Baptist.And now you are?
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Baptist.And now you are?
Think Most of us here are that BrotherBaptist.
I hope so. Now I am not any of those I listed.Think Most of us here are that Brother
I would add, only two offices (pastor and deacon), and the Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice. Those two are extremely important.Would say that the big Baptist distinctives would be local autonomy, believers baptism, separation church and state each person a priest to God and each person can hold to own doctrines and practices as long as not heretical
Agreed that scriptures as the supreme and final authority for all doctrines and practices very important, and would see though Elders as being named in the bible as an official office in local assembliesI would add, only two offices (pastor and deacon), and the Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice. Those two are extremely important.
I sort of came into "Baptist" through the side door. I heard the Gospel from Catholic Charismatics, attended a Church of God and Evangelical Free Church and read a LOT of scripture trying to reconcile my personal salvation experience (from nihilistic Atheists criminal) with the Wesleyan Holiness dominated teaching that I was exposed to. A comprehensive online exam said my personal beliefs were a 100% match to something called "Reformed Baptist" [now if I only knew what "reformed" meant and what "baptists" believed). So I located the nearest "Southern Baptist" church to check it out and read the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message (not a bad booklet).So, what does it mean to you to be a Baptist? Do you have a list of Baptist distinctives? Please share your list on this thread
It reminds me of a quote from "A Man For All Seasons" (1966) ...People often connect "soul liberty" to the Calvinist-Arminian discussion, but I believe that emphasis is mistaken. It is not a synonym of "free will." The term is used in the Baptist distinctives with the meaning that a believer is free to make his or her own choices in regards to religion (Bible interpretation, translation choices, positions on separation, etc.) without pressure or control from church leadership or denominational rules. As such, some lists of the Baptist distinctives subsume it under the priesthood of the believer rather than as a separate distinctive.
This does not mean that local churches are not free to decide their own doctrine and standards, and carry out their own church discipline. It also does not mean that believers are free to disagree with plain fundamental doctrine as taught in Scripture--for example a full preterist denying a future Second Coming of Christ, or saying that it already happened as a "spiritual" coming.
Great post!It reminds me of a quote from "A Man For All Seasons" (1966) ...
Sir Thomas More understood the issue behind "soul liberty". Each man must eventually give an account to HIS MASTER - (not to our 'fellowship').
- The Duke of Norfolk: Oh confound all this. I'm not a scholar, I don't know whether the marriage was lawful or not but dammit, Thomas, look at these names! Why can't you do as I did and come with us, for fellowship!
- Sir Thomas More: And when we die, and you are sent to heaven for doing your conscience, and I am sent to hell for not doing mine, will you come with me, for fellowship?
I heard the joke, What would you be if not a Baptist? The answer came: I would be ashamed. I say, Me too.I hope so. Now I am not any of those I listed.
So you do not need the Holy Spirit to enable one to make the decision to receive Jesus period then? Its all up to our free will?The concept of individual soul liberty says a person may believe all 5 points of the TULIP, or reject them. The TULIP says the lost are unable to seek God at any time, nor put their trust and devotion in Christ as Savior and Lord. Reformed Baptists have a version of the distinctive that does not allow rejection of the TULIP. Pretty simple really.
To say a lost soul is not at liberty to believe in Christ without supernatural intervention, is inconsistent with the actual concept.
I'd say the key to this "priesthood of believers" is in the verse that follows (in 1 Peter 2):I heard the joke, What would you be if not a Baptist? The answer came: I would be ashamed. I say, Me too.
But
I began attending the Baptist church while still in my mother's womb, and chose to be a Baptist after my conversion. I have tried to be a careful student of the word since I was 25 years old but I must say, I have never heard anyone at any time try to explain "Priesthood of the believer" and where I can find it taught in scripture. Never heard a sermon on it. It has not appeared on this Baptist forum as a topic that I know of. It has never come up for discussion in the fellowship hall. I have been to many Sword conferences, listened to thousands of recorded sermons, been to camp meetings and no sermons on it when I was in the audience.
My point is that I am not denying it as a doctrine of scripture, but just saying it is not a doctrine that gets much, if any attention. I am saying I am ignorant of the doctrine and would like to know more about it.
I will check it out after church tonight. If it works out I might quiz my pastor about it.I'd say the key to this "priesthood of believers" is in the verse that follows (in 1 Peter 2):
"declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
So you like to ask questions, but actually have nothing to support your bogus views?So you do not need the Holy Spirit to enable one to make the decision to receive Jesus period then? Its all up to our free will?
I lean towards Baptists bring a natural amalgamation of the Reformers and Anabaptist's theology. One reason for this opinion is the Anabaptists were vocal and even supportive of tge Protestant Reformation, so I can see how doctrine would be shared.