Roanoke church drops 'Baptist' label in search for youth revival

Wow, so many interesting facets to this story. This Baptist pastor decided to stop wearing robes to preach in? And I was interested to see the statement by the deacon’s chairwoman, Amy Lowman.

The truth is that whatever this “Baptist” church was before the transformation, it sounds like exactly the reason I have been in favor of abandoning the title “Baptist” for a long time. The name really doesn’t mean anything specific anymore, and far too often has connotations that are negative - not to the publci but to scripture itself.

People who so easily abandon their heritage are most often completely ignorant of it!

People who care about theological precision care about theological categories and labels. Those with more ‘flexible’ beliefs are more comfortable with more flexible titles like all the seeker-sensitive and emergent groups.

Andrew,

You read too much into the objection. I care about my heritage, and I still identify as historically Baptistic. However, the label, like so many other words, has been hijacked and redefined until it no longer means what it used to mean. The “Baptist” church at large today is far from monolithic, and I am no longer accurately represented by the majority of that which self-identifies as “Baptist.” The very reason I am ready to abandon the Baptist label is that I care about theological precision when using categories and labels. I have not abandoned the label because I’m being flexible with my beliefs; in fact, the reality is that the label no longer fits precisely because I am not willing to be flexible with my beliefs.

Mr. Van Emmerik -

I certainly appreciate your stand on theological precision and our shared Baptist history. I would hope that you might reconsider your stance. The so-called non-denominational churches are guilty of the most egregious heresy, confusion, and doctrinal errors. Have you considered that by going from “Smith Road Baptist Church” to “The Riverside”, you are identifying with those movements? Spurgeon and Keach were Baptists! Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen are non-denominational.

Were you to disassociate with your heritage, what name would you chose?

I have come to prefer simple Bible church names, though the last church where I was member changed its name from Central Baptist to Amazing Grace Ministries. Of course, non-denominational churches do not stand alone in their “most egregious heresy, confusion and doctrinal errors.” Sadly, as I pointed out previously, these abound among self-identified Baptist churches today as well (you could look at individual churches like Westboro Baptist Church or whole denominational branches like the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship). Frankly, the vast majority of so-called Baptist churches have moved into doctrinal and/or practical error to the point I would not be called a member among their number. Certainly not all Baptists fit into this category, but enough that I believe it is largely more of a hindrance than a help in evangelistic and discipleship efforts to be identified as a Baptist in America today.

I am not a fan of the attractional model, which is what this church appears to have adopted. They seek to reach 20 and 30 somethings like a department store in a shopping mall seeks more customers. In their mind, just do some window dressing, such as the name change, not using the pipe organ, getting rid of the pastor’s robe and suddenly the target market (20 and 30 somethings) will feel more comfortable and then start shopping, oops I mean coming to their church. By the way, I am not against changing the name, having a more contemporary worship or doing away with the pastor robe, but their reason for changing it is much too shallow and ironically they will end up attracting shallow, consumer-type churched people. Now if they truly want to see 20 and 30 somethings in their church, how about looking for ways to get to know a bunch of lost 20 and 30 somethings (volunteer where their kids go to school, work out at the Gym/club where they work out, intentionally be a neighbor in the neighborhood where they live), then figure out how to develop loving relationships with 20 and 30 somethings and then introduce them to Jesus. Before they make the window-dressing changes, their people need to be on mission of making disciples of Jesus first. I wonder if churches such as this look for the short cuts in what it takes to do evangelism/discipleship? Again, I am not necessarily opposed to making these cultural changes. Maybe these cultural changes will prove to be necessary. However, they need to make the main thing (worship of Jesus and making disciples of Jesus) the main thing. However this article makes it appear as if the main thing to them is the consuming customer…….