[Linux4christians] Baptists (was Re: Ex-Muslim's college, speech disrupted by arson.)

[Preston Boyington]

David Ormand wrote:
<snipped>
> 
> Speaking as a (Southern) Baptist, and one who is
> currently studying Calvinism vs. Arminianism, and
> has a Reformed Church in America branch in his
> neighborhood (which has sparked curiosity leading
> to investigation) and having friends in Methodist,
> Presbyterian, and Catholic churches, I would say
> with confidence that _every single one of us_ would
> say we are following the Bible.
> 
> Now, the Catholics are at least honest enough to
> say, "and the traditions of the church".  Truth is,
> all of us bring our traditions to the Bible.  With
> Southern Baptists, it has been "No Drinking" (and
> yes, "no dancing, no card-playing" and maybe a few
> more "no's", too.  Oh, and my fav - "no divorced
> men as pastors or deacons").  This "No Drinking"
> goes so far as to have preachers expositing from
> the pulpit that "Jesus only drank unfermented
> grape juice."
> 
> These traditions come out of our histories.  We
> need to acknowledge the extent to which our
> denominational histories influence our interpretation
> of the Bible.


I too was raised as a Southern Baptist (my father is also a Deacon) so I
am finding the "honest enough" part a little difficult.  I believe it is
because you haven't read in 1st Timothy 3:2-13.  it's where we get our
"job description" for our Deacons.

minor excerpts include the phrases:
"Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and
their own houses well." and "Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not
doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;"

seems to be yet another part of the Bible that Churches are dismissing
or playing into the allegorical.  many that prefer a 'lower' standard
often cite a passage from the gospels that doesn't go into as much detail.

I was taught that drinking alcohol was not a sin, although drunkenness
is a sin.  excess is the enemy.