new member from another denominaiton

I believe they should have some instruction as to what we Baptists believe. You can't be a Baptist if you believe in anything other than baptism by immersion.
Anyone coming from another denomination must make a statement of faith that they believe what the church believes before they can be a member. If they are not familiar with Baptist belief, they need to be taught.

When I went from Missionary Baptist to Southern Baptist, I could not simply join by letter, but had to state what I believe so they could deem it to be compatible with the Southern Baptist before I was accepted into the church. I also had to assure them that I had been baptised by immersion.

 

A current aspect of our church scene is the attempt to remove biblical distictives from our churches...hence a Baptist church becoming "N[o] Hope Community Church."

Historically Baptists have taken a consistent stand on the issue of believers baptism. You can join many of these nebulous community churches on any form of baptism, but a true NT church will require baptism by immersion based upon a personal testimony of salvation. End of discussion!

Last Sunday I talked with new believers at a church who were questioning the need to have the Baptist name. I said, you have to call it something, and the name might as was well reflect your belief system. True Baptists believe in baptism by immersion after salvation.

 

Our approach is that of Dr Bob's and Circuitrider's. Our question is first about their salvation and then about the why and how of their baptism. If it is not Scriptural we require them to be baptized.

Bro Tony

 

The baptism stand is really easy, to me. Immersion, by a Baptist church (pick your flavor).

But the main thing will be discipling the person on what Baptists really believe. So many other denominations have so many radically different beliefs. You have to be very careful that the person actually understnds what is and is not correct doctrine.

In Christ,
Trotter

 

Brother, in general I tend to agree, however, what if that Baptist Church is a "General Baptist" or a "Freewill Baptist" both of those that teach, that salvation can be lost.?

What would you do with that person's baptism? Would you accept it? Or would you ask them to be baptized again?

How about, a Nazerene who was immersed?

What would you consider alien immersion?

Something to think about.

God Bless

 

People from the Church of the Nazarene's believe one can lose their salvation, as do the people here in TN in the church of Christ. We could not accept their baptism, because there is clear doctrinal error, ie., baptism is a part of salvation, which the Bible teaches it is not.

AVL1984

 

I think it depends on when and why they were baptized. But, generally, we rebaptize.

 

John Smyth Baptized himself and his congergation affusion. I would therefore disagree with you and say in the beginning there were Baptists who did not baptize by immersion, but as the Baptist faith progressed immersion qucikly became the only accepted form.

Bryan
SDG

 

We ask them to be really "immersed" in order to join our church!

 

We've run into this issue, as we have had people from a charismatic background (various denominations) come foward desiring to join our fellowship. What I normally do is to ask them (one on one) to give me their testimony, and after ascertaining that they have indeed made a profession of faith in Christ, I use the Baptist distinctives, Baptist Faith and Message, and the scripture to show them why we believe as we do.
I have found this approach to be extremely effective. Keep in mind that our church is so far back in the woods that "The Episcopalians play with snakes" (don't remember where I heard that one), so we have some really wierd theology running around in our area.

 

Go to the scriptures for purity. If we allow people that do not believe as we to easly join our church no matter what they believe. It want be long until we don't have a Baptist church.

We must identify the reason they are coming to join our church,plus identify doctrinal differences, teach them our Baptist distinctives, if they confirm their believes to be Baptist, Baptise them upon the perfession of faith.

Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
KJV

 

I was not baptized in a Baptist Church myself. However, it was similar to a Baptist Church in most every aspect doctrinally. I was Baptized as a believer (19yo) and by immersion by my minister. It would be an insult for someone to demand me to be Baptized again.

Now when I was 12 my parents must have taken a stupid pill and joined a UMC. I had to take confirmation class and be sprinkled. I didn't want to be sprinkled or baptized at all. That's two things wrong. 1. Not by immersion 2. Not willing...... It wasn't even a baptism. Therefore I asked to be baptized when I was 19