1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Bad Reps for Baptists - so sad!

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by jprieto, Jun 23, 2012.

  1. jprieto

    jprieto New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2008
    Messages:
    97
    Likes Received:
    0
    Im a proud Baptist.
    Im Baptist everything.
    I might even rename my pet "Baptist"

    But I grieve so much that we have such a bad reputation. There is even a website that publishes updated list of baptist ministers and baptist church officials who got arrested (and convicted) for child molestation. Their list grows weekly. They publish specific names and church names as evidence. They claim that no child is safe around baptists. They even cite SBC leaders refusal to ex-communicate some of their leaders who are under insvestigation.

    Parents are slowly becoming afraid of baptist as they are of priests.

    What has happened to us?

    And to make things worse, there are many devout baptist churches who take the name "baptist" out of their church name. Thus leaving only the bad apples to represent the denomination.

    I feel that there are many good baptists out there: real bible believing, god fearing, men and women, who do live lead godly lives no matter what.

    Yet, we are over shadowed by the bad reputation baptists are obtaining.

    Im so grieved over this.

    What can we all do?

    A year ago I mentioned this forum to someone, and she replied: "Oh, do you guys share kids vids?" Wow!! I was so offended, But she came back to me with a link to the aforementioned website.

    If age dont kill me, this grieving will
     
  2. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2003
    Messages:
    38,982
    Likes Received:
    2,615
    Faith:
    Baptist
    First of all, the SBC has no authority to ex-communicate any member or to defrock a pastor as it is individual churches which ordain.

    Granted, the SBC - thur local association may withdraw fellowship from such a church.

    But as far as why Baptists get a bad rap - is more likely that those individuals do not understand Baptists.
    For example there is no such thing as a Baptist Church - there are only Baptist churches - note the lower case "c".

    Yes, there are many good Baptists out there: real bible believing, god fearing, men, who do live lead Godly lives no matter what. Unfortunately those who are evil often are the only ones to make the news

    The next time a person says so many Baptist pastors are evil, ask them how many ministers that Baptist churches have. Well over 40,000 - just in SBC churches, not to mention other groups such as SBC, CBA, GARBC, ect. In addition there are thousands of Independent Baptist churches as well. % wise the number would be very small. I agree that even one episode is too much, but it is up to the local church to take action.
     
  3. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    You work with the web and should understand that much of what is posted on the web is fiction or malicious information. You reference a website but do not identify. Since you are asking for help you should identify the website. Perhaps some on this Forum could then provide verification of the information presented.

    Frankly from the way you describe the site I would say it is bogus. There are militant atheists who have no compunction about spreading false information about Christians. Bill Maher of HBO is a prime example.

    I do not doubt that there are Baptist people who are involved in child molestation. I also have no doubt that if it were prevalent it would be national news!
     
  4. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2004
    Messages:
    10,295
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hello jprieto,
    the grief that you are having is because you have put your heart in the wrong place. What you are describing should only belong to Christ who never disappoints. Dump this allegiance to Baptist and put it on Christ and your grief will be in proper focus.
     
  5. jprieto

    jprieto New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2008
    Messages:
    97
    Likes Received:
    0
    #5 jprieto, Jun 24, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 24, 2012
  6. Oldtimer

    Oldtimer New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2011
    Messages:
    1,934
    Likes Received:
    2
    Ephesians 6:1-18 KJB
    10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
    11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
    12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
    13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
    14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
    15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
    16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
    17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
    18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

    Satan reigns on this earth. One of his objectives is to discredit anyone who's a member of the true church -- the body of Christ. Thus, our warning to avoid even the appearance of sin in our lives. Satan will use that against us both individually and collectively to sway the undecided away from accepting our Saviour.

    Next, take time to study the history of the "Baptist" church. What's going on is nothing new. Baptists have been long despised, persecuted, and even killed for their faith. You don't have to go back to the middle ages, either. Nor outside the boundries of this country since it's founding. Religious freedom for Baptists didn't come as easily as it did for some of the other denominations of the Christian faith.

    Now, after looking back, look forward towards the return of our Lord who will put an end to satan's reign. The world is being prepared for one world religion and one world government in anticipation of the appearance of the antichrist. Only God, the Father, knows when His son will return. However, we do know we are 2,000 years closer than we were when He last walked on this earth.

    As I type, another verse comes to mind.

    Amos 8:11-12 KJB
    11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

    Satan is busy bringing about that famine as he uses every possible means to bring discredit to the word, to the Word of God. The History channel is becoming more stronger in supporting evolution and promoting a theory that aliens brought life to this planet. TV preachers are teaching a "feel good about yourself" religion. To say that homosexuals are committing a sin will soon be a hate crime. In terms of health care, how far away are we from the government determining benefits based on remaining productive (work) life? This list can go on and will increase as we move closer to the end of time.

    Satan wants true beleivers in Christ to be "grieved". To become discouraged and weary enough to accept defeat easily. Instead, use this grief against him by even more tightly securing your armour of God about yourself. THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD!
     
  7. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2000
    Messages:
    11,048
    Likes Received:
    321
    Faith:
    Baptist
    what SapperWoody wrote in your other thread is all you need to consider. Is this a problem with baptists? Yes; just as it is with catholics, pentecostals, muslims, and every other denomination.

    What you need to consider is what Sapper wrote: any website that says they can't vouch for the accuracy of what they publish, is publishing gossip and slander. They might as well be posting about Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster; we can't vouch for the accuracy of those, either.
     
  8. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2006
    Messages:
    9,788
    Likes Received:
    698
    Faith:
    Baptist
  9. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2003
    Messages:
    38,982
    Likes Received:
    2,615
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Could it be that BB cannot control who puts what on the forum.

    But this other site, only the webmaster can post?
     
  10. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2011
    Messages:
    2,314
    Likes Received:
    175
    Big difference is that this is a community contributing forum. The reason that the BB cannot vouch for the accuracy of statements is that many people post opinions, and what they post is not under the control of the webmaster.

    However, the other site is specifically designed to disperse information. If their information isn't accurate, at best they are failing at their job and at worst spreading slander.
     
  11. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    Thanks for your excellent post. The above paragraph reminded me of something a former pastor said years ago which I thought was a damning indictment but which he thought otherwise. He said: "The Baptist Church has become respectable."

    To my way of thinking the Church should be an affront to the world and so be a witness to Jesus Christ!
     
  12. ktn4eg

    ktn4eg New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2004
    Messages:
    3,517
    Likes Received:
    4
    The church which C. H. Spurgeon pastored for many years over a century ago, the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, didn't have the name Baptist in it either while he was her pastor.

    Am I to assume that Spurgeon was also one who wanted to pander to the masses with watered down, seeker friendly messages? His writings don't indicate that.

    Just because a local assembly doesn't tack on the name "Baptist" doesn't necessarily mean they aren't Baptistic. That's like judging a book by its cover. One needs to examine their avowed beliefs and practices over a period of time to determine whether he feels that is where God would have him fellowship.

    Maybe they aren't "Baptistic" (which itself could be defined in any number of ways--a lot of which would probably be more defined by some tradition that'd most likely be sorely lacking in any Biblical proof), but just to write off a local congregation simply because she doesn't call herself "Baptist" is like saying a particular church is solid based on their ad in the Yellow Pages.
     
  13. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    10,720
    Likes Received:
    781
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I find the site highly credible because if have close knowledge of a couple of these situations/men and all the facts line up. Furthermore, just about everything she posts is documented in court records or in researched newspaper accounts.

    It's an ugly truth, but there are lots of sexual predators out there and they use churches as a means to victimize others.
     
  14. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2011
    Messages:
    2,314
    Likes Received:
    175
    And a lot of them don't have criminal convictions. I read through roughly 20 of the cases in the list, chosen at random. And about 9 or 10 of them all said "alleged" or "allegedly" and did not let the reader know the outcome. What if these "alleged" perpetrators were found innocent? Now she is guilty of slander, or at the least lying via omission. If only even one of those "alleged" perpetrators was innocent, then she is in sin.

    Let's say someone stumbles upon that site, finds a man they know who's been found innocent, but the site never says. She just potentially ruined a man's testimony by not presenting everything.

    I agree that a man who commits an act like that should be completely blackballed. But she is going about it in a dishonest, hurtful, and divisive way.
     
  15. Grasshopper

    Grasshopper Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2002
    Messages:
    3,385
    Likes Received:
    23
  16. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    30,285
    Likes Received:
    507
    Faith:
    Baptist
    A lot of evil men (more as the end times approach) use the cloak of "Baptist" to devour the flock. They are shepherds running after money, power, prestige (and most often sex).

    They are a reflection of society when the moral norms are being broken and battered. As prophesied in the Word =

    Understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For PASTORS ['all people', in the original] will be
    lovers of self
    lovers of money
    proud
    arrogant
    abusive
    disobedient
    ungrateful
    unholy
    heartless
    unappeasable
    slanderous
    without self-control
    brutal
    not loving good
    treacherous
    reckless
    swollen with conceit
    lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
    having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

    Avoid such people.

    But they will not get very far, for their folly will soon become evident to everyone.
     
  17. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2011
    Messages:
    11,023
    Likes Received:
    1,108
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I agree!!!

    However, That last sentence I wonder about.

    For in the last days does not Paul tell Tim that folks will gather teachers that tickle their fancy?

    I wonder if the general pew sitter will not accept all manner of evil in not wanting to appear politically incorrect and not displaying a loving forgiveness.
     
  18. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    30,285
    Likes Received:
    507
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Since God said it, I will not wonder about the last sentence. (II Tim 3:9)

    The TRULY regenerate will clearly see the folly. The average "pew sitter", as you rightly suppose, will continue on playing games on their way to hell.
     
  19. jprieto

    jprieto New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2008
    Messages:
    97
    Likes Received:
    0
    Everything said sound logical.
    Thanks everyone!
     
Loading...