Last week we looked at “What do you believe?” by going through Baptist history and believer’s baptism. We are continuing with the series on “Who Are We?”
Today we continue with more parts of Grenz’s Acronym of “BAPTIST” – True believers only in the church and autonomy of the local congregation. (Grenz.pg. 82)
B eliever’s baptism
A utonomy of the local congregation within the associational framework
P rimacy of Scripture
T rue believers only in church
I ndividual competency and believer priesthood
S eparation of church and state
T wo ordinances [1]
We find one teaching on church membership in Acts 2 just after the Holy Spirit has come upon the apostles at Pentecost. Peter addresses the crowd to help them know what to do going forward.
Acts 2: 36-47 NIV
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Stanley Grenz, associate professor of systematic theology, gives us two thoughts on the church in his book “The Baptist Congregation”:
1. A fundamental understanding concerning the nature of the church, namely, that it consists in a people standing in voluntary covenant with one another and God. This outlook suggests further that, as far is possible, church membership, as participation in this covenant company, must be limited to those persons who are truly converted (true believers).
2. Baptists have continually sought to take seriously the New Testament understanding of the church as the company of the redeemed. The teaching of the Scriptures, they maintain, is clear: church membership is to follow, not precede, personal faith and baptism (Acts 2:41). This scriptural principle is derived from individual competency as well, for if God’s call to faith is issued to individuals, the church can be seen only as the company of believers (ie., those who have responded to God’s personal call). [2]
“Church membership is extended only to those who express a personal desire to covenant together with the local body.” [3]
Covenant: A binding agreement made by two or more individuals, parties to do or keep from doing a specified thing.
The promises made by God to man, as recorded in the Bible. [4]
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the profession of our faith having been baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We promise, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this Church in knowledge, holiness, understanding and care; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; and to support its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines.
We promise to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the Church and to its expenses, its commitments to spread the Gospel into all the world and its assistance to those in need.
We promise to maintain family and private Bible study and prayer; to educate our children in the Christian Faith; and to share our faith with our family and community.
We promise to walk honestly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful to our commitments and honourable in our conduct; to avoid all gossip, malicious talk and excessive anger; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Saviour.
We further promise to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to help each other in times of trouble; to be not easily offended and always ready to forgive and settle differences, remembering Christ’s command to do so quickly.
We moreover promise that when we move from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
We joyfully accept the responsibility and personal accountability detailed in this covenant in Christian love.
Grenz states: “This act, however, must never be viewed as similar to joining a club or organization, for it is the sealing of a covenant with God and with like-minded, “like-committed” persons to walk together as God’s people and Jesus’ disciples.”[5]
Autonomy of the church, as stated by Grenz, says: “Local congregational autonomy declares that the lordship of Christ over His church is directly present in each local body apart from any mediating hierarchy external to it.”[6]
He continues with “fidelity to the New Testament ecclesiological model demands that autonomy be balanced by a sense of corporate identity, which gives acknowledgement to the unity and interdependency of Christ’s church everywhere.
Their understanding of this has led most Baptist congregations to band together in voluntary associations of various types. By its voluntary nature an association upholds the autonomy of the member congregations. At the same time, as an expression of Christ’s body on a broader scale, the association carries an advisory function which ought to be taken seriously by its constituency.[7]
Our association is with the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada (CBWC). To find out more about them, go to the link on our website and have a look.
Next week we will look at “What are we to do?” Missions, Discipleship, Giving, Evangelism
Satan wants nothing less than us fighting amongst ourselves. His job is easy if we allow him to influence our behavior. Join with me in prayer for the strength to walk tall and strong for Jesus as an individual and as a church family.
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