Fundamental Baptist Christian

The Church is catholic but not Roman Catholic. All who have Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior belong to the holy catholic church - not the "holy" Roman Catholic "church". Right now, churches around the world are following the rather sensible mandate to suspend all gatherings. It's because the Coronavirus is indeed highly contagious. The only real issue is when the government will forbid the churches from their online services or evangelizing during relief operations. How is the Church still one in the midst of the current crisis? It's because Jesus is the Head of the Church and there is only one body. Although Baptist Christians and Protestant Christians are organizationally divided - they are united in spirit. It's just like how the apostolic letters still used word churches even if there's the one true Church. As the Christian preacher, Ignatius of Antioch would emphasize, "Everywhere the Gospel of Christ is preached there is the catho...

What does it mean to belong to the holy, catholic church? Roman Catholics have used the term catholic to justify their claims that they're supposedly the one true Church that was founded by Jesus Christ in 33 A.D. However, they need to answer on how close are they to Biblical doctrine when stuff like praying to Mary, the Rosary as a repetitious series of prayers, celibate priesthood (and no 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 doesn't order priestly celibacy, Roman Catholics need to examine 1 Timothy 3:1-7), and worse, salvation of faith plus works is nowhere Biblical. In truth, they're just taking Scriptures out of their context in order to make doctrines not found in the Bible! The more I read the Bible - the more I couldn't agree with my former faith of Roman Catholicism which I thought I could reform only to leave it because it couldn't be reformed! The Roman Catholic institution is catholic (in the sense that they have a central organization) but they are not holy and apo...

The Bible teaches the separation of church and state in the New Testament. However, it doesn't mean that the Church has no right to criticize the state for its shortcomings (such as John the Baptist criticizing Herod Antipas' adultery and Paul talking to King Herod Agrippa II in the Book of Acts) and it doesn't exempt any religious institution from submitting to authorities either (Romans 13:1-7). What is the separation of church and state mean? this is what " All About History " says about it: The constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Both the free exercise clause and the establishment clause place restrictions on the government concerning laws they pass or interfering with religion. No restrictions are placed on religions except perhaps that a religious denomination cannot become the state religion.  What does Romans 13:1-7 have to say about the princi...

I've heard of how people in authority need a lifestyle check. I've heard of policemen, legislators, governors and mayors should be subjected to lifestyle check. Unfortunately, it's highly possible that many churches have ignored the reality of giving pastors a lifestyle check. Why is it important to know how a pastor lives? It's because the Bible puts qualifications of what makes a good pastor. 1 Timothy 3:1-7  This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; [5] (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) [6] Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pr...

The Christian church is a place for believers to belong. Here's what the Bible says about the Church itself: Ephesians 2:19-22  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God ; [20] and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [21] in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.  The Church is for Christians The Church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. No, this foundation is not Peter but Jesus Christ. It's really amazing how Roman Catholics tend to misread the obvious context of Matthew 16:18-19. Even the Good News Translation which is a Roman Catholic translation gives a clear distinction between Peter who is "a rock" and "upon this Rock" yet they belie...

It's very easy to heckle on cultists when they sin but one question that should be asked is, "Do we bother to do church discipline?" This is the truth that faces everyone from pastors to the laity. Whether you like it or not there will always be cases of backsliding believers. Although they may not enjoy their sin but you can't deny there is still sin to deal with. The Old Testament prophets were part of restoring the backslid believer A good example is Psalm 51 where King David a man after God's own heart committed adultery with a much younger woman in Bathsheba (1 Samuel 11). The whole book of Ecclesiastes deals with how wise King Solomon acknowledged his foolishness. King Solomon who established a golden age ended up leading from revival to ruin by his polygamous marriages with heathen women and the wrong alliances. We also read of how wise King Jehoshaphat made a foolish alliance with Ahab (2 Chronicles 18). There's a reason why God sent prophets a...

What makes an outstanding local New Testament church? This is all about how the power of the Holy Spirit brings forth the power of Christ to those who are His. Before everything, let's consider reading 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10: Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.  We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy o...

There's some Roman Catholic apologists that claim born again Christians supposedly reject the sacraments. First, let's define sacrament. This is what Theopedia has to say as the definition of the word sacrament: A sacrament is a rite or ceremony instituted by Jesus, and observed by the church as a means of or visible sign of grace. The English word sacrament is from the Latin sacramentum, which means to make holy, or to consecrate.  Sacraments are ceremonial in nature , which separates them from other things that Jesus instructed believers to do (e.g. "go and make disciples of all nations," Matthew 28:18). The claim that born again Christians reject the sacraments is very unfounded as the claim that sacraments save the soul of the person. No, Roman Catholic priests don't save anyone's souls because they themselves need saving. The issue is not about sacraments but what the Roman Catholic institution teaches about sacraments. There's a big differ...

Matthew 16:18 clearly states, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." If there's one thing about the Christian church even if it's right now organizationally divided is that Christian truth can't be compromised. While the Baptist bride movement is definitely wrong but one thing is certain: the Church or God's people are one. The big problem that the Church faces today is the post-modern age. People today say that the Church must get with the times. Sorry to say but it's the times that need to get with the Church. No true Church would ever get with the times like how the Roman Catholic institution does it. The Roman Catholic institution claims to be the very Church and erroneously claims to be founded on Peter. However, all that sinister religion does is get with the times like how the ecumenical movement is moving today. When Jesus said that the ga...

Just because a Christian cannot live like a devil does not mean that they are really free from sin. Even the best Christians suffer from the daily struggle as Romans 7:14-25 has Paul speak of the frustration of the Christian life that he still has to deal with sin. I feel that frustration myself and that problem can cause divisions in the Church. Until the Church is fully redeemed, there will always be problems and the need for constant fellowship with God is there. 1 Corinthians 3:1-5 says, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by w...