John Young

it takes too much effort to count you out....

If the church simultaneously equates physical growth of a church to God's blessing (their church) or to compromise with the world (growth of other churches) you might be in a Baptist church.

When you preach what is your style of presentation? I usually preach a passage and apply the main points to the person listening. Are you monotone? NO. I usually try to preach calmly and conversationally but authoritatively. Are you loud in emphasizing your points? Only occasionally when its natural to do so. I don't do it as part of a "preachers rhythm". Do you preach from notes, or off the top of your head "as the spirit leads" you? I usually make study notes that I refer to occasionally for verse references, main points or notes. However when preaching examples and applications are based somewhat "off the cuff style" but with passage and notes as reference points. How long is your typical sermon? Typically an hour or so when preaching chapter by chapter but if topical no more than 45 min. https://www.youtube.com/myfractalsoflife/

You might be independent Baptist if this is your favorite joke..... "Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, "Don't do it!" He said, "Nobody loves me." I said, "God loves you. Do you believe in God?" He said, "Yes." I said, "Are you a Christian or a Jew?" He said, "A Christian." I said, "Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me, too! What franchise?" He said, "Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?" He said, "Northern Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region." I said, "Me, too!" Northern Conservative†Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912." I said, "Die, heretic!" And I pushed him over." ~ Emo Phillips

Ah, so a person with private interpretations. Anything is possible to believe even when its not consistent with any tradition of faith. However legitimate baptism requires a church to join which practices it. If no church practices what an individual believes about baptism then its an opinion on a church matter that doesn't matter.

And what group would that be? And what would that group say Baptism represents?

Such as?

If you make it to heaven then you were Baptist even if you didn't realize it. Yes I said it! lol

No joke, our church's official start time for Sunday School is 945 but it doesn't start till 9 because it takes 15 min for buses get in and kids settled for the service.

Maybe Online Baptist will be part of the dark web for tribulation saints...

Exodus 22:15 But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.

I wonder who posted the most in this thread? I demand a recount!

Exodus 22:13 If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.

John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

The fall of Satan happened in the garden when he was in the serpent. The iniquity that was found in Satan was moving mankind to go against God's Word. Genesis 3:13-15 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Also scripture is clear that all things were made in the seven days and there were not extra things from another age. Exodus 20:11 for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.