I grew up in Southern Baptist
churches. I did a little exploration in my late teens and early adulthood, but
eventually settled back into the Southern Baptist theological view, as I best
understand it. I have had no higher education in any seminary. I lead a Bible
Study class. I read the Bible and supporting books and commentaries. I do not
have any authority to speak on behalf of all Southern Baptists or the Southern
Baptist Convention. I am sharing from my own experience only.
In my experience Southern
Baptists don't sit around condemning people. Now, Southern Baptists certainly
might pray for people if we have some concern for their spiritual or physical well-being but we don't sit around condemning people.
I, personally, drew the
conclusion that the Bible and an understanding of it is what Southern Baptist
theology is based upon - and ah, that is where there is always some room for discussion
- but the goal is, or maybe I should say MY goal is, that I might, with the
help of the Holy Spirit, understand and share what God's view is (as best
understood from the Bible) not what men's views are. It is really a
supernatural act, examining and understanding the word of God, as no man, none,
understands the infinite mind of God, period. Scripture tells us, "For now
we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but
then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12).
All Christians, if one claims
to be a Christian, are to be growing in the word and having their minds changed
and transformed to be like the mind of Christ, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 2:5) and if that is the case, if we are all growing into Him, at some
point, and certainly we all get there at different times, we are all works in
progress, but if we are all growing into him, we should go beyond grasping John
3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life," which is
extremely important, and also take to heart John 3:17 - "For God did not
send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through
him," and when we do, we certainly hope that we would have great
compassion upon all people (the world), both singularly and in plurality
because we want others to know God as we know God.
If we feel, as we should, that
what the Bible tells us is true, that Jesus claims,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except
through me.” (John 14:6) then the most unloving thing we could ever do is
withhold that information from the rest of the world.
Like I wrote above, I’m no authority on Southern
Baptist doctrine and theology, but what I can tell you is I am primarily a product of the Southern Baptist Church in my spiritual beliefs because
I chose that church as the one most aligning itself with a proper understanding
and adherence to what the Bible teaches.
If I believe that the only way we are able to have our intended relationship
restored with the God of all creation is to believe on the Lord Jesus as God’s
Son, that He was sent to be a sacrifice to redeem us for all the wrongs we have
ever done and will ever do, that He rose from the dead (why the Christian
celebrates Easter every year) and overcame death for us... If I have repented of
wrong doing (and recognize no one will be perfect in this life) and had that very
real and personal experience of tangibly seeing and feeling the change in my heart,
perspective, the love of Christ drawn out in me and the way I view others,
seeds of joy and peace planted in my heart that would pull me through all sorts
of troubles and trials because I was “born again” into that right
relationship with God, and that my friendship and a daily relationship and walk
with the God who knows me better than I know myself was restored and I found in
Christ a Counselor when I feel lost and alone, and more, and more, and so much
more, then the only thing I can do is share that relationship with others. How
could I not want to share the love I KNOW I have been given by and through Christ
Jesus with other people???
Through Jesus Christ you will find peace with the God of all creation and you will not find peace with
the God of all creation on any other path. This knowledge, in action, IS LOVE, and
finds its foundational motive in love. This knowledge does not have its
foundational motive in hate as some espouse. It is this love that causes the
Southern Baptist to be among a group also defined as “evangelical” in practice,
see more about that by following the link below:
…and check this out: “For the word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of
spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of
the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and
exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:12-13).
You’ll
NEVER have to give an account for your soul, your spirit, your thoughts, or the
intentions of your heart to any Southern Baptist, to any evangelical
Christian…that should be one of the least of your concerns, but there is one to
whom all of us will give an account. The God of all the universe of all
creation will eventually require an account. The way to have a right relationship restored with the One to whom you must give account is only found through Jesus Christ and you have a choice:
Believe it or not.
