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The Gospel Lantern
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men"
LIGHTHOUSE
BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH
883 AENON CHURCH
ROAD
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
32304
(850) 574-9886
Why am I a Baptist?
The question sometimes arises as to why I am a Baptist Preacher.
Why not a Catholic Priest, after all I was raised Catholic.
Why not a Lutheran Minister, after all I was married in a Lutheran Church.
Could it be that an Independent Baptist Preacher, in October 1977 in Milton Florida, showed up at my door and brought me the gospel, showing me how to be saved? That is part of it, but there is much more to it then that. It has to do with Church History and what a Baptist is. Let me take you back for a moment and give you a short history lesson.During early New testament times there were no churches names as we have today. The Catholic Church, in which I was raised, found it's beginnings around 325 AD. Problems developed in this church and before long, man's idea's were put over God's word. When apostasy set in, there were groups that began to break off of the Catholic Church, some of which were named after their founders. These churches were later called Protestant Churches, meaning "To Protest Catholicism". From these groups came your interdenominational and nondenominational churches, all Protestant. But, how about those Baptists? Where did they come from? Where did they get their name? The group that I identify with are Bible Believers who put the Bible as the final authority for all faith and practice. Their lineage begins as early Independent Churches. They were doctrinal descendents of the Apostles and the early New Testament Church. The name "Baptist" would not come until much later. They would be called a number of names, all coming from those who lead them, such as Montanists, Novatians, Donatists, Paulicians, Waldenses, Lollards and Albingenses. Later in history they picked up the name "Ana-Baptist" which means "Re-baptiser". This name was used to identify those who rejected infant baptism and thus re-baptising Believers upon their profession of faith. As history progressed, the term "Ana" was dropped and these believers were called "Baptists".
The Great Scientist Sir Isaac Newton, who was a theological student and church historian, studied the history of these believers. He stated that it was his conviction that the Baptists were the only Christians who have not symbolized with Rome.
The Members of Lighthouse Bible Baptist church are King James Bible Believers. We believe the Bible from cover to cover. As a general outline of our beliefs, we have what are termed as Baptist distinctives which distinguish the Baptist from all other church groups.
Bible Authority - Baptist believe that every thing the Bible says is the final authority.
Autonomy of the local church - Autonomy meaning "Independent". We teach, as the Bible teaches in Matthew 18:17, that the local church is independently governed.
Priesthood of the Believer - 1Peter 2:9. The Vail was rent and we have access.
Individual Soul Liberty - Baptist believe that each person must choose Jesus Christ himself. No one can be forced to be saved. God gives each of us a will.
Regenerated Church Membership - The only members in the Baptist Church are to be those persons who have been saved and where the believer was then baptised.
Separation of Church and State - Matthew 22:21. The Bible clearly teaches that the state should not control the church nor should the church control the state. That does not mean that the individual Saint cannot vote and try to change godless policies.
The question has been asked, why not just be called a "Christian"?* The Lord Jesus Christ does not want us to be ashamed of what we believe and what we are identified with (Matthew 10:32). These Bible Believers, who are now called "Baptists" didn't begin with that name, and we sure won't keep it in Heaven, after the Rapture. But the name "Baptist" does identify us with a group who loves God and believes the Bible as God's Holy Word, without error. Why the name? When it comes right down to it, it was the world who gave us the name. I believe that it should be kept and respected.
Now the question arises, are all Baptists where they need to be with the Lord? NO! * ["Christian" means "Christ like" and not all saved, born again, baptised believers are "Christ like".]
Are all Baptists Heaven bound? NO! Only those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. There is one thing I can honestly say regarding the the Local Independent King James Bible Believing Baptist Church, it is the closest thing there is to a New Testament Church. Though not perfect, it is as good a model as you will find today.The Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church will continue to be an Independent, Bible Believing, Soul Winning Baptist Church, from now until the Rapture.
Pastor Henry Kish ("Skip")
Article is from the Spring 2002, Volume 1, Issue 1 of "The Gospel Lantern" LBBC newsletter.
MORE ARTICLES TO COME - MAY BE UPDATED QUARTERLY
