American Baptists Leaving Denom

[MrJim]

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/011/2.23.html (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/011/2.23.html)

As one that attends an American Baptist church I'd heard nothing about it until I saw this subject in the Christian Current Events forum.

Any other ABC folks out there that's heard about this?

[mesue]

Someone has to stand up for the Lord and what He says in His Bible. I applaude their willingness to please God and not man. All sin separates us from God. To wink at one sin and call it acceptable is to wink at them all. For example: is it okay that I divorce my husband to become a fornicator, or should I just commit adultery? It is far more socially acceptable to divorce and fornicate than to commit adultery, but in the end sin is sin and God doesn't grade the severity of sin, just that a sin was commited. God does grade repentance. :D

[micro]

Well this realy isnt anything new. I used to belong to a churche that took the name baptist off the door. They stated that the name was deturing people from coming and getting saved. I left long before that happened. Now there just a social club. With weak christians, well what few there are in the midst of the congregation.

You dont think this has anything to do with this post? Oh just wait those that wont take a stand wont keep the name baptist. Which is a wonderful blessing from God! He is doing his job as a sheapard keeeping us safe from the wolves.

[HiredGoon]

I used to be a member of a church that was part of the American Baptist Churches of the West, affiliated with the ABC(USA). They went through this battle back in the mid-1990s. At that time it was the pro-homosexual group that lost when the ABCW took a stand. Unfortunately that church I was once part of has since become "non-denominational," left the ABCW and removed the Baptist name, but that's a whole 'nother issue.

[Ragamuffins]

Any other ABC folks out there that's heard about this?
The church am at currently is an ABC church and I guess must be in the minority of the ABC. Our church believes in the innerency and the infallability of the Bible, but not in the innerency or infallability of interpreters or teachers.

[MrJim]

Check this out:

http://www.abeonline.org/

American Baptist Evangelical. It is a response to the liberalism of the ABC. The forum is interesting and it sounds as though there could be (say it isn't so) another splintered group forming out of the problems of the ABC. I asked folks there why they just don't go SBC or independent and one said that he still felt SBC/Independent was too conservative. It's a sad thing to watch a church dividing itself (again) but it is an ultimate end result of self interpretation of scripture.

[arunma]

I fully agree that Christianity isn't compatible with the homosexual lifestyle. Nonetheless, it's quite sad to see schism within the American Baptist Church. I suppose we need to walk a fine line between unity within the body of Christ, and proper interpretation of Scripture.

[Ragamuffins]

Here is something pretty disturbing:

"Something is drastically wrong with the church who cannot direct and teach the kids Here is where it begins-In a former issue of Pulpit Helps they gave the results of a survey where 7,441 Protestant pastors were polled. Of the 7,441 Protestant pastors, 51 percent of the Methodists, 35 percent of the Presbyterians, 30 percent of the Episcopalians, and 33 percent of the American Baptists did not believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is astounding. How can this be, these are pastors of churches? It’s a simple answer, they do not believe the Bible nor are they allowing it to govern their lives. The Bible is then reduced to a book with good advice, a self-improvement book, and to some, a book for success in the world.

Among 7,441 Protestant pastors. Asked if they believed that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God: 87% of Methodists said NO. 95% of Episcopalians said NO. 82% of Presbyterians said NO. 67% of American Baptists said N0. (Pulpit Helps, December 1987) Do you think this has improved since then?"
Taken from http://www.letusreason.org/current30.htm

[arunma]

The Bible is then reduced to a book with good advice, a self-improvement book, and to some, a book for success in the world.

Wow, it really is a travesty when people believe that the Bible will help them with their finances.

[Ragamuffins]

I guess it would help your finances if you sold Bibles ;)

[MrJim]

Treat scripture as an "evolving" document and no telling what ya get.

Wonder what'll be "ok" 100 years from now?

[JPPT1974]

To be honest, we all won't be here in a 100 years as we will be in heaven. LOL! :P