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Baptists/As a christian , How do know what denomination you should belong to ?

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Expert: - 1/27/2008


Question
Dr.Don,
    I am a missionary baptist who was once a minister of
the faith, but through seeking out the truth of the will
of God, i have become quite confused and deeply lost with
all the different denominations. How do i know that the
missionary baptist doctrine is how God wishes for me to
worship Him?

Answer
Hi Anton. I know a little about the Missionary Baptists. I use to work in East Texas in place called Rusk, Tx. I worked in a hospital with another RN whose husband was teaching at one of thier seminaries which was in Jacksonville, Tx. The preacher's name was James Blaylock, and he is still the Librarian at the seminary there. I looked up the Doctrinal Statement of Faith for the Baptist Missionary Association of America, the Baptist Missionary Association of Tx, and the BMA Seminary in Jacksonville, Texas and all agree with the fundamentals of doctrine of the New Testament Church. Doctrinally the BMA is solid. The only way to know for yourself that the BMA doctrine okay is to take what they say in their  Doctrinal Statement of Faith and "rightly divide the Word of Truth" (2Ti 2:15). Look up what they say they believe.
Anton, from what I can tell is that most of the BMA churches are not big churches and 43% of them are in Texas. One thing you have worry about with Fundamental churches that they can become very legalistic and spiritually abusive. Jesus dealt harshly with the Pharisees in Matthew Chapter 23 because they were so legalistic but failed to show "justice, mercy, and love."
Anton, you said that you "once a minister of the faith" so I assume it was in the BMA. You do not say why you are no longer a minister.
Do not get caught in denominationalism wondering which denomination is the best, whether it BMA, SBC, or anyother
Baptist Church. The BMA doctrinally is sound so stay in it, but if you issues with the BMA find yourself a church that has expository preaching/teaching. This is what makes a church doctrinally sound.
But continue to worship at some church you feel comfortably with, read God's Word everyday, pray daily for God's will and discernment, and He will show what He wants you to do.
Thanks for the question.
Don Howe, PhD, ThD.

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Dr Don Howe

Expertise

I welcome questions that deal with theological issues, relationship issues, church history, world religions, current events from a Christian worldview, "gray areas" that are present today, church growth movements, false prophets, spiritual abuse issues, end time events, prophecy, medical ethical issues, hermeneutical questions, and how Israel fits into God's economy today. I will answer all questions in a grammatical/historical normative interpretation of God's Word. If I can not answer a question, I will do the research and find the answer if available. If you are looking for a liberal theological answer or agrument, do not ask. I am not an expert on church planting or evangelism.

Experience

I have over 27 years of experience doing ministry as a bivocational minster/professional nurse. I do ministry as a volunteer with ministries that are nonprofit and not able to pay for ministers. I have experience working with youth, children, elderly in different placement settings, mentally ill and mentally challenged in different settings, felons in state prison and county jails, hospital chaplancy, choir ministry, and deacon ministry. I am an ordained SBC minister. I am a Professional Chaplain. I am currently doing hospital minstry, ministry to shut-ins, and a chaplain with Victim Relief Ministry working with victims of diasters and domestic violence. I work as psychiatric nurse in large county jail system.

Organizations
American Association of Christian Counselors, Baptist Nursing Fellowship, Nurses Christian Fellowship, Therpon Institute, Victim Chaplain & Counselor Association of America, International Board of Christian Counselors, American Society of Christian Therapists.

Publications
N/A

Education/Credentials
PhD, Therapon University, USVI, 12/07 in Biblical Counseling, DCC, Southwest Bible College & Seminary, Jenning, LA 04/05 in Christian Psychology and Counseling. ThD, Slidell Baptist Seminary, Slidell, LA 02/04 D.D., Slidell Baptist Seminary, Slidell, LA 07/03 Tyndale Seminary, Fort Worth, TX 2001-2003 BSN, Univ. of Texas in Arlington, Tx 05/93 ADN, Midwestern State Univ., Wichitia Falls, TX 5/77 Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Externship 08/04-12/05, 4 units of CPE earned.

Awards and Honors
Board Certified Christian Counselor by International Board of Christian Counselors. Issued 01/24/06.

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