What is a Baptist?

I think you're right, skypaid, that a huge number of Baptists are dispys.

In my neck of the woods, though, I'm finding that more and more Baptists are becoming less and less enthusiastic about the idea.

 

And believe it or not -- that's a GOOD sign! :thumbs: Half the "virgins" weren't ready.

skypair

 

Be my guest. I'm listening.

John 1:1 -- "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Then, in the beginning of time (we call Jesus "Alpha" at this point), John 1:2 -- "The same was in the beginning with God."

Is John confused or just you?

skypair

 

This was an excellent question, and there is still a lot to be explored in connection with it. When I consider vast differences between different denominations that use the "Baptist" name, it is bewildering. For example, there are the Old Regular Baptists who are vastly different in their doctrinal undersandings than say a Free Will Baptist. Missionary Baptists are different still, and many churches that don't call themselves "Baptist" have many of the attributes I've ready here regarding baptists. For example, the Calvary Chapel churches believe as Baptists do regarding scripture, the Trinity, baptism, communion, etc. They are somewhat "unbaptist" in their beliefs regarding gifts of the Spirit, and they don't use the Baptist name, but I think they would blend in very well at a Baptist convention.

You see, there is no one unified "Baptist" statement of faith. There are some who call themselves Baptist who are more different from your average Baptist than a Presbyterian. After reading all through this thread, I still could not give you a very good definition of what a "Baptist" is. I suppose you just have to know one when you see one?

 

I forget which TV preacher it was, but this is beginning to sound like the guy who said each member of the trinity has 3 parts, making a total of 9. Now that was weird.

 

That would be Benny ( Heretic ) Hinn .

 

Oh yeah, thanks. I only heard about it, I didn't hear him preach it. I couldn't tell if it was a story about Benny Hinn, or about George Lucas. (Star Wars was originally meant to be a trilogy of 3 movies, totalling 9.)

 

AMEN RIPPON!

 

I have ALOT on that garbage they preach. It deals specifically with the Word of Faith Movement.

I actaully post a lot of it and specifically that portion of Ol' Benny "new revelation on a TBN broadcast" in the other denominations forum concerning the whole Word of Faith heresy.

I have done a great deal of studying up on it because it is creeping into the churches of denom's but specifically into the many baptist Churches through the back door of friendly home bible studies. Espeacally up here right now in the Dakota's (South) in the area I have begun a new Church work just a few weeks ago - De Smet. ( Once the home place of Laura Ingles Wilder in her childhood - Little house on the Praire)

I was astounded to hear the stuff people was comming up with. I remember one lady told me after she god back from a trip to Israel, that before she left her bags wth the airline she commanded God to "make sure her bags go to her airport when she did. And guess what?" she said. "When I go there God did just was I said - Praise God!"
I had quite a long talk with her about that and not more than 2 or 3 more studies later she left because my beliefs aren't scriptural. "We are in Christ and therefore Christs ourselves. We are made in the image of God and therefore we are God to like God is, by commanding things to be by the word of our mouth and God is bound to obey."
And I need to become more spiritual and grasp that.

If I ever go that way, I give absolute permission to anyone here on the BB to shoot me, if My wife hasn't already done it first.

 

But doctrine is a big part, isn't it? I mean can you imagine a church that practices infant baptism being a Baptist church no matter how the church is administered?

 

If one wants the short description of a Baptist, it would be centered around baptism.

Historically, Baptists have held to:
Baptism of believers only.
By immersion
To picture the gospel, and to demonstration one's death to sin and resurrection to a new life in Christ.
Baptism (and the Lord's Supper) are non-sacramental.

Others are, the Trinity, the deity of Jesus, eternal security, soul competency, priesthood of the believer.

Polity has involved generally a congregational government, with no hierarchy.


Individually, these beliefs and practices are held by other church and denominational groups, but taken together as a whole, they describe a Baptist.

Southern Baptists and Independent Fundamental Baptists are actually quite similar in doctrine.

There are always exceptions, of course. General Baptists and Free-Will Baptists (who are quite similar) do not hold to eternal security; Seventh-Day Baptists worship on Saturday.

 

This abstract of distinctions is taken from the website of the General Association of Regular Baptists :

Some of the other associations and conventions may differ somewhat from this list.

You can click on the website URL and get a full description of each distinctive.

There is an old barb: Ask 10 Baptists a question and you will get 12 answers.

HankD