Hubby and I believe that baptism is rightly administered to one who has demonstrated faith in Christ, credo-baptism. We have visited over 20 churches in our area, mostly baptist churches with a few non-denoms thrown in for flavor. We have read statements of faith, purpose statements, and “what we value” lists for more than 20 different churches. This gets exhausting, but I have learned one thing. That is, while most of these churches, born out of the Protestant Reformation, have statements and constitutions that read like they are reformed, they are not reformed in practice.
What do I mean by this? First, most of the churches we’ve visited do not center their programs or preaching on God. They are not God-centered. They are man-centered. Decisions are made based on what will be good for the “lost” visitor, or what will appeal to the most people. “If you like to fish, then we’ll start a fishing ministry. If you like to ride horses, then we’ll have Sunday school after we go horseback riding. If you like this kind of music, then we’ll throw out our hymnal full of theologically strong language in favor of something lighter and less God-exalting. We’ll sing about you instead. You don’t like long sermons? Well, how long do you think is too long? Oh, 15 minute sermons are fine! I’ll make sure the three points all start with the same letter to make it easier for you to fill in the blanks. And we’ll cover fun topics like how God wants you to have the best and be a winner.” I want my children to learn about God when they go to Sunday school. Instead they tell me that they learned they must share or they must be friends. The churches say they exist to glorify God, but they don’t do it.
Second, some of the preachers we’ve heard do not base their sermons on God’s word alone. Yes, it is read. We have only been to one church where the Bible was not used at all. However, while God’s word is read it is not preached from. The preachers do not exegete the text of the Bible. Here is how it usually goes: today I want to talk about ________, followed by a story or joke, then a few verses (OR ONE VERSE) are read from the Bible, then the preacher goes on to explain something interesting from a popular book he is reading. They say they believe the Bible is the word of God, but they act like someone else’s words are better.
Third, faith ALONE is not taught. I have actually heard at one of the churches we visited that “I have a faith within and that I must place my faith in something. It is mine to give. If I want to believe that Jesus is the way to heaven, then I can put my faith in him and have eternal life. It is my choice. It is by “decision” alone. It’s a free gift, all I have to do is accept it.” The same preachers who say this have church statements of faith that say otherwise.
I’ll stop with three because I can’t sit here all day. So, what does this have to do with baptism? Since reformed doctrine is more associated with the Presbyterians around here, and it seems that most baptists don’t know what the term means, would it be crazy to attend a Presbyterian church so that we could be fed from God’s word and be involved in worship that honors Him even if it means we lay aside our beliefs regarding the appropriate administration of baptism?
Or do we do as kerux neomate suggests and move? I suppose only visiting 21 churches in a town with over 100 baptist churches isn’t enough of a sampling to justify moving.
Here is a link to Challies in which I posted the same question in the comments section. Several folks smarter than myself responded. I thought you might be interested.
Hubby is very much against changing denominations, so the point is moot (for me), but the discussion is still interesting. What do you think?
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Leslie Wiggins 
12 responses to “Changing Denominations?”
(from Jenn) I think it would be fine to change denominations (well to PCA not PCUSA). My husband went to a PCA church in college because of the look of a Bible-feeding Baptist church. But he would probably be hesitant to switch too. BUT if you move, move up here to Virginia. Just let us know what kind of job to look for!
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oops – I meant ‘because of the LACK of a Bible-feeding Baptist church.” (from Jenn)
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If it was me, I would probably try the out PCA church, though I’m not a supporter of the paedo-baptist position. After attending an Arminian church for several months the one you mention in your post sounds pretty good to me!My only concern would be possible tension regarding my children not having been baptised, but I don’t know enough about about presbyterians to know if that would be an issue.How about we just all move to Virginia to hang out with Jenn and go to her church?Actually, it’s looking pretty certain that we will be moving back to my hometown (hooray!!) before Christmas and I really miss the church we used to attend there.
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Jenn–thank you for the invitation. Karl has this thing for Colorado, though. I think if he could choose anywhere in the US it would be the Rocky Mtns. If we go looking out of Alabama, that might be the first place he would want to look. Honestly, though, Karl is not adventurous enough to do something like that at all. We love his extended family way too much to move very far away, too. kerux neomata would call that idolatry… Amy–If the way baptists handle it is any indication, then it would be a problem. My aunt’s church had to deal with this issue. There were Christians baptized as infants who wanted to join their baptist church and enjoy the full rights of membership, but they did not believe they needed to be baptized again (by immersion). Some members took sides and there was a big to-do about it.
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Hi Leslie, We have been going to a church for 6 years now that is increasingly sharing more about books the pastors read or their opinion on them with a few passages sprinkled throughout the message. We have decided to give it another 6 months to a year and see how things go. If this is going to be the way the ‘teaching’ is , we don’t want to be a part of it. I think it is great that you and your husband are taking all of this seriously and not settling in one area. I feel the same way. I want my children to learn about God, not go to just make friends and feel good. I want to go to a church that preaches the Word of God…please don’t read to me from a power point word for word and talk to me about this book or that book the whole time. I can really relate to your struggle. We have been having a hard time too. There are so many good things about the church we go to, but right now it seems like solid teaching is really going down hill. As you can see, I could go on and on. Maybe we should meet for coffee, huh? :0)Wendy
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Yes, I suppose if someone wanted to become an official member perhaps it could be an issue. My mother attended a lutheran church when I was a baby so I was “sprinkled” then, but later we attended a non-denominational church and then a Mennonite Bretheren turned charismatic one. Anyway, as a teenager I became convinced that I needed to be baptised by immersion.Then again, it not like we can go back to babyhood so perhaps going from a member of a Baptist church to PCA is easier than going from a PCA church to a Baptist church!
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Leslie, After I complete my current series, I already have one planned on church membership. You, Karl and other people I know in real life and in blogdom are not church members…and I think it’s a mistake.While I sympathize with your desire to find a church that checks all the blocks, I find it highly unlikely that there is no church you have visited in which your family can serve in your calling. God does not hold us accountable for the doctrines and practices of our church, but for our own actions. That said, you can’t kick it all to the curb. If you have visited a church where a) the message was Biblical (even if, heaven forbid, Arminian or Pelagian or paedo-baptist) and b) people didn’t look at you like you are wackos, you have found a place you can serve and fellowship.Moving is probably not the answer. Does the Lord want his people to all run to a few places? Who fights apostasy if not true beleivers? Who ministers when true Christians are few and far between?Prayerfully consider that God may want you in a church that is less than you hope for. It is in the presence of other sinners who happen to be our brothers and sisters that we are reminded of our own sinfulness and need for grace.
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I agree with hammertime to a point. My problem is that, in the past, being members of a church fellowship that was lacking in biblical instruction and motivated members has contributed to my natural desire to just stay at home on Sundays. That isn’t the church’s fault per se, but it would certainly help me to have a church home that we looked forward to with anticipation.
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I agree with you, Hammertime. We have discussed exactly what you suggest. The question still remains, which imperfect church will we join?
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(from Jenn) We would love to go to Colorado too! Have you read Josh Harris’”Stop Dating the Church”? I know someone in there had a testimony of moving for a church. I think it may take time to search for a godly church that preaches the Wrod and that’s ok. We could no longer “look the other way” about doctinal issues and teachings when we realized we would have to “reteach” our children.
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I am so glad to hear that there are other people out there who are really seeking truth and deep teaching from the WORD. I thought we wer the only ones! Mrs. Meg Logan
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Leslie–we are so like minded…wow,I didn’t know how much until I read this post! We were baptist,too…then as we began studying God’s Word and reading from doctrinally sound books…we realized that our church was worldy in practice….we seemed to agree on major doctrines,but the minsitry phiolosphy was way off. So,Now we attend a reformed bible church(much like John MacArthur’s). The second closest church was a PCA church,too. I understand your problem! We drive an hour to our church.
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