[Linux4christians] The "Christian Church" network, doctrine?

[David Ormand]

>>  I am told that they promote the notion that baptism by immersion
>>  is a necessary element of salvation, much as some 'Charismatic'
>>  doctrine mandates 'speaking in tongues'.

>  This is a fallacy spread by many Baptists about Charismatics. I grew up
>  Baptist. We arrived in Mexico in 1956, sent here by the Baptist General
>  Conference (Used to be the old Swedish Baptist.) And I still work with many
>  Baptist churches and friends (and dozens of other denominations). And I have
>  worked with many Charismatic churches on five continents. I have NEVER met
>  any of them who claim that tongues are required for salvation.

There may be a difference between official, written-down, taught by the
denomination doctrine of "you must speak in tongues to be saved", and
the unofficial, popular, held by lay and clergy alike litmus test of
"if you don't speak in tongues, then you must not really be saved".

I've visited charismatic groups, and had (Baptist background) friends
attempt to join such churches.  No, there's nothing in their Statement
Of Belief of "speaking in tongues is required for salvation".  But it
isn't long before people there will ask you, "don't you speak in
tongues?  There must be something wrong with your salvation."

I think we must recognize the difference between official doctrine and
popular doctrine.  Like, the Catholic Church may teach that Mary cannot
save, but there are lots of (especially in Tucson, hispanic) Catholics
who believe she can.  And the Mormon church has lots of odd beliefs, but
your typical Mormon missionaries who show up at your door will deny that
the church really believes that.  AND (to get on an old saw), there is
no official Baptist position that drinking alcohol is a sin, but pretty
much ALL of the former generation will condemn it as such.