Saturday, November 27

RE: The Baptist Faith and Message

First, check out the Baptist Faith and Message.

I more or less agree with all of the tenets of faith laid out in the Baptist Faith and Message. However, the following two passages I am not sure about yet.
"At the moment of regeneration [the Holy Spirit] baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ."
Regeneration is defined in the section on salvation. When I first read it, it sounded like cheap grace, but I re-read it and saw that was not so. This idea of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, as the first part of salvation through true repentance of sin and genuine faith in God sounds right--cheap grace does not.
"An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ's people."
As a practical person, I think education is important, and as a Christian person, I believe that when it is sought it should be sought whole-heartedly as an act of service to God. But I don't know if I believe that "secular" education (which is what this seems to be addressing--see the section on education) is "necessary" for a Christian.
"The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work."
This is, essentially, why I am a political conservative in matters of big government, welfare, healthcare, etc.

I guess this makes me a Baptist.

Thatisall.