I friend of mine recently announced that he would self identify as a Classical Baptist rather than an Independent Fundamental Baptist.
Citing a number of reasons; from the excesses of some of the larger and more "excessive" IFB churches, to the effeminate nature of many of today's more common IFB churches.
He claimed for himself the term Classical Baptist in the likes of Benjamin Keach, Adoniram Judson, William Carey and Charles Spurgeon whose doctrine and practice could hardly be compared to anything Baptists are doing today.
He claimed Classical Baptist in contrast to Reformed Baptist (for reasons I have not yet discovered).
Whose current trend concerns me first because the term reformed links them to Protestantism, which I do not believe true Baptists were ever a part of and secondly because Baptist Churches need no real reformation. Each church does correct its error or divert to the place it is no longer a biblically Baptist church. But those principles, practices and doctrines that make one Baptist need never, yea must never be reformed.
I have long ago determined I did not fit in the Independent Fundamental Baptist mold, though I am all of the above.
Perhaps I too am a Classical Baptist.
Citing a number of reasons; from the excesses of some of the larger and more "excessive" IFB churches, to the effeminate nature of many of today's more common IFB churches.
He claimed for himself the term Classical Baptist in the likes of Benjamin Keach, Adoniram Judson, William Carey and Charles Spurgeon whose doctrine and practice could hardly be compared to anything Baptists are doing today.
He claimed Classical Baptist in contrast to Reformed Baptist (for reasons I have not yet discovered).
Whose current trend concerns me first because the term reformed links them to Protestantism, which I do not believe true Baptists were ever a part of and secondly because Baptist Churches need no real reformation. Each church does correct its error or divert to the place it is no longer a biblically Baptist church. But those principles, practices and doctrines that make one Baptist need never, yea must never be reformed.
I have long ago determined I did not fit in the Independent Fundamental Baptist mold, though I am all of the above.
- I am independent in church polity.
- I am fundamental in basic doctrine.
- I am Baptist in conviction
Perhaps I too am a Classical Baptist.
