Baptist Origins

[bleechers]

Actually, I didn't vote. If I had to, I'd go with "other" because my view of "the church" really doesn't fit in any other choice that well. I identify as a "Baptist" primarily because it is a convenient way to quicky let people know essentially where I stand on most of the basics of the faith. I fellowship at a local Baptist church... but I do not believe there is a global "Baptist Church" anywhere.

Christ founded the church. It is built upon the Apostles and the prophets (Christ being the chief cornerstone), but it is built one stone at a time (one soul at a time). "The church" is an organism that is made up of individuals. "The faith" is passed on from one individual to another (and we don't write down each instance so history can judge whether or not we're the "real church").

All that to say this: most local Baptist churches are part of the continuing story of the gospel of free grace of God. It is part of a "succession" of sorts, but that succession has nothing to do with the name "Baptist Church".

I hope I haven't confused you... 'cause I think I just confused myself.

 

[Gold Dragon]

Actually, I didn't vote. If I had to, I'd go with "other" because my view of "the church" really doesn't fit in any other choice that well. I identify as a "Baptist" primarily because it is a convenient way to quicky let people know essentially where I stand on most of the basics of the faith. I fellowship at a local Baptist church... but I do not believe there is a global "Baptist Church" anywhere.

Christ founded the church. It is built upon the Apostles and the prophets (Christ being the chief cornerstone), but it is built one stone at a time (one soul at a time). "The church" is an organism that is made up of individuals. "The faith" is passed on from one individual to another (and we don't write down each instance so history can judge whether or not we're the "real church").

All that to say this: most local Baptist churches are part of the continuing story of the gospel of free grace of God. It is part of a "succession" of sorts, but that succession has nothing to do with the name "Baptist Church".

I hope I haven't confused you... 'cause I think I just confused myself.

Fair enough. The part about the name "Baptist Church" is why I said it was a succession of "anonymous" Baptist churches that were Baptist in tradition but not name. My question to you is where you feel this "succession" of churches that your local Baptist church originated from first started as an entity that was distinct from a more general Christian church. This isn't about which church is the "one true" church but where baptists feel their heritage comes from.

I get the feeling that option 1 is probably the one that best fits your belief.

 

[bleechers]

where baptists feel their heritage comes from

The Bible.

 

[Gold Dragon]

It sounds like the way I phrased option 1 does not resonate with those who believe it. It was intended to encompass those like bleechers and Holly3278. Is there some other way for me to phrase that option so that you would find it agreeable?

Basically the key points of that belief are
1. Either John the Baptist or the apostles/early church originated something understood now as the "Baptist faith"
2. That faith has been passed down to modern local Baptist churches through an unbroken line or succession of churches
3. That succession or line consists of some anonymous churches that were Baptist in faith but not necessarily in name.

Is there a succint way to encapsulate this that is acceptable to those who believe it?