On Tribalism???

Depends upon how you define a Baptist.

The tribes of Israel were not to put their tribal identity over their identity as Israelites. Neither should any of us of any denomination put our denominational identity over our identity as a Christian. I don't and won't.

Am I avowedly and irrevocably a Baptist over and above my Christian identity? Not at all. Who should be? Who will put their Baptist identity over their Chrstian identity? Any show of hands on that?

Do I excude other denominations in my thinking, or not see the value in them, or even see how they might, and do indeed in my opinion, have some things more correct then some Baptists do (e.g., Presbyterians and their Covenant theology over most Baptists' dispensationalism)? Not at all.

So I sometimes toungue-in-cheek call myself a "pentacathobaptimethobryterian." I actually got the silly term from Hal Lindsey, years ago.

But I went to a Baptist school, and have been years in different Baptist churches by choice (I can't attend church anywhere just right now, I HAVE TO work--uh, unless any want to give donations). So, I am obviously sufficiently comfortable associating myself as a Baptist, and have done so for many years.

Now, what about the topic?


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[ February 20, 2002: Message edited by: LP ]

 

Well, I would argue that both the SAVED and UNSAVED world looks at this and sees unneeded "division," and at times they are right.

But this is not to say that division is not needed at times, since one's Christology can go over the line. As it says, "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son" (2 John v. 9). It is to say first things first: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15: 3-4). Go here to something I wrote to see more of what I mean: Doctrine and Unity

Expanded quote giving the requested information:

"But I went to a Southern Baptist school, and have been years in different Southern Baptist churches by choice [...] So, I am obviously sufficiently comfortable associating myself as a Southern Baptist, and have done so for many years, and have even served in a formal ministry position with one such church for two years; nor would I have real problem associating myself as a Conservative Baptist (e.g., I think CBI is a really great mission org, and my org http://www.lukeproject.org has worked with them with great joy), nor, in measure, as an American Baptist (I like their emphasis on social justice, but don't like when they undermine the nature of Scripture), nor as an Independent Baptist (but in that instance on a case-by-case basis, since that can be, as you rightly argue, a HUGE sea)."

What in the world is a "Druze"?

Now, can the topic I posted prior, Christians and Bankruptcy, be unlocked so it can be discussed? THIS LINK brings one to it.

[ February 25, 2002, 12:58 PM: Message edited by: LP ]