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Are You Really Just a Christian?
By mwilhite | June 25, 2008
I’ve recently been contemplating some statements made in recent years by several acquaintances of mine. A typical scenario might go by saying, “what denomination do you belong to?” Or something like, “what faith are you?” I have heard many people tell me they are simply “just Christians”. When asked where they go, they would tell me “such and such church.” But they just want to be labeled only as Christians. Some of these have even been Southern Baptist acquaintances of mine that have said this.
I just wanted to throw in my own two cents for what it is worth and say that when someone asks me what religion I am, I don’t say Christian. I very gladly say, “I’m Southern Baptist.” I understand some people just want to be called Christian, but I’m not one of them. I’m not ashamed of the SBC, nor will I ever be unless it goes into heresy. These days, there aren’t many of us in the younger generation who care much about denominational loyalty anymore. That really saddens me. Frankly, doctrine matters. Doctrine may be a taboo word for many people, but it is utterly essential to the Christian faith to believe the truth.
So I just want to go on the record for what it’s worth and say that I am not “just a Christian!” I am a Southern Baptist and always will be. For those SBCers out there who just want to be called a Christian, if you don’t want to be labeled by the term SBC, then frankly why are you even in the SBC? I am not ashamed of the Gospel and I am also not ashamed of being Southern Baptist. Allow me to define what it means to me to be a Southern Baptist and you’ll see why I am so adamant about being called one.
A Southern Baptist to me is a Christian who just happens to have correct theology. Given that, why would I be ashamed to call myself SBC? Am I ashamed of the truth or something? I’m not saying other denominations don’t have the truth. I just think we are right and other denominations are lacking in some areas. If I didn’t earnestly believe that, I wouldn’t be in this beloved Convention. I’m not ashamed to be associated with it. So for all those who still want to be called just a Christian, that’s fine for you. But maybe now you won’t be totally dumbfounded when I look you square in the eye and gladly proclaim “I’m Southern Baptist!”
Topics: Doctrine |