I come from the Baptist tradition.  I was born again, baptized, and discipled under the ministry of a Baptist church which the Lord used to bring me to Himself back in 1974.  Every church I have belonged to has been a Baptist church.  Over the years I have preached in many non-Baptist churches and have had many students who were not technically Baptists.  I have read a ton of good literature in biblical studies and ministry pursuits by those who would not call themselves Baptists.  From the earliest days of my Christian experience, I have prayed with believers who did not share my Baptist convictions.  I have never been the kind of Baptist who looked down on other Bible-believing Christians from other traditions.  However, the opposite has not been true.  There have been many other believers who have expressed a measure of disdain for my Baptist heritage.  I have sometimes wondered why this is so.  Sometimes individual Baptist churches and individuals have acted in such a way to deserve this backlash.  However, on the whole I have trouble having a negative attitude about Baptists due to my positive experience in the Baptist churches I have been part of (not perfect but positive). Read the rest of this entry »