“The article doesn’t state more about why they felt this way, so its probably not enough to speculate beyond that they had a different experience from you”
I’ve moved a lot due to the military. I’ve been in a LOT of Baptist churches. The idea that baptists keep a separation between belief, church and how we live is simply RIDICULOUS! I’m not a big believer in “Well, that is THEIR reality”!
When an article makes accusations against a set of people, then those with first hand knowledge of that set have the right to defend themselves based on their knowledge. And when the accusation is that far off the mark, it calls into question the veracity of the people making the accusation.
“was not given in the article as a quote, but rather as a simplification of the differences between the Eastern Orthodox and the Baptists “
Except is is another utterly false accusation. Not even remotely accurate. It is rare to hear a sermon that DOESN’T call on us to live changed lives in the real world. Just moved and need to find a new church, but in 10 years in my previous baptist church, I don’t recall a single sermon that didn’t call on us to live a changed life as we went out into the world around us!
My point is that these accusations are completely disconnected from reality. It goes beyond a caricature and descends into utter dishonesty.
“Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.
Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour.
B. Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.
C. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life.
D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.”
“All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.”
No SBC church is required to accept the “Baptist Faith and Message” as a statement of belief. Many prefer to simply say the Bible is our statement of belief. But to the extent ANY man-made statement represents what Southern Baptists believe, the BF&M 2000 would be it.
The article is like having Joe Biden tell me about what Catholics truly believe......
Yup; the bible kinda warns of stuff like that.