What do we believe about baptism?
It is an important subject in the Bible. A form of the word appears almost 100 times in the New Testament. We call ourselves the First BAPTIST Church. So, it must be important here. In fact, baptism is a requirement to be a member of our church. And baptism garners many questions! One reason for the questions is that baptism seems mysterious, maybe even odd. When you look into the subject, there seems to be so much variety of views and expressions. Views and expressions of baptism: What if we started baptizing with a flame-thrower next week?The truth is baptism is amazing, wonderful, and significant! Think about some of the greatest celebrations in twenty-first-century American life: The greatest celebration is this celebration we call baptism! So, let’s explain biblical baptism by answering ten questions. Ten Questions 1. Why is baptism so important?Chiefly, baptism is important because the Lord says it is important.Luke 3:21: When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As he was praying, heaven opened (CSB).Jesus was baptized.Matthew 28:19: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (CSB).Jesus commanded the church to baptize people.Acts 2:41: So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them (CSB). 2. What was Jesus’s baptism all about?At the beginning of Jesus’s ministry, He sought out John the Baptist, who was sent by the Lord to prepare people in Israel for the ministry of Christ. John was baptizing people who wanted to turn from their sins. Jesus, being holy and without sin, was baptized to fulfill all righteousness.Matthew 3:15: Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized (CSB). 3. What does baptism mean for us?We are sinful and guilty, so baptism for us is a celebration of salvation. It pictures and celebrates both that Jesus has saved us from our sins and how He saved us. Baptism is similar to a wedding. A wedding ceremony celebrates and symbolizes love and commitment. Baptism celebrates, symbolizes, and proclaims our new life in Christ. 4. Does baptism save a person from their sins?Baptism does not save you from your sins.Ephesians 2:8-9: For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast (CSB). 5. Why don’t we baptize infants?We believe baptism happens after someone puts their faith and trust in Christ. Baptism celebrates salvation, and infants are not capable of such faith. 6. Why should I be baptized?The Lord commands it (Acts 2:38). Baptism is an act of worship, celebration, and proclamation of the gospel. 7. Does it matter how I am baptized?At First Baptist Church, we practice full immersion, as it best aligns with the biblical examples and symbolism of baptism. 8. Where should I be baptized?Baptism is a church event, celebrating faith with your church family. 9. Why is baptism a necessary part of church membership?It affirms the authenticity of a person’s salvation and reflects a shared faith experience among members. 10. What if I was baptized in a different way?We encourage baptism by immersion for all members to align with the New Testament example. 11. Bonus Question: What should I do if I want and need to be baptized?Don’t delay! Reach out to a pastor or church leader to take this important step of faith.
Is church membership in the Bible?
The Bible doesn’t talk about membership in the same way we talk about it today, but you see in the New Testament that the first church had lists of widows and they had a concept of excluding some from the official group when engaging in church discipline. They also seemed to have a list of those who were included in the Lord’s Supper. So, it seems, there was an official “membership” at least in some form. More practically, as we choose leaders and teachers, we want to choose people who have officially thrown their lot in with us, people who have been through a membership class and indicated their affirmation to our most basic doctrines and an understanding of our purpose and mission. We see membership more as a list of people we can count on and call on than anything else. Membership also involves responsibility and ownership. The members of a church have a responsibility for the health and faithfulness of the church. And church membership is family membership. While we want to show the love of Christ to our entire community, our church has a special, Bible-assigned, responsibility to care for those who are officially in the family. One more component to membership is pastoral accountability. The Bible says… Hebrews 13:17 | Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. (CSB) Our pastor and our ministers are accountable in some way for the spiritual health and growth for some people. We believe those people to be the official members of the church.
Will there be animals in heaven? What about our beloved pets?
Animals in Heaven: A Biblical Glimpse The Bible mentions animals in the context of heaven, such as in Isaiah 11:6–9, where a future harmonious coexistence between creatures is described. However, Scripture does not explicitly state that individual animals or pets are resurrected or have eternal life. Some passages, like Genesis 9:9–17 and Romans 8:21–23, are sometimes interpreted as hints of a broader restoration of creation, but such interpretations remain open to debate. The Unique Status of Humans in Creation Only humans were created in the image of God, a distinction not shared by animals or even angels. Genesis 1:26–27 states, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.’” This unique status grants humans a special destiny and promises of eternal life that are not extended to animals or angels. Jesus Himself became human, as Philippians 2:6–8 describes, to die for the souls of people, further emphasizing the unique relationship between God and humanity. God’s Care for Animals While animals are part of God’s good creation and are cared for by Him (Psalms 147:9; Luke 12:6), their knowledge and intelligence are categorically different from humans. God provides for their needs, as seen in Psalms 50:10–11, which reminds us that all creatures belong to Him. This care reflects God’s character and gives humans a model of stewardship. The Bond Between Humans and Animals Scripture encourages us to care for animals compassionately, as seen in Proverbs 12:10, and acknowledges the deep connection people can share with them. An example of this bond is found in 2 Samuel 12:3, which describes a lamb cherished by its owner as though it were a daughter. While we are commanded to prioritize love for people (Matthew 19:19), this does not diminish the value of animals in God’s creation. Will Our Pets Be in Heaven? When it comes to personal pets in heaven, the Bible offers no definitive answer. However, it assures us that heaven will provide everything necessary for our perfect joy and contentment. Joni Eareckson Tada beautifully wrote, “If God brings our pets back to life, it wouldn’t surprise me. It would be just like Him… Heaven is going to be a place that will refract and reflect the goodness and joy of our great God.” God’s Promise of Perfect Joy Ultimately, the focus remains on God’s generosity and the joy awaiting His children in heaven. While the idea of pets in heaven is uncertain, the assurance of complete satisfaction in God’s presence is unwavering. Whatever God provides will be enough to fill our hearts with eternal happiness.
How should the church choose to address politics?
(This was a Ministers’ Meeting talk by Pastor Noel on April 23, 2024. The talk was written for the ministers at FBC Nacogdoches and leaves out some preliminary information and context that would have been included had this been a public presentation or a Sunday sermon. Please keep that in mind as you read.) 2024 is a political year.I want our church to connect properly to politics and political issues. I want our church to never withhold from proclaiming and declaring the truth of God’s Word. We are first the church that is FOR JESUS. But sometimes, to be FOR something, you must be AGAINST something else. Where being FOR JESUS requires us to be AGAINST something, I want us to take our stand without apology. But I want our church not to get distracted, entangled, or mission-driven by politics in any way that Scripture does not support. Honestly, that is a view held by many. Here is my theme verse for politics and the church for 2024:2 Timothy 2:4 | No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. (CSB) So, let me address four questions: I. How do we make the determination of when and how we should engage on political issues? The Bible (period).We must declare what the Bible declares.We must learn from the practices and priorities of Jesus and the leaders of the first church.This is the part that many churches and Christians get confused! How do we learn from the practices and priorities of the first church leaders? First, we must remember that the early church lived in an even more politically charged environment than we do. The tax system was oppressive and unfair. Tax rates depended largely on ethnicity, and people without proper Roman status were unevenly and unfairly taxed. Tax collection was a cross between a pyramid scheme and a multi-level marketing company, and the weakest people were taken advantage of the most. Labor practices were brutal, unsafe, and dehumanizing. Religious liberty was severely restricted by the use of extreme violence and executions. The legal system was completely corrupt, and it freely and openly operated on the practice of bribes, denying justice to all but the most elite. There was no access to healthcare for the masses. Extreme police brutality was an everyday occurrence everywhere. Women were mistreated, dishonored, and devalued in almost every corner of society. Most children were treated as economic units instead of people with intrinsic value.No equal access to education. Immigration issues were determined by power politics and economic forces with no consideration for the well-being of the displaced. There were no voting rights. Military service was often forcefully conscripted without compensation. Slavery was common. Secondly, we must see how those leaders balanced addressing gospel issues on hand and these politically charged issues on the other hand. How did Jesus, Peter, James, John, and Paul address those issues (if they did)? We actually have a lot of data on that in the Bible. This is not a hard question if we look at it biblically. II. What should we do when some people disagree with us on the issue of our political involvement? We should explain to them:This is not a matter of patriotism.This is not a matter of not having strongly held personal opinions.But this church is not ours (or yours), and we must take our cues from the one whose church this is. So, we take our cues and directions from the Bible.We look to the Bible for commands and patterns.We seek to be as faithful to those commands and patterns as we can be.And then we should show grace to those who disagree.Their disagreement usually comes from a good place. III. Should our church speak to political issues? Well, it depends. We should speak to issues the Bible speaks to, and we should do this without apology. Practicing homosexuality is a sin. Seeking to change one’s God-assigned gender is a sin. Abortion is the taking of a life created in the image of God. Hating and/or denying justice to some group of people is a sin. Divorce without a biblically prescribed basis is sin. Drunkenness (or being high) is a sin.Limiting religious liberty is a sin. Abusing, mistreating, or devaluing a person for any reason is a sin. Those are not political issues. Those are biblical issues! We should prioritize issues the Bible prioritizes. What issues did the early church prioritize in their preaching and practice? Spreading the gospel. Preaching and teaching the revealed word of God. Creating and strengthening groups (fellowships, churches) of Christians. Honoring the value and dignity of all groups, genders, nationalities, and ethnicities as people gathered inside the church. Crossing ethnic and national barriers with the gospel and ministry. Caring for the poor. Fighting false religious teaching. We should prioritize the Great Commission and the Great Commandment:Matthew 28:19–20 | “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (CSB) Acts 1:8 | “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (CSB) Matthew 22:37–39 | “He said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (CSB) IV. What does the ministry of John the Baptist and Matthew 5:13 say about the question of church and political engagement? I’ve heard the argument in churches all my life that we should engage in political arguments and advocacy because of what John the Baptist said to the political leaders of
