Christian or Baptist

Whether it sounds pious or not to you, I am a Christian first and a Baptist second. But I believe that the Bible and the basic beliefs of Baptists are very close. If that wasn't true, I'd identify with whatever group was closest.

There are some Christians who do not believe in Baptism by immersion. It doesn't mean they are not Christians. But I believe the Bible teaches that, so I would say when speaking about this that Baptist believe....

The sdame is true about local church autonomy.

It's not a matter of pride, it's a matter of conviction.

 

I am a Christian who is part of a local Baptist church.

That is all.

 

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

I'm both. Of course, there aren't any Christians that aren't Baptist.

 

I say "Baptists believe", because not all Christians believe the same. We can't generalize by saying "Christians believe", because there are too many differences in doctrine in Christian churches. I'm not including cults or other obviously false religions in "Christian", because any religion that puts anyone or anything before Christ is NOT Christian. However, not all Baptist churches believe the same either. It's no wonder people are confused on what to believe when even Christians can't agree. That lack of harmony and unity displeases God but pleases the devil very much.

 

Interesting that baptists got their name because of their emphasis on baptism. In the early days of the Baptist church, baptism happened at the moment someone confessed faith, even if it meant baptizing them in a cold, dirty, muddy river.

A far cry from today when people wait years to be baptized in a warm and clean baptistry. Just an observation.

 

It's also interesting how someone from the "Church of Christ" doesn't set a Christ like example and follow forum rules. Unless you are a Baptist you shouldn't even be posting in this section.

It would also be interesting to say that the Church of Christ certainly doesn't follow Christ, but is a false religion...but I won't go there right now.

 

Our friend leesw has been on this board for more than three years, so he should know better.

But in this case, I'm going to cut him some slack. As best I can gather, this is the first time he's posted in the Baptist-only section, and it could very well have been an oversight.

I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one.

 

Definitely I consider myself a follow of Christ before any denominational affiliation.

Christ did not found a denomination, he founded a church and asked for those who would follow him.

 

I'm a low down dirty rotten sinner that God has, by His grace called me out of darkness into His marvelous light--I'm a Christian. AMENraying:

 

I'm a Christian. I'm a Baptist Christian. I'm a Calvinist Baptist Christian. I am a Conservative Calvinist Baptist Christian. I'm a Historic Premillenial Conservative Calvinist Baptist Christian. I could go further, but suffice it to say that simply describing oneself as a Christian is probably not quite enough in many cases.

You know what you mean when you call yourself Christian. You don't always know what someone else means when they describe themselves as such.

Ask a Mormon if he's a Christian. He'll say yes. But he means something entirely different. Same with a Catholic. A Church of Christ. A Pentecostal. All of whom believe in baptismal regeneration.

Romanian Baptists don't call themselves Christians. They call themselves "repenters." One who describes himself as a "born-again" Christian helps us known what he means with his self-description. So does "believer."

If you are trying to determine if one is saved, "are you a Christian" is the wrong question. If he says yes, where do you go from there?

 

Actually, I do know where to go from there.

A good followup question is "how do you think one comes into a right relationship with God?"

The answer will tell you a lot.

My point is that "Christian" doesn't tell us enough.

 

Especially when the person believes that he/she is a Christian simply because of being an American, or as one woman told me when I asked, "Are you saved?" She replied, "Yes, my husband and I were both born that way."

 

Oh I dont know....Sinner seems most appropriate most of the time. The mantel of Christ is very difficult to take with any degree of seriousness & honesty. Sinner is what I know I am. You can also add scoundrel, rascal & allot of words I cant use in polite society. I do believe however but I will never be a saint & dont try to be.

 

Matt wade,

I understand your point, and agree, but at the same time, Christ WAS sort of known for "breaking the rules" at times.

* Upbraiding the pharisees

* The woman caught in adultery

* Eating with sinners.

Etc etc.

He definetly went "against the grain" sometimes. :smilewinkgrin:


Our visitor probably meant to post in the "general" section

 

Our "visitor" has been a member on this board for 9 years.

 

However, this question gets real tricky when you live in a town where the rivalry for members exists between the Christian Churches (the instrumental split from the Church of Christ) and the Baptists. In such a setting, even trying to answer this question only makes one look wishy-washy.:BangHead: