churches eliminating "Baptist" from name...

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I don't know if this has been noted yet, but has anyone besides me noticed that there are churches that are eliminating "Church" from their name?

Yes....the Grace Baptist Church is now just "Grace"

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

There are still solid SBC churches out there and we have found one and we love it. We are there to worship God and be equipped and have great fellowship. They are not out to entertain lost people, but to reach out to them with the truth.

There are absolutely no SBC churches in Northern NJ. Zero.

 

[matt wade]

There are absolutely no SBC churches in Northern NJ. Zero.

The SBC web site lists 4 just in Newark.

 

[SolaSaint]

Changing the name of churches just makes it a little harder for Baptists to find a new church when they move to a new location. For those who are unchurched they most likely don't know the difference between Baptist, Catholic and Pentacostal, so I don't see the need at all to make this change. That is of course unless Rick Warren told them to, to attract more unchurched folk. Sorry had to throw that in.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The SBC web site lists 4 just in Newark.

Newark isnt NJ....Its hell. People who enjoy living stay out of Newark.

 

[matt wade]

Newark isnt NJ....Its hell. People who enjoy living stay out of Newark.

What about the one in Morristown. Is that north enough for you?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

What about the one in Morristown. Is that north enough for you?

no thats an 1 hr drive.

 

[Alive in Christ]

Matt Wade...

Baptist believer said...

Yep.

I say, "Follower of Jesus", "Apprentice of Jesus", or "Disciple of Jesus" rather than "Christian" among unchurched people.

I say it to distinguish myself from someone who is simply culturally-influenced, but rather someone who intends to be a follower of Jesus. I want people to know that I am expressing intention to be like Jesus, although I certainly have a long way to go.

And you said....

That's utterly ridiculous.

WHAT!!!???

What...in...the...world...would cause you to find that to be ridiculous???

I say things like that sometimes. Its a good thing to say. Lots of lost people refer to themselves as christian because they were baptised as an infant, or because they were "raised" *christian*, or because this is a "christian" country, or because they arent Jewish, or Muslim....or any number of meaningless reasons.

Its a GOOD thing to say the kind of thing Baptist believer posted.

 

[Alive in Christ]

ooops Accidental duplicate.

 

[J.D.]

Yes....the Grace Baptist Church is now just "Grace"

I know one that calls themselves "Life", another is "The Point", another "Crossroad", another is "Elevate". And they all have a big crowd, so who are we to argue with success? !!:BangHead:

 

[Salty]

I know one that calls themselves "Life", another is "The Point", another "Crossroad", another is "Elevate". And they all have a big crowd, so who are we to argue with success? !!:BangHead:

Are we looking for quanity or quality?

 

[Baptist Believer]

That's utterly ridiculous.

Would you like to share your opinion as to how that is ridiculous?

 

[glfredrick]

Are we looking for quanity or quality?

Both...

I note that in Acts, 3000 were saved the first day. 5000 were added to their number. "Daily" they were being saved, even the priests...

What do some of you guys have against numbers?

Perhaps you think that some churches are "cheating" in some regard -- and that a large congregation can only be gathered if the gospel is made insignificant, ala Joel Olsteen, but the BIBLE says otherwise. The Jerusalem church must have had at least 16,000 figuring that typically only men were counted, but women and children were also likely present. Were they "cheating" or softening the gospel?

Or, perhaps some of your churches are in fact so dysfunctional, that no one would attend for more than a few days, but I can't know that without visiting, so don't get your feathers ruffled. All I have to go by is the stuff posted here on the forum -- and some of what I've seen is decidedly dysfunctional!

 

[saturneptune]

A local church has the right to name their church anything they want. Personally, I think it is a sad thing to hide or diminish the name "Baptist." It stands for so much that is right about being a Christian. As I said earlier, I am very puzzled why Baptist is singled out for this. I have never seen a Presbyterian, Methodist, or Lutheran church try to hide their name.

 

[J.D.]

Are we looking for quanity or quality?

I prefer quality when it comes to churches, but I prefer quantity when it comes to payday. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[J.D.]

A local church has the right to name their church anything they want. Personally, I think it is a sad thing to hide or diminish the name "Baptist." It stands for so much that is right about being a Christian. As I said earlier, I am very puzzled why Baptist is singled out for this. I have never seen a Presbyterian, Methodist, or Lutheran church try to hide their name.

I do know some presby churches that have names such as "Christ Church" and "Reformed Bible Church", but they are quick to point out in their literature that they are unabashed presbyterians.

 

[Tom Butler]

Tom Butler...

You beat me by 4 minutes!

Great minds think alike, you know. :laugh:

But of course.

I like yours better than mine.

Let me try to top it. The First Secret Baptist But Not Westboro Kinda Church.

 

[Tom Butler]

Many have... "Christ follower" is the new term of choice.

Romanian Baptists call themselves "repenters."

 

[J.D.]

Has anyone here ever heard of Evangelist Harold Leake? He penned the words to a once-famous song "Excuses, excuses, you hear them every day..."

Anyway, he created a fictitious name of a church that would please everyone:

The First Nazametholbapticostalseventhdayorthodoxluthatarianmormonwitnessesnondenominational independent catholic Church.

 

[Havensdad]

I have no problem with a church not having "Baptist" in their name, as long as it is firmly in their doctrine...