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If You're Baptist, Why Not Say So?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by TCGreek, Mar 10, 2008.

  1. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    A fellow Christian and I were having a conversation and brought up the issue about some SB churches who do not have Baptist in their name. He pointed out Rick Warren's Saddleback church, yet it is SB.

    He thought it was deceiving and only a marketing strategy, to be a Baptist and not call yourself one, at least in the name of the church.

    What do you think?
     
    #1 TCGreek, Mar 10, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 10, 2008
  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    He thought it was deceiving and only a marketing strategy, to be a Baptist and not call yourself one.

    That is exactly right!
     
  3. exscentric

    exscentric Well-Known Member
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    Baptists of all strips have been bailing on the term. We have Dayspring, we have New Harvest, we have all sorts of generic terms for them but they are part of some Baptist group or another. (All formerly Baptist of some sort of name.)

    One of my alma maters or is that hardly matters started out Western Baptist Bible college, went to Western Baptist college, then to western college and no is Corban :laugh: They really got away from their roots :thumbs:

    But then this is true of all groups even non baptist. We have a "Community Church" in town that is a hyper Presbyterian. Community church used to mean Bible church with open mind to allow for all commers in small communities with one church.
     
  4. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    I am a Baptist and we have 'Baptist' in our church name.

    If we didn't, people moving into town couldn't find us. They wouldn't know WHAT kind of church we were...
     
  5. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

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    I tend to agree with your fellow Christian.
     
  6. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    "as for those factious titles of Anabaptists, Independents, Presbyterians, or the like, I conclude, that they came neither from Jerusalem, nor Antioch, but rather from hell and Babylon;"
    --John Bunyan, Peaceable Principles and True
     
  7. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    Me, too, Sue!!! Me, too!!!

    If I weren't Baptist-----I'd be ashamed!!!!!!
     
  8. North Carolina Tentmaker

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    This could actually cut both ways. There are a lot of churches that have the name Baptist on the sign but they no longer hold to what used to be Baptist distinctives. Either way it comes down to false advertising.
     
  9. SBCPreacher

    SBCPreacher Active Member
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    I pastor a Baptist Church and we do have and will have Baptist in our name. But, with the reputation of some Baptist churches in our area (mean, judgmental, hypocritical) I can almost see why some churches want to distance themselves from them.
     
  10. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    Hey, you don't want us to be Baptist? Fine, we'll be whatever you want us to be. We'll even be nothing if you want. Or we'll be just like the world, in our dress, in our music, in our marketing.

    But people might not come if we say we're Baptist. How can we grow with that albatross around our necks?

    Hmm, I thought Jesus said HE would build his church.
     
  11. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    We have baptist in our name and I like it that way.
     
  12. pinoybaptist

    pinoybaptist Active Member
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    Getting on this wagon here, folks.
     
  13. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    Why is it deceptive to not have the name Baptist in a church name? We have Baptist in our name, but that doesn't make us Baptist. What we believe makes us baptist.

    The churches that are mentioned are not using the name baptist because they are not trying to attract Baptists moving into town. They are trying to attract non-churched, unsaved people. Is it marketing? So maybe some of you guys ought to stop putting into your ads that you have nursery for all services, a children's ministry, student ministry ad nauseum.

    I too would be ashamed not to be a Baptist but it's our beliefs that make us distinctive not the name on the sign.
     
  14. pinoybaptist

    pinoybaptist Active Member
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    The Columbia Primitive Baptist Church at Burtonsville, Maryland, became known as such in the early 1800's.

    Previous to that her name was "The Church at ......." (a river's name where she was situated, part of Old Carrol county, before she moved to where she is now).

    Many of the Baptists before the splits were simply called "the church [here or there wherever they were situated]).

    But they were Baptistic in doctrine and practices.
     
  15. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    The Word Baptist

    We have discussed dropping the word "Baptist" from our title, but have kept it. Why would we consider dropping it?
    Primarily because of the reputation of the SBC. The name Baptist in much of the country, USA, has come to mean, in the minds of many, to mean prejudice, bigoted, narrow, ignorant, mean spirited ... I could go on but you get my drift.:tonofbricks:
     
  16. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Deception implies intent. And I doubt the churches that are dropping "Baptist" are not intending to deceive... but intending to reach out to the community.

    Denominationalism doesn't mean as much to the Christians under the age of 35 as it does to the ones over 35.

    Just because a church doesn't have Baptist over the door does not mean it is not biblically sound.
    Besides, we all know churches that have Baptist over the door, that we wouldn't be caught in.

    Today, the name Baptist means very little... since there are so many types of Baptists.

    I would never champion to have the name Baptist dropped from any church (of course I am over 35... lol) I do understand and won't condemn those that do.
     
    #16 tinytim, Mar 11, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 11, 2008
  17. EdSutton

    EdSutton New Member

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    I seem to recall the same thing.

    Might be why the Bible refers to a disciple of Jesus as a 'Christian', ya' think, 'stead of a 'Baptist'?

    Ed
     
  18. chuck2336

    chuck2336 Member

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    Amen Brother!
     
  19. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    The church where I get to serve does not have "Baptist" in our name.

    You may feel free to brand me several different ways and malign our fine people. ;)

    In reality we have chosen to drop the "Baptist" terminology as a church. We still hold to Baptist distinctives, teach Baptistically, and celebrate (particularly in our membership process) our Baptistness. We give to the Cooperative Program (so we are an SBC church) and have sent about 800 of our people on missions trips (doesn't make us better than anyone else...just stating distinctives.)

    The whole "Baptist" name thing isn't a big deal for me since having "Baptist" in your church name isn't a distinctive. There have been many churches that were Baptist that did not have the theological moniker in the title of the Church.

    Additionally, in general most people don't care about church polity when making a church decision. That isn't good, that isn't bad, that is just the way that it is. We don't make decision based on the masses, but how we can better connect with those outsiders we are called to connect with.

    Particularly in our decision about who we are as a church we desire to be a terrific connection point for those who, otherwise, might not attend church. We do things in a strategic and pointed focus to meet those outsiders and allow them to encounters where God can speak into their lives. That is who we are. In our groups we teach Baptist distinctives.

    Baptist is important for us in our structure and who we identify with, but it isn't going to draw people in. I love my Baptist heritage, but having a name doesn't make one a better Baptist than others. :)

    thanks for the thread :D
     
  20. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    Tim, I think you're on to something by noting the demographics.

    In some areas of our country, baptists are more readily accepted than in other areas.

    I know what Dr. David Jeremiah led his community to become SB, but they haven't changed their name. It's still Shadow Mountain Community Church.
     
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