Welcome to Summit Theological Seminary
"Teaching God's Word to God's World"
2766 Airport Road, Peru, Indiana 46970, (765) 472-4111
Baptist And Christian
(Dialogue Continued)
George L. Faull
Baptist: Hello again, friend!
Christian: Hi, great to
see you again.
Baptist: You know
I am given reason to think when I talk to you.
Christian: Well that’s good, isn’t it?
Baptist: Yes. I suppose it is. However, I would like for you to come around to my position that
one only needs to believe and be saved.
I’m convinced that is a straight turnpike from damnation to eternal salvation.
Christian: Well if
faith alone is the turnpike to Heaven, I wonder why you and so many others take
a detour.
Baptist: Well what do you mean we
take a detour?
Christian: Oh it’s not just you
Baptists that take a detour. I’ve known
many “faith only “ advocates that get off the turnpike on a detour.
Baptist: Okay, I know you’re headed
somewhere. Please explain.
Christian: Well, evangelicals in
general say, “Just believe”, “say the sinner’s prayer” or, “invite Jesus into
your heart.” This results in salvation.
Baptist: Yes, most groups today have
that view. So what do you mean by
detours?
Christian: Well, it seems to me if that
is a straight shot to Heaven, or as you call it, “a turnpike,” I wonder why
they all detour off at some Church exit on their way to Heaven.
Baptist: What do
you mean?
Christian: Well, if
“faith” is the only condition to being saved and staying saved, I wonder why
they take some Church exit and take the scenic route instead of just staying on
the “faith-only” turnpike.
Baptist: I’m
still not tracking you, Brother Christian.
Christian: Well, did you ever
get off the freeway turnpike onto the scenic route on a trip somewhere?
Baptist: Yes, many
times.
Christian: Well, when you got
off and drove the scenic route, you had a speed limit to obey, yellow lines to
conform to and stop signs to heed. It
takes time and an inconvenience to take the scenic route.
Baptist: Yes, but what’s your point?
Christian: Well you admit you
can go from faith to Heaven’s gates with no other demands, is that right?
Baptist: Yes.
Christian: Well, let’s suppose
you got off on the Baptist Church exit, you didn’t need too, but now you must
observe some new rules. You have to be
baptized to get into the Church. Many
Baptists have to be convinced to let
you be baptized. Now you are expected
to attend the Church, support the Church, maybe be a deacon and help work on
the building, teach Sunday School, take communion once in a while. That’s quite a detour from the freeway that
would take you straight to Heaven.
Baptists
see baptism and the Lord’s Supper and good works as the duty to a good Baptist
but you don’t have to do them except as a member of the Baptist Church.
Baptist: Now that isn’t quite right.
Christian: Well can you be a
good Baptist and not conform to their additional rules?
Baptist: Well, no.
Christian: Wouldn’t it be just
as good to stay on the freeway and not have to fuss with these additional
Church ordinances?
Baptist: Well those things don’t get you to Heaven.
Christian: Can you get
somewhere on the scenic route? What if
you got off at the Methodist exit, look at the scenic route that exit has and
what additional demands you’d have on that detour.
Baptist: Like what?
Christian: You could sprinkle
instead of immerse. Now you have to
sprinkle your babies, follow the Methodist rule of
discipline. Expect to work, give, and support the Church with time, talent,
and treasure. You’ll see women
ordained, gay’s accepted, your money sent to your Nations enemies, and your own
Methodist missionaries killed by men your Church
supported. Obviously this would all be unnecessary
detour if one just stayed on “faith-only” turnpike.
Baptist: Well now
they’re doing things that ain’t the Bible way.
Christian: Yes, but they have
faith and that’s really all you say you need.
They just like the Methodist scenic route. Others like Lutherans, Mennonites, United Church of Christ
Presbyterians, they pretty well have the same landscape and run the same scenic
route.
Baptist: Well they are
pretty similar in their views.
Christian: What
if you took the Catholic exit? That
detour would have you praying to Saints, going to confessionals, telling your
sins to Priests, seeking the will of the Pope and Cardinals. The Lady in Scarlet and Purple has beautiful
traditions. Of course, Catholic’s
believe you’ll have to go through purgatory before you get to Heaven.
Baptist: Well they don’t
do it right either.
Christian: The Adventists
route would change your Saturday plans.
On the Holiness Churches route, you’d have to dress different. Salvation Army route, you’d have to do a lot
of charity work. You do think all of
these people are saved, don’t you?
Baptist: Well some of
them are, but some of them aren’t.
Christian: How about us Church
of Christ folk?
Baptist: Oh,
I think a lot of you folk are saved.
Christian: We don’t believe in “faith only.”
Baptist: Yea, but you
believe in Jesus and all.
Christian: Yea, but we don’t
think the “faith only” turnpike goes to Heaven. We think faith is an Avenue you have to go down but you have to
turn around and get on repentance road and get on a Street called “Straight”
where you will be told to arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling
on the name of the Lord. Acts
22:16
Baptist: Well as long as
you have faith in Christ, you’re saved even if you misunderstand that, faith
alone saves.
Christian: Well let me ask
you, sir, How about going down the Avenue of love? Paul says that if you have all faith, so you could move mountains
and have not love, you’re nothing. So
faith alone is not a turnpike. This
will get you nowhere near Heaven.
Baptist: Oh
yes, you got to have love. It’s greater
than faith or hope. Paul says the
greatest of these is love.
Christian: Oh, so faith alone
isn’t all there is to salvation? There
must be love?
Baptist: You frustrate me.
Christian: I don’t doubt that
I do. You see, “faith-alone” turnpike
just doesn’t get you to Heaven. Neither
do all these detours.
Baptist: Well,
like I said, you always cause me to think.
Christian: Yes and I always
appreciate your kind spirit and willingness to think.
Baptist: See you again soon.
Christian: Fine, I hope our paths cross again.