how to become a baptist?

[Foxmeister]

At the risk of over-simplification:

1. Get saved - become a Christian by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Get baptized - symbolizing your new life in Christ and your identification with God's people (the Church).

3. Read your Bible - If you faithfully read and study your Bible, you will become a Baptist.

That makes you a follower of Christ. To be a Baptist is to be a follower of Christ and join the Baptist church.

 

[John of Japan]

That makes you a follower of Christ. To be a Baptist is to be a follower of Christ and join the Baptist church.

We Baptists believe that being a Baptist is to be as Biblical as possible. I heard about a Japanese church which was often visited by Baptists from a nearby US military base who could not speak Japanese, but nevertheless attended and always had their Bible out. When the Japanese church eventually learned that the American men were Baptists, the believers decided they were Baptists also.

Granted, not all Baptist churches are Biblical, but the Baptist distinctives are strictly Biblical.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

That's exactly what I got one time, a 7 page questionnaire from a supporting church with stuff like you mentioned. As soon as I saw it I knew that support was going to disappear and the friendship with the pastor was over, but I answered the whole thing as a matter of principle. I had taken their support for a few months, and there is a responsibility for accountability if you receive support. The questions were like, "Do your children play with children who play with Masters of the Universe?" "Do you preach against commercial television?"

I think I first heard this from you!

I haven't experienced it personally but I have certainly been around those of similar mindset! For conscience sake, I would just let them be and not try to pretend to be something I was not in order to get their "Support."

 

[Armchair Apologist]

That makes you a follower of Christ. To be a Baptist is to be a follower of Christ and join the Baptist church.

Take a closer look at line item #3. If you actually read and study your Bible, it will lead you to become a Baptist!

 

[John of Japan]

I think I first heard this from you!

I haven't experienced it personally but I have certainly been around those of similar mindset! For conscience sake, I would just let them be and not try to pretend to be something I was not in order to get their "Support."

Well said.

Along that line, I had a friend who was supported by one church at $500 a month. The problem was, he had to document every expenditure right down to a candy bar! I would have turned down the support, myself.

 

[Ben1445]

Well said.

Along that line, I had a friend who was supported by one church at $500 a month. The problem was, he had to document every expenditure right down to a candy bar! I would have turned down the support, myself.

I definitely wouldn’t have reported to them any more than the $500 that they were sending.
A bit of trust goes a long way. And you can’t really say that you give to missions at that point. You might only be able to say it is an agreed upon trade, support in exchange for a report.

I understand the value of accountability, but if your missionary is not going to be honest with their support they are not going to be honest in the report either.

 

[Foxmeister]

Take a closer look at line item #3. If you actually read and study your Bible, it will lead you to become a Baptist!

I know plenty of people who follow Christ. read, and study the Bible who are not Baptists.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

I know plenty of people who follow Christ. read, and study the Bible who are not Baptists.

Tell them to keep studying, they'll eventually get it.

 

[John of Japan]

I know plenty of people who follow Christ. read, and study the Bible who are not Baptists.

Is it biblical to be baptized by immersion?
Is it biblical to take the Lord's Supper?
Is it biblical to make the Bible your sole rule of faith and practice?
Is it biblical to have each church be autonomous? (There are no denominational headquarters in the Bible.)
Should a church have just two offices, pastor and deacon?
Is a person saved by grace through faith alone?
Is it wrong for the government to control religion?

These are the Baptist distinctives, the things that make us Baptist. And they are all biblical. Some may add another one or two, but thesse are the basics.

 

[th1bill]

Is it biblical to be baptized by immersion?
Is it biblical to take the Lord's Supper?
Is it biblical to make the Bible your sole rule of faith and practice?
Is it biblical to have each church be autonomous? (There are no denominational headquarters in the Bible.)
Should a church have just two offices, pastor and deacon?
Is a person saved by grace through faith alone?
Is it wrong for the government to control religion?

These are the Baptist distinctives, the things that make us Baptist. And they are all biblical. Some may add another one or two, but thesse are the basics.

I look at the title of this string and it concerns me that any concentration is expended anytime on being a Baptist. I am a Christ Follower worshiping, learning, and formally teaching Christ in the Baptist Church Family. I was not born a Baptist but, rather was adopted into the Baptist Family when I turned to follow Yashuah/Jesus.

Perhaps a better title for the forum would be Christ Followers or Christians Only.

 

[John of Japan]

I look at the title of this string and it concerns me that any concentration is expended anytime on being a Baptist. I am a Christ Follower worshiping, learning, and formally teaching Christ in the Baptist Church Family. I was not born a Baptist but, rather was adopted into the Baptist Family when I turned to follow Yashuah/Jesus.

Perhaps a better title for the forum would be Christ Followers or Christians Only.

Sorry, I'm not going to change on believing that Baptist ecclesiology (and anyone else who follows the points I laid out) is closest to Scripture. Now there are so-called Baptists who don't follow the Baptist distinctives, and I do not consider them to be true to the faith.

But you see, I was born in a Baptist hospital, saved in a Baptist family, baptized in a Baptist church, went to a Baptist college and seminary, represented a Baptist mission board in Japan, and now teach in a Baptist college and seminary. I'm afraid it's too late to change!

 

[Armchair Apologist]

I look at the title of this string and it concerns me that any concentration is expended anytime on being a Baptist. I am a Christ Follower worshiping, learning, and formally teaching Christ in the Baptist Church Family. I was not born a Baptist but, rather was adopted into the Baptist Family when I turned to follow Yashuah/Jesus.

Perhaps a better title for the forum would be Christ Followers or Christians Only.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with one examining "Why I am a Baptist?" or "why I am a Presbyterian?" or whatever. My responses on this thread have largely been "tongue in cheek" and to anyone taking offense, I would say they really need to lighten up and learn to laugh at themslves! We shouldn't have to apologize for being Baptist and after all, is this not a Baptist forum? Do you not have to attest to an actual Baptist affilliation in order to be a "full" member and engage in all of the forums?

Yes, we are all "Christ Followers" and in the age to come, we will all be "His People" and He shall be "Our God!" We will not be segregated off into Baptists on one side of the New Jerusalem, Methodists on the other, Presbyterians on the north side, and Pentecostals on the southside!

But we ought to take a close look at what we believe and ask ourselves perhaps "Why am I a Baptist and not a Presbyterian?" Why do I hold to Covenant theology and not Dispensational Theology? Why am I a Calvinist and not Arminian? and so forth.

There are other forums out there that are just "Christian "and they will let any flavor of "Christian" join them. This is the "Baptist Board" and I am here because I am a Baptist.

But perhaps a good thread to start would be "What beliefs makes one a Baptist, and what beliefs would make someone 'not' a Baptist?"