It’s not uncommon to have questions about your faith. The Bible can be a radical book for first-time readers. But a growing movement is developing in our churches and even in the mainstream, called deconstruction.

›     Deconstruction?

›     On a base level, the idea of deconstruction is when we root down into revisiting long-held beliefs and rethinking them. It is also asking the question: What do I believe?

›     Whether you grew up in the church or found faith later, this process can be a wider part of our restoration.

›     The goal of tearing our preconceived beliefs down is so that they can be built back up better.

Deconstruction has three different stages:

 1. construction,

2. deconstruction, and

3. reconstruction.

The problem is that most people quit at the deconstruction phase

Why is Deconstruction Gaining Momentum?

Partly has to do with people looking at the (global) Church and thinking they don’t believe what it says anymore.

•     For many, they have seen Christians fail to live as they believe for too long.

We rely on labels

Labels help us see at a glance what kind of food we can expect to find inside the restaurant.

•     Labels tell us what to expect.

•     They are necessary when it comes to churches as well.

•     Baptist,

•     Catholic,

•     Methodist,

•     Presbyterian,

•     Episcopalian,

•     Pentecostal,

•     Nazarene,

•     Charismatic, etc.

Denominations are more than archaic labels.

Each one signals a body of doctrine and philosophy that is vastly different from one another.

How to pick a good church

Many believers pick a church based on how it makes them feel,

•     how many of their friends go there,

•     the personality of the pastor,

•     or if the music appeals to them.

•     Far more important than any of these

•     is what the church teaches regarding God and the Bible!

When looking for a church start with the word “Baptist.”

 It is more than a useless label.

It indicates that the church holds to eight Biblical truths known as the Baptist Distinctives.

1.   BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

2.   AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

3.   PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER

4.   TWO ORDINANCES

5.   INDIVIDUAL SOUL LIBERTY

6.   SAVED, BAPTIZED CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

7.   TWO OFFICES

8.   SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

1. BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

The Bible is the final authority on all matters of faith, and practice

1 Thessalonians 2:13 AV

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

The Bible is inspired by God

2 Peter 1:20–21 AV

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Timothy 3:15–17 AV

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The Bible has been preserved by God

Psalm 12:6–7 AV

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Baptists believe the Bible and strive to live according to its teaching.

 It is the Divine Revelation of God to man and is the complete and infallible guide to faith and life.

Distinct from others in that:

•     Nothing overrides Gods word

2 Peter 1:16–19 AV

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

•    

•     The tradition of men,

•     human opinion,

•     science,

•     religious creeds,

•     popular opinion

2. AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

•     The local church governs it’s own concerns

•     The local church is accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:18 AV

¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

•     not a denomination

•     not a fellowship

•     No governmental body

How to deal with church problems:

Acts 6:1–7 AV

¹ And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

³ Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

⁶ Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

⁷ And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

 Distinct from others in that:

•     No religious hierarchy

•     can dictate the beliefs or practices of the local church

•     Each local church is self governing

3. PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER

We have direct access to the Lord

1 Timothy 2:1–6 AV

¹ I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

⁴ Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

⁶ Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

•     As God’s priests, we can

•     study His Word,

•     pray for our needs,

•     intercede for others,

•     offer worship,

•     and serve in His work.

Distinct from others in that:

Every believer has equal access to their Heavenly Father.

1 Peter 2:5 AV

⁵ Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 AV

⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

4. TWO ORDINANCES

1.   Baptism of believers by immersion

Romans 6:3–4 AV

³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

a.  symbolizing faith in the death, burial and Resurrection

Acts 8:36–39 AV

³⁶ And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

³⁷ And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

³⁹ And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

2.   The Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23–32 AV

²³ For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

²⁴ And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

²⁵ After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

²⁶ For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

²⁷ Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

²⁸ But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

²⁹ For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

³⁰ For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

³¹ For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

³² But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

a.  Memorial showing the shed blood and broken body of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross

b.  gives each believer the opportunity for self-examination

Distinct from others in that:

Baptism: Must believe before baptism (Acts 8:37)

Lords Supper: not re-sacraficing the Lord

Hebrews 10:10–14 AV

¹⁰ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

¹² But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

¹³ From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

These are not sacraments to earn salvation

See “Labels Matter: Part Two” for the conclusion of this message.