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weak position?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by KJVRICH, May 14, 2015.

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  1. KJVRICH

    KJVRICH New Member

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    Our church that is a "church plant" from a southern Baptist church has decided to file/become a non-denominational church. The reason the pastor said was because they were getting many calls to the church office asking..."what do you mean we're Baptists???" ....."what bible is that??"....etc..
    You see in my area of North Carolina where we live, we have tremendous influx of "northerners"/"transplants"..(NY/NJ) to be exact, which means a lot of Catholics/ex-Catholics who also apparently have a negative connotation of Baptists. My question is, does anybody think this is weak? instead of calling it what it is, and saying we are a Baptist church, to change so he doesn't get phone calls? opinions on this position?
    My take on the whole thing is that he is worried about it effecting church attendance.
     
    #1 KJVRICH, May 14, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: May 14, 2015
  2. Zaac

    Zaac Well-Known Member

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    It's not just weak, it's embarrassing. Do yall have a board? Can he just decide to be "non-denominational"? I don't believe that the SBC encourages member churches to fund the planting of non-SBC churches.

    Not that Baptists are perfect, but he needs to give the board and the church a better explanation for wanting to be non-denominational.
     
    #2 Zaac, May 14, 2015
  3. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    Great question. For me I think it would largely depend on what is meant by "non-denominational," seeing that this is usually descriptive of Charismatic faith.

    If it to be a "community church" then there will still be the same doctrine without the demand of association with a particular group, which is something I can understand. But if the change includes an embrace of doctrines not previously held to for the purpose of enlarging and satisfying the congregation and prospective members, then no, I would not call it weak, I would call it good business practice.

    ;)

    And it is a shame to say but there are many who toss sound doctrine and practice to the wind because they treat the assembling of the brethren as a business, and have the bottom line more as a priority than the saving of souls.

    So is the Pastor planning on trying to accommodate people of faith whose views are in direct contradiction to what would normally be found in a SBC congregation? If he plans on maintaining the same doctrinal views I might think it is not such a bad idea. But it is the doctrine I would say would be the determiner for me.


    God bless.
     
    #3 Darrell C, May 14, 2015
  4. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    Yes, secular media portrays Baptists as less than scholarly fundamentalists, and so by removing the name "Baptist" from the church name has found favor in many churches.

    But a church changing its name from say Grace Baptist Church to Grace Fellowship Church, does not require severing affiliation from "baptist" organizations such as Free Will Baptists.

    A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
     
    #4 Van, May 14, 2015
  5. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    We have changed our name from Baptist not because we are embarrassed by the name but because of logistics with becoming multi-campus and someone else having too close a name to what we wanted to go with. But if asked, we still will tell people we are an independent Baptist church and we still operate under the original Baptist name for business.

    I definitely understand the issue because actually living here in NY, the Baptist name IS a deterrent for many ex-Catholics who wouldn't set foot in a Baptist church.
     
    #5 annsni, May 14, 2015
  6. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    When I was first saved the reputation Baptists had that I heard all the time was "Those guys know their Bible."

    God bless.
     
    #6 Darrell C, May 14, 2015
  7. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Now it's "Those Baptists interpret the Bible too literally."
     
    #7 annsni, May 14, 2015
  8. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    You got that right: hyper-literalists!

    lol

    The irony is that most of us are not hyper-literalists but recognize figurative speech as it is employed. I have actually seen a hyper-literalism that is radical in our historical and preterist brethren.

    For example, demanding that because something is said it is a universal rule which cannot be nullified by further revelation at a later date.

    While I am proud to be a Baptist, I do recognize there are many types of Baptist, lol. I have noticed an absence of Freewill Baptists here.


    God bless.
     
    #8 Darrell C, May 14, 2015
  9. KJVRICH

    KJVRICH New Member

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    thank you all for your input, it is very much appreciated!
     
    #9 KJVRICH, May 14, 2015
  10. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    Welcome to the Forum, KJVRich, I hope your time here is blessed and you are a blessing in return to those here.


    God bless.
     
    #10 Darrell C, May 14, 2015
  11. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    It sounds like an excuse.
     
    #11 Revmitchell, May 14, 2015
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