stoneshms.jpg - 54764 Bytes
Our Priority,
Our Philosophy,
Our Position,
Our Programs,
Our Physical LocationOutside Links-
Baptist Bastion,
Books and Bibles Online,
HomeSchool Sailor,
Fundamentally Basic,
Religions & Cults,
More Christian ResourcesSupported Missions,
Other Missions,
World Church DirectoryRecent Additions to Our Site
Home PageSermons in Type,
Sermons on Tape,
Doctrinal WritingsOur Pastor,
Our PeopleAsk the Pastor,
Pastors Pen Online,
Memorization,
Daily Devotions
galley.gif - 2962 Bytes
......................
Ask Pastor

Complete
Listing

Topical Listing
clear.gif - 808 BytesBaptist Why's
clear.gif - 808 BytesBible Versions
clear.gif - 808 BytesCharismatics
clear.gif - 808 BytesChristian Living
clear.gif - 808 BytesChurch
clear.gif - 808 BytesEtymology
clear.gif - 808 BytesFamily
clear.gif - 808 BytesGeneral Bible
clear.gif - 808 BytesIsrael
clear.gif - 808 BytesReligions/Cults
clear.gif - 808 BytesSalvation/Growth
clear.gif - 808 BytesSin
clear.gif - 808 BytesHoly Spirit/Trinity
clear.gif - 808 BytesThe Pastor
clear.gif - 808 BytesWomen
......................
Pastor's Pen
......................
Memorization
......................


Quick Links
clear.gif - 808 Bytes
clear.gif - 808 BytesOur Priorities
clear.gif - 808 BytesOur Constitution
clear.gif - 808 BytesOur Pastor
clear.gif - 808 BytesOur Programs
clear.gif - 808 BytesOur Location
clear.gif - 808 BytesOur Missionaries

......................
Favorites
clear.gif - 808 Bytes
clear.gif - 808 BytesGoogle Search
clear.gif - 808 BytesGoogle Search
clear.gif - 808 BytesAsk the Pastor
clear.gif - 808 BytesDoctrinal Writings
clear.gif - 808 BytesFresh Supplies

......................

Thank you for visiting. Please send spiritual comments to Pastor's Pen

......................

Please e-mail all other comments to WindJammer

......................

Ambassador Baptist Church
1926 Babcock Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15209
(412)477-3210
clear.gif - 808 Bytes
clear.gif - 808 Bytes clear.gif - 808 Bytes
atp2.gif - 2137 Bytes
clear.gif - 808 Bytes


clear.gif - 808 Bytes Question:

clear.gif - 808 Bytes Does a Church have to hang Baptist over the door or have Baptist in it's name to be a Baptist Church? The Church I am referring to practices all the doctrines of the Baptist Faith, but the people just DO NOT want Baptist in the name.
clear.gif - 808 Bytes


Response:

Thanks for your letter. I do not believe that a church MUST have Baptist in the name in order to be a New Testament church. There are several churches that I am familiar with that do not have Baptist in the name, yet take a strong stand on historic Baptist doctrine and practice. By the same token, there are any number of churches from various "Baptist" conventions and associations that call themselves Baptists, but do not have any concept of Biblical truth.

However, I am curious as to why a church would not want to be identified with the historic (and Biblical) name of Baptist. Some argue that the name Baptist may carry a bad connotation in their area. However, the names "Bible Church" or "Community Church" certainly carry connotations of wishy-washy doctrine throughout much of Fundamentalism. Whatever name is chosen will tell the community how the church believes. I personally would rather go with a name that has a historical connection to sound Biblical teaching.

Some say that even though they may not have Baptist in the name, that the church is "Baptistic". Names identify you as to who you are. When my wife married me, she took the name Montgomery. She did this because she wanted to be identified with me. She did not keep her maiden name, but tell everyone that she was "Montgomeryistic". She took the name of what she was: a Montgomery.

Others say that churches should choose a "neutral" name (Bible, Community, Open Door, etc.), so that they can better attract the unchurched who may be put off by Baptists. However, I do not find any place in the Scriptures where we should attempt to attract the unsaved through deception (Matt 5:37: "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay"). I also do not believe that the primary place of evangelism is to be within the local church. Again, the New Testament example is that people go out from the church, win the lost, and then bring them into the church to be baptized and discipled. If we are going to teach the new convert Baptist doctrine, why not do it in a Baptist church?

One more thought. If we are going to water down our name to appease the unbelievers, what else will we someday water down to appease them? A quick examination of contemporary "evangelicalism" shows that there has been a great increase of churches with "neutral" names. However, many of these churches have also tailored their services so as to not offend the unsaved once they come into the church. How can we preach a message that men are sinners, condemned to Hell, and completely unable to save themselves, without being offensive? I Peter 2:8 calls Christ Himself "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence". Most men that I know who have removed Baptist from the original name of their church so as to not be offensive have also removed important Biblical teaching. The philosophy of being acceptable to the unregenerate is a slippery slope indeed!

I hope this gives you some food for thought. You can be a Baptist church and not have it in the name. However, I would question why a church would want to go that way. Perhaps they are not really as Baptistic as they think they are.

May the Lord bless you.
clear.gif - 808 Bytes

By
Dr Mark Montgomery
Ambassador Baptist Church
1926 Babcock Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15209
(412)477-3210




Return to Top

Return to The Galley
His Majesty's Service
Home of Ambassador Baptist Church
1926 Babcock Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15209
(412)477-3210
clear.gif - 808 Bytes