Why are you a Baptist?

I am a Baptist because the Baptist Church believes what I consider to be biblically correct doctrine. There are several doctrines which would distinguish a Baptist Church from many others. (Although I'm saddened by the fact that the lines are growing more and more faint with each generation)

1. Baptists believe in a saved membership. You must profess to be born-again to be a member of the church.
2. You must be scripturally baptized by immersion symbolizing Christ's death, burial, and resurrection after you been saved. This is one of two ordinances of the church. The other being the Lord's Supper.
3. The Bible is the only standard for faith and practice.
4. The liberty of the human soul.
Rom. 14:12 "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."
5. The ordinances of the church are symbolic not sacremental. They have nothing to do with receiving God's grace.
6. The church has only two scriptural offices: Pastor and Deacon.
7. The autonomy of the local church.
8. The priesthood of the believer.
9. Eternal security.

These are a few of the many reasons I am a Baptist.

 

Ditto for me!

 

Warm Christian greetings!

Because the Bible says: Believe and be baptised, not the other way round. (Mark 16 v 16).

Kind regards

Robert J Hutton

 

I am Baptist because it is my Heritage. I am Baptist by conviction. I am Baptist because the KJBible(a non-negotiable Standard) tells me so! I am Baptist because to be otherwise would be spiritual adultery(YIKES!)

 

I am a Baptist because I believe one should be involved in a church (as opposed to being a "lone ranger for God"), and because I believe Baptist churches are *generally* more correct than other churches. I do not believe Baptists have an inerrant handle on doctrine, nor do I believe one must agree with every "distinctive" to be called a Baptist (e.g. a few items on Pastor Bob's list above could be dropped and you could still be "Baptist"). I do not believe being "Baptist" is more important than being "Christian".

 

??? ??? ???

Please explain what you mean by "spiritual adultery": what it is, and what the consequences are.

[ July 18, 2002, 01:52 PM: Message edited by: BrianT ]

 

??? ??? ???[BrianT]

***Read my lips>>>NON-NEGOTIABLE<<<smile***

Please explain what you mean by "spiritual adultery": what it is, and what the consequences are.[BrianT]

Ya pulled a fast-one on me, didn't ya, ol'boy? Tho't ya was referring to the KJBible issue....

Well to me, spiritual adultery would be to fellowship with false religions-those in error.

[ July 18, 2002, 02:05 PM: Message edited by: GrannyGumbo ]

 

I didn't mean to "pull a fast one". I simply saw you might take my response as talking about the KJV issue, which was not what I was asking about (I'm already full aware of your view on that, and how you "answer" questions about it. )

I'm still not clear on this "spiritual adultery". I realize you think Baptists are more correct than other Christian denominations, but what do you mean by "false religions"? Do you think other groups (Alliance, Pentecostal, Lutheran, etc, etc, etc) are following a different Jesus? Can one not be saved if one is not Baptist? Is this what you mean by "spiritual adultery" - committing adultery against Christ? What are the consequences of what you call "spiritual adultery"?

 

Heritage is useless as any kind of guide to spiritual truth.
Conviction is no guide either; people can be convicted of a whole heap of weird ideas.

But as for the KJBible, you must have a weird one of those, too. Mine says nothing about a Baptist Church or about being a Baptist, other than John the Baptist so-called because he baptized people (and it was for the remission of sins-- Mark 1:4).

Gumbo is an example of the 'reason for being a Baptist,' which if entirely honest and accurate would be: "I have been brainwashed into thinking there is no other way to believe or live."

But as it would not be right for me to criticize others without criticizing myself, my own reasons for being a Baptist are not really that different. My background was in Baptist and 'Disciple of Christ' churches, so I believed what was slugged into my mind too. But I was not afraid of self-study or of reading the opinions of those who were taught differently.

So I still believe those 'basic' Baptist doctrines, but what is impossible to know is how much brainwashing influences future thought on specific subjects, meaning that is the reason I and others conclude these doctrines are true; and why we, like others, choose to downplay one tenet for another-- for Baptists, one example is how we think Ephesians 2:8 takes precedence over James 2:24.

 

Well, BrianT, I do not think I am better than you or anyone else in the world. I think those who contend for the faith have (1)the right fellowship (2)the right faithfulness (3)the right fruitfulness. There are those who deny doctrines of truth, have conflicting doctrines, practices & even terminology...check-out the "tongues-section"; many don't even agree concerning how to refer to God.

I've noticed since 9/11, there has been a mighty strong "push" towards bringing people together(ecumenicalism). God leads, satan pushes; always remember that, ok? I do think that some folks get saved "in spite of", not "because of"; so yes, there are saved non-baptists.

I've never committed adultery, but I would imagine the consequences are horrific-just as they would be for me to fellowship with those who are in error. I've never done a study on this, and I imagine there is plenty of sound info on the 'net (or ask the pastors on Board) about spiritual adultery...

 

Granny, why is it so hard to get you to answer simple, direct questions? Why do you say something controversial, then dance around the issue when someone asks you to back up or at least explain your comments? I'm not asking what some website or some pastor might thing "spiritual adultery" means, I'm asking *you* what you meant in the context of being "Baptist" or not. Don't say something if you can't or won't explain it.

Fellowshipping with a fellow Christian who isn't perfect would be horrific? Wowzers. You must be pretty lonely, or else know the only perfect Christians in the whole world. I don't know any perfect Christian where I am. What should I do?

 

1) Priesthood of the believer/soul freedom
2) Local church autonomy
3) Freedom of conscience/religion
4) Freedom to interpret the bible

Shurden's book "The Baptist Identity: 4 Fragile Freedoms" best desribes the above, as well as Keith Parks' sermon "Why I am a Baptist".

 

I don't know any perfect Christian where I am. What should I do?[BrianT]

"Move next door to me! hahahaha jes'pickin'

 

Granny, thanks for answering only the rhetorical question, and then only with jest. God forbid anyone should actually get a real answer out of you one day.

 

There are no real answers within the realm of sensationalism.

 

I would imagine the consequences are horrific-just as they would be for me to fellowship with those who are in error.[Granny]

Fellowshipping with a fellow Christian who isn't perfect would be horrific?[BrianT]

"My dear BrianT, I do not know why you do not like my answers. It don't matter how sincere I am or hard it is for me to explain; it is never good enough to satisfy you...But at least you're nice and polite, etc. & I thanky fer that!

I don't think I implied I would not fellowship with a fellow Christian who isn't perfect... When I've seen adultery destroy lives, it began so innocently...Then it becomes an accepted way of life. Well, false doctrine tolerated becomes false doctrine embraced. "A little leaven leaveneth a whole lump". If I started accepting a little error here or a little one there, soon I would lose sight of Truth. I think the Lord wants me to be faithful no matter the cost(or the ridicule

 

Just for curiosity's sake, which distinctives could you drop?

I agree 100% that being a Christian is the higher calling; but a true student of the Bible who has learned to rightly divide the Word of Truth will eventually subscribe to many, if not all foundational doctrines that we Baptists hold dear. i.e. the Virgin Birth, Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, Creation, the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, a literal hell, etc...

 

I am a baptist because of the doctrine of:
1. Soul freedom
2. Priesthood of the believer
3. Local church autonomy
4. Historical and continued missions emphasis

 

Hey Granny. I don't konw if I like your answers or not, because I've yet to see one. There's nothing wrong with being sincere, I just wish you would answer more directly, because questions are often asked to make a point, and avoiding answering them avoids the purpose of the response in the first place. That's all.

I agree. But one can fellowship without compromising their beliefs. And no one is perfect, I'm sure even you are not leaven-free. Should I cut off my fellowship with you, because I'm worried your leaven will affect my lump?

"Baptist" is not a specific type of believer, it covers a spectrum, and often overlaps non-Baptists. I know several non-Baptists who I consider more theologically sound than some Baptists. Saying that fellowshipping with non-Baptists is "spiritual adultery" just makes me shake my head.

I'm glad you agree that the key doctrines are what's important to the Christian faith. I didn't mean to imply that Baptist distinctives are not important. But I think from your list, 6, 7, and 9 certainly don't make or break the definition of Baptist (The church has only two scriptural offices, The autonomy of the local church, and Eternal security). In many Baptist churchs, they add a third official office, "elder". Some Baptist churches are less autonomous than others, and eternal security is something that I think is not a Baptist distinctive, but something that should fall under their autonomy. If a specific church wants to put eternal security (or pretrib, or KJV-onlyism, or any of a dozen other secondary, debatable doctrines) in their doctrinal statement, they should be free to do so, but these things does not make one "Baptist" or not. That's all I meant by my statements.