Baptists, People of Conflict

How dare you say that, I'm deeply offended.

Phileoeklogos said:

How dare you say that, I'm deeply offended.

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A Baptist man was shipwrecked and spent 20 years, alone, on an island. When his rescuers finally appeared, they were curious how he had lived on the island all those years, He brought them to a shack and told them, " This is my house", they looked around and saw 2 more shacks in the distance and asked him, what are those 2 shacks? The Baptist man said, " The one over there is my church ", they asked, what about the other, the Baptist man just kind of looked down at the ground and said, " Well thats where I "used to" go to church".



Yeah, I know that joke is older than the hills........what else would you expect, I'm against contemporary jokes............zing!

Phileoeklogos said:

A Baptist man was shipwrecked and spent 20 years, alone, on an island. When his rescuers finally appeared, they were curious how he had lived on the island all those years, He brought them to a shack and told them, " This is my house", they looked around and saw 2 more shacks in the distance and asked him, what are those 2 shacks? The Baptist man said, " The one over there is my church ", they asked, what about the other, the Baptist man just kind of looked down at the ground and said, " Well thats where I "used to" go to church".



Yeah, I know that joke is older than the hills........what else would you expect, I'm against contemporary jokes............zing!

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lol That's awesome - I've honestly never heard it before.

The conflicts were introduced by outsiders.

Occasionally conflicts are introduced by insiders (like now where I'm making a counter statement to your point, lol). Peaceful conflict in search of truth is acceptable, in decerning false interpretations/teachings; its when the conflict becomes so great that we hate our brother that it reaches a sinful level. Besides, the imperfect flesh is always in conflict with the perfect Holy Spirit in any of its forms, so through that conflict and hopefully the overcoming of that conflict we can come closer to the Lord.

Randomaster and JacobHill86 I feel so enlightened by this revelation You have given us that I can hardly contain My feelings of elation . I never heard the Joke before though!

I think some Baptists would sooner fight than eat......God Bless You all and Merry Christmas....Dave

Fighting from within only edifies the evil one. Is time that we stopped that nonsense.

JacobHall86 said:

Historically ignorant.

So when the Baptists who wanted to form a missions organization were in conflict with the anti-missions baptists, who was the outsider?

Oh wait, they were both baptist. Learn history before you speak on it.

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Ok, at the risk of getting blown apart by some of you, this comment is a perfect example of a contentious comment that will start a conflict between brethren. If the goal of the comment is to make the recepient feel like an idiot for even taking the time to enter into the conversation, mission accomplished. There's just no reason for this reaction except to start a fight. A man's pride has been attacked and many will stand in a place of spiritual superiority and bring judgment and condemnation when he responds in defensive anger at the slight.

If the goal here is to impart truth, it was done poorly. IMO, anyone who sees this type of conversation as a healthy debate between two brethren needs a refresher course on the practical application of scriptures instructing us on how we are to treat one another, especially when there is conflict or difference of opinion (Romans 14; John 13:34-35; Matthew 18:7; 2 Peter 3:11).

The world laughs at and mocks us and many Christians take a superiority stance because of Jesus' words (John 15:18). The truth of the matter in most cases the world laughs at and mocks us because we're too busy eating each other over doctrinal incidentals to notice we've ignored Jesus' words in John 13:34-35. Too many read that passage as if it says "Beat the living snot out of each other whenever ignorance and differing beliefs on secondary doctrinal/practical issues are discovered; by this shall all men know you are my disciples."

There are right ways and wrong ways to speak the truth. Speaking the truth in love means the object of our affection is supposed to be the individual we're speaking to, not the love of being found Biblically accurate by our peers.

I agree Andy.

The only part of Jacob's post I find offensive is, "Learn history before you speak on it." I would imagine Jacob would not use that tone if addressing Vince in a church setting.

We as Christians should refute error, however we must do it in a loving and edifying way. In saying that, I by no means deny my guilt and shortcomings in this area.

Andy S. Wright said:

The world laughs at and mocks us and many take a superiority stance because of Jesus' words (John 15:18). The truth of the matter in most cases the world laughs at and mocks us because we're too busy eating each other over doctrinal incidentals to notice we've ignored Jesus' words in John 13:34-35.

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It seems to me that the world laughs at and mocks us because they hate the Gospel message and our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, they might smugly and disingenuously throw up infighting and arguing as a pretext, but their hatred is for the Gospel and its preachers.

Tzaousios said:

It seems to me that the world laughs at and mocks us because they hate the Gospel message and our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, they might smugly and disingenuously throw up infighting and arguing as a pretext, but their hatred is for the Gospel and its preachers.

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Agreed, but do we really have to give them more reasons to laugh and mock us other than their inherent hatred of Christ and His Word? I just wish so many of us weren't in such a blinded rush to prove the world's opinions of fundamental evangelical Christianity correct.

Andy S. Wright said:

Agreed, but do we really have to give them more reasons to laugh and mock us other than their inherent hatred of Christ and His Word? I just wish so many of us weren't in such a blinded rush to prove the world's opinions of fundamental evangelical Christianity correct.

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When those who openly oppose the truth of God seek to shame it all the while calling themselves my brother I have no kind words to say to them. If someone is in error and seeks to discuss in an honest and cordial manner the differences we may have I will be as cordial as I can be. But false prophets and deceivers I will not act as though they are my brothers. I do not extend the open hand of fellowship to just anyone. I do not call any who claim to be my brother my brother. I will oppose any who deny the truth of God even when others seek to sugar coat the obvious. It matters not to me if they are Baptist or any other denomination I will, God giving me grace, stand for the truth of God in the face of all opposition. Let others act as though we are all brothers but I am not fooled so easily. Eternal souls are at stake.

What I like about the Baptists, is that they like to throw some serious leather! kinda like what Pacquiao did to Cotto.

Christianity has a long history of contention, in fact it's entire history is filled with it, Jesus, Stephen, Paul, Jude all dealt with it, The ECF's dealt with the heretics, Athanasius against the Arians, Augustine against Pelagius, Luther and the Pope, Spurgeon against the Downgrade, Fundamentalists against the Liberals, SBC conservatives against the Liberals, so I don't think contention is always a bad thing,

Truth must be contended for, the Faith must be contended for, we are on the world, the flesh and the devil's hitlist, we are infiltrated by tares and wolves in sheep's clothing, grievous wolves come in among us, and from among us, men rise up speaking perverse things.

When we must contend, when we must debate, let us do so with gentleness and respect, but, standing firm, not compromising truth for peace, comfort or unity, being wise as serpents but harmless as doves, not pulling up tares to the harm of the wheat.

Please understand where I am coming from. My perspective is that of a pastor; a shepherd of the flocks of God. I can not begin to describe to you the amount of damage I have seen in my years of service by those who apparently believe Jude 1:3 is the greatest and only commandment in the Bible.

Should truth be contended for? Absolutely. That really isn't the issue. The issue is how and with who. My contention with all this contention in the Body of Christ is the amazing amount of damage being done to the wheat/sheep by those who have taken the task of separating the tares/goats upon themselves.

Point of fact, not everyone who disagrees with one's doctrinal beliefs are false prophets and/or deceivers. There is such a thing as a learning curve for believers. God knows I've taught things in my youth that I believed to be unchangeable truth only to find my understanding of scriptures to be lacking (to say the least) after more study. I am very thankful for those who came to me in a spirit of love and brotherhood to bring correction, instruction and even rebuke when I was in error rather than brand me a heretic and chuck stones at me from the sidelines.

Far too many true believers in Christ are being cut down by friendly fire in the frenzy of "contending for the faith". Jude 1:3 does not give believers license to wreak havok in the church. We may justify contentious attitudes as much as we want but righteous rhetoric does not negate the damage being done in our churches; and damage IS being done in the name of doctrinal purity.

On a side note, the interesting thing about separating tares and goats from wheat and sheep is we aren't the ones who will be doing the separating (Matthew 25:32-33).

There Is a way a Christian man or woman should speak to those outside of His Church, and that is with kindness and sincere Love for their souls lost condition.

There is also a way that We as Christians should address each other , and that is with kindness and sincere Love for each other.

Even in these forums where most do not know each other personally, and yet we profess ourselves of Christ we need to respect each other and afford each other the dignity that we give Christ....God bless You all who post here on the Baptist forum and I offer seasons greetings to you and Yours....Dave