Hi all,
I found a wonderful explanation of why a certain Pastor is a Baptist. I am going to let this preacher speak for me as well. I can't say it any better!
Why I Am a Baptist
~ By Pastor Dan Ferrell (http://www.baptistpillar.com/bd0107.htm)
I believe that Christians should stop fussing and fighting and unite in one body, one church, and one faith!
"But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against." Acts 28:22.
Have you ever heard the following?... "I just do not believe in denominations, church names, or titles, I am a Christian and I can worship anywhere!" or "I’m a member of the true body of Christ, I don’t believe in organized religion!" or "It doesn’t matter what church you go to as long as you love Jesus and worship God." The various churches in America today are becoming like a hot fudge, strawberry and butterscotch sundae that has been out in the sun too long. This "I’m okay-you’re okay, let’s agree, not worry about doctrine religion today has never done anything for Jesus Christ and never will!
I am a Baptist. If my reasons for being a Baptist are valid–then every child of God should be a Baptist.
Jesus said, "Upon this rock will I build my church." If the Lord’s kind of church is in existence today, where is it?! I want to be a member of the church that is built upon the Rock! I am a Baptist because of the witness of history. John Clark Redpath (1840-1900, Methodist) wrote "I should not really admit that there was a Baptist church as far back as 100 AD, although without a doubt there were Baptist churches then, as all Christians were then Baptist." Robert Barclay (Quaker) "There are also reasons for believing on the continent of Europe, small hidden Christians societies, who have held many of the opinions of the Ana-baptists, have existed from the time of the apostles." (Inner Life of Societies of Commonwealth, pp. 11,12) Alexander Campbell (Disciples of Christ) "From the apostolic age to the present time, the sentiments of Baptists have had a continued chain of advocates, and public monuments of their existence in every century can be produced" (From a debate with McCalla, pp. 378,379).
Whether from our enemies, honest historians or ancient Baptist writings, the historical records and evidence is over whelming–in spite of Roman Catholic confiscation and persecution. Whether you call them Novations, Donatists, Paulicans, Vandois, Waldenses, Lollards, Heretics, Schismatics, Anabaptist, or just plain Baptists, we are the same people. We may be different in detail, but we are equal in essence.
In 1819, the King of Holland appointed Dr. Ypeij, Professor of Theology in the University of Groningen and Rev. J.J. Dermot, Chaplain to the King, both learned men and members of the Dutch Reformed Church, to prepare a history of their church. Here is what they revealed in their authentic volume, published at Breda. "We have now seen that the Baptists, who were formerly called Anabaptists, and in later times, Mennonites, were the original Waldenses, and who, long in the history of the church, received the honor of that origin. On this account the Baptists may be considered as the only Christian community which has stood since the apostles, and, as a Christian society, has preserved pure the doctrine of the gospel through all ages. The perfectly correct, external and internal economy of the Baptist denomination tends to confirm the truth disputed by the Romish Church, that the Reformation, brought about in the sixteenth century, was in the highest degree necessary; and, at the same time, goes to refute the erroneous notion of the Catholics, that their communion is the most ancient." (My Church by J.B. Moody, pp. 311).
Next and most important is the Witness of Scripture. Jesus said in Matt. 16:18 "...and upon this rock (petra), I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The N.T. Church has never ceased to be, nor does it need to be reformed! Again our Lord said to His churches and to every church to follow "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them... Teaching them to observe all things... and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" Matt. 28:19,20.
Either the Jerusalem church must be still going strong–or the Lord’s kind of churches are still carrying out the Great Commission until the trumpet blast! I Cor. 11:24-26 "...ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come." A church ordinance needs a church to observe it till Jesus comes back. Eph. 3:21, "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen." The church that is in context here is not a universal invisible Body of Christ, rather a visible ecclesia. Our Lord began an assembled, visible church, purchased her with His blood, and espoused Himself to her saying– "I go to prepare a place for you...I will come again, and receive you unto myself."
Our Lord will to make the mistake of thinking He is espoused to a visible New Testament Rachael, and behold on resurrection morning, He is actually married to a universal invisible Leah!
There is only one true church, one true baptism, and one true Body of Christ. Eph. 4:4,5. Therefore as a Baptist, I will earnestly contend for the faith (which was not restored or imparted again during the Reformation) which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 3.
I am a Baptist because of the Bible Doctrines. Triune God, authority of scriptures, doctrines of grace, diety of Christ, correct ordinances, missions and evangelism, pre-millennialism, holy living, democratic church government, separation of church and state and many more. If a person rattles a chain on one end, and it moves on the other end–it must be linked in between!
I am a Baptist because of the witness of others. Every church started by a man apart from the authority of the Lord’s kind of church, has degenerated into worse heresy. All Protestant churches (including Campbellites, Quakers, and Methodist) are direct or indirect daughters of the immoral Roman church. Cults and modern religious societies have about as much authority to rival the N.T. Church as does an Elvis Presley Fan Club! I belong to a church that is over 1900 years old, arrayed with all of the apostles’ doctrines, esteems Christ as her head, and repudiates the Roman Catholic organization as an imposter and a religious whore! The Lord did not address a letter to the Body of Christ in Asia Minor, rather, seven letters to the seven churches!
I am a Baptist because of the divine witness. Jesus Christ walked sixty miles to be baptized by John the Baptist (not John the immerser) Matt. 3:13-17, the apostles were all baptized by John the Baptist, Jn. 1:35, 4:1, Acts 1:22, and the Lord said that John had the authority from Heaven to baptize, Matt. 21:24-27.
You do not have to be a Baptist to go to heaven, nor to be used of God.
I love Christians of various manmade churches, and I abhor a self-righteous attitude, especially in Baptists. Yet I am not ashamed to be known as an Ana-baptist–and I will not abandon my biblical heritage or principals in order to promote unity in the Family of God!
Yes, I believe and wish that all true Christians would come together into one church. If narrow minded Christians would just accept Bible truth, have a teachable spirit, and submit to scriptural Baptist baptism–we could have unity in the Family of God!!!
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