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labelling

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Jim1999, Jun 29, 2003.

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  1. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Why are so many in the USA eager to pigeonhole every believer? You must be fundamentalist, conservative or liberal, Calvinist, Arminian or Other.

    Why is it not possible to be Christian? Baptists all have different ideas, so I am not surprised at all the different baptist groups.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #1 Jim1999, Jun 29, 2003
  2. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    Jim, I agree with you. That was my opinion when I first arrived here, adn was suprised to see soemthing else when I got here, I'd never been exposed to that before.
     
    #2 donnA, Jun 29, 2003
  3. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    Good question Jim!

    When we get to Heaven...the question will not be; "What denomination are you?" It will be; "Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life?".
     
    #3 I Am Blessed 24, Jun 29, 2003
  4. Gwyneth

    Gwyneth <img src=/gwyneth.gif>

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    Well said Jim no extra label for me CHRIST(ian) IS SUFFICIENT.
     
    #4 Gwyneth, Jun 29, 2003
  5. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Okay, I'm going to disagree and explain to Jim how I see it.

    Ask anyone in America what religion they are and they're either Christian, Catholic, Jewish or Muslim. Christian's include Mormon's, Jehovah's Witness, etc.

    I don't want my beliefs to be watered down and inter mixed with Mormon's, J/W's, and even with the Baptist groups that openly endorse homosexual lifestyles. So, I give a more complete answer by saying Southern Baptist or telling people the name of my church.

    Does that make sense Jim?

    Diane

     
    #5 dianetavegia, Jun 29, 2003
  6. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Words and labels mean very little today. True followers of Jesus were first called "The Way".
    Then in Antioch called, "Christians".
    Various parimutations later and we have "anabaptist" and "baptist", labeled by enemies.

    Then "General" Baptists for those arminian kind and "Particular" Baptists for bible believers.

    All of these helped narrow down the "generic" into the "specific". People use names flippantly and indiscriminately.

    WORDS HAVE MEANING!

    Today, I am proud to add a few adjectives to help people know where I stand. Those who hold to the same position I can trust - missionaries, colleges, evangelists, etc

    I am an historic independent fundamental Baptist and proud of the label. It separates me from the "ABC" or "SBC". I tease Joshua all the time, but really want to draw a line between his kind of Baptist and me. And he probably doesn't mind not be associated with MY kind of Baptist!
     
    #6 Dr. Bob, Jun 29, 2003
  7. Mark Osgatharp

    Mark Osgatharp New Member

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    There are multitudes who claim to be faithful Christians, and yet hold to unbiblical, contradictory, heretical, cultic, and down-right athiestic and immoral doctrines. In such a situation it naively simplistic to think tha simply identifying yourself as a "Christian" would correctly identify what you really were religiously, spiritualy, and doctrinally.

    When we all get to gloryland (those of us who are going that is) I'm sure "Christian" will be enough, for God will identify who is using the term correctly. Till the the use of extra labels is a necessary thing.

    Mark Osgatharp
     
    #7 Mark Osgatharp, Jun 29, 2003
  8. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    I am not so naive as to not know what you are saying. I remain the same. Those labels you wear mean nothing to me. The fundamentalists I have seen are radicals and belong in the same camp as the cults. Now, would you like that label? Or would you prefer to known as a Christian, despite what some may think as being Christian?

    I know there are liberals in the Southern Baptist Convention, so, what is SBC? It all boils down to your personal witness. When I am asked, my answer is that I am a Christian, who happens to be a Baptist.

    If I told you I was a Fellowship Baptist, or a Convention Baptist, or a Regular Baptist, would you be any the wiser? Not one iota.

    See my point? It seems that it genders more contention than is needed, in my mind.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #8 Jim1999, Jun 29, 2003
  9. Gwyneth

    Gwyneth <img src=/gwyneth.gif>

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    Diane
    Gwyneth.

    [ June 29, 2003, 05:09 PM: Message edited by: Gwyneth ]
     
    #9 Gwyneth, Jun 29, 2003
  10. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Shucks, Gwyneth! I wasn't trying to be patronizing. :( I just sometimes use so few words or too many words and don't make myself clear. Jim knows that! I hope he does!

    I wish we could all answer... "I'm a Christian" and have it mean what the Bible says it means! However, I prefer to make it clear that I'm not just 'not a Muslim or Jewish person' but a believer in Jesus as the one and only Messiah, Son of God. In America, Christian generally means anything other than a religion that has another god.

    Plus, you asked 'How does God see it?' and you are so right. But I felt Jim meant how we answer when asked by Joe Q. Public and not God the Father!

    I am so sorry if this upset anyone! I surely didn't mean to sound rude or confrontational! I had a Jehovah's Witness say yesterday that they are Christian's too!

    Diane :(
     
    #10 dianetavegia, Jun 29, 2003
  11. following-Him

    following-Him Active Member

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    I am a Christian, and when I get to heaven God is going to want to know what I did with His Son. Did I deny Him, or did,I like Paul, preach Christ crucified?
    [​IMG]
     
    #11 following-Him, Jun 29, 2003
  12. Mark Osgatharp

    Mark Osgatharp New Member

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    Jim,

    Sure I would be the wiser; I still might not know exactly what you were theologically, but I would at least have an idea what you were and a very good idea of what you were willing to fellowship with. Like it or not, men are known by the company they keep.

    "He that biddeth him godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds."

    Therefore, you can say that being part of a liberal Baptist group doesn't make you liberal till you are blue in the fact. The word of God says different.

    Mark Osgatharp
     
    #12 Mark Osgatharp, Jun 29, 2003
  13. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    What is meant by that? :confused:

    I've seen you refer to funnymentalists several times on the board. So what is meant by that label? :confused:
     
    #13 LadyEagle, Jun 29, 2003
  14. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    I prefer to be a christian, and if asked what church I go to I'll say Southern Baptist, and my church name. Let my life tell others that I am a christian. But I see no reason not to let a person do it their way since we aren't talking about some bible doctrine.
     
    #14 donnA, Jun 29, 2003
  15. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Mark, I am glad that your are familiar with the Fellowship, Convention and Regular Baptists in Canada. They are nothing like American groups......perhaps the Convention Baptists. They don't compare to the same names in the USA.

    I was asked not to use the term funnymentalist, but to answer the question, it distinguishes between those who adhere to the fundamentals of the faith and those who have funny attachments; they invent strange doctrines and obsessions.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #15 Jim1999, Jun 29, 2003
  16. RTB

    RTB New Member

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    I think that labels are unnecessary to a point. I am a Christain first, and Baptist somewhere thereafter. When we begin to label ourselves and others apply those labels, that means that you are no longer straddling a fence and have chosen to make a stand on this platform, be it SBC, IFB, etc.. Because of the prevaling climate nowadays with so many groups labeling themselves as "christian", we have to be clear about where we stand, and the label that we choose to use helps to identify our stand.

    Jim, i wish that we didn't have to, but .....


    In Christ

    Ronnie
     
    #16 RTB, Jun 29, 2003
  17. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    We could try Twice-born believer, or born again believer.....I don't have a definitive answer.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #17 Jim1999, Jun 29, 2003
  18. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Jim, In some parts of the U.S. saying you are Born Again means you speak in tongues. Labels ARE a problem! They don't mean the same thing everywhere ..... not even within the U.S.~

    I believe it was St. Patrick who identified himself as 'Patrick, the sinner'.

    Diane
    Whom Jesus Loves! [​IMG]
     
    #18 dianetavegia, Jun 29, 2003
  19. Jacob

    Jacob Member

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    Nice...very classy.

    Jacob.
     
    #19 Jacob, Jun 29, 2003
  20. Jamal5000

    Jamal5000 New Member

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    Hi Jim1999,

    Over here in Denmark, SC, know one really recognizes the terms Calvinist or fundamentalist, etc.

    They just know Baptist.

    In fact...lol...I don't even think "I" know the difference. [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Could you please give me a short...er...overview of Christian Labeling 101. :D
     
    #20 Jamal5000, Jun 29, 2003
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