Comments on: A Baptist Stuck in a Presbyterian “Body”?

By: Bobby

Bobby — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 22:25:24 +0000

Interesting post. It is always good to remember that we belong to Him alone. I once wanted to be “Reformed” (i.e. Dutch), or even Presbyterian. No matter how hard I tried to push it aside I realized that the “baby-sprinkling thing” was so foundational to Presbyterian theology and practice and I would never be able to be a minister until I addressed the issue. Many times I thought I had been convinced of “baby-sprinkling” but my conscience was never truly clear, and the Scripture repeatedly convicted me.

You say you “remain teachable.” Then I suggest you read this new short essay entitled “From Circumcision to Baptism,” in order to get a better handle on the topic before you are faced with the practical challenges of ministry. “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (Jas 3:1).

Here is the link (wrapped):
http://www.baptisttheology.org/
documents/FromCircumcisiontoBaptism_001.pdf

“My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me” (1 Cor 4:4 NIV).

May the Lord make His face shine upon you.

By: Rae

Rae — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 03:11:35 +0000

Thanks for the kind words, Jeff.

By: Jeff Singfiel

Jeff Singfiel — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 07:45:04 +0000

As I CMA missionary I can tell you that we are definitely a mixed bag. I know CMA pastors who are aggresively Calvinistic, and others who don’t even understand the issues. We’ve always tried to be a “big tent” movement and, in fact, one of my favorite A.B. Simpson quote is, “We are not a denomination nor will we ever be a denomination.” So much for founder’s intent.
Good luck on your journey!

By: Rae

Rae — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 21:07:59 +0000

Yeah, I’ve noticed that the Methodist/Wesleyan/Nazarene-type often end up in C&MA churches somewhere down the road. It might be because the C&MA is often identified as a “Holiness” movement with some common roots w/ Wesleyanism. It’s just hard to pigeonhole, because it shares roots w/ Presbyterianism and Pentecostalism as well. It’s just all over the map!

I guess the one truly distinctive thing about the C&MA is that it’s very staunchly premillenial in its eschatology. Affirmation of premillenialism is actually a requirement for membership in a C&MA church (and oddly enough, baptism isn’t).

By: Geof F. Morris

Geof F. Morris — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 20:57:33 +0000

It’s always interesting for me to read things like this from other folks, because while I’ve questioned a lot of Methodism, I’ve always come back. [Aren't there a lot of Methodist/Wesleyan type folks in the C&MA movement, Rae? Seems like I remember a number of backers of the stuff C&MA did in China being nominal Methodists. Not that it matters much, I don't guess.]

By: BlogWatch

BlogWatch — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 15:42:00 +0000

Faith Story

Not another blog highlights the personal faith journey of the author….

By: Travis Seitler

Travis Seitler — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 15:14:10 +0000

Wow, that’s a pretty good way to put things.

“or qualifying everything with ‘but I dunno about the whole baby-sprinkling thing’.”

It’s so encouraging to know I’m not the only one who’s ever been in that position!