Baptist preachers and teachers What will you do if...?

I don't consider a Baptist Distinctive to be false doctrine. In fact, it's a requirement of being Baptist, as surely as Believer's Baptism.

If you consider this to be false doctrine, you're not a Baptist.

 

Jail, What do you think they will do?

 

Three questions Jailminister:

1. Who is "they?"

2. What have they told us not to preach?

3. Where have they told us not to preach?

Joshua

 

I think we are seeing some of this now. My boss was asked by the BIG BOSS to give the blessing before a meal at an employee gathering to which he agreed. However, just before the gathering he was told not to say "in Jesus name". In this day and age, you can pray in the name of anyone or anything as long as it's not Jesus.

 

td,

But that's not any kind of universal or legal prohibition against the free exercise of religion. A Christian boss could have just as easily told a Muslim not to mention Mohammed or refer to God as Allah.

Joshua

 

False doctrine? Not according to John 18:36.

Acts 5:29 says that we follow God.


Does great responsibility come with great freedom? 1Corinthians 8:9 says it does.

Seperation of church and state is very much relative to this discussion. It has always been under theocracies that Christianity suffers the most persecution. Even if they start off with "true religion", they have always fallen into apostacy. Biblical examples are there in abundance if you would like to see them.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. -- George Santayana

 

While seperation of church and state in the classic sense is a true Baptist Distinctive, It is not a doctrine. I have no desire to see the Baptist church run the government (we have a tough enough time with small groups of very independent people). The church as an organization should not run the government but individual Baptists practicing true Christianity would certainly improve things, unless, you don't believe that Christians are in actuality the salt of the earth. The infamous wall is fine if it keeps the state from interfering with me but not if it keeps me from interfering with the state AS A CHRISTIAN in a CHRISTIAN manner. If I have to down play my Christianlty in order to participate then that wall has become a wall of repression.

 

That's a load of misinformation, if not intentional lies. Kids and teachers can pray and have (and read) Bibles in the school building. Neither have bene "removed." There has been modification in how they can be practiced, as well tere should have been. Teachers should not be leading their students in prayer as part of the school day, nor should students be permitted to read their Bibles while they should be in class.

I'm curious about the streetpreaching, though. My hometown has instituted laws barring people from soliciting on the medians and sidewalks, which has stopped some religious organizations from spreading their message using that as a means, and I just wonder how many of the arrests are due to similar laws, or laws against disturbing the peace. That's genuine curiosity, not a dig.

As long as your beliefs don't violate the basic rights of others, as granted to us by our Constitution, then yes, you should involve them in government. But I think you'll find it difficult to find something that has its basis solely in Scripture that can stand up to scrutiny.

 

Do we really need to rehash the Canada situation? There are specific things outlawed by the hate speech law, such as "inciting to violence," and things of that nature. Speaking one's opinion about "certain things" is not illegal, at least not according to the version of the bill I read.

Jailminister, I have no doubt that there have been a few cases in which the tale you told has been replicated. However, that is not law of the land, nor the generalization you made it out to be. As I said, there are specifics to what is and is not allowed, but it's simply untrue to say that the Bible and prayer have been "taken out of the schools." They have not. The misunderstanding of the law by a few does not back up your statements.

 

Jailminister,

Do you think streetpreaching falls under constitutionally protected speech? It's always struck me as rude, intrusive, and inappropriate; and laws which forbid it are not banning the free exercise of religion; they are improving quality of life.

Any religious group can meet in someone's home or in a building that they have rented or purchased and preach whatever they like.

Joshua

 

Excerpted from www.jailministers.com:

What was His Majesty's opinion on street preaching? How would the church which produced said "Authorized" version feel about your doctirne? If you value His Majesty so much, why are you arguing for the Constituional protections of a nation which overthrew his descendant's monarchy.

The above two points, comprising 20% of your doctrinal statement, would seem to explain why you might not be welcome on street corners. Tellling people who come to hear you preach that they are sinners is protected speech. Shouting out "rebukes" at passers-by is harrassment. That's the sort of thing that gives baptists a bad name.

Joshua

 

I'm not Jailminister, but with this point I have to disagree. Along with free exercise of religion, the 1st Ammendment also guarantees us the right to free, peacable assembly. If any such gathering were occuring on private property, the owner could request removal, but on public property the street preacher has a right.

Jailminister, in reference to your previous response to me, Luke 22:36 is in addressing self defense as the Apostles were being sent out. Notice in verse 38 that Jesus was not commanding them to heavily arm themselves for civil unrest. One sword would suffice against wild beast and robbers. It was a common practice to go about armed in those days.

Christ never went up against the government of the time. That is why the Herodians never could make a case against Him. The episode regarding the Temple tax in Matthew 22 & Mark 12 show how easily disposed of the treason argument was. Christ never tried to claim a secular governorship. His Kingdom IS not of this earth. His Dominion is in the hearts of His believers.

 

Here are two excellent threads on the subject of Seperation of church & state from the history forum.

http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=000215

http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=000213

 

Clint,

But is shouting imprecations at passers-by "peacable assembly?" If a bunch of people want to get together and talk to each other, fine. The few street preachers I've seen weren't doing that.

Joshua

 

Sounds like an urban legend. I did an extensive search on the internet and could find nothing about it at all. Do you have any documentation for this?