What Label Do You Use?

[pitbull]

I was just curious. I wanted to see how people on this forum identify themselves. Yes, if you have trusted Christ then you are known as a believer, a saint, a Christian, etc. But the other label tells people about your doctrinal stand. It has been used over the years to allow us to better understand where the other person stands. Go ahead and let us know. Thanks.

[Rickey Dale Crain]

BAPTIST.

RDC

[Doug Parrish]

I'd really like to vote, but my personal take on my identity really isn't listed.... For folks who have somewhat of a knowledge about beliefs, I describe myself as a "mainline fundamentalist", meaning I believe God's Word to be the authoritative last word, so to speak, but keep the same ideals of social responsibility (reaching out to those in need) as the mainline denoms hold. I believe in evidencing your faith by works, but NOT in salvation by works....

In all actuality, it's more complex than that.... I'd have a really hard time verbalizing where I view myself, but I'll work on it, and maybe I'll fit one of the descriptions better than I think...

God Bless.
Doug P.

[mike]

Bryan,
I would like to know if the fundamental baptist have a breakdown of what they think each one of these believes and why they are different from each other. A breakdown within the baptist would be good also.
I am a "baby christian" and grew up southern/primitive baptist. Our footwashings and communion was different from most baptist churches.
Just curious.

Pray and train hard, Mike

[Shane Gaydon]

Independent, Fundamental, Premillennial, King James Bible Believing, Washed In The Blood, Old Fashioned Gospel Preaching, Saved By The Grace Of God Baptist

[Thane]

Mine isnt listed up there,

Follower of Christ.

[pitbull]

Doug and Shane,
You and I are both the same.

[pitbull]

Thane,
If you read my comments, you would have found yours is. I already said that, now we were dealing with the individual identifications under that category which you have mentioned.

[pitbull]

Mike,
"I would like to know if the fundamental baptist have a breakdown of what they think each one of these believes and why they are different from each other. A breakdown within the baptist would be good also."
Good question. I am a Baptist of choice and conviction not coincidence or chance. It is not a denomination but rather a doctrinal identification and a spiritual heritage based upon the Word of God. Here is a basic outline for what an Independent Fundamental Baptist congregation will believe:
B – Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice [Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Rev. 22:18-19]
A – Autonomy or independence of the local congregation [Eph. 5:23-27; Rev. 2:5, 15]
P – Priesthood of all believers [Heb. 4:16; 1 Pet. 2:5; 1 John 1:9; Rev. 5:10]
T – Total immersion baptism for believers [Matt. 3:16; Acts 2:41; 8:36-39; 10:44-48; Rom. 6:3-4]
I – Imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ [John 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:13-18]
S – Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone [John 3:15-18; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5]
T – Taking the Gospel to others by soul winning [Prov. 11:30; Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 20:20]
Does this describe your church? Remember that before the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement [1901], before the Protestant Reformation [1517], and before the Roman Catholic Church [313 AD], there were true Baptists. True Baptists have a spiritual heritage going back through the Anabaptists to the Apostles and the Gospel. While there is no unbroken line of Baptist succession in history, God has kept His promise to preserve His church and the Bible. God did not promise to preserve church history. Why? God wants us to spend time studying the Scriptures, not history!

"I am a "baby christian" and grew up southern/primitive baptist. Our footwashings and communion was different from most baptist churches. Just curious."
Curiosity is good. I have studied many Protestant churches and denominations who claim to be Baptists but don't hold to the previous doctrines. There will be minor diferences between IFB congregations because of human error and geographical differences. That is a given in every aspect of life. As long as there is not any doctrinal differences, I have true Biblical fellowship with these congregations [Amos 3:3]. Also, it is not my job to go and "clean up" these congregations. It is the members within it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. For example, people asked Dr. John R. Rice and Dr. Jack Hyles why they didn't try to correct the Southern Baptist Convention rather than joining the IFB Movement. They said exactly the same thing - God commands us to "come out from among them" rather than to reform them.