Baptist or Christian

Is being a Christian good enough?

The Baptist man said: “She is a Christian but she will never be a Baptist.”

How Denominational Influence Can Impact Bible Doctrine

    A polite conversation included a statement that someone was a Christian but she would never become a Baptist. We are thankful for the unrelenting stand many Baptists have taken on doctrinal and moral issues. Many Baptists genuinely desire to walk close to the Lord and to be a bold yet gracious witness to those in their communities. What do Baptists believe? Well, that depends on which Baptist you talk to. There are a variety of Baptist beliefs and traditions. One may have the label Southern, Landmark, Missionary, American, Reformed, Fundamental, Free Will, Conservative, Seventh Day or Independent and still be a Baptist. Think about it, does someone have to be a Baptist in order to be in full fellowship with the Lord? (I John 1:3) Does a person have to be a Baptist in order to be doctrinally correct? (Titus 2:1) Are Baptists the only ones who are truly following the Bible in the Lord's eyes? (I Thessalonians 1:3)

    The terms Baptist and Christian are both widely used today. Baptists often readily state that they use the Bible as their only authority for what they believe and how they live. They want to go by the Book. That is an excellent goal. Praise the Lord for any person who takes such a stance on using the Bible alone to determine what he believes and how he should live. Bible doctrine and Bible behavior are two must-haves for any Bible-believer.

    Still, according to the Bible, is it enough that someone is a Christian? If a person fits the Bible's requirements as being a Christian, is that good enough in Gods sight? Or, does a Bible-believing Christian need to become a Baptist in order to be in standing with the Lord? By using the Bible alone, let us look into this question. With simplicity, let's search the Scriptures to find out what the Bible says about being a Baptist. Let us also search the same Scriptures to discover what the Bible says about being a Christian. By using the Bible as our only authority, we then can come to the same conclusion as to what the Bible teaches about being a Baptist and being a Christian. May this straightforward study be helpful to us all.

    In order to let the Bible speak for itself we must set aside any denominational prejudices and traditions. We need to squelch Christian history, Baptist history and church history. We need to consider the text of the Bible as if we were blindfolded to any Christian traditions and any Baptist traditions. After all, aren't the words of God more important than the words of man? “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4)

    This study will look at the word Christian and the word Baptist in the Bible. Let us see what the Bible says about being Baptist, Baptist history and Baptist tradition set aside. Let us also see what the Bible says about being a Christian, Christian history and Christian tradition set aside. Let the Bible speak for itself. It is important to acknowledge what God says about being a Baptist and what God says about being a Christian.

Baptist

    The only mention of the word Baptist is in the name of John the Baptist. Bible students readily acknowledge the word baptize and its related forms occur. This study concerns the word Baptist. There are 15 times in the Bible where the term Baptist is used. These are isolated to the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. The word Baptist does not occur in the Gospel of John, in any of the church epistles, the pastoral letters or the book of Revelation. There may be a few unorthodox people who believe their church began with John the Baptist. Most Baptists probably don't fall into that kind of odd belief. In the pure sense, Baptists do not get their name from the Bible.

Christian

    The word Christian is mentioned three times.

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Acts 26:28)

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
(1 Peter 4:16)

    It is a good thing to be a disciple, a learner and a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. The words Christ and Messiah mean the same thing. They both refer to the same person, to Jesus. The early church consisted mostly of Jewish believers. Those Jewish believers who followed Jesus were at first considered to be in a different sect than the popularly-held Jewish doctrine and belief. They followed the way of Jesus and believed he was their Messiah. (“the way”-John 14:6; Acts 9:2; 19:9; 24:14) Those early Jewish men and women believed that Jesus was the Messiah, that Jesus was the Christ. To be called a Christian meant that you were a disciple, a believer in and a follower of Jesus the Christ.

    Some speculate the term Christian was a derogatory name. It doesn't affect the Scriptures if some hold the opinion that the word Christian was used out of disdain or contempt. But, it does matter how God himself uses the term Christian in his Book. The Bible says it is a good thing to be called a Christian.

    First, Christians were disciples of Jesus Christ. It is good to be a believer in and a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Second, Agrippa said that Paul almost persuaded him to be a Christian. Christians, those who are saved by the blood of Christ, go to heaven when they die. They are ones who have been placed into Christ and are identified with Christ. Those who are not in Christ, those who haven't placed their faith in Jesus Christ, do not go to heaven when they die. Their sins are not yet forgiven because they have not been washed in the blood of Christ. “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24) It is a good thing to be a Christian with one's sins forgiven. Being almost persuaded is the same as a total rejection of Christ. You cannot get to heaven without Christ.

    Third, Peter says if one suffers as being a Christian, let him not be ashamed. The Bible says we should not be ashamed to be called a Christian. It is a good thing to be a Christian. It is a good thing that someone sees your faith in Christ. We need not be ashamed of being identified with the Lord Jesus Christ. A Christ-ian is one “in Christ”, one who is in Jesus Christ.

    Note what the Bible does not say.

And the disciples were called Baptists first in Antioch.

Almost thou persuadest me to be a Baptist.

Yet if any man suffer as a Baptist, let him not be ashamed.

    The Bible does not say the disciples were called Baptists. The Bible does not state that one needs to be persuaded to be a Baptist to get to heaven. The Bible does not declare that it is a good thing to suffer as a Baptist. Christian is the word that God uses. We understand that, according to God, it is more important to be a Christian than to be a Baptist.

    While other words are used in the Bible to identify those who are saved and who are in Christ, the word Christian is the one being considered now. We all need to be careful about considering our identification with a certain group or a particular tradition as being more important than is our identification with the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Is being a Christian enough or should we seek to be a Baptist? The same question can be stated: “Is believing and obeying the Bible sufficient or should we seek instead to override the words of Scripture with a man, a church group, a denomination, or a tradition?”

    Being a Christian is not only enough but the riches associated with this new position are not able to be fully fathomed! “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:8)

    The Bible uses these kinds of phrases describing the Christian, the one who is in Christ: “in Christ” “in him” in the beloved” etc. All those in Christ, those who are genuinely saved, those who the Bible would call Christians have these wondrous benefits, and more.

Those who are in Christ (Christians) have the righteousness of God.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21; See also Philippians 3:9)

Christians are complete in Christ. (You cannot add anything to that which is complete).

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:10)

Christians have no condemnation.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)

Nothing can separate Christians from the love of God.

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)

Christians are sanctified (set apart) in Christ.

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2)

Christ has been made the Christian's wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)

Christians are saints because they are in Christ Jesus.

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse... (Colossians 1:2)

Christians now have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3)

    The Bible calls those who are saved by the precious blood of Jesus, Christians. It can be a subtle yet dangerous thing to substitute our preferences in place of God's words. Here is one example.

Could you imagine changing the words of this cheerful hymn?

“It's a grand thing to be a Christian, it's the best thing I know.”

to

“It's a grand thing to be a Baptist, it's the best thing I know.”

Conclusion

    We all must guard against being partial towards others. Since God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), neither should we be. [One example is in James 2:3-4.] It is easy for us to place our opinions, organizations or circumstances as superior to the Lord's Holy Bible. However, that ought not be the case for any Bible-loving person. Denominational beliefs must be cast off and replaced with Bible beliefs. A denomination is a common denominator. Common denominators need not be an ecclesiastical hierarchy. Common denominators are often things such as: a favorite preacher, an influential author, a prominent seminary, an esteemed Bible college, a beloved missionary organization, a famous theologian, a popular method for growing the church, and even a preferred religious name. Let us all ask the question: “What does God say about this matter in the words of his Holy Bible?”

The above situation concerns those who identify with a Baptist denomination. Denominations have common denominators, certain beliefs or traditions that are common to that group. This same situation perhaps could occur in other denominations and traditions. The main point is to test all beliefs according to the words in the Bible. In this way denominational beliefs and traditions can be brought to light whether they are in accord or not with what God says in the Bible.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21

James Utter

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