Baptism according to the Baptists
George W. Wood
Baptism. I have been a member of several different Baptist churches, as
well as being a Home Missionary for the Home Mission Board of the S.B.C.
There are about 45 + different kinds of Baptist groups in the U.S. The
Southern Baptists on the whole will accept Believer's Baptism by
Immersion from most other Baptist churches. There are exceptions
however Who will accept only Baptism from another S.B.C. Church.
The Landmark Baptist Churches demand that an applicant for membership be
rebaptized into the membership of their local church, so every time you
relocate you have to be baptized all over again. There are several
pastors in the deep south , maybe more places I don't know, who are
Landmarkist in their beliefs even though belong to the S.B.C. However,
the S.B.C. in general do not accept baptism outside of Baptist circles.
Someone who applies for membership and has been baptized by immersion in
a Methodist church will most likely be required to be rebaptized.
The Independent Baptist churches as a rule will not accept Baptism outside
of their own group. The one I belong to now, for example, will not
accept baptism from a General baptist Church because they do not preach
eternal security. They accepted mine even though it was from a British
Independent Baptist Church, and my wifes which was in the Plymouth
Brethren in England. Apparently, according to our pastor, if the other
church does not believe in the doctrines that ours adheres to then they
will not accept the baptism.
What I have said comes from my experiences by being a member of first
British baptist churches, General Association of Regular Baptist
Churches, Southern baptist Churches, and Baptist Bible Conference Church.
If all this does not confuse you then you are smarter than I am. I
suppose the worst experience I have ever had in a group of S.B.C. pastors
was when they started talking about "Alien" Baptism,meaning baptism in
other denominations (needless to say I walked out on the group). I wonder
what God thinks about all of this.
In the Master's Service
George
Jim D
the question, though, was how the Baptists felt about what baptism repre-
sents. I posted what I KNOW some Baptists think, but since they are
thicker than hairs on a dog's back, I have NO IDEA how all of'em feel <G>.
In Him,
Jim D
Marti Scheeringa
Why do I have visions of a very large wall in Heaven with several dents
in it, with God standing banging His head?
Run well,
Marti (ma...@paradigm.co.za)
Timothy G. Shivers
YOU SAID:
>Why do I have visions of a very large wall in Heaven with several
dents
>in it, with God standing banging His head?
>
>Run well,
>
>Marti
(ma...@paradigm.co.za)
>
I can feel the vibrations of His head hitting!
_Rebecca
Jim D
> Jim:
> I guess I misunderstood, sorry about that. In general baptists believe
> that Baptism is, to put it simplisticly, an outward sign of an inward
> change. In other words the candidate for baptism is telling the world.
> "People from now on you can expect something different from me. Jesus
> Christ has become my Savior and LORD and as Scripture says Behold old
> things are passed away and everything has become new. I am a follower of
> Jesus Christ and therefore my language, habits etc will be on a different
> level.
> Hope this answers your question
You did good, George, you did good <G>. Actually, it wasn't MY question,
'cause I thought I already knew the answer.
In Christ,
Jim D
George W. Wood
>
> GEORGE: Still sounds like a bunch of man-made rules to me <G>. I think
> the question, though, was how the Baptists felt about what baptism repre-
> sents. I posted what I KNOW some Baptists think, but since they are
> thicker than hairs on a dog's back, I have NO IDEA how all of'em feel <G>.
>
> In Him,
>
>
> Jim D
>
Jim:
I guess I misunderstood, sorry about that. In general baptists believe
that Baptism is, to put it simplisticly, an outward sign of an inward
change. In other words the candidate for baptism is telling the world.
"People from now on you can expect something different from me. Jesus
Christ has become my Savior and LORD and as Scripture says Behold old
things are passed away and everything has become new. I am a follower of
Jesus Christ and therefore my language, habits etc will be on a different
level.
Hope this answers your question
George W. Wood
when he got there he found that heaven was arranged on different levels,
one for each denomination or group. As they went past each level, in the
elevator, the
angel would call out the name of the group on that level. As they past
one of the levels the angel demanded complete silence. The Charismatic
asked him why. The reply was, "the baptists are on this level and it
wouldn't be Heaven for them if they thought anyone else was here.
PLEASE this can be told with any denomination, depends on the audience.
B. James AOL@Christia77
I have a question? I have been taught that we as Christians are free from
law, but when I see posts like this it makes me wonder if I am free or am I
just serving a differn't master? What I mean by that is If I try to change a
single church law, I cant. If I say I won't do it, I will be invited to
leave. If I say that I don't think that this rule or law is right then I am a
heratic. I am just as bound by the law of Sunday; Baptisim, tithing,
alter-calls, Christmas, and Easter . . . as the Jews were to the law of
God; the ten Commandments, and the temple service.
I am not free at all.If I want to continue in the church, I must do these
things. Where is this freedom I have been promised?
Brother Robert.
George W. Wood
Robert:
We are commanded not to forsake the assemblying of ourselves together.
So do need to be a part of some local congregation. However, you have
a good point and I understand your frustration. I belong to a Baptist
Church, even though there is much about it that I don't like, but
basically they believe closer to what I see in the Scriptures than do
some of the others. I do not hold with all, no any, of their legalism
and in my own life I ignore it. if I want to fellowship with someone
from the Lower Podunc Presbymethodicalcharismaticepiscopalians (tongue
in cheek) I will do so.
In my ministry as a port chaplain I have rubbed shoulders with other
chaplains from Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Assembly of God, Lutheran,
Episcopalian, Anglican etc., and i have found that there are genuine
Blood bought Christians in every one of them also there are pseudo
Christians who would not know the Lord if they fell over Him ( no
disrespect intended).
Robert no matter what church you go to you will find this kind of thing,
after all churches are composed of people and people are perfect. It has
been said that if you find a perfect church then don't join it because it
will no longer be perfect.
In the master's Service
George
Kenneth Smith
> Hi folkes,
>
> I have a question? I have been taught that we as Christians are free from
> law, but when I see posts like this it makes me wonder if I am free or am I
> just serving a differn't master? What I mean by that is If I try to change a
> single church law, I cant. If I say I won't do it, I will be invited to
> leave. If I say that I don't think that this rule or law is right then I am a
> heratic. I am just as bound by the law of Sunday; Baptisim, tithing,
> alter-calls, Christmas, and Easter . . . as the Jews were to the law of
> God; the ten Commandments, and the temple service.
>
> I am not free at all.If I want to continue in the church, I must do these
> things. Where is this freedom I have been promised?
>
> Brother Robert.
>
Good questions. Makes you wonder about what is the true nature of
authentic freedom perhaps? Actually I don't think Paul was speaking of
the Mosaic Law in the way you refer to here. I think he was speaking of
the law of sin and death which dwells within us since the fall, and
unfortunately it is easy to get this confused from Paul's writings. Now,
if that statement is wrong, and it might be, then Paul's view of the Law
of Moses and King David's as expressed in the Psalms are radically
opposed to each other. In the latter understanding, Paul sees the Law as
oppressive, quickening sin and death within him; King David finds true
freedom within God's Law. Consider the following:
Good and upright is the Lord
thus he shows sinners the way
He guides the humble to justice
he teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are kindness
and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant
and decrees. (Ps 25: 8-10)
Happy are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord.
Happy are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart,
And do no wrong,
but walk in his ways.
You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!
Then should I not be put to shame
when I beheld all your commands.
I will give you thanks with an upright heart,
when I have learned your just ordinances.
I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
(Ps 119:1-8)
I think it is clear here that the Psalmist does not regard _the Law_ as
relentlessly oppressive as St. Paul did, but as, in fact, liberating.
vs. 18 "Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law."
In summation, I guess I respond that being bound to a law is not a
necessarily bad thing. Certainly we are bound by law in any civil
society. I don't hear many people rebelling against the oppressiveness
of the law forbidding murder, yet that statute was part of the allegedly
oppressive LAW. Furthermore, when we attempt to live as if no law were
important, either civil laws, customs of churches, ecclesiastical laws,
et cetera, then we make our own selves the law, and our own
inconsistency and inability to live up to our own ideals itself becomes
oppressive. Certainly the understanding that one is utterly free from
outside constraint of any kind is ultimately a very isolating experience.
And if we are so free, why did Christ say for us to take his yoke upon us
and follow Him, St. Paul even speaking of "the Law of Christ" in Romans?
PAX
Kenneth E. Smith
ksm...@infogo.com
B. James AOL@Christia77
I could not agree with you more.
I think that the only way anyone can be free is for everyone to keep the ten
commandments, then EVERYONE will know complete freedom. . We will be able to
go away and leave our doors unlocked, walk through a dark park and be
escorted, not assulted, leave our mony out in the open and have it still
there when we return. When we are "lawless," no one is free.
I think that it is our mis-understanding of the writings of Paul that cause
us to think the law has ended, but in realality has not. Paul stands alone
in the New Testament with his teaching that the law has ended because of our
mis-interpetation of his writings
The "WORKS OF THE LAW" are"SACRIFICES", not keeping the commandments.
Keep up the good fight, and always remember that it is the few on the narrow
path that find life.
Again God bless you,
Brother Robert
PS I will be out of town for a few days so please save any response till
then.
Mark Drake
agree with, for the most part.
"Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing
the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the
believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to
walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in
the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is
prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's
Supper."
Mark
--
Mark Drake dr...@asu.edu
"A physician is not angry at the intemperance of a mad patient, nor does he
take it ill to be railed at by a man in a fever. Just so should a wise man
treat all mankind, as a physician treats a patient, and look upon them as
sick." -- Seneca
Don Davis
>
> "Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the
> Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing
> the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the
> believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to
> walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in
> the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is
> prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's
> Supper."
>
I noticed your post is in qoutes - what was your source? I agree with
the definition in general, but I need a few clarifications before I would
totally agree:
1. Prerequisite to the privdges of which church? Do you mean the body of
Christ the church universal or some local assembly or denomination?
2. Also where in scripture do we see that we must be Baptised in water
before we can be served communion - Lord's supper? I don't think so.
If the answer to #1 is the Body of Christ in general - OK, if not then is
may baptism as baptist nulified if I join a Evangelical Free Church (or
visa versa?) Biblically baptism is tied to conversion - repent, beleive
and be baptised. (I do not beleive it is mandatory for salvation, but as
the definition describes as an outward expression of what has happened
inwardly.)
In my life, this idea of baptism and local church memebership hindered me
from being baptised after I beleived. (see previous posting of my
testimony about being born again, I'm the bathtub guy :-))
God bless you,
Don Davis - Working to Finish the Task - Matt 24:14
Mark Drake
>>
>> "Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the
>> Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing
>> the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the
>> believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to
>> walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in
>> the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is
>> prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's
>> Supper."
>>
>Mark,
>
>I noticed your post is in qoutes - what was your source?
:-) The first two line of the post are:
From the Baptist Faith and Message, a confession most Southern Baptists
agree with, for the most part.
>1. Prerequisite to the privdges of which church? Do you mean the body of
>Christ the church universal or some local assembly or denomination?
>
It means the local body of believers that meet together. Baptists believe
that each local body is autonomous, with no higher authority but Christ.
>2. Also where in scripture do we see that we must be Baptised in water
>before we can be served communion - Lord's supper? I don't think so.
>
Not all S.B. agree with everything in the BF&M. However, I would say that
this probably comes from the idea that only believers can partake of the
Lord's super, and all believers are baptized. Also, there is undoubtedly
some historical background to the belief. I imagine that only church
memebers were allowed to prticipate, because they were the only ones the
church could be sure were saved. (Not to say that noone else was saved,
just that the church wouldn't know.)
>If the answer to #1 is the Body of Christ in general - OK, if not then is
>may baptism as baptist nulified if I join a Evangelical Free Church (or
>visa versa?)
Baptists believe in believer's baptism by immersion. If you were a
believer, and were baptised by immersion, they would accept it (although
many would also require that you did not believe the baptism saved you.).
>In my life, this idea of baptism and local church memebership hindered me
>from being baptised after I beleived. (see previous posting of my
>testimony about being born again, I'm the bathtub guy :-))
>
>God bless you,
>
>Don Davis - Working to Finish the Task - Matt 24:14
If I rememebr your earlier post, you didn't get baptized because all the
churches would have put you on the membership role. I can't imagine that
my current church would refuse to baptize someone, who did not want to be
put on the role. We believe that all christians should be baptized.
We also believe that there is a minimum level of obedience to
Christ for us to accept someone as a member of our local assembly. While
anyone is free to worship with us, why should we give someone a say in how
the church is run when they refuse to be baptized? Why should we let
someone teach our youth when they have not even taken the first step that
every christian should take? Does it make sense this way?