differences between born again christian and southern baptist

[trukin]

ok...simple question here (or is it) what are the difference in beliefs or doctrines are there between a born again christian and a southern baptist.......was wondering because i will be in the process of starting a new relationship soon with a southern baptist ( i am the born again christian)... i know there's subtle differences but cant seem to figure it out. tried looking it up but its just confusing me.

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

'southern baptist' is a denomination...'born again christian' as a religious movement covers several denominations...

it is possible for a person to identify as both a southern baptist and a born again christian...

 

[trukin]

'southern baptist' is a denomination...'born again christian' as a religious movement covers several denominations...

it is possible for a person to identify as both a southern baptist and a born again christian...

thats not explaining much......ok, lets try again. drop the "born again"
i was "born again" by receiving christ into my life by accepting him as my saviour in a non denominational bible church (was also baptised by water in the same church [originally baptised catholic]). thats my definition of born again. sooooo.....

 

[jinx]

there are plenty web sites that tell what southern baptist believe.

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

thats not explaining much......ok, lets try again. drop the "born again"
i was "born again" by receiving christ into my life by accepting him as my saviour in a non denominational bible church (was also baptised by water in the same church [originally baptised catholic]). thats my definition of born again. sooooo.....

that is what most southern baptists do too...

 

[jinx]

Found this from a person who left the SBC. Here is the link Why We Left the Southern Baptist Convention
I have not proof read this so if it contains cuss words I am very sorry.

If ever anyone had compelling reasons to stay in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), I did. I was the chairman of deacons, the State Brotherhood Secretary, the teacher of a Sunday school class averaging 150 persons per Sunday, an active lay preacher in dozens of Southern Baptist churches, and a finalist at the age of 35 for the presidency of a leading Southern Baptist university. My wife was saved in a Southern Baptist church, worked diligently as an officer in the Baptist Student Union at Florida State University, and served as a summer missionary with the SBC's Home Mission Board.For a while we thought that trying to reverse the liberal theological trends within the SBC was biblical and that we could avoid the support of liberalism by designating our tithes and offerings rather than giving generally through the Cooperative Program.
Ultimately, however, we had to make the choice. Would we obey God or men? Since leaving the SBC several years ago, we have enjoyed the blessings of God on us and our four children in ways we could never have imagined. Our decision was not easy, but it was biblical. We have no regrets, only rejoicing.

These are a few of the questions that confronted us when we broke from the SBC.

First, is the president of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention right when he states that the Bible contains the Word of God rather than the Bible is the Word of God? He says: "We believe that the translations of the Bible we have today contain God's holy and inspired message to us" (letter of Grady C. Cothen to Mrs. Glen D. O'Dell dated February 5, 1976).

For years Neo-orthodox theologians have been trying to spread the idea that the Bible only contains the Word of God, thereby leaving man free to question the truthfulness of portions of Scripture. If I can say that a part of the Bible is not the Word of God, then I need not obey that which I do not consider to be God's Word. This would be like handing a person a glass of clear water mixed with dirt and asking him to drink only the clear water. Just as clear water mixed with dirt ceases to be clear water, so truth mixed with error ceases to be truth.

Further, if there is no agreement about which parts of the Bible really are the Word of God, then it becomes difficult to maintain consistency in church doctrines and practices. For example, women deacons are now commonly found in many SBC churches in violation of such Scriptures as I Timothy 2:12; and baptism by immersion, the biblical and historically-accepted Baptistic mode of baptism, is no longer necessary for membership in many SBC churches in violation of such Scriptures as Acts 2:41.
Second, are Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Episcopalians, Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists generally agreed on the essentials of the Christian faith? Southern Baptist literature says yes.

No matter what our background or denominational preference, we all believe in one body (the church), one spirit (the Holy Spirit), one hope (the resurrection), one Lord (Jesus Christ), one faith (Christianity), one baptism (public profession), and one God (Yahweh). . . .We would argue about our modes of baptism, our church polity, our governmental structure, and so on. But on these seven points, few, if any, would disagree. In fact, they are the basis of world-wide Christianity (The Baptist Courier, April 26, 1979, p. 4).
​

Third, should the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board have published a book by a Broadman Press editor who agrees with "the 1970 action of the Methodist Church that favors the availability of abortions" (Green, p. 101) and that "no woman has a moral right to bear more than two children" (Green, p. 100)?Fourth, should the SBC Sunday School Board have published a book stating that man is basically good? The following is from a book written by a Southern Baptist Seminary professor:

Man has first been berated as a sinner and then told the good news that he can change. But the order is reversed. He is already good (Temp Sparkman,Being a Disciple, Broadman, 1972, p. 17).​

This idea of universal salvation--that no one will be condemned to hell, since everyone is basically good--conflicts with countless passages of Scripture on the sinfulness of man (Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23) and the reality of hell (Matthew 25:41; John 3:36; Revelation 20:15, 21:8).Fifth, was a professor at a Southern Baptist university right when he ridiculed biblical inerrancy? The following is his opinion:

While some persons may continue to hold that the historic Christian belief in Biblical infallibility and inerrancy is the only valid starting point and framework for a theology of revelation, such contentions should be heard with a smile and incorporated in the bylaws of the Flat Earth Society (Robert S. Alley, Revolt Against the Faithful, Doubleday, 1970, p.167).​

Another professor of religion at SBC university said this:

If we should ask questions about the authority of the Bible, it is not God's authority that we are questioning. It is the reliableness of the authors who wrote the various books. The letters of Paul to the churches at Corinth carry "as much weight as we are prepared to allow Paul as a religious teacher, but how far God speaks through Paul is another matter." Only in the sense that it is not incompatible with its human imperfections can we appropriately speak about the authority of the Bible. Some of the ethical standards, crude religious ideals, and behavior of the characters portrayed in its pages are strictly out of place in a civilized society. Judged by the teachings of Jesus much of its poetry dishonors the character of God. . . .I have raised a few questions in this paper and have not come through with the answers. The reason that I have not supplied the answers is plain enough. I just don't have them (T. C. Smith, "The Canon and Authority of the Bible," in Perspectives in Religious Studies, Sprint, 1974, p. 50).

​

If this professor and the many others just like him in SBC colleges, seminaries, and universities believed Psalm 12:6, 19:7, 119:89; Proverbs 30:5, 6; Matthew 5:17, 18, 24:35; John 12:48, 17:17; II Timothy 3:16, 17; and II Peter 1:20, 21, they would know that they are wrong.Sixth, was a featured speaker at a SBC pastors' school right when he said, "The Bible is not a divine book. If it were, it would be irrelevant" (Robert Bratcher, as quoted in The Baptist Courier, July 21, 1977, p. 9)?

Seventh, is it right for the Southern Baptist Convention in its annual meetings to endorse and commend the American Bible Society which distributes Good News for Modern Man, a version of the Bible that substitutes the word death for blood in crucial places such as Acts 20:28, Romans 3:25, 5:9, and Colossians 1:20, and minimizes the deity of Christ and the virgin birth by altering such texts as Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 1:27?

If you answered no to these questions and you are a Southern Baptist, then why do you stay in the convention? God says, "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge" (Proverbs 19:27). Do you believe God when He says, "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (II John 10, 11)? Are you "Honour(ing) the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase" (Proverbs 3:9) when you give to the Cooperative Program that supports these deviations from the Word of God? Jesus said, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me" (John 14:21).

Southern Baptist, will you go God's way? You need only look to biblical Israel to see what happens to the people who link up with and support apostate teachings. Every time Israel compromised with false gods and pagan religions, she was sooner or later sorely punished. Little wonder this was so, because God says, "I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:104, 128).

Apostasy--falling away from fundamental tenets of the faith--is in the spiritual realm what cancer is in the physical in two important ways:
First, unless cut out or eradicated soon after inception, it will kill the organism. Physicians and surgeons treat cancer just as radically as the Bible treats apostasy. "Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Romans 16:17). Lest you think this Scripture is taken out of context, please consider such Scriptures as II Corinthians 6:14-18, II Thessalonians 3:14, I Timothy 6:3-5, and Titus 3:10.

Second, apostasy, like cancer, creeps up unawares. If every person who ever had cancer knew about it at the moment of its inception, few, if any, would ever have died. Spiritual application of this truth is found in Jude 4 (see also II Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 1:10-11; and II John 7-11) which says, "For there are certain men crept in unawares . . . turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

Consider the example of Methodism. Not too many decades ago, Methodist churches everywhere generally had Sunday night services, Wednesday night prayer meetings, and revivals, but how many do now? Gradually, almost imperceptibly, Methodism changed. In recent years, Methodist churches have lost over one million members. Today, modern Methodism bears little, if any, resemblance to what the Wesleys, Francis Asbury, Peter Cartwright, and others like them established.

Southern Baptists are simply walking down the same path some years later. Liberal theological infiltration is not of recent origin, but rather began several decades ago, making the recent election of conservatives as presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention a smoke screen to hide liberal theological teaching that has infected and dominated almost every Southern Baptist school where future SBC pastors and leaders are being indoctrinated.

Why have conservative pastors like W. A. Criswell and Adrian Rogers started their own Bible institutes and seminaries while still supporting SBC seminaries through the Cooperative Program? What fellowship hath light with darkness (II Corinthians 6:14)? A house divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3:25).

In defense of the Cooperative Program, people often say that it does so much good. But I challenge them to find just one verse of Scripture that says false doctrines and practices should be supported along with the true and the correct.

Southern Baptists, God asks for our obedience, not for continuation of our sentimental and sympathetic attachments to the past. Therefore, in obedience and loyalty to our Lord and the Scriptures, we must "come out from among them, and be separate" from the SBC.

 

[Angela53510]

I just graduated from a Southern Baptist Seminary, and I can assure you that you MUST be born again, in a SBC church.

The biggest difference between Pentecostal/Charismatic or non-denominational churches is the issue of speaking in tongues and the charismatic gifts.

The SBC is undergoing a lot of issues. I do not actually go to a SB church anymore, but because of the pastor, not the denomination. That being said, having studied Baptist history and church history, I do believe the convention is off course. But because it is ONLY a convention, a loose affiliation of local churches, there is nothing they can do to excommunicate or pronounce you unsaved!

I would ask this person if they believe they are born again. If they are not, either they have not been listening in church, or they are in a church that has gone astray.

The gospel of Jesus is the truth of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead in any church. We believe and repent and are saved. I would also suggest going to a SBC church with this person, and see what you think.

That might be the start of some dialogue for both of you. And here is a link for you to read:

The Baptist Faith & Message

"IV. Salvation

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."

There are a wide range of soteriological beliefs but these are more or less the core beliefs. I hope that answers some of your questions.

 

[jimmydiggs]

I just graduated from a Southern Baptist Seminary, and I can assure you that you MUST be born again, in a SBC church.

No, you just pray the sinner's prayer, jump through the hoop, and clap your seal flippers together and bark at the end of the routine and bark on command like a good Southern Baptist seal.

There are genuine southern baptists, but most of them are just seals jumping through hoops and barking on command.

 

[MaggieMye]

Being a Southern Baptist is claiming a 'religion' and denomination (some, but not all Southern Baptists are truly Christians, born again, but not empowered of Holy Spirit for the purpose of anointed ministry). A religion is a MAN-MADE set of rules and regulations/do's and don't's that one must conform to in order to be 'accepted' by those in authority. A person can be very religious and obey all the rules of the man-made doctrine but have no saving relationship with Christ.
Being Born Again, (truly born of God/spiritually reborn and obedient unto His written word, and not having only recited the little 'sinner's prayer') is to be in a Living RELATIONSHIP with Christ.
SO....the ONLY way you can really tell the difference is by the type of FRUIT that your intended person of interest displays in her life: Does she pray, spend time in worship, minister Christ and His love to others? The question YOU must answer is, is she in Religion or Relationship, because there is a HUGE difference.
Maggie

 

[jinx]

The biggest difference between Pentecostal/Charismatic or non-denominational churches is the issue of speaking in tongues and the charismatic gifts.

biggest difference between us pentecostals and the southern baptist is not tongues..... I was southern baptist half my life, now I'm pentecostal...........the biggest difference is the OSAS dogma, and the oneness/trinity debate.

 

[MaggieMye]

I disagree...because there are Pentecostals that disagree about OSAS as well. The MAIN difference IS the baptism of the Holy Spirit, per Acts 2, empowerment for ministry AND the Doing of the Word of God....laying hand on the sick and seeing them made well, raising the dead, casting out demons, etc. A person that is not empowered by Holy Spirit for His work cannot cast out an evil spirit because they have not been empowered to do so. Why do you think Jesus told them to WAIT in the upper room for the Promise to come???

 

[trukin]

Angela, the bible church i attended at one time was not a Charismatic type church and did not speak in tongues, but i appreciate your input here...ok....so, is there a difference in a "southern" baptist and just a plain ole baptist?

 

[jinx]

I disagree...because there are Pentecostals that disagree about OSAS as well. The MAIN difference IS the baptism of the Holy Spirit, per Acts 2, empowerment for ministry AND the Doing of the Word of God....laying hand on the sick and seeing them made well, raising the dead, casting out demons, etc. A person that is not empowered by Holy Spirit for His work cannot cast out an evil spirit because they have not been empowered to do so. Why do you think Jesus told them to WAIT in the upper room for the Promise to come???

pentecostals (me) dont believe in the OSAS dogma, and as far as laying on hands and healing the sick, southern baptist will take all the prayers they can get.... I know, I've been there. but they will not, and I mean WILL NOT back down on the OSAS dogma.... open that can of worms up with them (like I have many times with my folks) and the fireworks are ON!!

 

[trukin]

whats OSAS?

 

[jinx]

there is no difference really except that southern baptist give to a Cooperative Program for missions.

 

[MaggieMye]

The Southern Baptists live in the SOUTH



couldn't resist that one~~~

 

[jinx]

OSAS = once saved always saved

 

[trukin]

OSAS = once saved always saved

what? and you do or do not believe in that?

 

[Angela53510]

Angela, the bible church i attended at one time was not a Charismatic type church and did not speak in tongues, but i appreciate your input here...ok....so, is there a difference in a "southern" baptist and just a plain ole baptist?

I believe there are actually over 50 Baptist conventions in the US, plus a lot of independent Baptist churches. (There are 5 conventions in Canada) Southern Baptists were formed as a response to the Northern Baptists supporting the initiatives against slavery. They broke away and formed their own convention in 1845. They have since apologized for their stand, which was motivated partly by economics, and partly by the genuine belief that slavery was scriptural.

Baptists mostly believe what they want. They do have some basic beliefs, like the Trinity, baptism for adult believers. I have known many godly men and women who are Southern Baptists. Other than polity (the way the convention is run) there is not a lot of difference between the conventions, although historical ties are strong.

Are you just a "plain Baptist" or a completely different kettle of fish? I think finding out what this person believes, and like someone else said, watching for fruits might be another good place to start. Yet remember, none of us is perfect.

As for the post about liberals infiltrating the SBC, I would say exactly the opposite. Since the take over in the 1990's by the conservatives, the convention has had a steady drain of members.

And please remember a convention is NOT a religion or denomination. It is just a way to covenant with like minded believers with common goals, like training people for ministry and sending people abroad to preach the gospel.

And yes, I do agree there are many non-denominational churches who are not charismatic. Southern Baptists are the largest Protestant denomination in the US. So you will find them everywhere. But each person stands alone before God on the final day. A Southern Baptist is NOT saved by the church. I truly believe that the basis of all Baptist churches is that born again experience with God. But some do say a sinner's prayer and never hand over their life totally to Christ. But I suppose that can happen in any church, denomination or person.

 

[trukin]

i just wanted to know what i was walking into in this relationship. i dont know how often she really attends church, if at all, but when i told her she said she would be willing to go to a non denominational church if i was willing to attend a southern baptist church. i hate to hurt her feelings, ya know