We are part of Lock Haven Baptist Church. As I mentioned a few days ago, most of us go to church, and specifically a Baptist church, because our parents bring us.
...but why are we called Baptists, anyways? Why is that important? So many churches today don't use the word Baptist anymore...in fact, many churches have names like "The Cross" or "The Way" or other such generic, non-churchy terms. Why do we still say we're Baptists?
The simple answer is this: Baptist churches are churches that choose to follow the Bible exactly, as closely as they know how. Ever since Jesus walked the earth and started the church, there has been a continuation of churches (examples in the Bible: the church at Ephesus, the church at Antioch, the church of Thessalonica, etc) who preach Christ the same way Jesus taught His disciples to. Through the years these churches were known by many, many different names...but eventually, the name "Baptist" stuck because other denominations recognized that Baptists do baptism differently than they did.
Certainly, other kinds of churches may believe some or even most of the things we do. However, independent Baptists are the ones known for holding to all of the same teachings Jesus instituted. We choose to follow the Bible in Its entirety, not just the parts that we think are important enough to follow.
---
Bible Reading: Proverbs 19, Ephesians 3
So many churches have changed the name on their sign, and I always find that so discouraging. Not so much that the name changes but that with that name change comes a silent willingness to compromise many other areas of doctrine, too. I am thankful to be a Baptist!! And, not just any Baptist, but an Independent, fundamental, Bible-believing, sin-hatin' Baptist:-)
ReplyDelete