Hawera Baptist Church
  • Home
  • Update
    • Facebook
    • Calendar
    • Magazine
    • Pastor's Blog
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Vision & Purpose
    • Testimonies
    • Being part of HBC
    • History
    • The Meaning of Life
  • Groups
  • Global Mission
  • Community Work
  • Contact Us

What does it mean to be Baptist?

20/6/2012

3 Comments

 
I can just picture some of you squirming in your seats at the very question! Most people in Protestant/Evangelical churches these days would be much more likely to identify as "Christian" than as "Baptist" or "Presbyterian" or something else.  In that sense the "days or denominationalism" are gone.  This is a good thing if we are thinking about denominations in a "we're right and they're wrong", or in a possessive/exclusive way (which I think has sometimes been the case).  However, I do wonder what this means for us as part of a local Baptist Church.

The reality is that as a Baptist Church we do have a distinct flavour, we do have unique ways of doing things, we do look at the world in different ways - in short, we have distinctive ideas that are important to us!  This is true for "Baptists" as a denomination, but it's equally true for us as a local Church.  So what are the important bits?  Over the next few weeks I'd like to explore this question.  For some it will serve as a reminder, for others it may be the first time you've thought about these things, either way, I think these are distinctive Baptist ideas that it would be sad to lose:.
1. Our understanding of decision making
2. Our belief in the "Priesthood of all believers"
3. Our theology and practice of believer's baptism.
4. Our concept of Membership: the good, the bad and the ugly.

We may find over the next few weeks that there are others things that should be included here so please engage in a dialogue if possible.  These articles will be posted onto our facebook group every week, and of course I'm always available for a chat if that's how you prefer to dialogue. I'm looking forward to looking at these ideas with you over the coming weeks.
3 Comments
rocco gous
20/6/2012 06:44:03 pm

I believe our local congregation should be in line with the rest of the Baptist Union in their vision of “Growing Healthy Churches”.

Herein we have the examples of Paul and James , etc. from the New Testament, as models to assist us to address any challenges or problems that are bound to arise as people from all walks of life, levels of society and different spiritual experiences are added to our local assembly.

Therefore, we need a strong and clear basis of Faith that in all things points to Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, for there is only one faith, one baptism and one Lord of us all, the Lord Jesus Christ.

From the writing of the Lord Jesus, Paul, Peter and James in the New Testament, it is clear that there is a clear call and a theme to being part of something greater than ourselves and a purpose that is directed at the perpetuation of something that Jesus has established with His life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension . A Call to a Work which has been prepared in advance for us to do, individually but also collectively , here in Hawera, the district, South Taranaki and the Nation of New Zealand and the Ends of the Earth.

The local Baptist congregation should be so healthy and established that in all our activities, business, contacts and doings, we naturally meet the call of equipping, empowering, sending and supporting the Work that Jesus has called us to do, preaching the Gospel to every creature , near and far.

I see the Holy Spirit setting us up to have a greater relationship with local businesses, local institutions i.e. education, etc. and also with the local government to bring the wisdom and integrity etc. that only the Holy Spirit can bring to those that are frustrated, dumb-found and perplexed as our Enemy perverts every effort of humanity to try and do a good work.

I would like to see a much greater link with neighboring congregations, Baptist but also other denominations in our efforts to club together in prayer and resource sharing and “raising our voice and raising our profile in the community” as the Christian witness to the people in our local society and beyond.

I believe as the health of our local congregations improve and we have to spend less time and effort and resources on keeping everyone happy and established, we will automatically see the local congregation start moving in line with what Jesus has really called us to do which is, be a witness unto the nations about the Good News of His Gospel. That is the challenge!!! That is where we need to be closely in tune with the Holy Spirit and with what He is directing, not the whim of the people, not the circumstances, not the financial situation, not the latest fad, etc.

The key of the National Vision of the Baptist Union speaks clearly to the local assembly:

Growing: working, doing, being, moving forward, learning, practicing, experiencing, faith

Healthy: established, vibrant, energetic, alive, enthusiastic, assured, peace, stability, accepted, responsive, hope

Churches: peoples, foundational, support, reference, belonging, links, relationships, families, networks, resources, love





I believe that the Holy Spirit is saying to the New Zealand Baptist Union that it is time to start living up to the prophetic call that the Holy Spirit has placed in the hearts and souls of our foundational and establishing members, way back.

I don’t believe that God calls and shows the way and then changes His mind a little while down the track as to how and why He has called and set up this movement.

Back to those foundational basics is what the Holy Spirit is saying. Don’t look to the left or the right, but follow the path shown and directed by the Holy Spirit.

Yes, our world is constantly and ever changing at a faster rate than we can most of the time keep up with or process properly. This is where our dependency on the daily guidance of the Holy Spirit becomes so critically vital.

I see a greater cooperation and mutual support of the local congregations, by greater and more effective use of communication and use of technology to speed up and produce a more effective response to our Call by being informed what is happening locally, nationally and globally. This information sharing will direct a more concerted response as to where prayer, members, funds and resources should be directed, at the right time, by the right people, for the right length of time. There is a clear example of this from the New Testament, just read the missionary journeys of Paul and his comrades. This can only be accomplished if our Baptist congregations are in tune with the Holy Spirit and each other, in as much as they are Growing and Healthy and are the Church!!

“The church’s primary task is to do the work of mission, based on our evangelical understanding of proclaiming the gospel in word, deed and sign to a sinful world.”

Reply
David Auty
25/6/2012 03:52:19 pm

Some (many) great thoughts there Rocco...portrayed with all the passion and dynamism that we all expect from you :) Anyone else have any thoughts?

Reply
rocco gous
20/6/2012 06:49:39 pm

I believe Baptists are family-orientated and community-focused, Bible-applying believers who love to include each other in our endevours in fulfilling our Lord's Mission of spreading His love all-abroad!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2014
    January 2014
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011

    Categories

    All
    Anniversary
    Baptism
    Baptist
    Camp
    Care & Inclusion
    Change
    Christmas
    Discipleship
    Discipleship & Training
    Easter
    Election
    Evangelism
    Life And Death
    Memories
    Mission
    Mothers Day
    Obedience
    Prayer
    Prayer & Self Denial
    Relationships
    Risk
    Short Story
    Sport
    Strategy
    Take Care
    Testimony
    Vision

Picture
Picture
Picture