Ok, I want to be very careful here, so let me start with a disclaimer. I am not against anyone who considers themselves a part of a denomination. I am not against being convinced of certain distinctions or taking a stand based on convictions. If you consider yourself a Baptist, Presby, CMA, whatever, and have your reasons for that association, my beef is NOT with you. I am writing specifically about the need of some to trumpet our “roots” in what seems to me a prideful and non Christ-like spirit. I have decided not to highlight publications to keep this post from seeming like an attack on an institution or person, which it is not. However, I have recently read articles and been directed to websites that are dedicated to trumpeting the idea that we as “Baptists” are the real deal. You won’t need to look far to find a ton of this material. We were never part of the Catholic church “bless Gawd,” we aren’t Protestants, we ALWAYS stood against error! Do we even think through what we say? First of all, we didn’t do jack squat. We have been saved by the grace of God!!! We deserve to be in hell! We somehow have something to boast in because someone somewhere supposedly stood for truth? Lord, have mercy! There is in statements like this a thinly veiled disdain for these “lowly Protestants” who were foolish enough to be a part of the Great Harlot and who “prostituted” themselves with her while we have remained pure (and humble.) Those poor “Protestants,” they’re the red-headed step-children in the family of God. If they only would have had it together like us “Baptists.” Do I need to continue with the sarcasm to show the sheer stupidity of such statements? Of course, Baptist “martyrs” are to be held in higher esteem than run of the mill martyrs who died for Christ. Let me get this straight… do we really think there is more than one team? For crying out loud! NONSENSE!!!!
For the sake of argument here, let’s take for granted that the whole “Trail of Blood” thing has validity (and I do NOT concede that.) How stupid to think that somehow the actions of people hundreds of years ago should be something for me to boast about. The “Johny come latelys” to the truth aren’t as special or important. We need to continually remind ourselves and others that we Baptists are “special.” I think you get the point. It’s sick! It’s wicked, that’s what it is!
Galatians 6:14
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
I Corinthians 3:3-9
3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
“It’s not about pride, Tony, it’s about honoring what these people lived and died for…”
Really? Let me be honest. If any of them died for the sake of the word “Baptist” or a denomination, they are unworthy of honor in the first place. If they died for Christ, then HE deserves the glory, not a denomination.
This has been percolating in my heart for a while now. I think these attitudes are wicked. I think it makes God sick!!! He isn’t building one church and a whole bunch of other sub-churches, he is building ONE body! It’s not about my denominational name; it’s about HIS name!
Final disclaimer… I am NOT advocating INTER-DENOMINATIONALISM or the idea of setting aside truth for the sake of unity. I have NO problem however with a mentality that is very non denominational. We stand for truth, but we do so humbly, without a feeling of superiority and without the need to constantly be highlighting great “Baptists” of the past, as opposed to a great Savior!!!
Hidden in Him!
Tony!
2 comments:
Do people other than Baptists do this too, or is it just Baptist, specifically the independent baptists you are 'not attacking'.
These diatribes get old. When I went to the usual site where I first found your link I saw that the link was gone and the site had completely changed (thought they had decided not to promote this any more). I searched for the blog but it apparently still lives.
Not sure why you never attack anyone else, just a beef with those of us who are independent baptists.
Attacking the Trail of Blood (and you singled Baptists out by naming that book) and people who are proud of their Baptist heritage seems like a waste of time to me. I don't spend my days attacking the catholic church because I don't agree with them.
We ALL don't feel greater than all of the others. If the others preach the gospel, great! If they preach the gospel and sprinkle, we aren't the same.
After all "things that are different are not the same" (go ahead, criticize him, I'm expecting it)
I think the folks you have had bad experiences with you need to name and claim and not just blanket everyone and say "disclaimer" at the beginning of every post.
Anyway, that's all I have to say. I'm just not sure how sowing discord or pointing out others faults makes a difference for Christ (and YES, I would say that about several independent Baptists too)...
Hello, again, my anonymous friend!
I would like to refer you back to our "permament broad-brushing disclaimer". You will find it several posts back.
My background is IFB, that is why, as a whole this blog deals with goings on in IFB circles. This blog does NOT pretend to deal with the issues going on in other streams of Christianity. We try to be fair when we deal with issues, and again, I point you back to our disclaimer.
God bless you!
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