Reformed Baptist Distinctives

 What is a Reformed Baptist?

When you hear the word "reformed" before "Baptist," sometimes you get the aforementioned question. My first response usually is, "It's what Baptists used to be!"  In short, a Reformed Baptist Church is an independent Bible-believing congregation committed to historic Christianity specficially, and particularly, historic Baptistic principles.

Are we "Southern Baptists?" 

Yes, we are Baptists, and we're in the South, but we're not part of the Southern Baptist Convention. The formal doctrinal basis, (secondary to the Bible), of Reformed Baptist Churches, is the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. We are historically in the Baptistic tradition. When it comes to baptism, we believe in the baptism of believers only; therefore, we believe that only baptized believers should be members of our congregation. 

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Tragically, "Baptist" churches, like other churches, have been subjected to the erosion and dilution of Biblical convictions. Those dilutions include a radical departure from Biblical leadership, the way in which money is handeled for gain and irresponsibly tied to debt, the abuse of women in positions ordained only for Biblically-qualified men, and so many other departures from what historically Baptists have stood for. We are Baptists in the tradition of John Bunyan, Benjamin Keach, and Charles Spurgeon, to name a few.

While many are satisfied with eating "goat food," there is a remnant of sheep who hunger for the Bread of Life and from experience, have been sickened by the man-centered worship found in so many "Baptist" congregations today. The names of great Reformers like Luther, Calvin, Knox, Zwingli and others are again beign revered as those God was pleased to use to restore the Gospel truths of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The writings of their godly successors in the Puritan tradition, John Owen, Thomas Goodwin, George Whitfield, and Charles Spurgeon have begun again to be treasured as Biblically true inheritances rich with admonition and encouragement to follow Jesus Christ alone. 

What we Believe

Many give too high a view to secondary issues when choosing a church. The first and most important thing to consider when choosing a church family to yoke oneself to is what they believe. How diligent have you been for the protection of your family's spiritual growth in researching and studying the doctrinal and theological positions of your church? What CRBC believes can be briefly summarized as follows:

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• We believe in sovereign grace. Sovereign grace refers to the teaching that God is not only sovereign in general, but especially in the salvation of sinners (1 Cor 1:26-31, Eph 1:3-11, Rom 8:28-32). Salvation is by grace alone plus nothing (Eph 2:8-10). A man is saved only when God gives him the willingness and ability to repent putting his faith in Jesus Christ, the one who suffered the wrath of God in the place of sinners (Phil 1:6,29,30, 2 Tim 2:24,25).

• We believe in the centrality of the local church in the Christian's life (Matt 18:15-20, 1 Tim 3:15, Heb 13:17). We, as Christians, need each other for instruction, encouragement, correction and comfort. 

• We believe that the preaching and teaching of God's Word should be central in the life of a church family as the Apostle Paul said the church is "the pillar and support of the truth" (1 Tim 3:15). In the symbolic language of Revelation 1:20, local congregations are lampstands and so, essential sources of the light of God's Word. While  many other things should be part of the local churches, it must never be forgotten that the fountain of all things done should be the proclamation of the Word of God. 

• We believe the church should be a spiritual family caring for the spiritual welfare of it's members (I Thess 5:12-14, Phil 2:1-5). Becoming a member is a covenant commitment to the Lord and the fellow members. It represents a willingness to be transparent, humble, and to undertake responsibilities that come with such a commitment (Eph 4:1-3, 25-32). Such a commitment ought not to be taken lightly or carelessly forsaken.

• We believe that all policies, practice, and worship should be ordered by the Word of God (1 Tim 3:15). As such, the will of God, as revealed in His Word, must regulate church life.

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Our Distinction

Reformed Baptists are distinguished by their conviction regarding the sufficiency and authority of the Word of God. While all true Christians believe in the inspiration and infallibility of the Word of God, all do not believe in the sufficiency of the Bible. All true Christians believe that the Bible was "breathed out" by God and that it is infallible and without error in all of its parts. To deny this is to call God a liar.  

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While all true Christians believe this, all do not necessarily seek to regulate the life of the church by the Word of God. There is a common belief, whether it's clearly stated or not, that the Bible is not a sufficient guide to tell you "how to do church." This is behind much of what we see in the modern church growth movement, and it's founded upon a belief that the Bible is silent regarding the nature and purpose of the church. It is for this cause that many feel the freedom to "reinvent the church." Some argue that God has no principles in His Word concerning the corporate life of his people. In these days, the clarion cry of all Christ-appointed shepherds needs to be that of the prophet Isaiah: "To the law and to the testimony! If they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).
 
Our Conviction

Reformed Baptists have a conviction that the Bible alone tells us what a church is (1 Tim. 3:15). The Bible alone defines the offices of the church. The Bible alone tells us their number, their qualifications, and their function ( See Acts 20, 1 Tim.3, Titus 1, Heb. 13, and 1 Peter 5). The Bible alone  is the guide to show us what worship is and how it is to be given (see Deut. 12:32, Lev. 10:1; John 4:23,24), as well as who can be a church-member, and what is required of them.

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The Sufficiency of the Bible

The Bible is also sufficient to tell us what we are to do as a church family, how we are to cooperate with other churches, how we are to send out missionaries, train men for the ministry, and a host of other things related to God's will for His people. Paul told Timothy that the God-breathed scriptures would make the man of God complete, and that it would thoroughly equip him for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). If this text does not teach us to have confidence in the Bible and to look to the Scriptures for everything that God calls the church to do, then what does it teach? We have plenty of conservative churches in our day who believe the Bible, but not enough who are defined by the Bible! 
 
Reformed Baptists hold to an unshakable conviction that the church exists for the glory of God (Eph. 3:21, 5:26, 27 and 1 Timothy 3:15). Because the church exists for the glory of God, the worship of God and the Word of God are central to its life. We have seen far too much at the present hour to indicate that the measure of a church is seen in what it has to offer man. The typical questions asked of a church are "Does it meet 'felt needs'?" "Is it fun, is it relaxing, is it entertaining?" "What are its kid's programs?" "Is it a place to meet people?"

 

The question we ask in light of how church is often seen by others is, "Whose house is it, anyway?" The answer is that the church, the spiritual body of believers, is not a physical building where people meet, but the living spiritual temple of God. It is the place where He meets with His people in a special way because He dwells in us. This doesn't mean that it is to be a dull, grim, unfeeling, insensitive gathering place, far from it. The place where God dwells is the most glorious place on earth to the saint and it is an oasis to the thirsty soul of a sinner seeking the grace of God. However, the place of God's dwelling is also solemn and holy. "How awesome is this place-it is no other than the house of God and the gate of heaven," was Jacob's exclamation in Genesis 28. God's house is not in need of numbers as Jesus said, "Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). The church, then, is to be defined as every man, woman, boy and girl who is in Christ, His elect, all who have been redeemed by His blood. The "Church" is not where but who - and wherever they meet, that's where the church is. Notice that John didn not write "the Philadelphian" church but the "church"  . . .  which happend to be at Philadelphia, etc. Brethren, wherever we might find ourselves, be it in a house, a garage, a jungle, or cave, it is the "Church" in that house, garage, jungle, or cave. Remember this!
 
Many well-meaning organizations seek to take upon themselves the task that the living God entrusted to His church, but to whom has God entrusted the missionary mandate? To whom did God give instructions for the discipleship, encouragement and shaping of believers? To whom did God entrust the equipping of the saints to? If the Bible answers that all these are the responsibilities of the local church, are we free to ignore it in light of the status quo? Do we simply throw up our hands and admit that these things just won't work or do we take up our cross with courage, believing in the justice of our cause? No. May God help us to embrace our identity as the church of the living God! While doing so; we should be transparent and unashamed of who we are, in Christ. A such, we've published CRBC's  Constituion and By Laws for transparency here:

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CRBC Constitution         CRBC By Laws

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FIC | Family Integrated Church

We are a Family Integrated Church, which simply put; is a church family that is absent of the common age-based ministries. CRBC was established to integrate, not segregate. The Bible, not tradition, is clear about who is "called" to disciple children - parents. We believe the modern day youth ministry failures work against God's plan for discipleship in the church. 

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FIC Evangelism & Discipleship 

We teach parents to evangelize and disciple their children and their neighbors through hospitality (opening up their homes to their neighbors), family worship, catechism and discipleship. Instead of placing the burden on "paid professionals," to do the "work of the ministry," we equip the saints to do it, as the Bible clearly demonstrates is God's will for the church. Jesus said, "A pupil is not above his teacher, but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40). Brethren, whoever educates a child is discipling that child. We encourage parents to take an active role in helping their children make Biblical choices and use Biblical discernment regarding education whether their children are home-schooled, attend a Christian school or public school. While we cannot win life's race by running out of it with our heads in the sand, but we can be salt and light as Christian teachers, students, and parents and win some to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:22) no matter where we find ourselves. 

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At CRBC, families are the center of discipleship. Psalm 78, Deuteronomy 6, and Ephesians 6 confirm the Biblical description of families - not classes, not programs, and not even pastors. That places Christian families as the center of spiritual training of children and young people. While age integration is our conviction, FIC is not our banner nor do we desire to be known as "the family church."  Our conviction is to promote a Biblical foundation and for the equipping and encouraging of believers with the Word of God. We are not choir-centered, pastor-centered, or program-centered. CRBC is Christ-centered as He alone is our hope. We believe that as we sit as His feet to hear His voice; we should do so together, not segregated by age groups, but as a family - the family of God.