Which Bible?
Which
translation of the Bible do we use? Which one is best? There
are a number of good translations available to Christians today. We do
not hold any one of the more popular translation as being significantly
better than another. Many of our congregation use the King James
Version, others use the NIV, NKJV, or NASB. Everyone is encouraged to
have a favorite for devotional reading. Everyone is also encouraged to
use several different translations for serious study. This tends to
bring a better understanding of the nuances of the original text. Just
about any Bible that the conservative evangelical community accepts is
fine with us, New International Version, New King James, New Amercan
Standard, and King James Version just to name some. One should avoid
specifically denominational Bibles and paraphrases such as the New
World translation.
Although we have KJV pew Bibles, each one is encouraged to
bring their own to follow along with the sermon. One good reason is
that when a new or significant point is seen, one can underline or
otherwise mark their own Bible for further study or meditation.
You will not be refused fellowship or shunned in any way at
Grace Baptist. This is part of the individual soul liberty that is
described in the "Baptist Distinctives." -FLM- |
|
Who Are We?
Grace Baptist Church was founded in 1956 by Pastor Carl
Wheeler and a core of believers from Calvary Baptist Church which
was located in the York neighborhood of Bellingham. Shortly after
organizing we sought fellowship with the General Association of Regular
Baptist Churches because of its known conservative stance. Pastor
Wheeler had previously worked at First Baptist Church of Ferndale to
disassociate it from a more theologically liberal organization and into
fellowship in the GARBC.
In the mid seventies, under Pastor Cordell Baker, we
purchased our current property and built our present building. At the
time we were north of any population centers, now homes are being built
literally all around us.
What you will find, should you choose to visit us, is a
family of loving Christians who know and love our Lord Jesus Christ.
You will also find yourself greeted warmly by many of our congregation
and treated as an equal and fellow member of the body of Christ.
More important than our genuine friendliness is the gospel
that is preached from our pulpit. What you will not hear
is how to love and accept yourself or how to think positively about
yourself. What you will hear is the word of God explained and
expounded, the blood of Christ and the Grace of God. You will hear
biblical instruction and application for living as a Christian in a
modern world. We don't expect everyone to always agree with what is
preached and opportunity for a free and open exchange is often given in
the Pastor's Sunday school class for differing points of view. These
discussions are interesting and enlightening.
We are a small to medium size church where everybody knows
everybody so you will not be just another face in the crowd. Come join
us this Sunday in offering the sacrifice of praise and worship to our
Lord and Savior. -FLM-
|
|
A Testimonial
As a
testimonial to our sincere belief that all born again believers are
fellows and equals in Christ, we post this letter that arrived by
e-mail from Kathy B from Scotland who visited with us during the fall
and winter of 1999-2000.
Pastor Mordhorst,
I have been meaning to write for some time, and hope you
can forgive my tardiness. Returning from Scotland after Christmas my
work would have allowed me to remain in Bellingham until June 2000, but
BP/ARCO merger issues, led to a project postponement on the 17th of
January.
I flew out on another job with a day's notice,
arriving in a very cold (-35) Cleveland, at midnight, during a
snowstorm. I am now in Chicago, and shall be here for the next 12
months, which sadly seems to preclude a return to Washington.
Traveling as much as I do, it is very rare to
encounter a Church which can balance welcome and acceptance (to be
treated as a two headed monster with an unusual accent is not
uncommon). It was especially evident during your reunion weekend, a
time when it would have been easy to exclude strangers, I felt very
much part of the thanksgiving and worship. To be challenged and
nurtured in such a strong believing community was a privilege and
brought me great blessing.
I want to thank you for your ministry, and to pass on
my
fondest regards to your congregation. --Kathy B.--
|
The Biblical
Distinctives of Baptists
Why Is It
Important to Know the Baptist Distinctives?
They are Biblical! They
are part of God's truth as revealed in His Word.
The knowledge of these facts
provides practical benefits relevant to today.
1. Such knowledge enables one to
select a church that is faithful to these Biblical truths.
2. It demonstrates the meaning,
worth, and significance of the name "Baptist."
General titles that lack
identification, such as "Christian" or "Christ" and churches labeled
"community" or
"nondenominational," leave much room for ambiguities and
misunderstandings.
The name "Baptist" is understood through its distinctives. Baptists
should be confident that when their name is heard, no ambiguities are
left in defining what they stand for. Certain Biblical distinctives
have
distinguished their doctrinal position.
3. It helps members maintain the
Baptist position of their church, preventing digression into
unscriptural positions.
Each member of a Baptist church
needs to know what a Biblical Baptist individual and a Biblical Baptist
church does and then do these things faithfully.
How Did
These Distinctives Originate?
Baptists arrived at
these distinctives
through careful study of the Bible. That is why these teachings are
more
precisely called the Biblical distinctives of Baptists rather than
Baptist
distinctives.
These teachings emerged as
Baptist distinctives because individual Baptist churches have
consistently
and independently held to them, not because some group of Baptist
leaders
composed the list and then imposed the distinctives on local churches.
Church groups other than Baptists
have held some of the Baptist distinctives, and one may even find
churches that hold all of the distinctives but do not call themselves
Baptist. Such groups are "baptistic," but for some reason they choose
not to be identified as Baptists. On the other hand, some churches
naming themselves "Baptist" are not truly Baptist because they no
longer hold the historic Baptist beliefs or even the fundamentals of
the Christian faith.
Baptists are people of the
Book above all else. And Baptists enjoy a priceless heritage of
generations who have exalted God's Son our Savior and have proclaimed
God's inspired Word.
What Are
the Eight Baptist Distinctives?
These teachings may be
remembered by associating them with the letters that form the word
"BAPTISTS."
Biblical
Authority
The Bible is the final authority
in all matters of belief and practice because the Bible is inspired by
God and bears the absolute authority of God Himself. Whatever the Bible
affirms, Baptists accept as true. No human opinion or decree of any
church group can override the Bible. Even creeds and confessions of
faith, which attempt to articulate the theology of Scripture, do not
carry Scripture's inherent authority.
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians
2:13; 2 Peter 1:20, 21
Autonomy
of the Local Church
The local church is an independent
body accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church. All
human authority for governing the local church resides within the local
church itself. Thus the church is autonomous, or self-governing. No
religious hierarchy outside the local church may dictate a church's
beliefs or practices. Autonomy does not mean isolation. A Baptist
church may fellowship with other churches around mutual interests and
in an associational tie, but a Baptist church cannot be a "member" of
any other body.
Colossians 1:18; 2 Corinthians
8:1-5, 19, 23
Priesthood
of the Believer
"Priest" is defined as "one
authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a
mediatory agent between humans and God." Every believer today is a
priest of God and may enter into His presence in prayer directly
through our Great
High Priest, Jesus Christ. No other mediator is needed between God and
people. As priests, we can study God's Word, pray for others, and offer
spiritual worship to God. We all have equal access to God--whether we
are
a preacher or not.
1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation
5:9, 10
Two
Ordinances
The local church should practice
two ordinances: (1) baptism of believers by immersion in water,
identifying the individual with Christ in His death, burial, and
resurrection, and (2) the Lord's Supper, or communion, commemorating
His death for our sins.
Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians
11:23-32
Individual
Soul Liberty
Every individual, whether a
believer or an unbeliever, has the liberty to choose what he believes
is right in the religious realm. No one should be forced to assent to
any belief against his will. Baptists have always opposed religious
persecution. However, this liberty does not exempt one from
responsibility to the Word of God or from accountability to God Himself.
Romans 14:5, 12; 2 Corinthians
4:2; Titus 1:9
Saved,
Baptized Church Membership
Local church membership is
restricted to individuals who give a believable testimony of personal
faith in Christ and have publicly identified themselves with Him in
believer's baptism. When the members of a local church are believers,
a oneness in Christ exists, and the members can endeavor to keep the
unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12;
2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 4:3
Two
Offices
The Bible mandates only two
offices in the church--pastor and deacon. The three terms--"pastor,"
"elder,"
and "bishop," or "overseer"--all refer to the same office. The two
offices of pastor and deacon exist within the local church, not as a
hierarchy
outside or over the local church.
1 Timothy 3:1-13; Acts 20:17-38;
Philippians 1:1
Separation
of Church and State
God established both the church
and the civil government, and He gave each its own distinct sphere of
operation. The government's purposes are outlined in Romans 13:1-7 and
the church's purposes in Matthew 28:19 and 20. Neither should control
the other, nor should there be an alliance between the two. Christians
in a free
society can properly influence government toward righteousness, which
is
not the same as a denomination or group of churches controlling the
government.
Matthew 22:15-22; Acts 15:17-29
What sets one church
apart from all the others? We have seen that it is the church's
distinctive beliefs that set it apart from all others and that Baptists
in general hold to some convictions that make them different from all
other groups. Regular Baptist churches will continue to hold to the
Baptist distinctives because these distinctives are historically
Biblical. They are relevant to the issues facing contemporary society
and the church. So when "shopping" for a church, look for the name
"Baptist" and then take a closer look to make
sure that church is upholding the Biblical Baptist distinctives.
-Excerpted in full from GARBC, Baptist
Distinctives-
|
