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Confessions and BF&M

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Luke2427, Jun 8, 2012.

  1. Luke2427

    Luke2427 Active Member

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    One has said that the BF&M is not a confession.

    What is the difference between the BF&M and historical confessions of faith like the London Baptist Confession of 1689, etc...?

    Why and how is the BF&M not a confession of faith?
     
  2. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Since the definition of a confession is agreeing with what God knows is true, I have no idea why it would not be a confession. That is not to be confused with a creed, which is similar, but is usually repeated by many denominations weekly during the worship service. The Apostle's Creed is a good example. Baptist churches usually do not use creeds, but many subscribe to the London Confession of 1689.
     
  3. Luke2427

    Luke2427 Active Member

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    I think that is basically right.

    But blackbird said that it is not a confession.

    I want to know how it is different.
     
  4. 12strings

    12strings Active Member

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    I think it depends on what your definition of confession is. While it is clear that it is in theory meant to be statement of beliefs around which to unify SBCers, it is just as clear that the SBC does not require its churches to subscribe to it in order to be cooperating churches. Also, most SBC churches do not require adherance to it for church membership.
    -I would suspect, that if most churches are like mine, then they have members in thier pews that do truly believe they know people who used to be christians, but who are not now Christians.

    -In an organization like the SBC, which is made of autonomous churches which voluntarily associate and cooperate, this has to be the case. So Mohler can say we all have to beleive the BF&M, but the reality is, as the convention opperates now, many chuches and church members do not...and if they tried to make us, many churches would withdraw from the SBC.
     
  5. 12strings

    12strings Active Member

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    P.S.

    I think it is a confession, just like the 2nd London Baptist confession, that any church or person can say they ascribe to...or not.

    If you get lots of people or churches that ascribe to the same confession, like the BF&M, then you will know that at least you agree on that much.
     
  6. Luke2427

    Luke2427 Active Member

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    What parts of the BF&M do you think the convention will allow churches to repudiate?

    This is true, but it is probably no MORE the case than with other confessions over the past four hundred years, don't you think?

    If that's true, then this is not a distinctive between confessions and the BF&M

    It should also be noted that the convention REQUIRES all of it's missionaries to affirm the BF&M before sending them with cooperative support.

    That's rather confessional, I think.
     
  7. jonathanD

    jonathanD New Member

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    Good point (they also require abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, and glossalalia*). Missionaries AND denominational employees agree or sign the BFM. We also pull the SBC banner off folks for doing things like ordaining women or homosexuals for the pastorate.





    *one of these things is not like the others
     
  8. GBC Pastor

    GBC Pastor New Member

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    Article 3 affirms a belief in the age of accountability but not all SBC churches affirm this. However, it would not be a cause for dis-fellowshipping with a church. What identifies a church as SBC is their participation in the Cooperative Program not adherence to the BF&M. Compliance with the BF&M is reserved for SBC controlled entities like our seminaries. Which again makes Southern's use of The Abstract of Principles highly questionable in my view.
     
  9. jonathanD

    jonathanD New Member

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    We will take money from folks we disagree with, but we won't spend it on folks we disagree with...:smilewinkgrin:

    It's like deja vu all over again.
     
  10. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    The BFM is clearly a confessional document. No reasonable scholar disbelieved this. Now how some in the SBC leadership apply the document might be stretching the confessional boundaries, but that is on them and not on the BFM.
     
  11. 12strings

    12strings Active Member

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    1. They allow churches to disagree with many parts of it and still cooperate...as another poster said, they will take money from those who disagree, but not spend it on (missionaires) who disagree...

    That said, if all of the churches voted on a referendum that said we don't want missionaries to be required to hold to BF&M, then the leadership would have to comply (I think).
     
  12. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    maybe due to the fact that its NOT binding as THE way to understand the scriptures, unlike those used in reformed churches that ARE seen as being binding and THE way to have the scriptures seen/viewed as being?
     
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