Why I Am A Baptist

By Douglas Hammett

What difference does it make if you are a Baptist, or an Episcopalian, or a Catholic, or a Lutheran, or a Methodist, or anything else? I think there is a big difference. In this book, we explore why I believe being a Baptist is so important. The church you attend is important because in a true church you will have a better chance of being pointed in the right way. You have a better chance of hearing the truth about Bible salvation. Once you are saved, God expects you as a Christian to follow His Word and to be obedient to what He says. Therefore you need to be in a church that teaches and preaches the doctrines of the Word of God correctly, so you can grow as a Christian. This booklet gives three reasons why everyone who is truly saved ought to be a Baptist. This topic is covered from Scriptural truth, historical truth, and doctrinal truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Douglas Hammett
• Release date: Aug 18, 2011
• ISBN: 9780866452700

Douglas Hammett

Douglas Hammett has been in the gospel ministry for almost 40 years. He has been involved in many areas of ministry, often covering several areas at the same time. Those areas include Pastor, Church Planter, Staff Evangelist, College Professor and President, Author, Life/Ministry Coach, and Missionary. He has traveled extensively on mission trips around the world as well as preaching for Bible, Missions and Revival Conferences. He has a heart for God's people and desires especially to help preachers advance their ministry for Christ whether in the United States, or on the foreign field. He served for over 20 years as Senior Pastor of the Lehigh Valley Baptist Church in Emmaus, PA. Then in October, 2010, he moved to Botswana, Africa to serve there as a missionary. Pastor Hammett and his wife, Beverly, have 4 children and 7 grandchildren.

Book preview

Why I Am a Baptist

By Douglas Hammett

Copyright 2011 Douglas Hammett

Smashwords Edition

All scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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The picture on the front cover is of the baptism of George Washington by John Gano, pastor of the First Baptist Church in New York City.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Scriptural Truth

Historical Truth

Doctrinal Truth

Conclusion

About the Author

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Introduction

"I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts." Psalm 119:6

Quite often on visitation I will go up and knock on a door. When I tell the person who answers the door who I am, they will say, Oh, I go to such-and-such church. But, it does not matter what church I go to since we all are working for the same place. I do not think it really makes any difference. I am sure that you too have heard a similar statement as you talk to other people. They will say something to the effect that it does not matter what church you go to. However, I think it DOES matter what church you go to. It is very important.

Let me clarify what I mean. The church you attend does not make any difference as far as whether or not you are going to make it to heaven. No church in this world can get you to heaven. The only way you will get to heaven is by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. But in a true church—a church that is truly what God wants it to be—you will have a better chance of being pointed in the right way. You have a better chance of hearing the truth about Bible salvation—that salvation is found in repenting of your sins and putting your faith in Jesus Christ as the only payment for your sin. So if for no other reason than hearing the truth about salvation, the church you attend is important.

The church you attend is also important because once you are saved, God expects you as a Christian to follow His Word and to be obedient to what He says. Therefore you need to be in a church that teaches and preaches the doctrines of the Word of God correctly, so you can grow as a Christian.

The word fear in Psalm 119:63 means to have a reverence for, and to trust in. It means that