Coming back to church but which one?

[rasplundjr]

Before this goes any further this is not meant as anything derogatory to those who follow in the baptist faith, it is an account of my life, I'm not tryijng to pick a fight I'm just drawing the picture so that I may get informed opinions from members of a denomination I may be switching to.

Okay this is going to sound a little odd. Well it sounds odd to me and I lived through it.

Long long ago in a suburb not to far away....

I was born into the Methodist church, My mother was born into it as well and my father converted over from being a Seventh Day Adventist. We moved to the middle of nowhere where I could either go to a Catholic church (and force my Irish Protestant grandfather to roll over in his grave) or a Baptist church that some friends down the street went to. I went to a Baptist church for a couple years then lets just say about that time there was a diference of opinion, and the Irish side of my temper flared due to a breakdown in communiucation. Then came years of studying the basic concepts of philosophy and alternative religions beyond christianity. Through all my study I remained what I called a searching agnostic but still felt ties to the Methodist church. Then came the college years butted more heads with Baptists, met a few Baptists that I could call good honest God loving people. Spent a few more years searching and trying to find out where I fit in. Finally figured out that I am indeed a Christian, and that I need no house of sticks and bricks to talk to God. Though recent years have made me wonder what I am passing by in avoiding congregations. I'm currently heading out to church on occasion with my wife who is a Baptist to her family church.

I know very little about the Baptist church and before I decide where to devote my group fellowship I'd like to know more about the church and beliefs.

And I did pay attention to the rules, I do believe it stated I am able to ask questions about another faith in their forums or join in fellowship, just not to debate them, or provoke them.

[TwinCrier]

It's great you want to have fellowship with other Christians in the house of God. Different Baptist denominations hold differing beliefs so you should ask to see the churches "Articles of Faith." That will tell you exactly what beliefs that church holds. Some of the things I look for is belief in the trinity, virgin birth, deity of Christ and infallibility of the bible.

[HumbleMan]

Welcome to CF!

Baptists come in more flavors than Baskin Robbins, so you'll probably get many answers here.

I personally like attending a Baptist church because of the teaching. I came out of the Pentecostal/Charismatic church, and while I loved the worship there, I just didn't feel I was being "fed" the scripture. Most Baptists I know are sincere and grounded in scripture.

Baptists have different styles of worship. Where I attend is contemporary and lively (over half the congregation came from P/C churches). There are more traditional churches, and there are some that will get you branded a heretic if you murmered "Amen" out of turn.

Theologically, they run the spectrum, also, from more liberal American Baptist Church to the more conservative SBC and independant churches and everything in between.

It's hard to pin down every Baptist belief, because we're not organized like the UMC or PCUSA, or such.

For the most part, baptists believe in the inerrancy and infallibility of the bible, the deity of Christ, a literal resurection, some degree of seperation, believer's baptism, and a lifetstyle transformation upon being born again.

[mesue]

Hi rasplundjr :wave:

Welcome to CF.
I don't think it matters so much what church you go to so long as it answers the following questions
Is is Bible Believing?
Are they presenting the Gospel and reaching souls for the Lord Jesus Christ?
Do they support missions?

[rasplundjr]

To me it does matter what kind of church it is. Not really the name hanging over the door, but what kind of people are in the church. Basic beliefs can influence your character (I actually feel that they must and do influence but I digress). I want validation that the two groups I ran into that seem to prevail in my area are the exception, not the rule.

This is very important to my wife. I can take or leave church. I have my own personal relationship with god and I don't need to be in a church to talk with him. But my wife needs the fellowship. She needs to be with her family. I'm not sure which "type of Baptist" she is. I know her father is Southern Baptist and that he doesn't go to church with his wife because of the major differences in worship practices. That's as far as I know anything about my wife's church other than the Preacher is a very good man, his wife doesn't think too highly of me because of my beliefs (in fact she told my wife not only not to marry me but to never see me again - I had a falshback to my childhood there when I found out), but the preacher doesn't look down on me at all, he seems curious as to my beliefs and wants to help make sure that I keep on my path of salvation and truthfully I don't care what denomination you are that is the sign of a truly great person/preacher/christian. I respect that. That's one of the few reasons I actually came back to church, I had met him a few times at family emergencies, he is a very caring good man. He started to remind me that there were all kinds of Baptists and not to let the negative experiences I had color them all.

[bethdinsmore]

Sounds somewhat familiar. I was a nominal (in name only) Christian attending a Methodist church as I grew up. I left the church and became an atheist because it taught there were mistakes in the Bible. Later, I became convinced that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, trusted in Christ alone to pay for all my sins and to get me to Heaven, without any good works or promises of my own. Since being saved, I have mostly attended Southern Baptist churches.

In my experiences, the main differences I noted were: Methodists - liberalism, belief that Bible is not infallible, belief that Jesus + works save you, belief that you can lose your salvation.

Southern Baptists (and most other Baptists) - conservative, the Bible is inspired by God and is infallible, belief that Jesus alone saves you, belief in OSAS (once saved, always saved - eternal security).

Please let me know if you want verses, etc.

Also, I think there are some statements of faith in the stickys. Aloha in Jesus, friend

[JPPT1974]

I attend church for the teaching.
As well as the fellowship.
Also for friendship as I love my Sunday School Class.
Also to learn and grow in Jesus.
Through word & prayer.

[bethdinsmore]

The sticky is entitled "What does the Baptist/Anabaptist believe?", and discusses SBC (Southern), American, and Reformed.

In my personal experience, I bumped against the most heads when I attended fundamentalist Baptist churches. That was because there was a lot of judging based on externals. The Southern Baptists, on the other hand, are conservative - believing that spirituality comes from relying on and cooperating with the Holy Spirit. I am sure that there would be butting of some heads if someone contradicted Scripture, but it would be because they believe in the Word so deeply - that it is inspired by God and is without error. But I find them a much more loving and accepting group. As I said, tho, that's only been my personal, limited experience.

Aloha in Jesus. I'll pray for you, friend.

[daveleau]

I know very little about the Baptist church and before I decide where to devote my group fellowship I'd like to know more about the church and beliefs.


Hi rasplundjr,

I am very glad that you found Christ after your time as an agnostic and that you are heeding the call to fellowship with other Christians. I will pray that God leads you to the one where you will grow in your walk with Him.

It is sad that you seem to have met some more disrespectful and harsh Baptists. Each congregation has people that will cause division and will bring about anger. I will pray that you find a church that will treat you with more of a Christian love and respect that is prescribed for Christians in Scripture.

There are many types of Baptists, and we have different beliefs. What type of Baptist church is it?

Here's a list of the churches w/ phone numbers: http://www.churchangel.com/WEBIN/portage.htm

Most Baptists are partial Calvinists (usually believe in TLP or TULP of the TULIP teaching (http://www.thecaveonline.com/APEH/calvinTULIP.html)). Most Baptist churches are more conservative in beliefs and hold to what Scripture tells us rather than allowing society to conform us to it's belief. Most are a moderately Sola Scriptura belief system, meaning that we gain theological guidance from Scripture alone, while allowing some outside writings to help guide us in our learning and interpretation.

The big thing is that most Baptists believe in Once Saved Always Saved and the importance in taking theology from Scripture alone. We believe that you are saved through acceptance of the gift from God of Jesus Christ (Romans 10) and that works are part of our following God's Will, but have no bearing on our salvation. We believe that we are called to be baptized as a outward display of our covenant with God, but that the baptism that saves is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that comes when we accept Christ.

I think the big difference you will see in most Baptist churches over Methodists is a more literal Scriptural interpretation in regards to social issues, and a mixture of God's Sovereignty and free will (God limits His actions to allow us to choose Him) rather than a teaching that man has no free will.

I think the best thing to do is to schedule some time with the local pastor wherever you decide to attend and discuss their beliefs. We can give you generalities, but each church teaches things a little differently.

I pray that you find a place where you can grow in Christ@

Yours in Christ,
Dave

[Cright]

Hi :)

As others have posted there are MANY "flavors" of Baptists... my recomendation is to get a copy of your wife's churche's constitution. Read it over (make sure to have your bible handy to cross refrence any scripture they quote). When all is said and done if you are in agreement great! If not, then find a pastor in the church that will answer the questions that you are confused on wording, or scripture refrence, or whatever else raises questions. Sometimes they can clear up things you don't understand from the constitution. If you then agree great... if not, time to look for another church.
I'm sure you wife will help you to gain some insite too.

Hope all goes well.
God Bless,
Carina

[JPPT1974]

Find a church where you are most comfortable with
Second make sure that you want to join that church
Third it could take awhile to find churches that appeal to you
Fourth hope and pray that the people are friendly and welcoming to you
Fifth make sure that it appeals to your beliefs