Why are you Baptist/Anabaptist?

[OrthoCanuck]

I'm curious why you chose to be a member of the Baptist or Anabaptist denomination. I'm especially interested in hearing from those who were not raised in their denomination, but even comments from those raised Baptist/Anabaptist are welcome. I recently left the Roman Catholic Church and am in the process of evaluating other local churches, but I figured I could use this forum to see why people like where they are.

Peace.

[Flynmonkie]

I had been raised very conservative Southern Baptist and then moved into a more fundamental Baptist. My adoptive father was Catholic, my mother and family were Baptist. I attended Catholic services as a child with my fathers mother. However, it was not in English (I did not understand Latin) and much different than the Baptist Sunday School and "Big" Church. I felt I learned more about the Bible during the time at church. Also, I felt the Catholic church was much too "heavy" for me. Sort of like joining the military in my eyes. Lots of rituals I could not keep track of. That is all I remember. (I am really going to "get it" for this analogy) But with the teaching I felt guilty ALL THE TIME. Combine that with Baptist teaching.....I was guilty for everything! ;)

I stopped attending church with a grudge toward it for many years. for varying reasons. About a year and a half ago I started self-study. I learned that it is not about what I want, but what God wants to teach me. Or what I can do to glorify Him. Since that time I have learned that I have many things in common with many denominations, and many things I disagree with. I also find the Baptist denomniation to be more of what and how I believe and carry my faith. In August it will be a year that I returned to Church, a Baptist Church. Honestly, I am there because I believe this is where God called my husband and myself to be. However, I do find edification from the sermons. I feel God there. No matter my surroundings. That is what is important..

[Diane_Windsor]

Hi Boatmate ;)

You can take the girl out of the SBC, but you can't take the SBC out of the girl :D . No matter what faith I profess I'll always be SBC in my heart. This is part of my reason why I still classify myself Southern Baptist even though I'm searching as well, and don't agree totally with the SBC. (In fact, who does agree with their denom. completely?) More importantly though I have chosen to remain close to my spiritual roots during this process of discernment. It is comforting to know that while I explore other faiths I can do so within the denomination that I know and have grown up in. Once I have found a denomination that is a better fit for me spiritually then I'll join that denomination, but again I'll always be SBC in my heart.

My advice to you is to stay close to your spiritual roots when going through this process of discernment. It's a rough journey.

Diane
:wave:

[arunma]

I'm Baptist not because of the Baptist denomination's beliefs, but because my church happens to be Baptist. After becoming a Christian, my church was the first I attended. They have an excellent theological position, a multicultural congregation, an emphasis on doing good works (all while believing in sola fide!), and several other desirable characteristics.

That said, I do happen to agree with the beliefs of the Baptist denomination. After all, there are only about two of them: believer's baptism and the symbolic nature of the Lord's Supper.

[JimfromOhio]

Churches I have attended over the years (46 years). Congregational, Baptist (various kinds), Catholic (I grew up in MA and attended Catholic School), Methodist, Assembly of God, Foursquare, Grace Brethren and many others. One thing I have learned over the years, there will always be differences between denominations based on various major docrines.

My family attends a local Anabapist church simply because we felt the church care for others, and help us to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ. They offer many courses and their aim to have every Christians grow in Christ. Another reason is the church believe the Bible is the primary source of teaching, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible. This is what I believe as well. Their effective Bible teaching is very central. Another reason is that they have small groups that where significant care and growth take place, its a wonderful program.

This church has taught me so much about the Bible. They are so spiritually filled and love for God. People are so nice, the elders are wonderful and they offer alot of programs for youth and teens (we have 5 kids). Another thing, they taught me how to interpret the Bible from the stance of literal or philological interpretation. There are sound rules for interpreting the Bible, common sense rules; that apply in interpreting virtually all 66 books in the Bible as well as any historic literature. Ask, what methods of interpretation they use. How do they determine the meaning of a particular text?

We cannot look at one verse to figure out what God is saying. We look at all verses in the Bible similar to the topic and narrow down what God is trying to tell us. It is very challenging. They tell us to "look at the whole" picture rather being so anal about spiritual issues or legalist. God is looking at us as a "whole picture" and we should look at God the same way as well.

[Anti-Fear]

I chose to be a Baptist because they are very unlike Orthodox and Catholics. By that I mean, there is little emphasis on ceremonialism. Believing in Jesus is viewed as something you consciously choose to believe , and same with Baptism, its something you choose to do to confirm to your friends in congregation that you are a believer.
Bible is interpreted conservatively by Baptists as well.

[ZiSunka]

I was raised nominal catholic, but as an adult (30) I became a born-again Christian, and I joined a mennonite church because I saw them living out the teachings of Jesus most completely of all the denoms I was familiar with. :)

[daveleau]

I'm curious why you chose to be a member of the Baptist or Anabaptist denomination. I'm especially interested in hearing from those who were not raised in their denomination, but even comments from those raised Baptist/Anabaptist are welcome. I recently left the Roman Catholic Church and am in the process of evaluating other local churches, but I figured I could use this forum to see why people like where they are.

Peace.

I was raised Pentecostal (my dad was an ex-Catholic who converted to Pentecostal) and later moved to non-denom. When I met my wife, I split time between her Episcopalian and my non-denom church. Since we have been married, we have joined two Baptist churches consecutively.

Why? We felt that was where the Lord was leading us. We visited many churches in each area, but found that, while still minorly flawed as a whole, the Baptist churches followed Scripture and had the right focus on Christ and Scriptural teachings. There's not a really definitive doctrine, other than that the Baptists do not refute things found in Scripture or profess that things in Scripture are all-inclusive when they are meant for a few (the gift of tongues, for instance). Basically, Baptists are conservative, Bible believing, open-minded churches (in my experience). I am not saying others do not do this, but the focus of our churches that we have attended focused more on Christ and were rarely supporting ideas not found in Scripture.

[Gwenyfur]

I happen to attend a baptist church, but technically I'm a child of God....
If it's not in scripture...then well it doesn't apply :P

Unfortunately we all feel the need to label ourselves with a denomination...or a certain doctrine...and yet I admit, there were doctrines in the official SBC tenants, that I didn't agree with....so...I just keep reading my Bible, attending the same church, playing the piano, and using the God given discernment that He's gifted His children with in order to know what is truth and what is not. That said, I have to say we're so totally blessed to have had a Bible teaching, believing Pastor for 10 years this month. There are so many churches out there who are lucky to have the same Pastor for 6 months!
Anyhow I'm rambling again heh...
and my point....heh...if it's a Bible teaching church, scripturally based and grounded...does the denomination matter????

[McDLT]

My mom sent me (and my sisters) to a Presbyterian church when I was younger (ages of 4 - 15). She never came and neither did my dad. My mom was raised RC and my dad didn't have any religion or belief.

One of the Sunday School teachers said something about my body when I was 15 and I never went back. When I was in college, I met boyfriend (hubby now). I went to his church (Mennonite Brethren) after accepting Jesus, I decided that I wanted to be baptised and join the church. I took the baptism and membership classes. I learned a lot from those classes about my faith and also found that I agreed with the MB denomination on many points, so I went ahead with the baptism and membership. I've been in MB churches ever since.

Hope this helps a bit.

[jcright]

I'm curious why you chose to be a member of the Baptist or Anabaptist denomination. I'm especially interested in hearing from those who were not raised in their denomination, but even comments from those raised Baptist/Anabaptist are welcome. I recently left the Roman Catholic Church and am in the process of evaluating other local churches, but I figured I could use this forum to see why people like where they are.

Peace.

I wasn't raised in the baptist denomination. I was raised on the cult Christian Science. After being lied to for almost 28 years, I chose to follow what the Baptist teach because I think they are the only ones that are even remotely close to following the bible...with exception to the Charismatic or orthodox, I have attended at least one service of the other denominations.

[Diane_Windsor]

While browsing through some very old posts in this forum I came across this thread: Why are you a Baptist? (http://www.christianforums.com/t716058-why-are-you-a-baptist.html) And this thread (http://www.christianforums.com/t738190-why-baptist-.html), and this thread (http://www.christianforums.com/t1159558-why-are-you-a-baptist.html).



Diane
:wave: