statement.Won't you please answer my question?

 

really??? our church rides solely on KJV and NKJV