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!

Featured What you believe, and why

Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by Michael Wrenn, Nov 3, 2012.

  1. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    4,319
    Likes Received:
    0
    That's about the most foolish thing I've ever seen from you.
     
  2. The Biblicist

    The Biblicist Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2011
    Messages:
    16,008
    Likes Received:
    481
    Here is there Constitution and articles of faith and see if you can even find the mention of water baptism or the Lord's Supper in their articles. Attempt to find either on any number of their websites.

    http://firstdenverfriendschurch.org/PDF_Files/CONSTITUTION.pdf
     
  3. billwald

    billwald New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2000
    Messages:
    11,414
    Likes Received:
    2
    Only two possible general answers to the IP:

    1. It was predestined.

    or

    2. One "believes in" the best answer to the available evidence as one understands the evidence. The null case seems to be what you have learned as a child. That is what you "believe in" until better evidence comes along.
     
  4. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2006
    Messages:
    13,977
    Likes Received:
    2
    Yes, I was raised in a Christian home, by two Christian parents. They were members of the Presbyterian Church of America. It had a major influence in what I believe today.

    I am the denomination where I am not (SBC) because that is where the Lord has lead me. Specifically, the county I now live in had no PCA churches. I started attending a SB church. At first, the differences were very stark to me, the shouting amen, raising hands, and the pastor raising a voice from the pulpit. As time went on, I felt more comfortable. The specific beliefs that caused me to change were doctrine about baptism, autonomous local churches with no heirarchy. and congregational form of government.[/quote]

    Mine is heart knowledge. My head knowledge comes from reading the Bible, sermons, and attending Bible studies. God has spoken to my heart in each of the above changes. No, I cannot say I have ever heard an audible voice, although those who say they have is a great testimony that God talks to us in different manners. He speaks mostly through His Son. My belief comes from Scripture and the presence of the Holy Spirit in me. One of the times I feel the Lord the closest is in a worship service where the Spirit is moving and working on hearts.

    No

    I would say gradually, with spurts of growth. I have believed that there was a Creator since earliest memory, and know exactly when the Lord saved me.


    Of course, the main influence on being a Christian is how I was raised. However, Christianity is the only religion where a personal, loving God seeks a relationship with each individual. He is intersted in our eternal destiny, and has provided all the means to achieve such. He is not a nebulous all in one impersonal life force. If asked why I am a Christian, my answer is that my hope rests in the death, burial and Ressurection of Jesus Christ.

    I think there are so many denominations since Acts because everyone thinks they are right ane everyone else is wrong, instead of going by Scripture and listening to the Spirit. Also, there are different denominations because we make minor issues major ones. If someone were to ask my why Baptist is the closest to what God would have, I would say that it most closely reflects a New Testement church as defined in Scripture.
     
  5. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    4,319
    Likes Received:
    0
    I know from experience that individual churches do practice the ordinances, and some which do not require them will do so if an individual requests it.

    Considering that Baptists don't believe the ordinances are necessary to salvation, I find it strange and ironic how they are so quick to denounce and even question the salvation of those who don't do this exactly as Baptists think it should be done.
     
    #45 Michael Wrenn, Nov 23, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 23, 2012
  6. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    4,319
    Likes Received:
    0

    Mine is heart knowledge. My head knowledge comes from reading the Bible, sermons, and attending Bible studies. God has spoken to my heart in each of the above changes. No, I cannot say I have ever heard an audible voice, although those who say they have is a great testimony that God talks to us in different manners. He speaks mostly through His Son. My belief comes from Scripture and the presence of the Holy Spirit in me. One of the times I feel the Lord the closest is in a worship service where the Spirit is moving and working on hearts.


    No


    I would say gradually, with spurts of growth. I have believed that there was a Creator since earliest memory, and know exactly when the Lord saved me.



    Of course, the main influence on being a Christian is how I was raised. However, Christianity is the only religion where a personal, loving God seeks a relationship with each individual. He is intersted in our eternal destiny, and has provided all the means to achieve such. He is not a nebulous all in one impersonal life force. If asked why I am a Christian, my answer is that my hope rests in the death, burial and Ressurection of Jesus Christ.


    I think there are so many denominations since Acts because everyone thinks they are right ane everyone else is wrong, instead of going by Scripture and listening to the Spirit. Also, there are different denominations because we make minor issues major ones. If someone were to ask my why Baptist is the closest to what God would have, I would say that it most closely reflects a New Testement church as defined in Scripture.[/QUOTE]

    SN, thank so much for your post!

    This is one of the best answers to these questions that I have ever seen, and I have asked these questions on other forums over the years.
     
  7. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    4,319
    Likes Received:
    0
    I appreciate the answers I have received so far to the questions I asked. Excellent!
     
  8. Jun P Espina

    Jun P Espina New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2012
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Conversion to Christianity

    I am a Baptist since 1984 and have experienced being a member of Missionary Baptist, Fundamental Baptist, then the Bible Baptist. I didn't experience being schooled formally in the Christian Faith, neither did I had the opportunity of a Christian childhood. But the question about how sure am I of my Church, or of my truth is a query that gives me no conscience-piercing struggle of whatever nature. The Bible said that eternal life is experienced by the one having it. Although non-Christians are also claiming spiritual experience, ours is different for it is all connected to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit , if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
    Romans 8:9-10 NASB

    "The Spirit of Christ is in you." Your life is changed; your prayers, answered; and you experienced divine peace--the peace of Christ Himself. John 14:27

    There is only one person on earth who can tell me if I am a child of God: myself! I don't need a doctor of divinity to confirm my faith in Christ, because the Apostle Paul said, "But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself,(1 Cor. 4:3-4)....Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you — unless indeed you fail the test?" (2 Cor 13:5) NASB.

    I thank God He didn't say, "Let your wife examine your faith," but "EXAMINE YOURSELVES." God gives us the ability to examine ourselves, whether we are Christians or not.

    Regarding the question about my church of membership, I have a simple answer: The Baptist group is just like other denominations, it has its own corner of truth. I am comfortable with Baptist teachings, although, sometimes I feel that our leaders are just as sinful as all of us. They have imperfections like you and me!

    My observation with other groups, if such is allowed in this forum, is that they have also some big truths that most Baptists are so wary about. The Pentecostals, for example, preach as their "signature" doctrine, the need for the "outpouring of the Holy Spirit." Some of us Baptists believe that such a divine presence doesn't belong to the present dispensation. This is so debatable that I don't have the shelling for this war. I just believe we need to review John R. Rice's books (among other Baptist Books) on the Holy Spirit and how different are the claims of the Pentecostals on one hand, and how true, on the other hand, that if Christianity if God's, how wicked of us to stop God from performing a miracle is He so desires?

    I think I'm no longer threading of the subject at hand. My apologies. Thanks.

    Jun P. Espina
    bythisverse.com
     
  9. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    4,319
    Likes Received:
    0
    Welcome to the forum, and thank you for your reply.
     
  10. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2000
    Messages:
    37,982
    Likes Received:
    137
    Welcome to the board Jun. I too have many of John R. Rice's books. One of his grandson's, John of Japan, is a frequent poster here, and, as his name indicates, a missionary to Japan.
     
  11. The Biblicist

    The Biblicist Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2011
    Messages:
    16,008
    Likes Received:
    481
    Ridicule is the weapon of those who are incapable of rational response.
     
  12. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2000
    Messages:
    37,982
    Likes Received:
    137
    Do you think that such direct and important commands such as baptism and the Lord's Supper should be avoided, especially when they are so commanded by the Lord himself?
     
  13. billwald

    billwald New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2000
    Messages:
    11,414
    Likes Received:
    2
    If marriage is not a sacrament then why do Baptists want to control it? Or is it that Baptists want to control everyone and everything. Why not simply pass a law against going to Hell? <G>
     
  14. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2000
    Messages:
    37,982
    Likes Received:
    137
    Have no idea what you are talking about.
    There are many people, even professing Baptists, that I would not marry. I don't call that "control."
     
  15. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    4,319
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thank you for admitting this character flaw in yourself, as evidenced by the multitude of insults and attacks that you have heaped on others in this forum.
     
  16. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    4,319
    Likes Received:
    0
    No, but that was not the point of my post.
     
  17. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2000
    Messages:
    37,982
    Likes Received:
    137
    It certainly looked like it to me. What exactly was your point? All Baptist churches I know of put considerable emphasis on the two ordinances of our Lord, but never require either for salvation.
     
  18. billwald

    billwald New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2000
    Messages:
    11,414
    Likes Received:
    2
    >There are many people, even professing Baptists, that I would not marry. I don't call that "control."

    "Control" as in legal control of the licensing of marriage - which should have been obvious.
     
  19. The Biblicist

    The Biblicist Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2011
    Messages:
    16,008
    Likes Received:
    481
    The difference between you and I when it comes to ridicule is namely that when I turn to ridicule it is AFTER I have presented evidence that you ignore and have no other response but ridicule. Then, I turn to ridicule because anyone presented evidence and can't respond excpet by ridicule deserves ridicule in return.
     
  20. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2000
    Messages:
    37,982
    Likes Received:
    137
    You are right. There are many professing Baptists that I would not marry either.
    The Lord's Table, likewise, must be "policed" to some extent. Perhaps a stern warning is a better way to put it. It is not "open" to all--those who have not been baptized., those who do not believe in like faith and order, those living in sin, etc. The Bible makes these things obvious.

    "Let a man so examine himself."
     
Loading...