Where..........

[FollowMeHome]

Where does one go to learn about Baptist theology?

My joining a Baptist church is an attempt to follow one religion in my marriage. Mixed marriages are very complicated. I was raised Catholic. For the most part, I know nothing else. Every comment I make on this board has Catholic conotations. I can't help it.

I'm not getting any instruction at my Baptist church on theology. I've seen so much scripture taken out of context and twisted to suit a persons purpose. I can't do that.

Who do you believe??????? I'm trying to learn, but when I say something, everyone criticizes me. Is this Baptist charity?

 

[DeeJay]

It is hard to learn something that is opposed to what you have been taught you entire life. I was raised Mormon and even after I came to believe the LDS church was wrong and came to believe in the fundimentals of the Bible some of the details I was being taught were hard to believe at first because they were so so different.

I know what you are going thru trying to learn. I think sometimes people assume that everybody on this board has been well established in what they believe. We forget that some are just learning and we want to take everything and argue and not teach.

This is a good place for debate and to refine your beliefes and especaly to test your beliefs against the fire. Sometimes when I think I believe something but am not sure about it I will argue it here. Somebody will chew it up and spit it our if there is flaws. :tongue3:

You need somebody in real life that you can talk with person to person. Your wife is good but, that is to close. I think you need a buddy from the church that you can go fishing with or something like that.

If you have specific questions you can PM me. I will do my best. I will give you my E mail if you want it.

PS. I was raised Mormon for the most part but my dads side of the fam is Catholic. So I have been to my fair share of Catholic mass and know somewhat their doctrine also.

 

[DeeJay]

Is this Baptist charity

Like I say, being in a Baptist only debate portion of the board it is hard not to assume that you are a well grounded Baptist who has some Catholic ideas mixed in. Debate is the norm here.

If I have posted anything uncharitable then I appologise. :Fish:

 

[Scott J]

Thick skin is advisable when you discuss points of doctrine with Baptists. As opposed to more structured sects, we Baptists take our liberty, responsibility, and autonomy very serious. We believe that each person is responsible to know what they believe and why.... biblically.

In one respect, what you've asked for doesn't exist. Baptists share some distinctives but are probably the most diverse and divided of all labeled groups... you can't really call us a denomination. "Baptist" is more of a general description rather than a "church/denomination". What you see here is a pretty good reflection of our diversity and our conviction that "we" got it right according to the Bible.

Though not technically "Baptists", Ryrie's "Basic Theology" is pretty good if you want an idea of the range of things Baptists might believe. The historic Baptist confessions are probably another good resource.

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Where does one go to learn about Baptist theology?

Start with the Bible...:smilewinkgrin:

Then perhaps, check out the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 here.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[2BHizown]

doctrine

Start with the Bible...:smilewinkgrin:

Then perhaps, check out the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 here.

Joseph Botwinick

Absolutely! I couldnt agree more! Too many other books read to influence one at first can actually dilute the truth somewht!

Reading Jesus and Paul is the perfect start! Start with the gospel of John, Romans, Hebrews and the Epistles and you'll be on course!!

Paul told Timothy to , "Preach the Word!!"

 

[donnA]

As you make a pratice of reading the bible, first pray the Holy Spirit will reveal God's truths to you. And He will. As you read from book to book, (new testamant first), you will start to see teachings develop and continued from book to book. Evereytime you get one of those "AHH, now I understand" moments it may be God revealing scripture to you. Test it out on someone who you trust their scriptural knowledge.
Pray, pray pray.
And I agree with Jospeh, baptist faith amd message.

 

[Bro Tony]

Followme,

As has already been said, thick skin is advisible. Because your statements are challenged in here does not mean you are being attacked or criticized. That is what this board is for. Yes people can get a little aggressive, but dont wear you feelings on your sleeve. Iron sharpens iron. The root of Baptist doctrine is the Bible and a general understanding is given in the Baptist Faith & Message.

Bro Tony

 

[donnA]

Without this board and people challenging me I might not have become studier, and might not have the bible knowledge I have now. A challenge for biblical evidences is not a personal attack.

 

[webdog]

Without this board and people challenging me I might not have become studier, and might not have the bible knowledge I have now. A challenge for biblical evidences is not a personal attack.

Amen:thumbs: This board has really helped me to understand what I believe and why.

 

[Jarthur001]

A good starting place is to look at the creeds.

http://www.creeds.net/baptists/1689/original/1689bc.html

When reading creeds, know that this is a work of man. This is not gospel, but is a good place to start. Make sure you take the time and lookup passages listed with each point. You may find you do not fully agree with all points. A Baptist follows the Word of God and this only. Yet creeds give us a frame work to build on.

In other words...You may find something in one doctrine listed in a creed you disagree with. You should not chuck that doctrine, but find the right view based on the Bible of that doctrine. Use the full outline of a creed to build your faith and KNOW what you believe and have the Bible to back you up.


In Christ..James

 

[bapmom]

I agree with the above.

I think you need to talk to your pastor in private. If you are trying to talk to various people in your church, and asking questions, you could be seen as a person who is just trying to sow discord and doubt. It could be that you have approached some people who are perhaps still young in their faith as well, and they might assume that you are trying to cause doubt in their minds by questioning things.
You need to go to your pastor or Sunday School teacher and ask them to teach you some basic doctrines. What you are asking for is what most of us would call discipleship. If you bring your questions to a teacher in the church with the intent of getting the answers, then your questions will most likely be answered readily.

If the pastor and/or SS teacher is unwilling to provide any form of discipleship to you, then you have bigger problems there.

 

[ituttut]

Where does one go to learn about Baptist theology?

My joining a Baptist church is an attempt to follow one religion in my marriage. Mixed marriages are very complicated. I was raised Catholic. For the most part, I know nothing else. Every comment I make on this board has Catholic conotations. I can't help it.

I'm not getting any instruction at my Baptist church on theology. I've seen so much scripture taken out of context and twisted to suit a persons purpose. I can't do that.

Who do you believe??????? I'm trying to learn, but when I say something, everyone criticizes me. Is this Baptist charity?

Hello FollowMeHome. We find understanding in His Word.

When you have time I hope you will read this, and check out the biblical references. You may not wish to respond, which I will understand. It took Him about forty years to get through to me. Not until He impressed on me I was not to follow a denomination but Him, did it all become clear. But most will wish to associate with others that believe close to what they believe, so we have the different main line "denominations", which evidently all broke from the Mother church (Catholic). But there has always been before the Reformation" those that did not believe in "works" salvation of the Catholic church. You have lots to overcome, i.e. salvation by the Grace of God with works in your faith, against the Baptist belief of salvation by Grace through faith, without works for Jesus Christ did all of the work. It is in Him that we are to put our faith, and not that of man.

This is what confronts you. You have the "rituals" that are necessary for you to do to be comfortable in your faith. There are no "rituals", or should not be in any Baptist church. Baptist and a few others are not "religious" people. They count themselves "Christians" as these are from Paul, and not Peter. Scripture shows Paul also builds on the "foundation of Jesus Christ", but he will not build on what Peter laid down. Christ Jesus from heaven gave His heavenly gospel to Paul.

I hope you have not quit reading, for everything I say is scriptural and comes from Christ Jesus in heaven as He sit beside His Father in heaven, and it is to Him we will go, and not directly into the "kingdom that will come". We are in the Body of Christ Church, and it is in heaven, and not this earth.

I don't know if you read my reply to your post "The Blessed Trinity". I hoped you could see in my post, the bulk of your information should be coming from the Bible. The Bible will explain itself if you will let it. The Holy Trinity cannot be explained any better than what Paul informed in that post. Take it one step at a time. You have asked for help, and you will find it in only one place and that is His Word. I fear you are looking for instructions from man (the denomination's), which all believe differently. You will find the denomination of the Baptist churches to be all over the map. They are not a monarchy like the Catholic church. Each church, even though they may belong to a "Convention" such as Southern Baptist Convention, General Baptist Convention, American Baptist Convention, and they're many more, are separate. Then you have the "lonely" churches that will not associate themselves with other Baptist's. But they are all as the "lonely" church as each church is autonomous. Even within each church, all will not actually believe the same thing, other than "believe on the name of the Lord Jesus and you will be saved". And they are right for that is all that Christ Jesus from heaven tells us we must do to be saved today.

It is too bad your wife wasn't of the Lutheran, or Episcopal faith as they are more aligned to the Catholic belief. You are at the far end of the spectrum. It will be difficult for you, as you evidently have been thoroughly indoctrinated in the Catholic belief of necessary works for your salvation. And strange as it may seem all Baptists believe Christ from heaven says that all the "ordinances of the law have been nailed to the Cross (Colossians 2:14). Yet so very many say they believe in the "great commission" which contains exactly what the Catholic believes about "water" baptism. And in Acts 2:38 Peter preaches this "great commission" gospel of "repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins". So confusion is all of the churches down here.

You have gotten yourself into a very difficult situation, and if you made a commitment to your wife to become Baptist, all you can do is knuckle down and forget what you were taught in the Catholic church. But this is impossible. You will have to have a change of mind, or have her join your church. I would doubt very much she would agree to this. You are entering into the world of "liberty and freedom" in your salvation, freed from works and believing only one thing going into a Baptist church. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved - Acts 16:28-31.

You are going to run into a very phenomenal breach of understanding in the Baptist church. If you do join the Baptist church, you will have to be re-baptized (I understand a few now may not require you to do so). You can make up your own mind of what Baptists really think of "water" baptism. As a Catholic I'm sure the thought will come to mind that the Baptist do believe as you, that one must "repent and be baptized", for you will be required to do so to associate with them as a "member in the Body of Christ". There is no "perfect" chuch down here. But not to worry for in the Body of Christ we are today "sealed in Him".

Today we have specific instructions as to how we are to be saved, and we are not to add anything to how we are saved today. It is in the above Acts 16:28-31. How can we know this? Acts 9 gives Paul the authority to reveal to all today what Christ Jesus from heaven taught him - Galatians 1:11-12.

I am a Gentile, and all today are saved just as we Gentile's, as Peter attests in Acts 15:11. Peter saw with His own eyes how the Gentile is saved for God stopped his tongue (Acts 10:42-45), as God forced him to preach to a Gentile for the first time. This is the only time shown in scripture that an "earthly" Apostle chosen by Jesus ever preached to a Gentile. The Jew was taught by tradition and by Jesus that the Gentile are "heathen dogs" - "………I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.……………But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs…………………, Matthew 15:22-28.

So is there anything that Jesus has to say to we Gentile's, and also the Jew today? Yes and that is to make sure you are in the Body of Christ Church, and then you can choose what church comes close to what He taught Paul from heaven.

Here are the admonitions to us from the two men that Christ told to build on His foundation.

"And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" - II Peter 3:15-16.

"For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office" - Romans 11:13.

"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel" - Romans 2:16.

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" - Galatians 1:8-9.

In the Spirit I pray to the Father through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you can find peace in your salvation.

 

[Cix]

Where does one go to learn about Baptist theology?

My joining a Baptist church is an attempt to follow one religion in my marriage. Mixed marriages are very complicated. I was raised Catholic. For the most part, I know nothing else. Every comment I make on this board has Catholic conotations. I can't help it.

I'm not getting any instruction at my Baptist church on theology. I've seen so much scripture taken out of context and twisted to suit a persons purpose. I can't do that.

Who do you believe??????? I'm trying to learn, but when I say something, everyone criticizes me. Is this Baptist charity?

Have you read the Bible? You can start there. Bible reading isn't something the catholic church encourages. It's the true word of God. Read it and it will enlighten you.

 

[DeeJay]

Amen:thumbs: This board has really helped me to understand what I believe and why.

Not only understand what I believe. But this board has increased my ability to defend what I believe in real life with people face to face.

I kind of think of this board as practice, training.

 

[Gina B]

Where does one go to learn about Baptist theology?

My joining a Baptist church is an attempt to follow one religion in my marriage. Mixed marriages are very complicated. I was raised Catholic. For the most part, I know nothing else. Every comment I make on this board has Catholic conotations. I can't help it.

I'm not getting any instruction at my Baptist church on theology. I've seen so much scripture taken out of context and twisted to suit a persons purpose. I can't do that.

Who do you believe??????? I'm trying to learn, but when I say something, everyone criticizes me. Is this Baptist charity?

Start with the basics.
Christians believe in the fundamentals.
These are, very basically:

1. The Bible is God's word to us. The doctrines in it are perfect.

2. The trinity. The Holy Ghost, Jesus, and the Father make up one God. Jesus was the Son of God.

3. The virgin birth: Mary was a virgin until after the birth of Christ.

4. Christ died for our sins and physically rose again, conquering death.

5. Christ is coming again.

There is an online copy of a portion of "The Fundamentals". I think this is the same place I helped proof-read for so they could get it online. You can always write and ask if they need more proof-readers. It's a great way to help get it out there and really get some great knowledge. When you have to type it out, what you read sticks in your head. It's a great way to study doctrine! Here is the link: http://www.xmission.com/~fidelis/

People on here will jump you sometimes and be mean. It happens. In a group with a couple thousand people, you're going to come across a few uncharitable ones. That will happen in any group, whether they claim to be Christian or Catholic or Atheist or whatever. Please try to remember that, or you'll end up very discouraged and frustrated. If you stay in any church long enough, you'll find the same problem. Hippocrites exist everywhere, we're all that way to some degree, and at times more than others.

Some people will try to tell you that Christian doctrine says stuff like you have to dress a certain way, not listen to certain instruments, witness a certain way, attend church this often, etc.. Try to remember that if it's something you have to twist scriptures to figure out, it's probably not a true doctrine. It's a preference.

Anyhow, it's cool that you want to figure it out. There are people here who will help you when you ask questions. Just ignore the ones that want to argue if that's not what you want.
There are a few people here who are very learned in the different doctrines and will probably be more than willing to help you out if you post specific questions in the theology forum. (I'm not one of them, I just know they're there because they answer stuff for me!)
Sometimes the best you can do is post a question, read the variety of answers, and add it to what you study personally in the Bible.

Here is a website I've found very useful: http://crosswalk.com/
They have a LOT of study tools. You can look up verses in many different versions. You can study a verse, a chapter, even look up single words in the original languages. They have dictionaries, lexicons, commentaries, you name it. Make sure when you click on a verse you also click in "include study tools." You can look up one verse, and it'll show all the commentaries on it listed beside it, just click on them and study!

As far as who you believe on here, well...it's the internet. You'll figure out who you can trust after a while. There's a core group of decent people here, you'll get to know them after a while.

 

[Plain Old Bill]

Great Doctrines of the Bible by William Evans is a classic on basic Baptist doctrines.It's an easy read and is still in use today in Bible colleges. It's only a few hundered pages,easy to comprehend,you'll get through it in about a week of semi-casual reading.It's put out by Moody press and you can get a hard copy at your local christian bookstrore. If they don't have a copy on hand you can order it and it won't take but a couple of days to get there.

Also you may be able to find it online.

Another little book (not distinctly Baptist) which is generally in line with baptist doctrine is "know what you Believe" by Tony Little. That one is only about a 100 pages and you can get through it in an gour or so.

I would'nt read "The Fundamentals"edited by R.A. Torrey until I wanted to get real serious it is over 1400 pages you could get lost starting out there.

Another quick read for starters would be the statement of faith here on the BB.

The big differences you will find is that baptists are not litugical.
We do not pray to Mary.
The Lord's Supper is an ordinance but the bread and Wine(juice) are not transubstantiated into Christ's virtual blood and body.
Baptism is by immersion and comes after salvation.
We confess our sins directly to God not to a priest.

Many baptists agree with the Apostles Creed with the catholic church having a small "c" as to designate the universal church and not the church at Rome.

I hope this helps some.:wavey:

 

[canadyjd]

Where does one go to learn about Baptist theology?/quote]

Just one more little bit of advice. Most people here are telling your to read the Bible, which is great advice. Understand that your "world-view" is somewhat different (right now) from Baptists.

If I understand correctly, Catholics believe in two equal streams of revelation. The Bible and the Traditions of the Catholic Church. Baptists reject the Traditions of the Catholic Church as having the same authority as scripture.

The Reformation leaders (which began essentially with Catholic priests trying to reform the Catholic Church so as to return to a biblical Christianity) had the cry of "sola scriptura" which meant "scripture alone" for faith and doctrine. Therefore, you should expect Baptists to focus on scripture. The more you learn, the more you will simply say, "wow!".

(note of warning: although Baptists reject the Traditions of the Catholic church as having the same authority as scripture, we some times treat our own traditions as if they did.):tongue3:

peace to youraise:

 

[LeBuick]

2. The trinity. The Holy Ghost, Jesus, and the Father make up one God. Jesus was the Son of God. .

Just a minor typo, that should read IS. Jesus IS the son of GOD. He lives! :thumbs:

 

[Ransom]

I see that someone has already suggested the Baptist Faith and Message as well as the London Baptist Confession of 1769, both of which are standard Baptist statements of faith.

Apropos to the BFM, if you want more detailed, Baptist-specific systematic theology, you could also check out Abstract of Systematic Theology by James Petigru Boyce, one of the "founding fathers" of the Southern Baptist Convention. Of course, that dates from the 19th century and might be slow going for someone accustomed to contemporary English. A more modern systematic theology from a Baptist perspective would be Christian Theology by Millard Erickson (the second edition was published in 1998).