Is it okay for a Baptist to observe Lent?

Miss Bobbie, thank you for the informative post; however, I offer a friendly word of caution: Be careful about relying on any argument stemming from Hislop's Two Babylons. I have read that it stands as an inaccurate source due to suspect scholarship.

May God continue to Bless you through his Son

Reginald

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TomVols:
To me, it all comes down to why one would want to observe the Lenten tradition. If the motives are Biblical and pure, then one can make a case....<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I suppose a lot of it boils down to whether or not every act of a church must be specifically prescribed in the Scriptures. I would lean somewhat more to the view that what is not forbidden is allowed and that there is room for different churches to do things differently. I guess I have a prejudice against the idea that everything must be specifically prescribed. In my part of OK, there are a ton of Church of Christ people that argue this general concept in many different ways.

Also, I have taken part once in a Presbyterian Ash Wednesday service. That particular church, evangelical,Calvinistic, and amillennial, would appeal to a number of Baptists on this board except for its view of infant baptism. It was a wonderful thing to be physically marked with the sign of the Cross in this service. It was not presented in any way as a means of grace.

There is something to be said for many aspects of the Church calendar, which allow systematic remembrance of the facets of Christ's ministry on earth. I have only once heard a sermon in a Baptist church on the ascension of Christ, yet that is the topic in more liturgical churches every Ascension Sunday in May.

Karen

 

Dr. Bob,

My Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (however very Reformed in our theology) and are considering making the 1655 Midland Baptist Confession to be our doctrinal statement http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/midland.htm


We are a Liturgical in our worship with a free Church edge. I see it as a combo or marriage of the two Reformations, Baptists have their origins in (Anabaptist and Anglican Reformations). I realize that can be controversial though. Here is a typical Sunday morning worship service,

FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT, FEBRUARY 17

I. WE GATHER INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD

OPENING HYMN

CALL TO REPENTANCE AND WORSHIP- Joel 2:12-13

SILENT CONFESSION

INVOCATION

ABSOLUTION OF SIN- 1 John 1:9

HYMN

HYMN

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

OFFERING


II. WE LISTEN TO, CONFESS, AND HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

OLD TESTAMENT READING - Genesis 9:8-17
NEW TESTAMENT READING - 1 Peter 3:18-22

CONFESSION OF FAITH (unison) - Splisbury Baptist Confession, 1688

I believe that God made man in his own Image, an upright and perfect creature,
consisting of soul and body: and breathed into the same the breath of life, and
man became a living soul. To whom God gave a law, upon his keeping of which depends all his happiness, and upon the contrary attended his misery, which took effect; for by his breaking that law, he fell under the curse, and the wrath of God as did all his posterity. By which fall man lost the knowledge of God, and utterly disabled himself of all ability ever to recover the same again.

I do believe that there is only one God, who is distinguished in 3 persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; yet but one in nature, who made the world, and all things therein, by the word of his power, & governs them by his wise providence. Amen


SPECIAL MUSIC

SERMON - The Good Samaritan

III. WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS SALVATION

INVITATIONAL HYMN

IV. WE DEPART TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BENEDICTION - Numbers 6:24-26

CLOSING PRAYER



We generaly in worship confess some of the classic Baptist Confessions (1644 London, 1689 London, 1655 Midland, 1678 Orthodox Baptist Creed etc...) or Baptist Catechisms (Keach's, Bunyan, Boice etc..) as well as on occasions Anabaptist, Waldenses confessions and the Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian depending on the occasion. Generaly though we use the Baptist confessions so as to reinforce Baptist heritage and theology in our worship. It is in reality free worship with a liturgical foundation.

[ February 15, 2002: Message edited by: Kiffin ]

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kiffin:
We are a Liturgical in our worship with a free Church edge.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is a good line. Made me laugh. I have never thought of worship as having an "edge," much less a free church one.

 

Jamal5000 - Reginald - thank you for your input on Hislop. I haven't read any of his stuff for myself but will keep your caution in mind when I do. I appreciate your posting that for me!

Your sister in Christ, Bobbie