A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches... Proverbs 22:1
A good name is better than precious ointment… Ecclesiastes 7:1
Q. Should churches continue to use the name Baptist? Is it still meaningful and useful in our day and time?
A. The name Baptist is a good name, though ultimately it is just name. It has a godly heritage and still identifies a core set of beliefs held by churches using that name. However, it is necessary to understand that it strictly should be an identifier rather than a “name” – that is, the churches of the Bible are one faith, and do not have a denominational name as such. A scriptural church is just a congregation or assembly that belongs to Christ. Because so many so-called churches exist, we use denominational names to distinguish the different kinds.
In a sense, in contemporary U.S. religion, the name “Baptist” has been soiled. There are so many kinds of Baptists that cannot agree, and a special problem is those Baptist churches which have denied the faith and become worse than infidels. Nevertheless, “Baptist” is an honorable name, and one worth keeping. True Baptist churches should faithfully hold to the faith once delivered to the saints, and Baptist church members should live in obedience to the word of God. In that way, may we redeem the name.
On the other hand, it is unethical to appropriate the Baptist name and not hold what is understood to be Baptist in faith and practice. If a church calls itself “Baptist,” it ought be Baptist!
Some Baptist churches, for whatever reason, have decided to drop the name “Baptist” as an identifier. A church might be “Baptist” in official documents, affiliated with a Baptist association, convention, or fellowship, but yet not mention the name “Baptist” on the church sign, in public advertising, etc. They may do this because they think others have soiled the name, or they might do this to remove a barrier in outreach. If the latter reason, especially, they might be guilty of “false advertising” (e.g., people who think they are visiting a non-denominational church may feel deceived when they discover it is a Baptist Church).[i]
If your church is a real Baptist Church – truly holds the core beliefs of Baptists – then gladly honor your good name. If your church is faking it, please remove the name so you don’t ruin it for the rest of us.
[i] Some churches may feel embarrassed by the actions of their association, convention, or fellowship. If that body is so embarrassing that a church wants to hide the connection, perhaps the church should sever the connection! It seems incongruous to support a particular Baptist denominational body and at the same time hide that fact from the public and potential church members.
3 comments:
Well said. I had not thought of some of the possible reasons churches might drop "Baptist" from their name. Interesting, that some refuse to remove the word "Baptist" though they no longer adhere to Baptist doctrine (did I not hear that the "Bethlehem Baptist Church," formerly pastored by John Piper, approves of accepting members not immersed?). Others remove the name for various reasons, some of which you have listed. O, the creativity of duplicity! We have to ask OURSELVES why we do what we do and don't do (at least I need to ask myself).
E. T. Chapman
P. S. I tried to confirm my
25 years ago, I spoke with a man who boasted that they had dropped "Baptist" from their sign, on the basis of a survey they did in the area, wherein 25% of respondents said they had a negative reaction to the name. He was so proud that they had done this, he felt it showed the depth of their commitment.
He might hold the same survey and ask everyone how they react to Eternal Security, Baptism for Saved People Only, & Deity of Jesus Christ. I suspect he will get the same results, 25% opposed to these doctrines.
At the time, I was appalled by it, but now I'm rather thankful for all these churches telling us openly that they are not with us, they are something other.
As much as they don't want to be named with us, I don't want them associated to me either.
Jim
Brother Chapman, thanks for the comment. Looks like something at the end you started to write got cut off.
Brother Jim, agreed. As much as I disagree with the duplicity of dropping the Baptist name just some people have a negative reaction to the name, I am glad when those who are not really Baptist anyway are not named with us.
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