What do you consider yourself?

[matie-k]

I have a big question about all this...not sure if I'm right. Weren't the first Christians called that by others because of how they lived their life? They didn't self title themselves, but rather they just lived in a daily manner of following Christ, and hence people called them that. And historically wasn't that the same case with fundamentalists? They lived a certain way, and then were given the tag fundamentalists because of how they lived their lives and separated themselves from worldly living.

If you think of it historically like that, it seems almost silly to boldly say "I am a christian!" I would hope people think of me as a fundamental christian by looking at my life. However I don't know if I would be able to give myself the title knowing what I do about myself. Anyways, I'm not sure what to self title myself. I guess I'd call myself a Bible believer and Christ follower hoping in His mercy.

Also, I think the term "IFB" has become very muddled by a broad range of different standards, convictions, and variations of belief on the fundamentals of the faith.

[Guest Guest]

I answered Christian, Catholics are the original Christians. :wink

[Kubel]

Actually didn't Catholicism begin when a guy started painting Microsoft advertisements all over his soldiers shields? Yeah. It was a symbol made out of the first two letters of Christ in Greek... XP. [/bad joke]

Catholicism from the "protestant" groups perspective is essentially a pagan governments attempt to assimilate a new, growing religion into their beliefs, which later grew into a tradition-based religion instead of a sola-scruptura-based religion like many of us here believe in. Really study the life of Constantine and the Battle of Milvian Bridge. You will see not one single person repented or asked for forgiveness or accepted Christ as their sin sacrifice. There was just a "vision", a painting of shields, and everyone then declared themselves Christian.

It's this tradition that continues in the Catholic Church today. There's a lot of seemingly great religious things that the Church does, but it does not teach a Biblicists approach to Christianity. It carries on the legacy of the Battle of Milvian Bridge.

I honestly think the Catholic Church has much potential. There are many followers. Many parishes. Many servants. But their belief in works based salvation, in baptism, in tradition outweighs the truth of blood-bought salvation by faith.

[vickyjean]

I consider myself an IFB, but I have gone to a Baptist Church (IFB), because I believe it is the denomination that is the closest(our pastor calls us Historical Baptists.) to the Word of God and its teachings :smile

[kevinmiller]

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
(Acts 11:26)

I'm afraid Christians were around a long time before the Roman Catholic church ever came on the scene. Catholicism is a perversion of Christianity. After Christianity was instituted as the "state religion" of Rome, it was very quickly perverted by mixing Roman deities and mythology with Christianity. Thus the incense, gods(saints), candles, robes, etc. etc.

[lettheredeemedsayso]

And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Excellent!!!(I would have used a smiley but they are not working for me)

[vickyjean]

In my belief I am a Christian, by the very definition. Now, the term Christian includes any group that 'says' that they are 'Christian'. I agree with whoever posted that my life is not all that its cracked up to be; I only identify IFB, because in my area of the state/country, I want to be identified with them: they dont have a 'group' to answer to, like for instance, GARBC (general association regular baptist churches), where if you dont do something they dont like you can be reprimanded. I wouldnt go to this church if I felt that the Word of God wasnt preached; our pastor uses the KJV, and thats what I use primarily; but I also compare it with others, and then I can find things that I may ? about, but I trust God, His Son, the Holy Spirit, to teach me my daily bread, and He gives me what I need, whether its in His house made by man, or His collective church, His people :2cents

[SarahStrawberry]

Just for fun I voted for Charismatic, I want to see if anyone will react Probably not anymore, since I said I did it

LoL! I will say that I was curious when I saw that vote! lol!!!

~Sarah

[SarahStrawberry]

.

I don't like placing myself in a man-made religious or denominational box

But Baptist(IFB) isn't a man made religion. It is the religion founded by Christ Himself, the very one He was speaking of when He said "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Mt 16:18 That is why I'm a Baptist. If He had founded Catholics, I would be a Catholic, If Methodists, I would be that and so on.

BTW I'm a Saved by Grace IFB!!! In that order

~Sarah

[kevinmiller]

Christ founded His church, which would be a church that most closely follows His teachings. Saying He founded the Baptist church is like Catholics saying that He founded the Catholic church. There just isn't any basis for it.

[ltl]

But Baptist(IFB) isn't a man made religion. It is the religion founded by Christ Himself, the very one He was speaking of when He said "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Mt 16:18 That is why I'm a Baptist. If He had founded Catholics, I would be a Catholic, If Methodists, I would be that and so on.

BTW I'm a Saved by Grace IFB!!! In that order

~Sarah

A better way would be this...
Christ found the NT Church and established firm His doctrines.
- The early NT church held on to these doctrines.
- The proto-Baptists (e.g. Waldernesians) also held on to these doctrines.
- The Baptists also hold on to these doctrines.
- Unfortunately most Baptist churches have abandoned them, but IFB churches are relatively faithful to these doctrines compared to other Baptist churches.

That's what I believe.

[vickyjean]

:drool This is what I was trying to say, about IFB; no denomination is perfect, and nit picking about them doesnt get us anywhere but hurt feelings; salvation by Christs blood alone gets us to be with Him; I believe every church aff. will be represented in Heaven as long as they dont deny Jesus' sacrificial gift to us, and we accept it, and repent, and turn from our selfish wicked ways :soap: :hide

[vickyjean]

:peek: sometimes I 'speak' w/o thinking :sunny: I hope I wasnt rude or put anyone off by what I said; but that is basically the only way to sit at Jesus feet and work for Him in heaven; no man-made rules, rituals, and yes we all have them in our churches, sometimes they confuse the issue of salvation. sometimes we believe, but salvation is still to some not the main goal to get to heaven. works wont get you there, no matter what a preacher, priest, guru says; its just after you found Him that you cant help but do what His Word tells us do. :coffee I made some and now I have to have some, and get ready to be picked up for Bible study--we are in the tail end of Judges (awesome), and next will be Ruth. I am looking fw to that as well. I will be back in about 5-6 hours as we go out for lunch after. Be cool and love each other If anyone is interested in what our church believes check out:info@hbc-kentwood.com (I hope that is the right way to do things, as I dont know any other)

[Tim]

No problem at all with your post vickyjean.

[lettheredeemedsayso]

This is what I was trying to say, about IFB; no denomination is perfect, and nit picking about them doesnt get us anywhere but hurt feelings; salvation by Christs blood alone gets us to be with Him; I believe every church aff. will be represented in Heaven as long as they dont deny Jesus' sacrificial gift to us, and we accept it, and repent, and turn from our selfish wicked ways

I understand how you feel I have wrestled with this alot myself. We want people to know Christ and His Word. The issue is it is not about denomination it is about truth. Scripture clearly teaches us that people trusting in thier own works for salvation will not be in heaven.
You are correct every denomination will be represented in heaven if they accept the Word of God and not doctrines of men.