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Tuesday May 06, 2008

As NC Baptist as It Gets?

What does it mean to be a North Carolina Baptist? Well there is a "technical definition" from the Convention. If you are a member of a participating Baptist church then you are a NC Baptist. That leads to a need to understand what it means to be a "participating church." And then, if you can come to some agreement on that, there is the need to understand "church."

This is all to say nothing of the ?flavor of the month? way we label each other. Am I a CBF NC Baptist or a SBC NC Baptist? Do I support WMU? Has my church done PVM? The letters alone are hard enough to keep up with!

I guess I am saying it gets complicated. But I consider myself about as NC Baptist as it gets. I grew up in a Baptist State Convention Church. I have been on a Partnership Missions mission trip. I went to Caswell and RA Camp as a youth. I have slept at most every place (Hollifield, Caraway, Truett, etc.) we NC Baptists have beds. My college degree is from Campbell, one of our Baptist Universities. I have worked for my local association as a contractor. I have been an employee of the State Convention, and now work full time for Baptist Children's Homes. I have been a member of three churches in my life, ALL NC Baptist Churches. I have done interim work for three others and all of those are too. I read the Biblical Recorder (BR). I attend more Baptist meetings than most would allow as healthy. I even wore (more than once) what is supposed to be a super hero costume (but many said wasn?t much more than underwear) to the biggest Baptist meeting NC Baptists have. When it comes to being an NC Baptist, I have no shame.

What is it that makes me identify myself with this nebulously defined group? An equally nebulous idea. I see God at work in the midst of NC Baptists. Please, let?s not make my first BR Blog post a theological debate, I?m sure we?ll get to those. I know that He is busy everywhere, with everyone. But I just like the way I see Him busy with this group I call family.

From standing atop ?the fort? at Caswell watching a senior adult vespers service that gives me cold chills, to being the ?missionary in residence? for a week at Caraway?s RA camp. From hearing the prayers of church planters in multiple languages most of which I can?t understand, to three years worth of Cyber Tips of the month on UpClose. From Baptisms at a ?Cowboy Church? service to think tanks with modern Theologians. NC Baptists have offered and continue to offer me the chance to see Jesus.

I am not sure what else I need my denominational body to do for me. That is kind of the reason I decided to start this blog, to examine exactly that. But for now, I am content to be a NC Baptist. Being one keeps me moving on my journey toward Christ. What direction is that?

Up, up and away!

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Posted at 09:11AM May 06, 2008 by Shane Nixon in General  |  Comments[2]

Comments:

Welcome to the Biblical Recorder blogging team! When the Baptist State Convention claimed the term "North Carolina Baptists" to describe the convention of affiliated churches, it could have been deemed a bit arrogant by other Baptist bodies in the state, and it probably is. But it sure makes easier headline writing! I'm glad you are an NC Baptist and I trust your insights here will find wide and eager audience. I'll keep my eyes open for an insider in undies at the next annual session!

Posted by Norman on May 06, 2008 at 10:27 AM EDT #

I attend a baptist church. I have for about 4 years. I did not grow up in any church. I didn't hear the salvation message in a baptist church or any other. I wasn't saved until I was 40 years old. I was saved by watching a man on tv go through the bible and study every verse, not just picking and choosing a sermon once a week. I found out that the gospel proclaimed in most churches is not the gospel found in the bible. Being a baptist will not get you to heaven. There are no baptists in heaven. Only saints that have trusted in Jesus death, burial and resurrection as the only way. But you don't hear that in most baptist churches. Your hear ask Jesus in your heart, walk and aisle and beg for forgiveness (even though if your saved you are already forgiven). But they don't want you to find out because you might think you have license to sin or you may not pay your tithes. My daughter cried and was very upset that she had to be baptized. It is ridiculous to force someone under water and say that it gives Jesus the glory. It's just another way to put somebody under the law. It gives the sbc more money to send people to camp instead of studying scripture and learning what it really means to be saved.

Posted by ANGIE on May 07, 2008 at 01:11 PM EDT #

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