But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
What Kind of a Baptist Are You?
March 12, 2010
In a lengthy car rental line at the Orlando airport I met a woman who overheard a portion of a conversation I was having on my cell phone.
| She: | I beg your pardon, but I overheard some of your conversation. Did I understand you are a pastor? |
| Me: | I am. |
| She: | What kind of a church do you pastor? |
| Me: | Baptist. |
| She: | I don’t know much about religion, but isn’t there more than one kind of Baptist? |
| Me: | Yes. |
| She: | What kind are you? |
| Me: | (Desiring to talk about more important things than the array of Baptist varieties that are out there, and suspecting she would desire that, too, I answered this way…) I’m the kind of Baptist who believes that God is Creator. He made everything that exists. He is very powerful and he is holy; there is absolutely nothing defective about him, and he is the only being that exists that way—in a category all by himself. He made the human race, and every single human has shortcomings, especially sin. Man’s main sin is that he suppresses the truth that God is so holy and man is so sinful. In complete justice, God has assigned punishment for sin. Jesus came to take that sin upon himself, absorbing God’s justice and wrath against sin, and to provide for us the perfect righteousness God requires. Jesus was crucified according to God’s plan, and rose from the dead, conquering sin and death for all who trust and treasure him. I’m that kind of Baptist. |
| She: | Oh. I’ve never heard it put that way. (I gave her my card.) |
| Clerk: | Next. |
Pastor Sam Crabtree is Bethlehem's Executive Pastor and Lead Pastor for Life Training.