Question On Denomination Changes?

[kyval82]

Hello my friends,

Recently I have been attending a Baptist church. I was going to a pentacostol church before, which is where i was saved and baptized.
I inquired about joining the baptist church, but did not realize that you must be re baptised into their doctorin and that they believe that once saved always saved.

Honestly i do not feel i am a denomination, I just feel like i am a christian, but i do like this church.. I disagree however with once saved, always saved, and i hold my baptism very special.. what do you think of this please? thank you and much love in Christ!:embarasse

 

[jeffsi435]

Hello my friends,

Recently I have been attending a Baptist church. I was going to a pentacostol church before, which is where i was saved and baptized.
I inquired about joining the baptist church, but did not realize that you must be re baptised into their doctorin and that they believe that once saved always saved.

Honestly i do not feel i am a denomination, I just feel like i am a christian, but i do like this church.. I disagree however with once saved, always saved, and i hold my baptism very special.. what do you think of this please? thank you and much love in Christ!:embarasse

I am assuming you mean that the Baptist church your attending isn't going to accept your baptism for some reason? Is it because you were only baptized in the name of Jesus? Was it a pentecostal church that emphasized oneness?
You might ask if you could join simply by statement of faith. Though I am not sure what type of Baptist church your talking about since there are varieties out there.

 

[Boanerges]

It is a good thing to realize that we (all born again believers) are family. We are not truly denominal creatures but part of the body of Christ itself.
Different groups seem to key on different points and will probably not agree on everything till Jesus returns. What is really the big issue? Learning to "love ye one another" and walking in unity whit those who believe a little different than you. This manifests the fruit of the Spirit and shows maturity on the part of a believer.

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

 

[Christ4Ever]

Hello my friends,

Recently I have been attending a Baptist church. I was going to a pentacostol church before, which is where i was saved and baptized.
I inquired about joining the baptist church, but did not realize that you must be re baptised into their doctorin and that they believe that once saved always saved.

Honestly i do not feel i am a denomination, I just feel like i am a christian, but i do like this church.. I disagree however with once saved, always saved, and i hold my baptism very special.. what do you think of this please? thank you and much love in Christ!:embarasse

Praying for you kyval82;
I went from a Baptist Church to a Pentecostal Church and was readily accepted! Oddly, I've been baptized 3 times! Once as a baby (no control over that one), teenager (was in a Christian Juvenile youth home), and as an adult which was a Baptist Church while I was in the military. Each was a different denomination. Continuing on this theme I’ve just finished visiting a brother in Christ in another state who I hadn’t seen in 30 years who attends a different denominational church than mine. Attended a service at his church, and I wanted to go up for communion. I asked him, if this church had any issues with me going forward? He said you’ll have to ask an Elder who will ask you some questions. He said you just happen to be speaking to one! All he wanted to know was if I had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior? That was it! It’s not only right doctrine, but right actions that reflect the work of the Holy Spirit.
I’m curious to ask your church membership if the different churches Ephesians, Corinth, Philippi, etc. would require those who relocated from another church to be re-baptized? and if not, why not since as you read each of the letters in scripture, you find that each of the churches had their doctrinal issues to contend with. With that being the case, won’t the issue of re-baptismal had been brought up and addressed by the Apostles? The only place that I can find on re-baptismal is in Acts 19:1-6. and that had nothing to do with doctrinal issues, but with the Holy Spirit being imparted. I also could not find anything that said you can’t be baptized more than once either.
Ask them questions. Be straight up with them, and if they be of God they won’t have a problem answering any of your questions. Take your time. Don’t be in a hurry. I’d been going to this church that I’m a member of now, for over 2 years, before being moved to become a member. Had taken all their classes, asked my questions and prayed, waited, and watched to see as I mentioned before that not only doctrine was right, but their actions reflected the work of the Holy Spirit. It did, so I became a member, without having to be re-baptized. If they had asked me to be re-baptized would I have done it? Don’t know they didn’t ask so I didn’t have to ask them the questions I believe you should be asking them.
YBIC

 

[hischildaswell]

Qualification for Baptism

Act 8:37 KJV/AV gives the qualification for baptism, if you happen to be reading out of a perversion of the scriptures, like the NIV, you will not even find this verse. First is salvation then baptism, and most likely into the rolls of the local church if you are fortunate enough to be in a good Baptist church. Otherwise you just got WET:shock:

 

[hischildaswell]

hello,
Eph 4:5 KJV/AV One baptism(you only truly get saved once)

 

[hischildaswell]

Col 1:18 KJV/AV states in apposition "the body, the church" referring to the local church at Colosse to whom he was writing, in contradiction to the universal church teachings yes but, the word being rightly divided 2Tim 2:15 KJV/AV

 

[Christ4Ever]

Act 8:37 KJV/AV gives the qualification for baptism, if you happen to be reading out of a perversion of the scriptures, like the NIV, you will not even find this verse. First is salvation then baptism, and most likely into the rolls of the local church if you are fortunate enough to be in a good Baptist church. Otherwise you just got WET:shock:

I did some research into why is Acts 8:37 is not in all translations.
Acts 8:37 reads as follows:

NASB: “And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Footnote: Early manuscripts do not contain this verse.

KJV: And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Footnote: None

NIV: Footnote only: Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

NLT: Footnote only: Some manuscripts add verse 37, “You can,” Philip answered, “if you believe with all your heart.” And the eunuch replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

ISV: Footnote only: Other mss. Read 37Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He replied, “I believe that Jesus the Messiah is the Son of God.”

ASV: And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

ESV: Footnote only: Some manuscripts add all or most of verse 37: And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

AKJV: And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Footnote: None

These are but a few that go either way! One thing they all agree with whether included or not is the statement of faith by the Ethiopian prior to his being baptized.

As far as the NIV hischildaswell, there is a blog on this site as a survey on what Bible you use and there are plenty of places for commentaries on the pros and cons. To have the unadulterated word of God would truly be a treasure beyond measure my brother in Christ.

 

[Ezra Allen]

*Article from Christian Today Online*

Divided church is poor witness to the world, says ecumenical leader

Rather than using doctrine to define "the other", churches should create safe spaces where people can cross barriers, the leader of Churches Together in Great Britain and Ireland has said.

by Jenna Lyle Posted: Monday, January 17, 2011, 15:22 (GMT)

In a sermon to mark the start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Tuesday, the Rev Bob Fyffe said the movement for unity had “transformed things for the better” since the days of his childhood in Dundee when boys would call him a “wee Proddy” (“wee Protestant”).

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is held each year by the church worldwide from January 18 to 25. This year’s theme is ‘All things in common’.

Recalling the Pope’s visit to Britain last September, Rev Fyffe noted how the event of Pope Benedict XVI, the Archbishop of Canterbury and ecumenical representatives leaving Westminster Abbey as friends would have been “unthinkable” just two decades.

“Those who seek the unity of God’s church have come far and achieved much,” he said.

“It is not merely that churches have become more friendly with other churches on a superficial level.

“It is this movement that has helped to overcome some deep rooted enmities that have scared communities, transforming churches to be more open to each other.

“And this has not only changed them, but changed the society around them, making the lives of individuals and families more peaceful, settled, at ease with their community.”

Rev Fyffe went on to say that ecumenism was “not about ecclesiastical cosiness” and that seeking greater unity was a necessary outworking of the calling upon Christians.

The task before believers, he said, was to be recognised as Christians by how well they had loved others.

“To be divided as Christians is to offer poor witness to the world,” he said.

“The call to Christian unity must be more than a dream. [It is] the living out of these high ideals that helps others see that faith can be a source of hope.

“In these days when churches are so consumed by issues to do with churches, it is a powerful witness for Christians to be in the world.”

With hundreds of local initiatives planned by churches for the week of prayer, Rev Fyffe called upon churches to help foster dialogue, offer hospitality, listen and “heal memories” in their neighbourhoods and communities.

Rather than using doctrine to define the “other” or the “outsider”, he said churches needed to create safe spaces where people could cross boundaries.

“Only as a united people, as the whole body of Christ can Christians stand shoulder to shoulder, and overcome the great concerns of these days in partnership with everyone of goodwill,” he said.

“The starting point for our Christian witness is for the Church to become that expression of unity, that model of acceptance and welcome and hospitality that is rooted in God.”

The resources for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been put together by an ecumenical group in Jerusalem and Christians are being invited to pray with them for the unity of the church and justice and peace in the Holy Land.

 

[MelodyC]

I refused to get re-baptised to be an offical member of my current Church. Basiclly it means I can't be elected in various prominent roles in the Church like an Elder but I am totally accepted as a Church member. So I have no problem with that arrangement.

As for once saved always saved. I too don't agree with that doctrine either. Not a big deal in my books. I can see why some people want to believe it, if you press on with Jesus you are not likely to fall away.

It is up to you if you think that you are able to remain at this Church but I would give it a go and check out it's other doctrines before I left. Can you remain there without getting baptised?

 

[The Robster]

Well what do you expect OP? The Baptist denomination has as many silly traditions and beliefs as so many other denominations who bow down to man made traditions rather than the Word. I think this kind of stuff must grieve the Lord because people in unbelief hear these things and they see the "religion" that so many denominations practice rather than faith. Some denominations just like to play church on Sundays.