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To: Cronos
About Baptists, there is that big question — how do you define yourselfs?

I know it's difficult for those that are a part of a centralized authority structure. We are organized like the early Christian churches at the end of the Apostolic era. Our churches are independent, leadership is picked from within the congregation and our pastors are not elevated in stature. Baptist churches group together in voluntary associations, but these associations do not run our churches.

The distincives for us are we believe in the 2 ordinances set forth in Scripture, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Our rule of faith is Scripture. We are like other Evangelical churches and only consider creeds and councils if they are consistent with Scripture.

I mean, some Baptists have told me on this forum that they don’t recite or believe in the Nicene Creed, which I consider a fundamental statement of belief.

I haven't run into this, but due to our decentralized structure I'm not surprised. The only reason I can think there would be any opposition to it would be the word catholic. Unfortunately, the word has been redefined over time to mean your Roman church instead of universal which was the original intent.

140 posted on 01/06/2010 8:41:06 AM PST by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: wmfights

To which this Pentecostal says AMEN!


149 posted on 01/06/2010 8:57:29 AM PST by Quix (POL Ldrs quotes fm1900 TRAITORS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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To: wmfights; the_conscience
Point 1 --> If a Baptist group says it doesn't believe in the Nicene creed, how can you consider it Christian? It would be the same as other groups that say they are Christian, but aren't (Christian Scientists etc.)

Point 2 --> The word 'catholic' with a small c stands for universal and no one objects to anyone using that term (even in a sentence like catholic tastes etc), while the term Catholic with a capital C denotes Churchs that are in full communion with the Bishop of Rome as their spiritual head.

You may use the term with a small 'c' to refer to Orthdoxo, Orientals, Assyrians and various groups outside that, but for sanity's sake, the term with a capital 'C' is used specifically for the meaning I listed above.

Just like the term 'orthodox' or 'evangelical', we use the Capitalised form to denote a specific group. This is opposed to groups founded by men like Calvinists, Lutherans, Wesleyans, etc -- those words have one solitary connotation.

this entire post is really silly, FR rules have caucasus where people who agree to one single point of view can discuss among themselves, like for instance, a MORMON caucas -- you and I may disagree with the Mormons, but in a Mormon Caucas, we respect their FR right to discuss issues among each other without us 'outsiders' making barbed or even inquisitive comments. Ditto for OPC caucases, Lutheran caucases, Calvinist, Arminian, etc.

If you are a non-Mormon or non-Calvinist and disagree with a point or post in a Mormon/Calvinist caucas, then we need to either hold our tongue, or post a new, 'free-for-all' post where we can debate with the Mormons/Calvinists.
390 posted on 01/06/2010 8:13:34 PM PST by Cronos (Nuke Mecca NOW!!!<img src="http://shiitehappens.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/bomb_mecca450.jpg" />)
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