There are many churches which are Baptist, which are taking the name “Baptist” out of their name.  Does this make any difference?

I think it does, unless we simply want to be identified with “Evangelicalism” or “Ecumenism” which it does seem that many do not mind.  Being Baptist used to make a difference.  My feeling is if you are ashamed of the name then be something else, “Please”.  It is almost as bad as being ashamed of the name “Jesus”.

Why does the name make a difference?  First of all it has to do with the way we see Jesus:  He is deity; the God-Man; God incarnate, ie God made flesh.  The God-Man who died for the sins of the world.  Secondly, it has to do with your view of Scripture, ie., the Bible:  it is the inerrant, infallible, Spirit breathed word of God.  Another thing is the Priesthood of the believer:  that means that every child of God has access to the throne of God, and our only mediator is Jesus Himself, who intercedes for us; and that as a priest of God we are endowed and empowered by His Spirit to interpret the Scriptures rightly when we have a pure heart with Him.  A fourth thing is our view of Baptism: it is not for salvation, but because of salvation; it is our confession of salvation and the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus;  it is done by immersion, and by another Baptist recognizing the rights and privileges of local church membership; just as the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ; immersion places us within a local body called the local church which is the representation of the body of Christ in the community.  One final thing, but not exhausted, is the Lord’s Supper: in the Supper we recognize the broken, bruised body of our Savior with the eating of the bread; and with the drinking of the fruit of the vine, His shed blood; the giving of His life for our sins; and we remember His death until He comes.  Since the Scriptures warn of not taking of the Supper “Unworthily” (1 Corinthians 11:27-32) we also believe that one must have been baptized by immersion to partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Who can be a member of a local Baptist Church?  All who call on the name of Jesus for salvation, are immersed in the water, and then, they will have all the rights of the Priesthood of the believer.

Though, there are many “Baptist” churches who are forsaking the Baptist distinctives, they probably should take the name “Baptist” out.  Let those of us who will remain Baptist be honest with who we are.