Brother, that's a bit of a loaded question!

It's like asking whom you would marry if you weren't presently married to your wife.

It's dangerous to even speak of such ecclesiological adultery.

;-)

Gunny Hartman, pastor
www.ProvidenceChurch.info
Garland, Texas (SBC)

I think I could go from Southern Baptist to Presbyterian. I can't give up regenerate church membership or believer's baptism though. But if there were no Baptist church around, I think I could go Presbyterian. In fact, if the local Baptist church were not Biblically sound...I may prefer it.

I think Dever says that one way people vote, even in non-congregationalist churches, is with their feet. If I join a Presbyterian church (I was a member of one less than a year ago) am I casting a vote for paedobaptism and elder-rule and sabbatarianism? And does my membership at the SBC-cooperating church where I worship imply that I am for alter calls and multiple services?

I'm not sure.

Gunny is correct! However, I'm not a pastor with denominational ties, and we're currently forced to attend church in another town, so I'm not ashamed to admit I'd switch to a local congregation if I could.

The deal-breakers would be doctrinal. Obviously, their doctrine of Scripture would be paramount, as would their doctrine of God. Following that, Reformed soteriology would be essential.

Assuming the previous conditions are met, credobaptism would be next; but, lacking a Reformed Baptist church, I would settle for a Presbyterian/Reformed church (while praying for a local new church plant -- which I am currently doing, anyway).

Those would be the major deal-breakers.

After that I'd look for everything listed in IX Marks, especially expository preaching; but I wouldn't hold out for them.

Uh, I haven't been Presbyterian all my life and I am now, so I guess I already switched. But the thing is, after being non-denominational most of my life, Southern Baptist the rest, baptized as a believer, I have found a denomination that I am more than glad and thankful to be a member of.

This has changed for me. When I lived in the Atlanta area, the thought of being part of another denomination would never even occur to me. Now, living in the Northeast, I realize how fickle some (but not all) of our differences really are. If we are clear on the gospel and authority of Scripture, then we are on our way to good partnering. Before I moved up here, having a reformed theology was a must. Now, I look back and cringe a bit that I was at that point.

Well, I certainly never saw myself ever becoming a member of a PCA church. After my previous church split, I was looking for a church for months. There aren't many good believer Baptist type churches around where I live. Now, I wouldn't see myself ever leaving even if they opened up a new IX Marks believer baptism church next door.

I'm still committed to believer's baptism. And I do appreciate the church allowing membership for those that do.

A.T. Robertson said it best:
"Give a man an open Bible, an open mind, a conscience in good working order and he will have a hard time to keep from being a Baptist."

Because of my serious study of the Bible and since my conscience is in good working order, I could never be anything other than a Southern Baptist. I'm not saying we are the only ones saved, but we are the only ones, in my opinion, with the correct positions on most everything. Doctrine matters to me. I am an SBC pastor, but if I ever had to resign from my pastorate, I wouldn't attend anything else but and SBC church - even if that meant driving two hours. It's worth it for the real deal.

Michael Wilhite, pastor
Bedford, Indiana
www.michaelwilhite.net

Personally, I will stay SBC because I totally disagree with infant baptism, and I believe in the automonomy of the local church. That said, if all I could find in an area I was living were SBC churches that were touting denominational clichés rather than preaching the gospel, I’d go PCA in a heartbeat. However, because I happen to be in a solid reformed Baptist church, I won’t go PCA. So, are these distinctives a deal breaker for me? I’d say it depends on how faithful the SBC churches in my area are to the gospel.

Pastor Wilhite,

I'm glad you SBC guys have good churches to attend; but, as I'm sure you know, the SBC is a mixed bag. When we were looking for a church here, we considered the local SBC, and really hoped we could settle there; but they were Arminian, doing the "Forty Days of Purpose" and "Prayer of Jabez," and handing out "The Message." Because, as you say, "doctrine matters," we couldn't stay.

So when I read, "Because of my serious study of the Bible and since my conscience is in good working order, I could never be anything other than a Southern Baptist," and "doctrine matters," it makes me smile (not derisively -- it just seems ironic). I wonder, Pastor, if you would drive two hours to attend our local SBC, or if you would consider other options.

David,

As you have said, the SBC is a mixed bag to say the least. I would have never attended that SBC church either, personally.

But for me, yes I would and have driven great lengths to go to a good SBC church in the past. I actually have driven about an hour and a half to be a part of a solid, Bible believing SBC church in the past. I grew up in a county with no evangelical witness, let alone an SBC church. Indiana is mostly rural, with only a few hundred SBC churches in the entire state. The nearest one for me was one county away and I didn't like it at all.

I chose to drive three counties away to find a solid church and did that for nearly four years until I helped plant one in our area. I then did that for two years and am now pastoring a church almost two hours from where I live. I am selling my house and trying to move as quickly as I can. The housing market is just plain lowsy here.

But, as I have said, for me it's worth it for the real deal. I know that most wouldn't do such a thing. But for me, the cost of gas is a small price to pay for being loyal to a true, Biblical church. Doctrine does matter to me. And being in the SBC matters to me greatly. If you are curious why this is so for me, see this post on my blog. http://www.michaelwilhite.net/2008/06/25/are-you-really-just-a-christian

Michael Wilhite, pastor
Bedford, Indiana
www.michaelwilhite.net

John 1:12
"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. But he loves the Baptist the best because they are the most perfect."

Denominations suck! Get over yourselves.

Michael wrote: "I am an SBC pastor, but if I ever had to resign from my pastorate, I wouldn't attend anything else but and SBC church - even if that meant driving two hours. It's worth it for the real deal."

I think we need to be reminded that church is more than "just going to church." It's about getting involved with the life of the church and the people. It's not just about going to service once a week.

If you can make the trip a few times per week (that would be at least 12 hours) and be involved in the life of the church, great. Not everyone can do that.

I've said this before, but I don't see a whole lot of names that I recognize in the comments, so I shouldn't bore TOO many of you. ;-)

Got turned onto reformed theology in an SBC. Granted, that church wasn't reformed, and I was informed by the mainline Arminians that one could not be Calvinist and SB. (I know that's wrong, if for no other reason than the fact that the guy who turned me onto reformed theology is now an asst pastor at an SBC.)

Anyway, it was clearly time to skedaddle. Looked largely at reformed churches and never fit in with any of them. I wound up in a church where I may very well be the only Calvinist. But what I have learned is that my embrace of reformed theology had a LOT to do with getting my head screwed on straight regarding God's sovereignty. And, doggone, if my fellow church members don't have a great handle on that, even if we disagree on the salvific ramifications.

To answer Thabiti's last question (in honesty, not being a smart aleck): Jesus decides what the deal breakers are, not me.

Carlo wrote: "I think we need to be reminded that church is more than "just going to church." It's about getting involved with the life of the church and the people. It's not just about going to service once a week."

I fully agree with you on that. When I drove all of that way a few years ago, I went for the whole day on Sunday before I left. I usually went to the park and read/studied during the afternoon hours before evening worship. I also drove in on Wed. evenings for prayer meeting, and taught a Bible study on Tuesday nights.

The trip really isn't that bad. It's not ideal, but it's worth it for the real deal. And the hours spent in the car are good for one's prayer life when used wisely.

Michael Wilhite, pastor
Bedford, Indiana
www.michaelwilhite.net