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Do you have to have. . . .

Discussion in '2004 Archive' started by SaggyWoman, Sep 22, 2004.

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  1. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    Do you have to have Baptist in your name to be a Baptist?
     
    #1 SaggyWoman, Sep 22, 2004
  2. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    Nope, it's a matter of holding to the distinctives. Let's face it there are plenty of churchs with Baptist over the front door that ain't anymore.
     
    #2 Squire Robertsson, Sep 22, 2004
  3. mesly

    mesly Member

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    Squire, I agree with you. But, this was hashed out a bit a few months ago in another thread regarding who could be a member of the Baptist Board. It appears that you just might have to have the word "Baptist" in your name, and not just hold to baptistic doctrine.

    http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/48/645/2.html?
     
    #3 mesly, Sep 22, 2004
  4. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    I was involved in Grace Fundamental Church in the Dallas area. That was the sign, the info people got.

    But it was NOT just "baptistic". In the constitution of the church it started, "Grace Fundamental Church, a Baptist church, . . . "

    Spelling it out like that is what makes positive identification of a church as a "baptist" church even though "baptist" may not be in the name.

    Like my son's church, Saddleback Church, is SBC and signs full agreement with the BFM Baptist statement of faith. But you would not know it from the surface literature.
     
    #4 Dr. Bob, Sep 23, 2004
  5. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    I agree with Dr. Bob. It is a matter of truth in advertiseing for me. There are many good and sufficent reasons for a church not to have Baptist in their name but still be a "Baptist" church. However, there are many bad and insufficent reasons for leaving it off.
     
    #5 Squire Robertsson, Sep 23, 2004
  6. Circuitrider

    Circuitrider <img src=/circuitrider2.JPG>
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    Recently I visited a church were several new converts were asking why this church was "Baptist" in name and why it had to be. :confused:

    A practical answer is that we have to call it something. ;) One person suggested "Christian" since that is a title the Antioch church identified with. Of course "Christian" as a name has all kinds of baggage with it...primarily baptism as a part of salvation. At the same time I understand that "Baptist" also has baggage, namely the Baptist distinctives and primarily believers baptism. [​IMG]

    IMHO while a church might call itself "Baptist" and yet not be baptist in practice, it seems to me that if you are "Baptist" and believe those key distinctives, there seems little logical or practical reason to avoid using the name. :cool:
     
    #6 Circuitrider, Sep 23, 2004
  7. Bro.Bill

    Bro.Bill New Member

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    Nope,but they are easier to find with the sign on the lawn.
     
    #7 Bro.Bill, Sep 25, 2004
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