Christian: What does it mean to be Baptist? (Jesus Christ, ritual)

[x_augusta_x]

Hi,

I was just wondering what the difference is between Baptist beliefs and other Christian beliefs. Sorry, I've just never met anyone who was Baptist before so I'm confused.

[Rex]

Check out the Baptist Overview here:
http://www.religiousforums.com/parkw...opic.php?t=967

Also it would be great to know what denomination you are so that we can better understand, are you catholic or a protestant?

[chimpa]

Christians are often frowned on for their segregation and denominations. Whilst I disagree with the many arguments that come up between denominations, I don't think we should abolish them altogether - it is as though each group has a qualification in Christianity, but their studies have focused on different majors: charismatic churches put a lot of emphasis on spiritual gifts, catholic and orthdox traditions have a major in ritual, Church of England and Angicans seem to have a handle on awe and reverance of God.

Baptists are known for their "majors" in expositional preaching of the Bible, and their interpretation of water baptism. Whilst some pentecostal churches often take a verse of scripture to preach around, bringing a lot more current-day perspective into the sermons, Baptists are more likely to take a longer passage, break it down and analyse it. This doesn't make it any less applicable to current day life - the applications and revelations are still given, but more in the context of Biblical basis and context. Baptists view the Bible as the literal, inspired word of God, and the general rule is, if it makes sense, believe it as is. If not, look for symbolic interpretation. Again, this does not discount the idea of the Bible being a living book that can speak to people here and now, aside from the original context.

The baptist interpretation of water baptism is a literal view of scripture, with the key elements of:
- Baptism FOLLOWS the receipt of salvation (so no infant baptisms), although there may be many years between these two events
- Baptism by choice; it is seen as an outward sign of the inner change that has already occurred
- Full-immersion; basically, y'get dunked, because that's the way Jesus did it (this also serves as symbolism of death to self, burial, resurrection, and then new life).

That's a basic summary. By basic I mean short - I think I might have written all this in a very confusing way... ops:

[Green Gaia]

When I think "Baptist" I think "fire and brimstone", but that's probably not very helpful to your question lol.

[moedlc]

Baptist believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins. We also believe the Bible is the truth. I hope this helps you and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!

[Think]

Was Jesus that great I mean aren't we all gods children, and I mean I can cure a cripple with a prosthesis or walk on water so long as it is frozen. Yeah Jesus was a nice guy or whatever but so are many people, I think to base everything you do around a book written thousands or years ago by some guys who hung around a nice dude doesn't really make sense.

[Jaymes]

As someone who grew up in a Baptist family and used to regularly attend a Baptist church, I can pretty much ditto everything Chimpa (and Maize ) said. They're a pretty... intense bunch.

[robtex]

In texas there are a large population of Baptists and I have learned few additional things that has not been mentioned it. I do not neccessarly know if Baptists outside the "bible belt" do this:

1) they fell dancing is a sin. About 8 years ago I started an arguement by baptist by saying it was silly or something and he said it was specfically that dancing was very sexual in nature..and used in a kinda mating ritual. He pointed out a dance technique called grinding where two dancing move their groins close to one another and hand holding a kissing and such.

I think it may have to do with the general Baptist notion that pre-martial sex is wrong so I wonder if dancing (mabye minus grinding) is ok for a married couple?

2) drinking. Baptists down here see drinking as a sin. I have seen a Catholic and a Baptist "get after it" over the drinking thing with the Catholic talking about Jesus turning water into wine and the Baptists saying that Jesus point was not to get his beholders drunk. I stay out of Catholics and Baptists who go head-to-head.but I notice that drinking is a sin to them.

3) The Baptists put a very heavy emphasis on orginal sin and attempted perfection of the spirt. When one talks of fire and brimstone that is the orgin of it.
If you are saved because you repent you become part of "God's church" a term I have heard them use. In the context that I have heard I am thinking it means your thoughts though not deeds are ideal to what God wants.

[Jaymes]

I have to disagree with you on the first two points, robtex. The ones where I live do look down upon grinding and alcoholism, but think both things in moderation are fine.

[robtex]

Actually Baptist churches while under the umbrella of the religion have the ablity to intrepet the bible with some latitude from congregation to congregation. If you look at the link below you will see that the only listed common beliefs are:

We believe Jesus is both God and Man
We believe the Bible is God's Word
We believe one must have a personal relationship with Jesus
We believe you should be baptized
We believe in heaven and hell
We believe Jesus is coming back

http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/SolidRo...l/Baptist.html


In the next link is a discussion about congregations having different opinions of from congregation to congregation.
http://www.baptiststandard.com/2000/...s/matters.html
_I think in the very beginning Baptists wanted to separate themselves from the world and from the other denominations that allowed dancing and drinking and gambling among their clergy and congregations. There still are many who firmly believe that by allowing young people to dance, you are encouraging them to go to the bars and joints where dances are held.


I had a friend who went to Baylor Univ in Waco Texas in the late 1980's. He laughing told me that there were more churches than places to dance in Waco Texas. I remember the conversation and the next time I went to Waco for a day I noticed that there were very very few places to dance but a ton of churches. I wondered why this was and found out from reading about the town and such because of the strong influences of the Baptist churches in Waco dancing was not popular with the locals and the demand was such that business could not stay open. I actually have the sneaking suspicion that powerplay was part of why dance clubs don't exist as much in waco but its not really provable.

If you go to the same smartpages and type in bars you get three. I am not counting bars and resturants just bars. Meaning no food just alcohol. Three for a population of 1/4 of one million.

I did a search of night and dance clubs and in waco and a town with a population just shy of a quater of a million people has only 20 regular clubs and 2 gentleman's clubs listed in its yellow pages. Of that a lot of them looked like taverns by the name of them.

I use Waco as example because it is so heavily baptist that relgion and politics are close associated in the town. I started to count through the baptist churches but stopped at about 50 on the letter H. The university is baptist...University of Baylor it is called. The town is baptist. That doens't mean everyone in it is but a large enough group with power is that you can get a flavor for their beliefs without hanging out in their churches

I didn't hallucinate the debate with the baptist...actually it was a lecture..he was so livid when talking about the evils of dancing that I didnt' interject after he started...and I didnt' hallucinate the debate between the baptist and catholic on drinking.

I did when I was a kid sit in on a baptist church session once...when I was really young and I remember hearing a baptist preacher talk about the sins associated with drinking but I can't remember specfically what he said...but it was important enough to be a topic on one sunday.

While I can not comment on your old church or Baptist in Georgia I can say they are not as tolerant of it in texas.

I see now that I invested some time looking at it that some think it is ok others don't.