What makes a Baptist a Baptist?

[DanielT]

I ask this because I've come across so many definitions that I struggle to define my own beliefs.

I have always enjoyed the 'Four Freedoms' and, for the most part, I have enjoyed following the beliefs described in Wikipedia's article on Baptists.

To make it even more clear: I am not asking what beliefs are right and what beliefs are wrong according to yourselves. I am asking what my beliefs should be defined as.

In case people are wondering, these are the 'Four Freedoms' detailed in Wikipedia...

Soul freedom: the soul is competent before God, and capable of making decisions in matters of faith without coercion or compulsion by any larger religious or civil body
Church freedom: freedom of the local church from outside interference
Bible freedom: the individual is free to interpret the Bible for himself or herself, using the best tools of scholarship and Biblical study.
Religious freedom: the individual is free to choose whether to practice their religion or practice no religion. Separation of church and state is often called the "civil corollary" of religious freedom.

I very much enjoy these freedoms. I like to read the bible without other people telling me how to interpret it. Others can advise me and I consider preachings of the various denominations to merely be 'suggestions' as to how to interpret the Bible. I disagree with people who say "it's my way or the highway", though, and do not agree with the idea of a heirarchy telling you that if you do not believe what they say is true then you are some kind of sinner. I mean, there are some things that you should obviously believe because they are detailed specifically in the Bible - eg. Don't murder people, that's not cool. Don't commit adultery, that's not cool. You know, the obvious stuff. But as for the rest of it, I feel that each individual should have the freedom to decide on what they believe.

Where does this put me? I've always figured that makes me a Baptist, however other people have stated things that make me less sure on things. What do you think?

Thanks for your input in advance, as I know I often forget to check back to this place often enough to thank everyone. :)

[eldermike]

Consider freedom another way:
Freedom is a tricky biblical concept. Jesus described spiritual freedom as one losing his life and becoming a servant. Paul described it as being in chains.
Freedoms are necessary to break the chains of religions and grow in a personal relationship with our Father, God.
By doing this very thing Jesus was found guilty and killed. Freedom is not the safe way. Freedom is not for our good, it's in fact very dangerous, and necessary at the same time.

Where we belong denominationally speaking, is not the important issue. The important issue is knowing who we belong to. I can go anywhere to any church and leave it with no chains because I am free, not because I am looking for freedom in a place of worship. I go in free, I come out free.

I personally think this: A person who is willing to give his life to save it will need the freedoms you listed to break away from the pull of the world and it's religions.

But consider freedom a burden and not gain. What we gained we already have, there is no need to seek what we have been freely given.

When seeking a local church look for a place to grow and serve in the kingdom of God, because you are already in it, and, part of it.

I am not an outsider looking in, I am a stranger here in the world, this is not my home. I am a saint who sometimes sins, I was a sinner, who was saved by grace. I am SB because they teach these truths.

My spiritual freedom keeps me away from the worlds religions, (albeit, they are most all created in the Name of Jesus and filled with Christians), they are to me, most all of them, focused on matters that were settled and ended on the cross of Jesus, and therefore not free.

Freedom is to "GO", not as a group, not as representative of any manmade institution, but as a servant in the chains of Christ. Your local church should be sending you and your ministry to a lost world.

I hope your Baptist churches are like this.

[DanielT]

I consider freedom a gain and a burden at the same time. It's a double-edged sword.

However, I have to admit that your post didn't really help me with figuring out what denomination, if any, I belong to. Sorry, it was just rather vague and seemed to grow on a tangent.

[eldermike]

I consider freedom a gain and a burden at the same time. It's a double-edged sword.

However, I have to admit that your post didn't really help me with figuring out what denomination, if any, I belong to. Sorry, it was just rather vague and seemed to grow on a tangent.

Oh?, perhaps you don't understand it, it's ok:wave: Good luck in your search.

[DanielT]

Thanks for posting all the same. :) I guess as long as I know what I believe then it's all good - but it's always nice to know what to answer when people ask what denomination or whatever you belong to! I'll stick to Baptist for now.

[IisJustMe]

Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, by His shed blood on the cross. If that isn't a 'done deal' in your life, your mind, and your heart, then the denominational choice you make is irrelevent.

Second, "Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength." In the gospel of Luke, Jesus called this the first of the two great commandments, and the second, He said, is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

This is the Law of Christ, and again, if you don't practice these things, the denomiantional choice you make is irrelevant.

Finally, worship God. Where you do that is irrelevant, as long as it satisfies a need within you to praise, glorify, honor and worship your Creator and Savior. It happens that I find the Southern Baptist Church to be the denomination that I most closely associate with that attitude. I checked, too, and the "Four Freedoms" you mention that are on Wikipedia (not exactly a bastion of Christian thought, by the way) are not mentioned by the SBC, so I guess not all Baptists adhere to them. I did note, however, that the Wikipedia posting, long before the "Four Freedoms," mentions a profession of faith in Jesus Christ.

The name on the door doesn't matter. The Name on your heart does.

[DanielT]

Don't worry, I know that much. :) Just wondering is all.

Thanks again for your words though. Sometimes the whole denomination thing frustrates me and I guess today is one of those days. I wish the world was as simple as your post was! :)

[JPPT1974]

It doesn't matter at all my friend
About your denomination just as
Long as you are a Christian and believe
In Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior!

[kaalee]

When I hear the word "denomination", I think in terms of the church I attend (or was raised in). Your "denomination" can change. Some are raised in one type of church, but change when they get married due to various reasons. So, as a child their denomination would have been, say Catholic, but when they got married, they married a Baptist and started attending the Baptist church. Their denomination would now be considered Baptist.

When someone refers to a person as a Christian, that is a way of life, not a denomination. I would say if you are having a hard time trying to figure out what denomination you are, you probably aren't really any particular one. If someone asks you what one you are, I think the best answer would be to say "Non-denominational". There are many churches around that fall in that category. They teach the Bible and Christianity, but they don't follow a particular doctrine like most denominational churches do.

Hope this helps clarify things and give you a peace about what you should consider yourself.

[Joykins]

Don't worry, I know that much. :) Just wondering is all.

Thanks again for your words though. Sometimes the whole denomination thing frustrates me and I guess today is one of those days. I wish the world was as simple as your post was! :)

I feel your pain. I attended a church from a very small anabaptist denomination for years, then a nondenominational church. Now I attend a church from another small denomination.

So when people ask what I am just say "it's kinda like Baptist."

[edb19]

What makes a Baptist a Baptist?

For me it's pretty simple - what makes me a Baptist is baptism. I hold with credo-baptism by (preferably) immersion. All Baptists I know - whether independent, southern, reformed, whatever - all hold the same high view of Baptism.

edie

[FallingWaters]

The Southern Baptist Convention adopted a revised Statement of Faith (http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp) in 2000. You can read it online, or download a pdf file. This briefly outlines the basic beliefs of SBC churches.