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New Baptist Question

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daveleau

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In Houston, one of the largest Baptist churches is called the Second Baptist Church. I found that very odd. From what I understand, it has to do with a tradition of naming the first church in the town (usually a church in the center of the town's business district that built up around the church) "first." Baptists are not the only church to do this, as I have seen this with a plethora of Protestant churches. Also, a lot of non-Protestant churches are named after people, which is not directly in line with Protestant theology, since we do not think it is right to venerate humans (respect and veneration are different, and we do recognize both the good works and the sinful natures of all people other than Jesus.)
 
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DeaconDean

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Not to sound snippy, but "First Baptist" is the most popular name for a Baptist church. Perhaps its so some will get confused on which one they attend? Perhaps it is an attempt to draw Baptists who move from city to another and see "First Baptist" and think that if it was a good church where I came from, this one may just as good.

I don't really know. Other than the fact that it is without a doubt, it is the most popular name for a Baptist church.

Perhaps the same could be asked of Catholic churches? Why do each one start out as St. _______ Catholic Church?

God Bless

Till all are one.
 
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Phileoeklogos

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Well everyone likes to be first don't they, J/K, in alot of small towns like I am from, the first Baptist church, is the first Baptist church established in this little village. You don't really see too many 2nd Baptist churches, but their are a few, you're more likely to see them in cities. Yeah it does kind of make you wonder, if your the only Baptist church in a town, why the "First" has to included, but I guess we are a hopeful lot.
 
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MrJim

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Not to sound snippy, but "First Baptist" is the most popular name for a Baptist church. Perhaps its so some will get confused on which one they attend? Perhaps it is an attempt to draw Baptists who move from city to another and see "First Baptist" and think that if it was a good church where I came from, this one may just as good.

I don't really know. Other than the fact that it is without a doubt, it is the most popular name for a Baptist church.

Perhaps the same could be asked of Catholic churches? Why do each one start out as St. _______ Catholic Church?

God Bless

Till all are one.

I go to a "First Baptist", but in our area we also have a First Missionary Baptist, a First Assembly of God, First Christian Church, a First AND Second Evangelical Lutheran Church, First Pentecostal, First United Methodist...all with about 15 mile radius (we've got about bajillion churches in this little area :doh:)

BTW the largest Catholic church in the area happens to be Corpus Christi...one of the few I've seen that didn't start with "Saint"...
 
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Want2bLast

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ty all for you responses ... makes sense that it is called that & i made that original assumption, but i wasn't sure if the reason was that simple ... i recently started traveling as a salesman & noticed more and more ... one name that i saw that i was curious about was "Consolation Baptist" somewhere in Georgia
 
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Want2bLast

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ty all for you responses ... makes sense that it is called that & i made that original assumption, but i wasn't sure if the reason was that simple ... i recently started traveling as a salesman & noticed more and more ... one name that i saw that i was curious about was "Consolation Baptist" somewhere in Georgia
 
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MrJim

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ty all for you responses ... makes sense that it is called that & i made that original assumption, but i wasn't sure if the reason was that simple ... i recently started traveling as a salesman & noticed more and more ... one name that i saw that i was curious about was "Consolation Baptist" somewhere in Georgia

Consolation...that's a new one, more creative that just numbering.
 
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We don't have (1st) Baptist as part of my church's name even though the name of the town in part of the church name. We had people confused though at times between the 2 churches. :p
Some Baptist churches though are even dropping the word *Baptist* from their name to get away from being branded as a religion instead of a Bible teaching, believing church.
 
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mesue

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I think the word "First" refers to the thought that Baptist were the First Christians of the first century in the early Church.
Charles H. Spurgeon said:
We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the reformation, we were reformers before Luther and Calvin were born; we never came from the Church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves. We have always existed from the days of Christ, and our principles, sometimes veiled and forgotten, like a river which may travel under ground for a little season, have always had honest and holy adherents. Persecuted alike by Romanists and Protestants of almost every sect, yet there has never existed a Government holding Baptist principles which persecuted others; nor, I believe, any body of Baptists ever held it to be right to put the consciences of others under the control of man. We have ever been ready to suffer, as our martyrologies will prove, but we are not ready to accept any help from the State, to prostitute the purity of the Bride of Christ to any alliance with Government, and we will never make the Church, although the Queen, the despot over the consciences of men.
 
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MikeMcK

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We don't have (1st) Baptist as part of my church's name even though the name of the town in part of the church name. We had people confused though at times between the 2 churches. :p
Some Baptist churches though are even dropping the word *Baptist* from their name to get away from being branded as a religion instead of a Bible teaching, believing church.

Many years ago, when I was a part of Delran Baptist in NJ, that was a big controversy.

When we were scheduled to move into our new building, some wanted to change the name of the church because they felt that "Baptist" was a little off-putting to some.

We actually had people leave over this issue. At the time, I really didn't care one way or the other (now, though, I'd fight it tooth and nail) and left the church myself shortly after that, for an unrelated reason.

I believe they changed the name only to reflect that they were no longer in Delran, but were now in Moorestown. I believe "Baptist" stayed.

Besides, if they'd taken "Baptist" out of the name, they would have to have gotten all new softball uniforms.
 
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Joykins

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Calvary is a popular Baptist name as well.

Calvary Baptist is the name of the Baptist church I went to.

First Baptist is the name of the Baptist church my husband went to.

AH!^_^

However, my other church-- Baptistgemeinde -- does not have such a common name...unless you are in another country...

I always thought it had to do with being the first Baptist church in the town...we have a Fourth Presbyterian here also although I don't know of any church with a higher number than 4th.
 
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Joykins

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Would that be the First Last Baptist Church?


That would be scriptural. Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. He who would be first must be last, and he who would be last must be first.
 
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IisJustMe

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I think the word "First" refers to the thought that Baptist were the First Christians of the first century in the early Church.
... even a great pastor like Spurgeon could be off base. That was a prevailing thought among some Baptists 150 years ago, but no one among the leadership of any Baptist denomination today is so prideful as to adhere to such nonsense. Denominations are nothing in the kingdom of God.

I reiterate: "First Baptist" is the name of a local church, and absolutely, positively nothing else, and vehemently insisting otherwise won't make it so.
 
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