What constitutes a Baptist church?

[JonShaff]

Yes, there was a current need because the people had been following Him and haven't had any food. THEN He used the miracle as an object lesson. I'm not sure if this is prescriptive as much as it is descriptive.

Meet needs when you can with the Main Goal of Glorifying Christ by sharing the Gospel. Christ is the greatest need.

 

[Bro. James]

Get some water drilling equipment, seed and enough food and water for several months. Go to Africa. Find potable water. Treat the starvation. Preach the Gospel. Be prepared to deal with the followers of Allah. This is real world evangelism.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Bro. James

 

[TCassidy]

This is real world evangelism.

When are you leaving?

 

[The Biblicist]

Wrong! The 1644/1646 Confession never had much traction among Baptist churches.

Apparently you have never read the Associational minutes between 1640-1660 as they demonstrate the very opposite of what you deny.

 

[The Biblicist]

I am simply saying that is not the Great Commission. I am not denying the overall teaching of Scripture and example of Christ is to help those in need. However, that may be a means to an end but it is not the end or goal or command we are given.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

No, the church does not have a commission to feed and clothe the poor of the world. They are commissioned to preach the gospel to the world and make disciples. We are to take care of our own but ours is not a social gospel.That does not mean we are not to help those we can help within our means when they come into our path, but that is completely secondary to preaching the gospel.

Many of our churches have food and clothing banks to help the poor but our commission is not feed and cloth the poor but preach the gospel.

Really.....?
Matthew 25:35 ESV
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me

But I was really referencing this.....
James 1:27

 

[TCassidy]

Well, we must be doing it wrong here in the south of Texas. Our church fed 97 families this week. We should have checked the BB first, I guess.

 

[Rippon]

I agree. I much prefer the First London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1644/1646 over the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. The latter drew much too heavily from the Westminster Confession of Faith.

No, it was based on the Savoy Declaration of Faith (1658) which was a modification of the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Several men who signed the 1644/46 also signed the 1689.

 

[Salty]

Hmmm - were the Pilgrims foreign Missionaries?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Well, we must be doing it wrong here in the south of Texas. Our church fed 97 families this week. We should have checked the BB first, I guess.

Im not talking about you.....Im talking about whats in front of me.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

When are you leaving?

Why Tom, are you interested in going with him?

 

[The Biblicist]

Really.....?
Matthew 25:35 ESV
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me

But I was really referencing this.....
James 1:27

Yes, really! Feeding the poor is not the priority of the Great Commission just as operating an orphanage is not the priority of the Great Commission. Matthew 25 and James 1:27 lists a lot of other things too, but none of them are the priority of the Great Commission. Our church does not own or operate an orphanage or a nursing home but we have a nursing home ministry. Obviously, we help the needy as we can however, it is just not possible to meet all the social needs that exist and I don't know any single church that can or does. Different churches are led into different ministries and so the churches as a whole meet many different needs but I know of no denomination that is meeting all the needs of mankind in the world. I know of know single church that meets all the social needs even in their own area, the hungry, the orphans, the elderly, widows, the drug addicts, the imprisoned. Even all of Christiandom (including cults, Roman and Eastern Catholic church) does not meet all the social needs in the world today. Does your church meet all the needs in their area. Do they even have all the varied ministries that cover all the bases (clothing, food, orphanage, nursing homes, hospitals, drug addiction ministries, prison ministries, etc.)? Little self-righteous hypocrisy is showing here I think.

 

[The Biblicist]

It seems the subject has been changed from "what constitutes a Baptist Church" to "How many things we can condemn Baptists for?"

 

[TCassidy]

Why Tom, are you interested in going with him?

I've already been there. Several times. 27 churches started and 3 bible institutes.

And you?

 

[Bro. James]

To God be the glory--great things HE has done. All of OUR righteousness is like soiled hospital linen.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Bro. James

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

It seems the subject has been changed from "what constitutes a Baptist Church" to "How many things we can condemn Baptists for?"

yea so what

I've already been there. Several times. 27 churches started and 3 bible institutes.

And you?

not even the slightest interest.....not when those right in my own neighborhood are suffering and dieing.....but then, I don't claim to be the all knowing Christian pastor that you are.

So if one were to remove the "Two Offices" part I'd suggest a new acronym ...

B-A-P-D-I-S-T

Biblical Authority
Autonomy of the Local Church
Priesthood of the Believer
Dinner
Individual Soul Liberty
Saved, Baptized Church membership
Two Ordinances (baptism and the Lord's Supper)

It fits nicely in the middle.
Everyone knows that the central theme common to all Baptist churches is food.

Rob

AHAHAHA! Oh man, oh man LOL!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Did the First Church at Jerusalem have Church before they selected deacons? Perhaps they did not have too many tables on which to wait. Then there are the deacons who preach. Stephan, a deacon, was stoned to death for preaching the gospel. Saul of Tarsus was there. This example of martyrdom may have had a profound effect on Saul, soon to be Paul the Apostle. The Lord blinded Saul to get his complete attention.

Preaching, baptizing and teaching are the functions of believers gathered together by the authority of Jesus. A pastor or deacon are not necessarily required. Sorry if this makes more unemployed clerics and prelates.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Bro. James

You just hit a nerve....btw, how many of them are retired. Never saw that word or concept in scripture, have you?

 

[TCassidy]

I don't claim to be the all knowing Christian pastor that you are.

You have a mean and nasty spirit, don't you? You look down your nose at every Christian because you think they are not as perfect as you.

You know, I feel sorry for you. It must be difficult balancing on the point of that pedestal you put yourself on.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

That would depend on why it does not have deacons.

Often a new church plant does not have deacons because none of the men are spiritually mature enough or qualified under Timothy and Titus. In that case, in my opinion, it would still be a church. Pray and wait on God to send the right men for the job.

But if there are no deacons because the pastor is a dictator and doesn't want anyone to hold him accountable for what he does and how he spends the money, etc., then I would question the legitimacy of that "church."

ah, classic IFB organizations.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

You have a mean and nasty spirit, don't you? You look down your nose at every Christian because you think they are not as perfect as you.

You know, I feel sorry for you. It must be difficult balancing on the point of that pedestal you put yourself on.

Add to that that your opinion is just that , "your opinion" and of course we all have them....even you.