just a few questions =]

[allyssa]

i posted my questions in "new christians" but someone redirected me to post here, i tried to link my previous post; but that was not allowed, so i have copy and pasted my thread below, thank you very much.




hi; im allyssa.

i have a few questions.

i have technically been brought up christian; but; my family didnt really practice it much or go to church very much at all.

for the past year i've been very interested in faith; reading the bible, and becoming generally a better person.

my family has never really chosen a denomination before; but from what i've researched, i most believe in the same things as baptists, and i have been to a southern baptist church before and very much felt at home and enjoyed the service.

but; i do have a few questions; the first...

how does the church baptize adults? is it private? or during services?
and i'd generally just like more details.

second; do all baptists really believe in speaking "tongues" and such? because to be honest, it creeps me out a bit. i did read somewhere that in the bible the word "tongues" is referring to "language" which, would be english, and people today, have turned it into the creepy gibberish talk it is seen as today. but you know, not everything you read is true.

also; im just interested; how do you view and talk to god? as a god to be feared and respected and spoken to in the most proper and carefully chosen way? or a as a friend and "mentor" so to speak, who you can talk to about anything, any way, anywhere? i like to believe as we have evolved and learned, so has god, because he is the one who has created the world the way it is, and he doesnt need to be treated like some ancient being to be feared, but as a friend and protector and loving father.

those are all my questions...for now lol.


thanks =]

[HappyChicken]

Hi! I'm excited to hear you are eager to learn! At my church, they do baptisms during the service...they don't do them every week. They do them ever-so-often. They also offer creek baptisms at a local creek.... I have never seen anyone speak in tongues at my church. I go to a GARB...General Assembly of Regular Baptists. Now, about talking to God and praying...I talk to him pretty casually. He knows my thoughts anyways before it leaves my lips. He already knows my thoughts before I actually think them....so there's no reason, in my opinion, to try to "church it up." I, also, wear jeans to church. Lot's of people at my church dress up. However, I have had a recent weight gain and I honestly don't have any dresses that fit. Our income is tight right now and I sacrifice getting new clothes in order to be a stay-at-home mommy. Noone at church seems to be offended though. Our church is pretty casual. It's what is in your heart that matters, and the doctrine of the church...nothing fancy required. Oh, one more thing.... God does not evolve. He is the same now as he always has been, and always will be. He is a friend, protector and loving father, but he is also to be feared.
Take Care and God Bless! -Let me know how it goes for ya.
-Debby

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

Hi Allyssa, welcome! It's wonderful that you're interested and searching for yourself the Truth about God, I'm sure He will bless you. :)

Now, your questions:
how does the church baptize adults? is it private? or during services?
Generally during services. Baptism is a public proclamation of your new life in Jesus Christ - so it's not usually done in private - like a wedding ceremony you would want witness', as well as an identification with Christs Death and Resurrection.

As for speaking in tongues, that's a bit different and you'll find differing views from church to church. But no baptist church that I have been in has practiced speaking in tongues during the service.

how do you view and talk to god? Well, that's one thing that scripture shows us! Matthew 6:5-14 is a good place to start! God is God almighty, but we - through Jesus - can come before Him. Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." As you grow as a Christian you grow in your understanding of who God is, and when you get to know someone better you feel more comfortable talking to them...

Hope that helps! I would really encourage you to keep reading your Bible, God really does speak to you through it!

[arunma]

Hi Allyssa. I'm very encouraged to hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus. I'll try to answer your questions. Back when I was in college I attended a Baptist church. My current church is PCA Presbyterian (which holds almost identical views on all issues except baptism), but I'm a firm believer in the Baptist view of baptism, and I've read a fair amount on this.

how does the church baptize adults? is it private? or during services?
and i'd generally just like more details.

My old church baptized believers during Wednesday night services. Although baptism in a private setting isn't Scripturally forbidden, it would go against the spirit of Scripture for us to intentionally baptize believers in private. Salvation is communal, and therefore New Testament baptisms were commonly done in a public setting. All Baptists baptize believers by full immersion in some pool of water (this is the defining characteristic of all Baptist churches). My church baptized in the sanctuary. Some Baptist churches do baptisms in a nearby river. There are many possible modes for baptism, but they are always by full immersion.

second; do all baptists really believe in speaking "tongues" and such? because to be honest, it creeps me out a bit. i did read somewhere that in the bible the word "tongues" is referring to "language" which, would be english, and people today, have turned it into the creepy gibberish talk it is seen as today. but you know, not everything you read is true.

Typically no, Baptists tend not to believe that the spiritual gifts are still in effect today. This is called "cessationism." As such, the average Baptist church probably wouldn't have anyone around who believed in speaking in tongues. However, it isn't characteristic of all Baptist churches. My church, for example, believed that all the spiritual gifts, including tongues, could be manifest in the present day. That being said, we did not believe in randomly speaking in tongues during worship services, or doing other disorderly things. In fact, to my knowledge, no one in the entire congregation (~8,000 or so people) ever used the gift of tongues. So in practice our belief in the presence of the gift of tongues was more or less academic. I think I can safely say that if you attended a Baptist church, you'd never see the "creepy gibberish talk" that you're referring to. This is more common among the Pentecostals.

also; im just interested; how do you view and talk to god? as a god to be feared and respected and spoken to in the most proper and carefully chosen way? or a as a friend and "mentor" so to speak, who you can talk to about anything, any way, anywhere?

Both, actually. What is truly astonishing about the incarnation of God in Christ Jesus is the the transcendent, holy God becomes imminent in the likeness of sinful flesh (but without sin). God is to be viewed with fear and reverence, because he is holier than us and worthy of praise. But through his Son Jesus Christ he has provided us with unlimited access to him. In this way he is both King and Friend.

i like to believe as we have evolved and learned, so has god, because he is the one who has created the world the way it is, and he doesnt need to be treated like some ancient being to be feared, but as a friend and protector and loving father.

It's certainly true that human society has evolved over time, and hopefully for the better. However, it's important to remember that as the Bible teaches, God does not change. As it says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8). God is perfect, and cannot become different. If he did, then we would have to constantly be concerned that his love for us, his church, might fade with time. But God is not fickle like man, and he will not change.

Anyway, I hope this helps!

[nzguy]

yeah.. with Baptists.. you have every kind of church belief within that name.

Baptists out of the reformation have- a universal church, calvinism or arminianism for salvation, alot are into the full quoter of spiritual gifts..and some are complete cessations or have prophecy and tongues ceased but ministry gifts for now, but I don't think you will find many at all that don't see Jesus as God.. co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Then there are Baptists that were never part of the reformation, and weren't ever rooted in Catholicism, with names like Primitive Baptists.. Landmark Baptists.. Missionary Baptist churches.. Independent Baptists..

the majority of these are cessasionists and also don't believe there is one 'universal church'.. but only local and visible churches plural.. the Kingdom of God and the Family of God are the universal aspects of Christianity. They are all very strong on the deity of Christ.. co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit as one triune God.

Personally speaking, if you look at speaking in tongues in 1 Corinthians 13.. there is something that renders speaking in tongues as obsolete.. along with the gift of prophecy and knowledge (with the other sign and ministry gifts included from looking at the beginning of 1 Corinthians book)..

what I have learned from scripture is the best fit... as 'that which is perfect' or the 'perfect thing' is the Word of God.. the bible.

When you put Jesus in there as the 2nd coming of Christ.. you run into problems.. because the Greek word for perfect is something that is mature or complete. The bible is those things.. but Jesus was never incomplete, or in part.

It also makes the verse kind of erroneous and irrelevant to say when Jesus comes again that prophecy and tongues and ministry gifts will cease..because that is plainly and blatantly obvious.. seeing as all believers at the time will be taken up, and there is no need for gifts then!

There is a point to the passage if it is referring to a time where people will still be on Earth.. and still not raptured up.. at a time after Paul writing the book.. when scripture has been fully completed and the tools used to complete God's Word in scripture could be put away.

Also.. in 1 Cor 13.. you see faith hope and love being the abiding, remaning spiritual gifts.... so if it was the 2nd coming of Christ that rendered prophecy and tongues and ministry gifts obsolete.. then we would not need to abide in faith, hope and love.. seeing as we would be in heaven with Jesus, with completed faith, hope and love.

Also think about the Corinthian church..... there spiritual gifts were mixed with Pagan practices left over from the Roman Empires paganism.. so if you want a clear look at what speaking in tongues are that isn't surrounded by Paganism.. look at Acts 2..

speaking in tongues there.. is of real, earthy languages.. where the speakers have had no prior knowledge of the languages and are being supernaturally transmiited thru them to listeners who know the language.

Anyway....... spiritual gifts, whether you can lose your salvation or not.. and the nature of what is meant by 'church' are the chief dividing doctrines in christianity.. so I don't expect agreement with what I am posting here.

[shrewdsnake]

how does the church baptize adults? is it private? or during services?

second; do all baptists really believe in speaking "tongues" and such?

also; im just interested; how do you view and talk to god? as a god to be feared and respected and spoken to in the most proper and carefully chosen way? or a as a friend and "mentor" so to speak, who you can talk to about anything, any way, anywhere?

Most baptize during a service since it's a big deal in that you are outwardly expressing your desire to follow Christ willingly. If for some reason your uncomfortable with that I would speak to your pastor.

I am Independent Baptist and the churches I attend believe that tongues was necessary at the time of Christ so Apostles could witness and sermon those who spoke other languages. It was never gibberish and was only necessary when those who spoke a foreign language were present. We don't feel it's necessary now.

I still think God deserves reverence but there are times I approach him as a confidant and friend and simply converse with Him as opposed to prayer.

[nzguy]

I'd also talk to God as a friend.. completely personal saviour ideally.

Don't have to close your eyes to talk to Him

Don't have to use special biblical words to talk to Him

Don't have to change your normal way of speaking

Cos He is real, and knows every part of ya