Too Baptist?
I've been feeling like a tightrope walker without a net lately. As many of you who read this know I'm a Baptist, though not your ordinary Baptist in the South (and by no means a Southern Baptist). I tend to believe that the ecclesiological organizationof the Baptist tradition (i.e. congregational governance, autonomy, etc.) is more in line with the freedom and equality found in the gospel. I believe that the true mark of a Christian is a real, living, and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I also believe that those who claim such a relationship are called to spread the gospel to unbelievers throughout the world. With that being said, one would think I'd have no problem fitting in with my Baptist brothers and sisters.
Ah, but how fooled we all are to think that the beautiful simplicity of unity in Christ is enough for unity in kingdom work.
While I strongly believe those thing I've already mentioned, I also believe that women have an equal opportunity in the sharing of the kingdom's work in the church. I believe the Bible to be authoritative, though I shutter at the word inerrant and all the baggage that comes with it. I believe a part of evangelism is ridding the world of injustice and the systemic sins of humankind along with the individual conversion of sinners. While I practice believer's baptism, I do not feel the need to re-baptize those believers from traditions that embrace pedobaptism (infant baptism). For these things (and possibly others), I am often left out of the loop called "Baptist."
"So," one may ask, "why are you a Baptist anyway?" It's a fair question I suppose. After all, we live in a world that is increasingly, non-or inter-denominational, and believers of my generation tend to bounce back-and-forth from steeple to steeple. Well, the short answer is, I believe in what it really means to be a Baptist. In my relatively short time in the faith (around 10 years) I have been encouraged and influenced my so many who wear the badge of being a "Baptist." Some were raging fundamentalists, some were left-leaning liberals, while most were just genuine Christians who felt that Christ called them to a life of love in the gospel. For me, to be a Baptist means being a Christian who practices his faith in freedom; freedom from hierarchy, freedom from forced interpretation, freedom from creeds and documents that tell me what I must believe and how I am to practice my beliefs. In the words of one of those Baptists who has influenced me greatly, Dr. Brad Creed (Provost, Samford University and former Dean of Truett Seminary), "Baptist means freedom." And for me, that also means a freedom to agree to disagree and still join together in the work of the kingdom of God.
So maybe I'm too Baptist to fit in with others who claim such a distinction. Perhaps I hang out too much with folks of other Christian traditions. Maybe I too often seek to cooperate with my brothers and sisters in the broader Church for the good of the world and the work of the kingdom. Maybe so, and if that means I'm not Baptist enough, or too Baptist, then oh well; I just hope we can all still call ourselves Christians.
CPT
Ah, but how fooled we all are to think that the beautiful simplicity of unity in Christ is enough for unity in kingdom work.
While I strongly believe those thing I've already mentioned, I also believe that women have an equal opportunity in the sharing of the kingdom's work in the church. I believe the Bible to be authoritative, though I shutter at the word inerrant and all the baggage that comes with it. I believe a part of evangelism is ridding the world of injustice and the systemic sins of humankind along with the individual conversion of sinners. While I practice believer's baptism, I do not feel the need to re-baptize those believers from traditions that embrace pedobaptism (infant baptism). For these things (and possibly others), I am often left out of the loop called "Baptist."
"So," one may ask, "why are you a Baptist anyway?" It's a fair question I suppose. After all, we live in a world that is increasingly, non-or inter-denominational, and believers of my generation tend to bounce back-and-forth from steeple to steeple. Well, the short answer is, I believe in what it really means to be a Baptist. In my relatively short time in the faith (around 10 years) I have been encouraged and influenced my so many who wear the badge of being a "Baptist." Some were raging fundamentalists, some were left-leaning liberals, while most were just genuine Christians who felt that Christ called them to a life of love in the gospel. For me, to be a Baptist means being a Christian who practices his faith in freedom; freedom from hierarchy, freedom from forced interpretation, freedom from creeds and documents that tell me what I must believe and how I am to practice my beliefs. In the words of one of those Baptists who has influenced me greatly, Dr. Brad Creed (Provost, Samford University and former Dean of Truett Seminary), "Baptist means freedom." And for me, that also means a freedom to agree to disagree and still join together in the work of the kingdom of God.
So maybe I'm too Baptist to fit in with others who claim such a distinction. Perhaps I hang out too much with folks of other Christian traditions. Maybe I too often seek to cooperate with my brothers and sisters in the broader Church for the good of the world and the work of the kingdom. Maybe so, and if that means I'm not Baptist enough, or too Baptist, then oh well; I just hope we can all still call ourselves Christians.
CPT
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