Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 12/31/2011

Question
Hello,

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I'm writing you in regards to the SBC teachings. I'm a Roman Catholic who is considering on coming back to the Baptist church. (I was raised in the Baptist church for 25 years) but I do have some concerns I would like to address:

1. Can I hold the view scientifically on evolution and a Old-Earth view?

2. I do not take the Bible as  literalism, but I view it in the time it was written and how it applied to certain cultures at the time and state in which the writers were in, in other words I believe that it was inspired by God, but one must read it in light of being completely literal. (but read it in the context of various literary styles)

3. I was never baptized by immersion, but wish to be (I was received puring on the head) do I just make the arrangement at the church?

thank you so much!

Blessings,
Shawn

Answer
Hi Shawn,

Thank you so much for these great questions.  I am glad that you are considering being a Baptist... here are some things that may help you on your journey.

1.  One of our Baptist distinctives is the Autonomy of the local church... each individual church is responsible to conduct its own affairs such as by-laws...  You should check with your local church about these specific matters, but I will also give you my general guidelines.

2.  Many churches will let someone join while still holding views with which they disagree.  I would guess that there are many churches that would allow you to join while attempting eventually through teaching to mold your views to conform more closely with scripture.  This would probably hold true in regard to your views about the old earth.  I also know that some SBC churches are not nearly as old school as the more fundamental Baptist churches are.

3.  Most Evangelicals do not take all the Bible literally, they view it normally.... in other words, if the passage is poetry, then devices such as similes and figures of speech are to be considered.  Depending upon the level of conservative influence in the church, some might take exception if you view passages intended to be prose narrative as completely allegorical, thus gutting the Bible of its authority.

4.  Most Baptist churches have specific policies regarding baptism.  Most important is that you have trusted Jesus as Savior before you get Baptized.  Yes you should make arrangements with your local church.

I hope that this gives you some guidance as to what you should expect.  May God richly bless your journey of truthful discovery.

In Christ
Pastor Don