The Body of Christ

[e.r.m.]

I have been hearing that some segments of the faith-only salvation community, which is not limited to Baptists, are going ecumenical.

My question to the Baptists is: Would Baptists nowadays accept anyone from any denomination, such as Catholics, as part of their fold, with no process, based on the fact that they also believe in Christ? Would a Catholic come in and be automatically considered part of the Body, while remaining Catholic?

When I attended a baptist church in my youth, this would never happen. Have things changed since then, or is this just the product of non-baptist groups?

Someone in another room recently asked, "Why wouldn't Baptists consider Catholics as saved?"

I'm thinking baptists feeli differently than this guy.

In short, are Baptists still strict or are they ecumenical to this degree?

Thank you.

[JohnDB]

Our services are open to the public & Catholics are welcome to attend.

Membership in S Baptist churches is individual congregation dependant. Some require new member classes. Others require a testing about beliefs that line up with their own beliefs. (Kinda rare though)

Some people are required to change lifestyles before membership will be granted. IE couples are required to become formally married. Prostitutes are required to quit and get regular jobs.
But not always.

I've heard of a church in Nevada where a pastor actually married a choir member who did the shows in Vegas for a living. (Usually topless & nude).

Each church is unique. Everything is usually voted upon. But again not always.

[HRoberson]

In the Baptist world, there is a difference between being saved and being "in the church."

One is saved upon belief.
One is entered into the church by baptism.

Once saved, Baptists generally teach that you cannot be unsaved.

If salvation comes at belief, and if Catholics believe, how could they not be saved?

Now, Baptists are people and have their own logical inconsistencies, so whether a congregation would admit a Catholic, is a different story.

[e.r.m.]

Thank you both.

My mom said a Catholic would not be accepted until they "Accept Christ".

[Red Baker]

I have been hearing that some segments of the faith-only salvation community, which is not limited to Baptists, are going ecumenical.

My question to the Baptists is: Would Baptists nowadays accept anyone from any denomination, such as Catholics, as part of their fold, with no process, based on the fact that they also believe in Christ? Would a Catholic come in and be automatically considered part of the Body, while remaining Catholic?

When I attended a baptist church in my youth, this would never happen. Have things changed since then, or is this just the product of non-baptist groups?

Someone in another room recently asked, "Why wouldn't Baptists consider Catholics as saved?"

I'm thinking baptists feeli differently than this guy.

In short, are Baptists still strict or are they ecumenical to this degree?

Thank you.

There are hundreds of different Baptist churches, and each one generally allows you do as you please.  The Independent Baptist are much stricter, than the SB and others, except the Primitive Baptist, who reject even other Baptist churches and require those who want to be part of them to be re-baptized by their ministers/elders.  Most Baptist churches here in the deep south believe that Catholics are lost. 

We believe that God has children in many different faiths, and we also believe that many in most churches, do not know God.  Wheat and tare  grow together and Jesus said that we should not try to up root the tares, lest we up root the wheat with them.  All will be separated at the end of this world by Jesus Christ himself.  There will be Catholics and Baptist that will be part of the bride of Jesus Christ~if I am wrong, then may God have mercy upon my ignorance.

RB 

     

[e.r.m.]

I have been hearing that some segments of the faith-only salvation community, which is not limited to Baptists, are going ecumenical.

My question to the Baptists is: Would Baptists nowadays accept anyone from any denomination, such as Catholics, as part of their fold, with no process, based on the fact that they also believe in Christ? Would a Catholic come in and be automatically considered part of the Body, while remaining Catholic?

When I attended a baptist church in my youth, this would never happen. Have things changed since then, or is this just the product of non-baptist groups?

Someone in another room recently asked, "Why wouldn't Baptists consider Catholics as saved?"

I'm thinking baptists feeli differently than this guy.

In short, are Baptists still strict or are they ecumenical to this degree?

Thank you.

There are hundreds of different Baptist churches, and each one generally allows you do do as you please.  The Independent Baptist are much stricter, than the SB and others, except the Primitive Baptist, who reject even other Baptist churches and require those who want to be part of them to be re-baptized by their ministers/elders.  Most Baptist churches here in the deep south believe that Catholics are lost. 

We believe that God has children in many different faiths, and we also believe that many in most churches, do not know God.  Wheat and tare  grow together and Jesus said that we should not try to up root the tares, lest we up root the wheat with them.  All will be separated at the end of this world by Jesus Christ himself.  There will be Catholics and Baptist that will be part of the bride of Jesus Christ~if I am wrong, then may God have mercy upon my ignorance.

RB 

     

Thank you.

[notreligus]

It is common that a Freewill Baptist believe that Freewills have a hope of salvation and don't claim once saved, always saved.   They are similar to the Churches of Christ in this regard.   

This link is not connected to a Freewill Church, but the information listed is in agreement with what I said.

http://www.ehow.com/info_8220334_difference-between-southern-baptists-baptists.html

[DaveW]

Fundamentalist Baptists in general would show a catholic the door if they knew the visitor was from the RCC. (along with any SBC person)

(I worked at a FB youth camp one summer during HS.

[JohnDB]

Uhhh. Dave.

SBC would try to convert him whike the FB was trying to show him the door. SBC is highly evangelical in nature.

We try to convert everyone. Including Calvinists.

[DaveW]

Yeah John - I know that about the SBC.  My absolute all time favorite Baptist preacher was ordained SBC.  He is a very influential guy no one ever heard of - Rev Charles Simpson of Mobile Alabama's Gulf Coast Church. It was his ministry organization that started Hosanna Integrity, the worship music people.

He also mentored Bishop Joseph Garlington (of Promise Keepers) for a few years.

[AVZ]

wow if they show catholics the door i wonder what they do to non-believers.

[JohnDB]

Fundamentalist Baptists are generally speaking found in the extremes of the countryside. They are usually characterized by extremely small congregations. There might be one or two inside a city but neither will have anything to do with the other.

Its kinda like 7th Day Baptists. Yes, they exist; but there aint many & no one hardly goes to them.

[gbzone]

Our services are open to the public & Catholics are welcome to attend.

Membership in S Baptist churches is individual congregation dependant. Some require new member classes. Others require a testing about beliefs that line up with their own beliefs. (Kinda rare though)

Some people are required to change lifestyles before membership will be granted. IE couples are required to become formally married. Prostitutes are required to quit and get regular jobs.
But not always.

I've heard of a church in Nevada where a pastor actually married a choir member who did the shows in Vegas for a living. (Usually topless & nude).

Each church is unique. Everything is usually voted upon. But again not always.

The truth   is not democratic. Nor indeed is it a tyrant.,

The truth  is "...God  knows who are His"
and while  all and sundry may join A church   does not mean  they have become  a member  of HIS  body.

For we are  (if His)  begotten again    by the will of the father  through  the Son by the Spirit  of God.
and no church membership qualifies you.
That  the world is  in a reverse reformation  is manifested   in  a creeping  acceptance (for peace sake)  in all of the denominations   that had  a reformed  foundation  accepting  the doctins proved beyond all reasonable doubt at the reformation  by Scripture and the deeds  of them who opposed the truth.
Who still hold to them and preach those damnable heresies  and  immaculate conceptions that dazzle the imagination   but blind men's mind to the truth.
The  scriptures  still rebukes them even as Peter who they say they honour says so .
That  Baptist churches  are   now receiving this leaven of old  will  mean that the whole  lump  will be changed.

in rev 2 the Lord  says  he is OUTSIDE the church knocking  on the door. Thus  seeking entrance.
It is worth considering   that  after the resurrection  he walked through  as it were  locked doors. But  now  he chooses not to .

Belthezzar found out  that  there were no doors or great walls  can keep  God out  .
That Jesus  is here knocking  is therefore a CALL  to the WHOLE church .
For there  is but ONE Church  and therefore with but ONE  door.

if then  you consider the Baptist church  part of THAT  body  it is a call to the whole  of the Baptist church  as well as any or all that also claim   to be  of the Body  of Christ.
 For do  the Baptist claim  to be  THE church? "which is His body"?
or PART of that  body  which  every joint supplieth?

Whether one or the other . The call is the same  to repent .
Even  as it is to all .
The promise  however   is to those "who have ears to  hear AND  open the door"

For even  as John 3:16  is a call  to the whole  world  to repent  and be saved.
The promise  is only to those who do so and believe .

So then and more  the knocking on the door is to the WHOLE  body .
But the promise  is to those who have ears to hear and opens the door.
Not  unto salvation  per say  but unto  the deepest  fellowship with the Father and the Son.

Be warned  though and be sure   that  if you receive  the promise  then you will  have to suffer without  the camp  even as Moses  and Jesus  did.

For those  that have not  ears  to hear  will "..........cast you  out of the synagogue"
and it will be found that your enemies  will be of your own household.

in Christ

gerald