If there was no Baptist church to attend.....

[mikedsjr]

This is a hypothetical question for curiosity sake. I'm really not sure what direction it would take from others, but from my part, I'm just curious what denomination you would attend if there was not a Baptist Church around.

For me, it would clearly have to be Lutheran Church. I'm sure there would be topics that would become a little weird for me, but I've listened to Lutheran podcasts for almost 5 years and I'm quite comfortable with them. I feel the LCMS is far superior to any other group in theology. I just can't get myself to go, probably out of pragmatism of always going to Baptist churches. And I'm in a church now I am content in enough that it isn't getting sucked into the dirty waters of Mega Baptist Church Rick Warren/Lifeway ideology of seeker driven/missional montras.

The church I used to go (quit last year) was clearly in the middle of all that. I began to hate going to church about 5 years ago but kept going because my family was so attached. Thankfully we all moved on last year. I'm much more content at Grace Baptist Church in Fort Worth (gracelink.com) off 820. Good solid foundations at this church. I even attended the 55+ class last week because their teacher is great exegetical teacher. Didn't care that the class was proably more like 65+ while I'm 46 (My wife was home with our son who had stomach flu).

Anyway, I enjoy going to church again. Didn't really see that coming for awhile. The other church really took my joy away even though they were great in outside ministries, their preaching was inept.

Sorry for the vent. Anyway, what church would you attend.....if you couldn't attend a Baptist Church.

 

[Blue Wren]

In Sweden there are few (if any) Baptist churches. I attend a church, that is a part of the Church of Sweden, when I'm home. It is close to Lutheran, in its theology. I used to attend a Catholic church, that was on my street. It has the most active people, far more who are my age, than other churches.

I only began attending a Baptist church, when I came to the US, through a friend who invited me. The people, they are sincere, in their love, for Christ, and it has, such a nice active youth group, that I've stayed, with it. This Baptist church, is extremely different, than what, I think, most Baptist churches the people on here attend, are like. I'd never heard, of some of the things, people fight about, until I came, to this place.

I only care, about the heart, of the people, and that Christ is their saviour.

 

[Isaiah4031nc101]

I left the Baptist denomination and went to the Pentecostal...more freedom in worship

 

[bushinoki]

If there were neither Baptist nor Pentecostal where I was, I'll hope for LCMS. If there's no LCMS either, I'm screwed.

 

[HOLYTHUNDER3]

Probably Presbyterian because they are closest in doctrine. Just not the PCUSA because they allow gay marriages in their churches.

 

[JM]

A Presbyterian church as long as it is conservative. Most of the Reformed churches in my area are pretty liberal, the other "conservative" seems legalistic. If not Presby LCMS or WELS. Gospel Hall Brethren might not be so bad if they didn't push the PreTrib rapture stuff as core doctrine.

Yours in the Lord,

jm

 

[mikedsjr]

Blue, is that government sponsored, or just the name of the church has Sweden in it? I'm surprised you didn't find the same issues there since the amount of tension in the past, though I don't recall the Swiss being in the middle of wars

 

[Saricharity]

Probably I would attend an Associated Gospel church or perhaps a Wesleyan. I've attended many different churches including Catholic, United, Anglican, Pentecostal and I've been to a Synagogue.
The Jewish service was very interesting and the music was incredible.
Pentecostal was so distracting. I'm not used to people continually talking during the sermon. I couldn't stop looking and listening to all the things going on in the service (people waving flags, speaking in tongues and fainting)
United and Anglican services were very traditional and empty...no young families.
Catholic services always confuse me. I always feel like I need a handbook to know what I'm supposed to do.

Just a few observations I've had over the years.

 

[Vigilant]

Evangelical Free. Some have said Lutheran and Presbyterian more closely match most Baptist doctrines, but I'm SBC and can be very comfortable and feel fed best when outside my chosen denomination by EF churches.

 

[twin1954]

If there were no Calvinistic Baptist church for me to attend I would start one. Otherwise I would not attend church. Went the Presbyterian route many years back becuse there was no Calvinistic Baptist that I was aware of. The differences were a real stumblingblock. I will never compromise truth again just to get along.

 

[mikedsjr]

Evangelical Free. Some have said Lutheran and Presbyterian more closely match most Baptist doctrines, but I'm SBC and can be very comfortable and feel fed best when outside my chosen denomination by EF churches.

Wow. Never heard of them til now.i was expecting them to be a west or east coast denim, but they're here in Texas. Do they not evangelize?

 

[98cwitr]

Either Presbyterian or Methodist. I like structure and order

 

[timberwallace]

Evangelical Free. Some have said Lutheran and Presbyterian more closely match most Baptist doctrines, but I'm SBC and can be very comfortable and feel fed best when outside my chosen denomination by EF churches.

I'm with you. Evangelical Free tend to be thinkers and very committed to the Bible and to grace.

 

[Omah1970]

I would probably go to a nondenominational church. If need too

 

[FaithfulPilgrim]

I would most likely attend a non-denomonational church or a Methodist church since it the second largest denomination in my state.

 

[Mr Mojo Risen]

Probably go to a Calvinistic leaning Prestbyterian church.

 

[SwordoftheLord]

I would start one

If I was not allowed to start one I would probably swing towards Mennonite, Salvation Army or Brethren....

 

[SaintJoeNow]

Have to start one. If Baptists were outlawed, then only the most trusted members could admit to each other that they are Baptists. If any will live godly in Christ Jesus, they will suffer persecution. If you take a stand for the Lord and against sin, you are going to be persecuted for it as much as the law will allow or as much as people who dislike your stand can get away with. Might as well suffer as a Baptist. It was good enough for John the Baptist, good enough for me.

 

[SaintJoeNow]

A Calvinistic church is a Calvinistic Church. A Baptist Church is a Baptist Church. A Reformed Baptist Church may have been a Baptist Church before it was reformed, but it ain't no more. A Calvinistic Baptist Church may have been a Baptist Church before they turned Calvinistic, but they ain't no more.

When John the Baptist becomes John the Reformed Baptist or John the Calvinistic Baptist, then I will be the same kind of Baptist as John. Ever since he was beheaded, I doubt that he will change from being a Baptist with no extra description words attached before or after "Baptist".

 

[SaintJoeNow]

To be a Catholic, you have to be baptized as a Catholic.
I wonder why Jesus was baptized by a Baptist?

Why did the apostles in Acts require the replacement for Judas be somebody who had been baptized by John's baptism? Why was the Apostle Paul baptized according to John's Batpism? Why did Jesus insist John Baptize Him?

Yep, you can cut my head off and it won't stop me from being a Baptist. I might hush up about being a Baptist if it meant keeping my head on my shoulders, but if they tried to force me to officially join a church that is not a Baptist church, they can have my head and send me to heaven. It didn't stop John the Baptist, won't stop me. When Jesus gives me that new name He has for me on a white stone in heaven, maybe then I won't be a Baptist any more. Untill then, I'll be a Baptist, and if the name on that white stone says I'm a baptist, I'll be a Baptist forever.