Okay, the subject line is just to grab attention. In starting to work through Baptist churches systematically I've run into a number of articles trying to define denominations so one can count them. This is the best:
Thanks MJ [:)][:)]
I always enjoy the old joke about the multiplicity of Baptist denominations (I have dearly beloved friends who are Baptists, so no offense intended):
A man was walking along San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge when he saw a woman about to jump off. He ran up to her, trying to dissuade her from committing suicide. He told her simply that God loved her. A tear came to her eye.He then asked her, “Are you a Christian, a Jew, a Hindu, or what?”
“I’m a Christian,” she replied.
He said, “Me, too! Small world! Protestant or Catholic?”
“Protestant.”
“Me, too! What denomination?”
“Baptist.”
“Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?”
“Northern Baptist.”
He remarked, “Well, ME TOO! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?”
She answered, “Northern Conservative Baptist.”
He said, “Well, that’s amazing! Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist or Northern Conservative Reformed Baptist?”
“Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist.”
“Remarkable! Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes Region or Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Eastern Region?”
She told him, “Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes Region.”
“A miracle!” he cried. “Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?”
She said, “Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.”
He then shouted, “DIE, HERETIC!”, and pushed her over the rail.
Wow Rosie, who can remember that kind of complicated joke? [:O]
Wow Rosie, who can remember that kind of complicated joke?
Google Search, copy/paste.
I am not a Baptist, but I graduated from an independent Baptist Christian High School. I teach and preach across denominational lines, so I still mingle with many various types of Baptist across the U.S. My brother was a Baptist for years and graduated from a Baptist College. While in college he was required to take a class called Baptist History (I still find it humorous that the school did NOT offer a class on Christian history). In that class they were told that there are in excess of 140 different types of Baptist organizations just within the continental United States; many more world-wide. I am a student of Church history, and upon further investigation discovered that similar variations exist in many other denominations as well. But, we are all one. No point to make other than the funny one :-)
upon further investigation discovered that similar variations exist in many other denominations
One of the funniest things I've run into is a set of statistics claiming 242 varieties of Roman Catholics - turns out that the definition they used included "within a country" so no denomination can span a national border. How many new denominations does that make in the Balkans and the old USSR?
140 different types of Baptist organizations
I attend an Independent Baptist Church and they take the "independent" very seriously. A recent front page headline of our state paper did an article on an IFB church that teaches their Bible camp kids how to shoot machine guns. I had to reassure one of my fellow church attendees that we are not "one of those" type of churches.
Sometimes it is nice not to have to defend crazies with a similar name on their church sign.[:D]
I agree, among Independent baptist there are many different types from ultra conservative to moderate in belief and it seems most don't want to associate with the other. [:)]
I was raised Independent or Evangelical methodist and also in Ind. Baptist Churches. My family has pastored in both denominations. Now talk about something hard: having a Methodist church on your resume and candidate for a baptist church[:D]
I Pastor a Baptist church and there are more United Methodist's in our church than baptist. In fact there are relatively very few baptist background people in the church. What's even more amazing is that there is terrific unity in the church despite the many different denominational backgrounds. I have found Sound Biblical preaching transcends many bias.
I have found Sound Biblical preaching transcends many bias.
Sounds like you've got the beginning of a new denomination there: "Sound Biblical Preaching Baptist." Of course you might need to specify which Bible and that would get something else going. So perhaps its better to forget the whole idea. [:(]
While in college he was required to take a class called Baptist History (I still find it humorous that the school did NOT offer a class on Christian history).
In seminary I had to take Baptist History, too, but they did have a Christian History requirement (called Church History). Quite frankly Church History was boring compared to Baptist History. [;)]
I agree, among Independent baptist there are many different types from ultra conservative to moderate in belief and it seems most don't want to associate with the other.
It is a doctrinal issue common to Independent Baptists. They do not believe there is a "universal, unseen" church. Most only believe in individual churches. Refer to your Logos resources regarding church polity views of Independent Baptists. They differ significantly from all other Baptist denominations (Southern, American, Missionary, Free-Will.....) They believe the ecclesia ("calling out") happens at Rapture and the "be ye separate is a different thing from "One-Church", "One-Body:, or "Family of God" altogether
When I first heard that joke several years ago, it was about Presbyterians (or was it Pentecostals?). [:D]
When I first heard that joke several years ago,
http://community.logos.com/forums/p/7960/63361.aspx#63361
Emo Philips created this in a comedy routine back in the 1980s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBKIyCbppfs (joke begins @ 2' 40"
Emo Philips created this in a comedy routine back in the 1980s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBKIyCbppfs (joke begins @ 2' 40"
Ha! I'd never heard of that comedian. He's pretty funny. Here's another take on religion that he had in a related video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRLPr5biDhs
I always enjoy the old joke about the multiplicity of Baptist denominations (I have dearly beloved friends who are Baptists, so no offense intended): When I first heard that joke several years ago, it was about Presbyterians (or was it Pentecostals?).
When I first heard that joke several years ago, it was about Presbyterians (or was it Pentecostals?).
that's a real gut-buster...thanks!
