Why "AFFIRMING?"

I was awakened early one morning by a phone call. The angry voice demanded, “So why are you stupid Baptists pissed off at Mickey Mouse?” I explained that I had no idea and I hung up the phone and tried to go back to sleep. “Oh Crap! We’ve screwed up again!” I thought. I sprang from my bed and ran to get the newspaper. The Southern Baptist Convention was meeting that week and I knew we had voted on something awful.

It was true. The headlines read that Baptists had voted on a resolution to boycott Disney. Why? Seems Disney was “gay friendly.” Couldn’t have that could we? That resolution in 1996 was followed by another resolution in 1997. Also in 1997 was another resolution related to homosexuality. 1998, 1999, and 2000 also had resolutions related to homosexuality. 2003-2005 also had resolutions related to homosexuality.

It seems to me that for several years, Baptists have been known more for what we are against than what we affirm. It is my hope that this site will help change that trend. Of course, any time you affirm something or speak out against an issue you can be perceived as negative, but I am willing to try to put a positive spin on Baptist beliefs that are positive and gently and humbly critique what I perceive as negative aspects of Baptist life. I hope to attack ideas, not people.

Definition of Baptists

Below is a good definition of Baptists from the Churches of the Pacific Southwest-American Baptist Website.

American Baptists, and all other Baptist bodies in the U.S. and around the world, grew out of a movement begun in the early 1600's. That movement has emphasized:

• the Bible as the ultimate authority on issues of belief and practice for the church;
• the Lordship and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the basis for salvation;
• the necessity of a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord as prerequisite for baptism and church membership;
• the immersion of believers in water as the form of baptism found in the New Testament;
• the ability of all believers to be in direct relationship with God and to understand Scripture as illumined by the Holy Spirit;
• the influence of the Holy Spirit on individual lives and ministries; and
• the need for autonomous congregations free from government interference or hierarchical polity.

~ From Parish Church to the Gathered Church

Welcome Humble Baptists!

I hope to encourage a positive example to the world that Baptists can speak together in love and demonstrate God's grace in what they say and do.

Why BAROS?

Baros is the Greek word for burden or heavy. This past week I had lunch with my Methodist minister friend who served on their commission to study homosexuality. I was shacked as he described the experience in a positive light. He said that there were those on the commission that were in full support of ordaining practicing homosexuals and those who considered homosexuality as a sin. He said that they had real dialogue but that a consensus was not determined.

I was amazed. I am truly burdened that my Baptist brothers and sisters are unable to dialogue in such a loving manner. I’m not just talking about the homosexual issue. My guess is that there are very few Baptists who do not consider homosexuality a sin. I’ve perused blogs written by Baptists for a couple of years now and have seen very few that are willing to engage in honest dialogue. There are arguments over the openness of God folks, the Emerging folks, the women in ministry folks, etc.

My friend served in a church that contributed to the SBC and the CBF. His disturbing conclusion was that he was tired of the SBC folks accusing the CBF folks of being Liberals who didn’t believe the Bible and CBF folks who accused the SBC folks of not being “real Baptists!” His conclusion---Who cares! People in our town need to hear about Christ’s sacrificial death!

If Baptists are to unite, I believe they must determine what the essentials are. But, these essentials need to be essentials. I’d like to begin a discussion and see what happens. I hope you will join me.