Featured Confessions and creeds

The problem is scripture does not say this is the only way it should be done.

 

Here are some membership requirements that are Biblical. There is not a time element involved.
Trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (John 3:15, Acts 16:30, Romans 3:28, 10:9, Galatians 3:7, Ephesians 2:8-10)
Confess Jesus as Lord Publicly. (Matthew 10:32, Romans 10:9-10)
Repentance. (Luke 13:3, Acts 3:3-8, 19, 2 Corinthians 7:10)
Baptism by Immersion. (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38, 22:16, Romans 6:3-5, Galatiams 3:27, 1 Peter 3:21)

Some confuse membership requirements for expectations of a church member.
Progress in obedience to Christ. (John 14:15)
Worship regularly with the church family. (Psalm 150:1, Ephesians 5:19-20)
Participate regularly in a fellowship group. (Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:42-47)
Serve faithfully in ministry. (1 Peter 4:10)
Support financially the church's ministry by generous proportional giving. (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
Be Responsive to the church's leadership. (Hebrews 13:17)
Influence your network of friends, relatives, and associates to become Christ's disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Each local church is autonomous and can set their own policy. Each to his own in how he or she reads Scrpiture, but I am not about to serve in a church that has a six week course or the like along with signed documents to agree to a series of man made opinions of Biblical doctrine. Also, I want nothing to do with a local church that either parrots or chants creeds and confessions in Sunday services weekly.

 

That's a pretty good list. I don't see anything wrong with saying to a prospective member, "Here's what we believe and here's what we practice. These are the obligations you assume when you join us. Do you still want to enter into a covenant relationship with us?"

I do think the church has a teaching obligation toward new Christians who know little or nothing about our doctrines and pratices. We don't have a problem with inviting them to get involved in Suday School, Church Training, Wednesday Bible study. So why not a series of studies on doctrine and practice?

Pastors are doing sermon series all the time. Why not use the BF&M or the LCF as a basis for such a teaching or preaching series? Or whatever doctrinal statment the church has. There's some real meat in there, and all scripturally based.

 

you are calvinistic in NOT just regarding salvation, but you hold to the entire system of calvinism, correct?

 

Now you have me a tad bit confused.....please clarify for me just what a Doctrines of Grace church is. Could you be referring to Orthodox Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed etc?

Then what is Reformed? And how do you distinguish the difference? For example, a 1689 Confession differs from a Westminster Confession in Baptism & Sacraments vs Ordinances...so which is Reformed? 1689 is Reformed & Doctrines of Grace & OPC is Reformed & WCF.

 

And what is that exactly Yeshua.....the entire system being Calvinistic? To me, infant baptism is Calvinistic. I personally identify as being both baptistic (Believers Baptism) & DoG....however I do not hold to Dispy, Covenant Theology & NCT

 

reformed to me would be Baptists holding to JUST DoG of cal theology, while reformed would hold to the total system, such as batism, government, Covenant theology etc!

Example: I hold to Dispy for eschatology, but also hold to DoG regarding how God operates in salvation

Reformed baptist would hold to DoG and also Covenant theology, being A Mil/church government certain way/having Creeds/Confessions etc!

 

Fine but I do not hold with Covenant Theology.....nor with Dispy. I find flaws in both.

Ive studied Doctrines of Grace, mostly thru James Montgomery Boyce who persuaded me and have studied Westminster Confessions of Faith while a Presbyterian then 1689 as a Baptist & even took classes at Al Martins Church (Trinity Reformed Baptist @ Montville NJ) in the differences between the two Confessions.

I am also slowly reading (and enjoying) The Marrow of Modern Divinity. My favorite modern theologian is Sinclair Ferguson....& Martyn Lloyd Jones together with Spurgeon & George Whitefield have greatly influenced me.

I am 2-3 years into my Christian walk so I cant & wont limit myself to man-made religion.....I am a radical Christian & so I move beyond the liberal and conservative branches of the church institution and I go back.... back to a fundamental questioning (to the root source). So if I ask what appears to be a stupid question, please forgive me but Im searching for Christs truth & I dig deeply to get to it.

 

Certainly not "Team Jihad" IE Skan & posse! LOL :laugh:

 

Reformed is a particular denomination. It is called Presbyterian. There is no debate about it there. Reformed Baptist comes real close to being two words that oppose themselves based on Baptist distinctives. The usual autonomous local Baptist church does not parrot and chant creeds and confessions weekly. Baptist churches usually do not subscribe to elder rule which usually turns into elder worship. Baptists can attempt to mimic Presbyterians all they want, but in the final analysis, will find the two do not mix very well.

 

From a Baptist Cathechism with commentary...by WR.Downing

 

You're exactly right.

There are few things as detestable as one who lacks the courage to systematize his theology and fly up a flag that can be criticised.

It is sloppy and lazy and insulting to say, "I AM NOT A CALVINIST OR AN ARMINIAN- I BELIEVE THE BIBLE!!"

It is equally as spineless to call oneself a "non-cal".

There may not be a more meaningless word in the world today.

Atheists are non-cals.

Satan worshipers are non-cals.

Everybody on earth not a Calvinist, every demon in hell is non-cal.

"Non-cal" is so broad it is UTTERLY meaningless.

It tells us NOTHING about what you are.

It just tells us what you are NOT.

It is like saying, "I am non-elephant."

You could be anything from a paramecium to a black-hole.

Nothing could be more cowardly than lacking the courage to say what you ARE.

Nothing could be more pusillanimous than identifying yourself simply by what you are not.

 

lol....you are on a roll tonight.....lol

 

Had an hour long deacon's meeting after church this evening. That's what those do to me!

LOL