how to become a baptist?

[Foxmeister]

At the risk of over-simplification:

1. Get saved - become a Christian by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Get baptized - symbolizing your new life in Christ and your identification with God's people (the Church).

3. Read your Bible - If you faithfully read and study your Bible, you will become a Baptist.

That makes you a follower of Christ. To be a Baptist is to be a follower of Christ and join the Baptist church.

 

[John of Japan]

That makes you a follower of Christ. To be a Baptist is to be a follower of Christ and join the Baptist church.

We Baptists believe that being a Baptist is to be as Biblical as possible. I heard about a Japanese church which was often visited by Baptists from a nearby US military base who could not speak Japanese, but nevertheless attended and always had their Bible out. When the Japanese church eventually learned that the American men were Baptists, the believers decided they were Baptists also.

Granted, not all Baptist churches are Biblical, but the Baptist distinctives are strictly Biblical.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

That's exactly what I got one time, a 7 page questionnaire from a supporting church with stuff like you mentioned. As soon as I saw it I knew that support was going to disappear and the friendship with the pastor was over, but I answered the whole thing as a matter of principle. I had taken their support for a few months, and there is a responsibility for accountability if you receive support. The questions were like, "Do your children play with children who play with Masters of the Universe?" "Do you preach against commercial television?"

I think I first heard this from you!

I haven't experienced it personally but I have certainly been around those of similar mindset! For conscience sake, I would just let them be and not try to pretend to be something I was not in order to get their "Support."

 

[Armchair Apologist]

That makes you a follower of Christ. To be a Baptist is to be a follower of Christ and join the Baptist church.

Take a closer look at line item #3. If you actually read and study your Bible, it will lead you to become a Baptist!

 

[John of Japan]

I think I first heard this from you!

I haven't experienced it personally but I have certainly been around those of similar mindset! For conscience sake, I would just let them be and not try to pretend to be something I was not in order to get their "Support."

Well said.

Along that line, I had a friend who was supported by one church at $500 a month. The problem was, he had to document every expenditure right down to a candy bar! I would have turned down the support, myself.