The first national Baptist convention was the Triennial Convention which was formed in the early 18th century solely to help with international missions. Basically, the primary driving force for organization in Baptist life has been the cause of missions. Johann Gerhard Oncken explained it once as “every Baptist, a missionary.” Such an emphasis on missions is just as important today. If, as Baptists, we truly believe what we say we believe, then it is inevitable that we highlight the cause of missions. Each person has the ability to accept the Lord as their own personal Savior, and so we must go tell each person about him! It has been our focus for years and should continue to be our focus in a world with numerous unreached peoples.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Baptist History Reflection
In 1612, Thomas Helwys returned
from Amsterdam and planted the first Baptist church in England. It was here that the first document in
English was written that argued for full religious freedom for all
individuals. This is a belief that
Baptists have long stood by and is still very important to emphasize
today. Religion/spirituality should not
be forced upon anyone. The ability to
show love instead of force it and to be inviting in that way requires much humility
and respect for others. Even if people
do not agree with us as Baptists, they must make their own decisions and we are
to respect them and love them through it all.
What kind of a relationship is a forced one, anyway? God wants us to choose him. We want others to choose him also.
The first national Baptist convention was the Triennial Convention which was formed in the early 18th century solely to help with international missions. Basically, the primary driving force for organization in Baptist life has been the cause of missions. Johann Gerhard Oncken explained it once as “every Baptist, a missionary.” Such an emphasis on missions is just as important today. If, as Baptists, we truly believe what we say we believe, then it is inevitable that we highlight the cause of missions. Each person has the ability to accept the Lord as their own personal Savior, and so we must go tell each person about him! It has been our focus for years and should continue to be our focus in a world with numerous unreached peoples.
The first national Baptist convention was the Triennial Convention which was formed in the early 18th century solely to help with international missions. Basically, the primary driving force for organization in Baptist life has been the cause of missions. Johann Gerhard Oncken explained it once as “every Baptist, a missionary.” Such an emphasis on missions is just as important today. If, as Baptists, we truly believe what we say we believe, then it is inevitable that we highlight the cause of missions. Each person has the ability to accept the Lord as their own personal Savior, and so we must go tell each person about him! It has been our focus for years and should continue to be our focus in a world with numerous unreached peoples.
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