"I was a Baptist before I was saved"

Back when I was in the Church of God of Prophecy, I used to joke around with people and say "I was a Baptist before I was saved."

That statement was total bunk of course...

Prior to my conversion I was no more a Baptist than the Pope in Rome, but I got lots of chuckles with that line because some of us suffered from a kind of spiritual superiority syndrome. Basically, we were of the opinion that most Baptists were a bunch of unregenerate, beer drinking knuckleheads who believed they could live like the Devil and have full assurance of Heaven. Therefore, to hear someone say "I was a Baptist before I got saved" was a real hoot!

Prior to my conversion, I would sometimes identify myself as Baptist. You might say a "cultural Baptist," much like the Über-atheist Richard Dawkins recently identifying himself as a "cultural Christian". I had always heard my mother's side of the family claim to be Baptists, so I figured that if I wanted to get some religious nut off my back, it would be okay to call myself a Baptist.

The perception that Baptists are a carnal bunch isn't helped by all the people who claim to be Baptists, but have never been Born Again. If I were a betting man, I'd wager good money that here in the South, you could poll all the people at a Sunday NASCAR race and find that around 87% would claim to be Baptists! Furthermore, I'd bet these same "Baptists" could probably name 6 brands of beer for each of the 10 Commandments they could remember!

During my school days, many of my best friends were active members of Baptist youth groups. You know what's really sad? We all talked the same, acted the same, and broke God's commandments the same. The only difference between them and myself was that they went to church three times a week and I didn't! They claimed to believe in God and I claimed God didn't exist.

Did any of them try to reach me with the Gospel?

NO!

Until this day, some of the most reprobate people I know will tell you that they are "Baptists." They won't darken the door of a church, or invoke God's name unless it's in blasphemy, but simply because their grand-pappy used to be a deacon, they think the name "Baptist" is their spiritual pedigree or something. What's so disturbing about the majority of these unregenerate "Baptists" is that almost all of them think they are soundly saved and headed for Heaven!

With virtually no church discipline being practiced and after years of unchecked Antinomianism being spewed from many Baptist pulpits, it's really no wonder there are so many false converts who use the Baptist name. When one reads the writings of historic Southern Baptist leaders, it's plain to see that something has gone terribly awry in the SBC. The theology and practices of the typical Baptist church of today would horrify C. H. Spurgeon, J. P. Boyce, or J. L. Dagg.

I used to say I was a Baptist before I was saved, but that was a lie...

I've now been in the SBC for about a year and a half and I've seen true Baptists. True Baptists are people who fear God, love Christ, and are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. They are people who are serious about serving the Lord and seeing others come to faith in Jesus Christ. Anyone who claims to be a "Baptist" but doesn't honor Christ with their lives is a liar and the truth is not in them. A real Baptist is a Christian!

Don't be fooled by the pretenders!

May God send Revival and Reformation to the SBC and all Baptist churches!

The Battle Hymn of The Reformation

Happy Reformation Sunday!



A Mighty Fortress is Our God, by Martin Luther.

Semper Reformanda!

John Calvin for Preschoolers!

Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms

This is probably the most inspiring movie in my collection. Would to God we had a few more Luther's in our day! If you don't own this movie, buy it ASAP!

Reformed Mafia Version 2.0

I am pleased to announce that superhero blogger, Gordan Runyan, has joined the Reformed Mafia ! His creative genius has already been a great asset. He has already stepped up to the challenge of developing the mafia theme by giving the place a much needed makeover!

Now for the first time, it's beginning to look like a real gangster hang-out! I am really looking forward to blogging with Gordan and I know the rest of the gang is too.

Our name might sound scary, but our mission is simple: By the Grace of Almighty God we hope that in some small way we can help fan the flames of Reformation in order to see a true revival in the churches of America today.

Our new motto says it like this:

"We are a gang of counter-culture thought criminals: joyfully bootlegging subversive doctrines in the Evangelical Prohibition on truth."

The Cost of Reformation

Would you like to see the Church lay down "Your Best Life Now" and commit itself to the teachings the Holy Scriptures and truly live for Christ? Do you want to see a move of God that brings true revival and renewal in our sin plagued nation?

Do you want Reformation?

If so, are you ready for what it may cost?

I have a booklet entitled Reforming a Local Church. In the booklet Ernest C. Reisinger identifies five things Reformation may cost a young pastor today:

1. Denominational popularity and public approval. The work of reformation is not the way to climb the denominational ladder.
   
2. They will, at times, be in that awful task of tearing down some false super-structure that has been built without a doctrinal foundation. This super-structure was built by cheap, shallow,man-centered evangelism.


3. They may have to suffer at the hands of a large, unregenerate church membership, and especially, from unregenerate and religiously ignorant deacons and leaders.


4. They may also have to suffer the pain of being misunderstood by the church leaders, fellow ministers, and more painful still, sometimes by their own loved ones (wives who do not understand their husband's position).


5. Sacrifice financially, especially in some cases where carnal and ignorant church leaders will use money as a threat to drive preachers from the pulpit.
   

Reformation has always come with a cost. It cost Luther, Calvin, Tyndale, the Puritans, and a host of others. Some endured persecution; some even paid the ultimate price.

In the mid-1500's, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were condemned for Protestantism during the reign of Queen "Bloody Mary." They were sentenced to die by burning at the stake. At their execution, they were both fastened to a stake with a bag of gunpowder tied to their necks. When the fire began to burn, Latimer called out to Ridley:

"Be of good comfort Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace in England, as I trust shall never be put out."

Dear [American] Reformers, nobody is threatening us with being burned at the stake. No one is burning our homes and torturing our families. I doubt any of us are living with a bounty on our head. Therefore let us study earnestly, work charitably, and pray fervently that God will fan the flames of Reformation in our day!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Picture: Latimer and Ridley execution from Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

(Article Orginally written for and posted on the Reformed Mafia blog)