Here and there in the landscape of this great land is dotted with Baptist churches. These consist of many ethnic groups-races of people.
Have you ever visited a Baptist church and it didn’t feel right? It wasn’t familiar, comfortable, and the music style and sermon style just didn’t feel Baptist to you? Maybe the name was wrong? A change from First to Crossways, New Life, New Beginnings, maybe Word of Life?
Does changing the name of the congregation change its’ beliefs?
It shouldn’t!
A name change should never go cross ways with the Baptist faith and message.
The Baptist faith and message is that our faith resides in Jesus as savior.
The message they preach is that there is no other way except through belief in Jesus. That he is the author of Salvation and no other way to the father except through him. Which is what Jesus preached!
It is a different life, a new life—and a new beginning—that comes out of the Bible the word of life.
That there is only one way and one cross that embodies salvation – nothing apart from the redemptive work of Christ Jesus.
Baptist is not a faith rather the denomination or the name of a group of believers. Who are named for their belief in baptizing those that have professed their belief in Jesus as their savior.
You can see many ethnic Baptist church like the Korean Baptist, Vietnamese, Indian, and Black Baptist churches.
I’ve attended an Indian Baptist church i.e. Cherokee.
Sometimes there is a misunderstanding of what we do as believers and live.
One person asked me what is a native American food? And you know they say that Baptist love to eat!
Well, duh!
One has to eat in order to live! If you don’t eat you starve and die!
Anyway, I told him there are four basic Indian foods and those are bar-be-cued bologna, fried bologna, plain bologna, and smoked bologna.
The local congregation I attend does love to eat! They are generous with the portions too. There is usually enough for second helpings.
Wouldn’t you know it the name of our local congregation is you guessed it “The Second Helpings Baptist Church!”
Well not really, but it does sound like a, uhh, don’t you think the name of a Baptist church?
Now when was the last time you visited your tribe?
Did it seem right to you like the language spoken? Maybe the food wasn’t native enough an Indian taco really? Taco?
The clothes were too fancy for you because you don’t shop at the Ye olde Authentic Indian shop?
You drive a Jeep Cherokee and not an Indian car nor a rez clunker, junker? Your hair isn’t long enough for them? Nor do you wear a Buzzards’ feather in your cap or hat.
You don’t live in a teepee but a nice brick Indian home. You don’t go dancing at the stomp dance because you have two right feet as opposed to left ones.
You mention you eat Squirrel and they look at you like you’re a disgusting heathen. They in turn mention they’re going out to eat but they don’t invite you.
They agree to eat at McDonalds’ laughing they say “we don’t think McDonalds serves Squirrel.”
Mary Daniels, Jim Smith and Jack Jones walk away from you, you Joe (Indian name The Hunter) Birdtail.
Go figure!
Have you ever?