Featured Baptist or Believer: Which Came First?

I arrived at the same time: 6/20/2002

:smilewinkgrin::laugh:

 

There was a time when labels had meaning. Not to-day. Baptists were first labelled by their enemies.

I grew up in the Church of England. I thought it was the only true church. As a military chaplain, I learned that believes were in all denominations and I was introduced to the Baptist system. I liked it and became a Baptist shortly after leaving the army.

I came to know Christ as my personal Saviour during Confirmation classes. Our system of worship is a personal choice. I chose Baptist. I chose Landmark Baptist, but it is just that; a choice, and does not exclude anyone else. I want to witness for Jesus, first and formost.

Cheers,

Jim

 

What a wonderful testimony and attitude!

Thank you brother.

 

I would be a believer, that is, a Christ follower, whether I'm a Baptist or not. If it weren't for my views about baptism, I would be a Presbyterian tomorrow, yet still a believer.

 

I'm a believer first. And a Baptist because they are right

 

I doubt if Calvin would have been completely happy with me, since we part company on some things.

My comment about Baptists' being right is the answer to the question "Why are you a Baptist?"

I suspect that most Methodists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, etc., would have given the same answer: "Because we are right."

I certainly can't imagine anybody saying "I'm a Methodist, but I don't agree with a lot of their stuff." Or, "I'm a Presbyterian, but I disagree with their soteriology."

If I didn't believe that Baptist doctrines and practices are scripturally based, I'd surely be looking for a faith group that did.

 

There is another dark side to denominationalism, which is just as wicked as Baptist Briderism. That is the belief that having the name baptist on your church makes you right with God. The belief that only "true" baptists, those who believe the way I do, are "right with God", "honored by God", or "blessed by God", is as heretical as believing that we can lose our salvation. It's almost funny to see those who condemn the Catholic church for claiming to be a co-equal authority with Christ act guilty of the same heresy. Regardless of the title, those who claim the authority to declare who is or is not "right with God" or saved, based upon church or denominational authority, should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. These are not speaking by the Holy Spirit, but out of the wickedness of their own hearts. Christ's condemnation of the Pharisees is our example.

 

yes, as I hold that "baptist" doctrines are the closest/best understanding of what the Apsotolic teaching really was in the bible!

Neither one of us would have make calvin happy, for our kids were dunked at birth!

 

I meant to say my children were NOT dunked at birth, as calvin would have us do!

 

They dont dunk babies...they either sprinkle or pour H2O over their heads. And your right Calvin, Luther, Knox & Wesley would instruct us to do it that way....so would the Pope!

 

That is why I see myself as a Christian first/baptist second/ and a baptist holding to to much of what calvin taught for example, but NOT all of that, for ONLY the Apostles themselves are who I always need to agree with !

 

Wow, I will have to beg to differ wit chu here! Aint your teaching, Its Christs teaching. Says right here...

John 3:5-8

New International Version (NIV)

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[a] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[c]

 

I know & you have come along way from your Pentecostalism days just as Ive done with being a ignorant heathen Papist. :godisgood: