S Baptists and seperation

[boB]

 How involved should Southern Baptist be involved with other organizations.  For example many cities have ministers association.  Should we be involved with such groups if there are say Roman Catholics involved.  Would you participate in a pulpit exchange.  How about having a joint Vacation Bible School with 3 or four other churches?  Would it matter what denomination they are.  Should we invite evangelism teams from non S. Bap or even non-Baptist  Bible colleges.    Or how about this one.  We participate in an area revival.  At the crusade we counsel someone.  But they are going to a liberal church.  Do encourage them to attend our church and then risk the wrath of the revival committee?
 This list could go on and on.  
 What are some of the experiences you have had, both good and bad.

[saltcitybaptist]

Dancing, movies and card playing, are these still taboos for good ole Baptists

[ABC_Ron]

I thought you folks might be interested in a story of cooperation.

When I was a Deputy Sheriff, I being a known Christian by my Sheriff was asked to form a Chaplains group for our jail system. The Department had tried to do it by themselves and failed miserably because they could't tell one group from another. But, thats another story.
I enlisted good men from many different groups. But the story is about a Roman and a S. Baptist. Now these men had almost nothing in common, in fact the only thing they did have was a dislike for the others guy based upon stuff they had learned from their own sources. Well, these two guys learned about each other as men and saw there was an earnestness and were devoted to God, as each went about his work. Despite all their differences they became friends. One day the Roman called the Baptist fellow and asked if he had any problem with marring a couple that were living together. The Roman had a older Hespanic couple in his congregation who had lived together 20 or so years, had many children who now had their own children. They wished to get married, right themselves with God and come back to faith.
The Roman was unable to marry them because they were living in sin by the Romans standards and so he could not marry them. He asked "could you halp them'? Well, the Baptist fellow said a Baptist needed to speak with the people and assure himself and them that they knew what they were doing. If they were living together for 20 years that might take 30 seconds or so. Besides 'We Baptist see this as a success story and not a failure. So, I would marry them.' The Roman then asked 'could you do it this Saturday at 10' AM?' So, that Saturday, at Our Lady of something our other, the Roman started what they call 'The Mass' in preperation for a marriage. The Roman was all decked out in all those colorfull robes and stuff. At the point of the wedding, the Roman stepped aside, the Baptist stepped forward dressed only in a simple plain black robe, married the couple and stepped aside. The Roman returned to finish the the happy event, and welcomed the new couple into the congregation. Both Baptist and Roman stood at the door greeting people. The new wife asked the Baptist in a very heavy Hispanic accent 'Senior Gregg, does this make me a Baptist wife by accident?' Gregg laughed and said no, one has to want to become a Baptist.

These two Christian men continue as friends finding common roads to walk together as they worship God in their own way. For about 10 years they have served the people of San Bernardino County, California through many disasters and hurts together and by themselves but never alone.

God Bless, Ron

[saltcitybaptist]

Ron,
Thats sounds like a nice happy ending story, but.....
I would never marry anybody on a whim. Yes, even if they had lived together for 20 years. I would consider it my responsibity to sit down and counsel this couple. In addition, I would not participate in a Roman Catholic mass for the marriage.
I have had the opportunity to work with folks of different religious backgrounds. Depending on the activity will depend on how much copperation I am willing to deal with.
As you stated, I would be more than glad to assist in a chaplains group, even if there are roman c involved.
So fellows, are my standards too high, or do u think I should loosen up?

[saltcitybaptist]

Last night I was listening to a program called "Catholic Answers". A catholic called in concerned about the upcomming Billy Grahm crusade. She said many of the catholic churches in her area were participating. She wanted to know to be a good catholic, should she go. The answer was if she is a strong catholic she should attend and to help make sure the weak catholics are not taken in by the evangelism of Billy Grahm.
Any comments!!!

[enoch]

There are many who are misled out there. We do not condemn them, but we contend for the faith. I am aware of the many arguments about how the Roman Church uses the same terminology as the Fundamentalist but means something different. Consider this though, the terminology that Fundamentalists, Evangelical Baptists and others use, originated from the Word of God and was developed by the Roman Church and early Church fathers. There are many real differences, but by focusing on the differences we divide the brethren. Let us not fall into the trap of being divisive. I value my Roman brothers, I may not always agree with them, but this makes for lively conversation when we are together.
We forget that we are here to build God's kingdom, not our own.

[ABC_Ron]

Enoch, Well Said. Ron

[jethro45]

What fellowship can light have with darkness?? It is one thing to fellowship individually but is far different for a church standing for the fundelmentals of the faith to have fellowship with a "church" which stands for untruth and the church that persecuted the true church of our Lord. This same Roman Catholic organization also would have killed every Jewish person in the world if it had had its way. The Word of God says " come out from among them and be ye seperate" this commendment is often misused but I believe it means for the people of God to not have fellowship with those preaching false doctrine. No wonder baptist are struggling for truth today, when their leaders will willingly mix with the worst example of heirisy known today as a "church" many will go to hell for following this lie. We live in a world which must be politically correct, no matter what the cost. Soon one nation under God will be gone for the same reason. Political correctness. There is a Greek word that discribes this, it is BALONEY!!!

[Sue]

I know I should stay out of this, but oh well, I just have to say it. In my opinion it has more to do with if you have a "head salvation" or a "heart salvation" than what denomination you are. Sadly there will be a lot of people, including Baptists, that will be asking God to "look again for my name, I 'thought' I was saved". Its' a condition of the heart, not the head, guys, that's what is important here. I have a new cd by the Steeles that has a song on it with the words "they can't hear our preach'n, because of our disagree'n." If we (Christians) can't "get it together" how do we expect the rest of the world to?

[jethro45]

Ms. Sue, i agree with your head/heart knowledge, however as individuals i have no problem with Catholics, however, with a few exceptions, Catholics are not Christians, head or heart. You say that is mean spirited, no if a Catholic believes totally the doctrine of their church they are as lost as any person who has not ever heard the gospel, because they really have not heard the "Gospel" in it fullness and in truth. For centries the catholic church would not allow their people to even read the Word of God. I can understand your feelings and your love for the catholic people, however dont u believe for a moment they r on their way to heaven because they r "Christians" and yes many baptist r not Christians either, if your love for the catholics is right, then give them the truth of the gospel, because they as the rest of the world need to hear it, it is a mission field and many are needed to go and tell.
I have no hate for the catholics, but desire to see them to come to the truth. Catholic folk are just people like u and me, but their church is a lie from the word go, and their organization will hear " depart from me, for I never knew you".
The Steels song makes good music, but not good theology. Truth and error must be proclaimed to all, wether baptist, catholic, or Islam. Good, sincere people will b cast into the lake of fire, not because they are catholic or any other religion but because they believe a lie, and never came to know Christ as Lord and Saviour.

[saltcitybaptist]

Miss Sue,
What makes you think you should stay out of this? You did bring some enlighting thoughs.
Let me address the point of "saved catholics".
What makes a person a catholic. Simple, when he is baptised oops, i mean sprinkled. At the age of just a few day the child has no ideal what is being done to him. (Jethro, note i am NOT policicaly correct!) Often a person will say they are catholic only because they were sprinkled as a baby and are not "praticing catholics". Possible along the way, they were "truly" saved. But since they never afflilated with a bible believing church, they just still consider themselves catholic. This may not be the case all the time, but, possible.

Jethro, I do aggree basically that a person who is very involved with the RC church could not be saved when he does accept all the false teachings of the rc.
Must run, need to check on a church opening,

[jethro45]

I have friends that are catholic, they r still my friends, however i do not believe a bible believing church should have any fellowship or joint services with the darkness of the catholic church, i believe thats where the topic started at. Our bible believing churches need to be taught that JW's and mormons etc r false religions, with the catholics. Many of the fallen away bible believing church memebers are now with the likes of some of the above, why? Because our bible believing churches have not taught that these are cults, yes not just false but as much a cult as Mr. Coreash and the space dudes, and Jim Jones who got all the folk to drink his posion kool ade. Instead these false "Christian" religions r leading people to hell when they believe there false doctrine. We as born again Christians need to take a stand, not of hate but of love to tell these folks the truth. Jesus is comming again and by the way things are going looks like it maybe very soon, when the Great White Throne Judgement takes place we will stand there and watch loved ones cast in to hell because we thought they were ok, they had their religion. This aint what the Word of God says, we must contend for the faith, but in love.
God bless and reveal the truth not only to our catholic friends but to the JWs and the Mormons and the rest of the false cults we are surrounded by, o and dont for get the "peace loving" Moslems.

[ABC_Ron]

Lets see. . .Saved?

Accept that I am not good enough and need a savior and that God provided me Jesus.

Believe that He is the Son of God who died for my sins.

Confess my sins to my savior. Is there anything else?

Now if you have an answer please do not confuse being saved with a good Christian life.

[jethro45]

Ron: Huh???

[CAPTAIN]

AHOY!!! CHAPS!! I was at the Billy Graham School of Evangelism in Cinn,Ohio and attended the first of the Billy Graham Mission(Crusade). I was with 490 pastor's from 36 states and 6 countries from 46 different denominations. Being a Southern Baptist Pastor. Was I wrong for attending the School because I saw a glimspe of what Heaven is going to be like. No matter what denomination you are from JESUS looks at the individual's heart to see and lay open our lives to see whether or not if we are written in the Lamb's Book of LIFE. We are accepted into the Kingdom of GOD based on GOD's free gift of grace through Salvation in JESUS CHRIST who paid it all on the CROSS of CALVARY and by this JESUS, sets us free of the bondage of Sin which is death. It is also through Death, Burial, and Resurrection that Jesus says we will have Eternal Life with HIM in Heaven for all who believe in HIM. Is it really a question of Denominational lines being drawn in the sand. In Heaven will JESUS label us by how good a Denomination is? I would say No. To take it a step further will JESUS divide Heaven by race? I say no!!! We need to stop majoring on the minors and start Majoring on the Majors. Which is fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28. Gentlemen and Ladies the Great Commission is not a request it is a command... One other thing read John3:16 again. Also, can you explain how 2206 persons went forward at Dr. Billy Graham's Mission on the first night. I can It was the Power of the Holy Spirit at work in individual life's. Update total in attendence was 35,000 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cinn. this past Thursday Night. Out of which thier was participating in the Mission 49 different Denomination's and 16 Countries plus our small group of 490 pastors from the Cinn. Billy Graham of School of Evangelism. I had the priviledge of sitting by a Christian JEW, A Christian Muslim,. We must look further at the word CHRISTIAN, notice the first 6 letters that should tell us something it spells CHRIST. We belong to Christ that is why we are called Christians. Got to go let us pray and think on GODS WORD everyday as well as read it and study Thy Self to be approved by GOD. CAPTAIN