Questions For Southern Baptists

Despite what some may claim, the turning the BF&M into a creed is a scary trend within the SBC. And to fire missionaries over it is outrageous!
For more on this and other items at the most recent SBC meeting, see the front-page article on the website of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri.

baptistgcm.org

 

A.) It's name is now International Mission Board.

B.) Who knows. Write Jerry Rankin at Box 6767 in Richmond, VA.

 

To the original query, Southern Baptist churches are not required to sign the BF&M in blood, or to read it at the beginning of every business meeting. The issue of open vs. closed communion is one that the individual in charge of the body of believers must handle.

Personally, I do not beleive that anyone who has not publicly confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior should be allowed to partake of the Lord's Supper. Baptism, although it is an outward sign of an inward change, does not make one more saved. I believe that everyone who names the name of Jesus should follow that confession with baptism, it is not a requirement for, nor a condition of, salvation.

The SBC BF&M stresses the individuals freedom of choice (free to choose to believe, or not to believe). If an individual has chosen not to follow into baptism, it is that person's choice and right. But, by not being baptized, that person has not forfeited the opportunity to partake of the Lord's Table. How exactly that situation will be handled in regards to missionaries, we will have to wait and see. BUT the SBC will not attempt to force its chutches to sign, elect, adopt, or embrace the BF&M against their will, for to do so would fly into the face of the very heart and spirit of the BF&M.

Does that answer anything?

In Christ,
Trotter

 

The following is the debated statement. I don't see how Mark gets all of this arguement from it...

VII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper.

The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.

Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.

Baptist Faith and Message

In Christ,
Trotter

 

Mark if we spent as much time encouraging people as we do casting doubt and judgment upon them, our churches would be filled and overflowing. Sometime when you get a chance read what Charles Spurgeon did in regards to communion.

I clearly get the impression that you have not pastored an SBC church. Very few have closed communion today.

I do have one question: Who's living for Jesus Christ today because of your life?

 

that is it Mark. God's word appears to indicate that only those who have followed the Lord in believer's baptism should be partaking of the Lord's supper.
My stand, though is that this should be explained and then it is up to the person to discern if he should partake or not.

 

Where does the Bible say this? I suppose my take on all this is to ask this question:

Do you believe that only those who have been immersed will be considered saved by Christ and will be in Heaven? If you don't believe that then basically we are rejecting those whom God has accepted by having a closed communion.

 

Mark, when you are talking about closed communion, how closed are you talking about. Your statement is rather ambiguous abouit BF&M. Typically the SBC doesn't adhere to landmarkism ( the theology that traces their roots back to either John the Baptist or Jesus while mixing in heretics to get there).

I don't know of one SBC person that would say the BF&M specifically teaches closed communion.

It amazes me how many claim to have a handle on doctrine yet they can't name one person who is living for Jesus Christ because of their life.

Mark. you are not even in the SBC how would you know about the BF&M. I pastored churches in the SBC , planted SBC churches and went to an SBC seminary. Never once had I ever heard what you claim by anyone in seminary or at the state and national level.

 

Last night I saw a program on PBS where it mentioned that when the NT was printed in Engish, THE CHURCH was EXTREMELY upset that the common man could read the Bible and use their own minds instead of the church telling them what to believe! Any parallels.

 

Here is what the Baptist Faith and Message actually says:

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper.

The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.

----------

I understand this two ways:

Church members must be baptized for church membership by being immersed in water. This is necessary for church members to partake of the Lord's supper.

The Baptist Faith and Message is silent on non-members who choose to join their brethren in partaking of the Lord's supper.

 

Mark, could you give me a practical way how Ed Young who pastors Second Baptist Church of Houston could even check to see if each person is on the roll. There are about 6000 in attendance each Sunday.

If I remember right Charles Spurgeon had an attendance roll but he also has open communiom to all believers.

Back to scriupture--it is our standard for all faith and practice.

Do you thinkt that if a visitor came from another church to visit that they could have participated in communion with that church being that they were not a member of that local church?

I seriously dobt that most of the "believers" today really know the significance of communion. The number of times I have heard a sermon on it has been once. Sometime I challenge you to start asking people in your congregation about what they believe and why. You might be surprised. For that matter ask your leadership. I have found if we are lucky about 10 percent can even explain their faith. It's about the same number who share their faith. Ever notice who leads most people to Christ--the youth. Most of the time they know the least and share the most. What does that say about the training we give?

Closed or open communion will probably always be debated. But I have never seen those who row the boat ever spend much time rocking it.

The question is: Who's living for Jesus Christ because of our life? If we are not leading others to Christ and discipling people then our life demonstrates that our doctrine is wrong. We are deceived.

James 1:22, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."

Matthew 4:19, "And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Matthew 28:19,20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

We can know all about doctrine and practice none of it. But if we are not discipling other then our life clearly demonstrates what we truly believe.We are nothing more than a noisemaker.

About baptism: many "believers" have just gotten wet. To prove the point ask them to go with you and knock on doors to share their faith. Many have no more boldness than a cat at the door waiting to be fed. Their baptism was certainly not in the same context as the NT. There are people who claim to be Christians but are esssentially dead.

If we really want to be biblical we would make the baptisms public and have them give a word of testimony of their faith before the people. Courage must start at the beginning.

How many Christians in any given church share their faith. At best it is about 10 percent and you say the rest are believers. How can someone who knows God and his love and forgiveness not share that. So do we really have believers or people who come forward "to be saved".

After all what I have written how will you check to make sure that your closed communion is for believers. I heard one pastor say that before anyone can become a member in his church they must lead someone to Christ and disciple them. Can you think of any believers in the NT who did not lead people to faith in Jesus Christ. I can think of none. If people are not sharing their faith I would question the integrity of their "belief." I would seriosly wonder if they are born again.

Nobody in a parachurch organization would be given leadership resonsibilities unless they have first proven themself by discipling others. The average person in a church would never make it in an organization like that. But I believe it is biblical for leadership. Leadership must be demonstrated first.

Our doctrine is useless unless we apply what scripture teaches. The entire Bible is to determine our faith and practice not the BF&M or some other opinion.