Question on Baptist Definitions

The Reformation began as a result of Martin Luther posting his 95 Thesis on the door of the Wittenburg Chapel on October 31, A.D. 1517. Basically, Luther disputed the Catholic Church's selling of indulgences (the forgiving of sins) in exchange for money. Initially Luther called for reforming the Catholic Church from within. However, he met with such stiff resistance that he came to see that the only thing he could do was to break away from the Catholic Church. The debates eventually caused the Church to look further into Luther's writings and teachings. The Pope declared his writings heretical and ordered them to be burned and he sent a Papal Bull (order) excommunicating Luther. Luther in turn burned the Papal Bull. The sides polarized and the Religious wars of the 1500s and early 1600s began in Europe.

This has to do with ones view of the ages. Some hold that in the O.T. there was the age, dispensation, of Israel and the Old Covenant, now is the age, dispensation, of the Church, etc. There are various views of dispensationalism. The most hottly debated issue is when the millennium started/will start. The views are Pre-mil, Post-mil, and Ah-mil.

Most of us use this term to refer to those who hold to and contend for the five fundamentals of the Christian Faith:

1) The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallable Word of God

2) Jesus Christ is virgin born and sinless

3) Jesus Christ died a vicarious substitutionary death on the cross

4) Jesus Christ literally rose from the dead, ascended into heaven

5) Jesus Christ will literally return for His kingdom

You are very welcome.

[ December 02, 2003, 05:21 AM: Message edited by: Bible-boy ]

 

It could also refer to the events that led up to and included the takeback of the SBC from the control of the apostates, errrggg, moderates.

Note that it wasn't a takeover, but a takeback.

 

I see that you take every opportunity possible, even if you have to twist the discussion, to declare that other believers are not your brothers in Christ.

Don’t you realize you are grieving the Spirit with your false accusations?

 

BB, I answered the question. The reformation also refers to the SBC takeback. In fact, I am reading a book about the history of it amazingly called - The Baptist Reformation.

I wish you would stop following me around the baptist board to only attack me. Find a hobby.

 

1.) I don’t follow you around. I’ve been a member of this community for a while now and follow quite a few threads even if I don’t always participate.

2.) As far as “attacking you” goes, that allegation is ridiculous on its face. You sir, consistently and routinely allege that I, and many others who do not always agree with you, are not your brothers and sisters in Christ. I do not make that presumption, nor allege that you are not a brother. However, I do speak up when you falsely accuse the brethren, for that is a work of evil that Christ calls me to oppose.

We have had enough PMs back and forth for you to know how concerned I am for you. You should know that my public rebukes toward you are for your restoration and edification.

 

Children, children, settle down.
Elk, I think Bibleboy had a great answer.

 

I agree.

 

The term "Fundamentalist" means different things to different people. I agree with Bible-boy's defintion (I would add something about Christ's divinity), but in Baptist groups it carries a different connotation, not captured by Bible-boy's list - to many, "fundamentalism" includes things that ironically are not "funamental" at all. In other words, my Catholic, Pentecostal, Anglican and even Mormon friends all believe the things on Bible-boy's list - they believe the "fundamentals", but I don't hear anyone calling them "Fundamentalists". I'm Baptist and believe the things on the list, and I'm not allowed in the "Fundamental Baptist" forum on this board.

 

The things that I listed are the five "Fundamentals of the Christian Faith" that "Fundamentalists" have supported since the term was coined in the late 1800s. They were aimed at defending the faith against the attacks of modern logic, evolutionary theory, etc. and liberal theological scholarship.

I could agree with you that certain Catholic, Pentecostal, and Anglican groups also hold to these beliefs. I disagree strongly regarding Mormonism and these five beliefs. Mormons may claim to believe these things; however, they define the terms differently. For example the Mormon Jesus is not the same as the traditional orthodox Christian Jesus, who is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity. The Mormon definition of Jesus is that he is a created being resulting from the physical union of God the Father (an exhalted man) and Mary. Mormons consider Jesus as our literal "big brother." For more on Mormon Christology check out Ontruth.com links.

 

Thanks, BibleBoy, for answering the points so succinctly.

 

I had a moment of clarity!

 

Yes, I am very familiar with Mormon doctrine, and I agree with you. My point is that those things that separate Mormons from Christianity were not mentioned in your list of 5 fundamentals (i.e. the list doesn't deity/Trinity, non-created, etc.). That's why in my previous post I said I would add something about his diety as being fundamental. That's all i meant.

God bless,
Brian