by: Dr. Bruce Goddard
Romans 12:17, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
We live in a world that stresses brand names (it is not that you have a phone, but that you have an Android or an iPhone). Whether it be a phone or shoes, names such as Nike or Apple imply the product is different, better or more superior. We all have preferences in car brands. Ford or Chevy are “brands” and “labels.” In fact, if you look at your clothing, every piece probably has a brand on it. Honestly, the brand does tell us something. I like some brands of ice cream better than others. A hamburger at McDonalds is different from a hamburger at In-N-Out. The brand name does matter. The brand identifies and helps us know what to expect.
A “knock-off” is something that looks similar to the “name brand,” but is less costly, easier to find, and of course, (we all know) simply not as good. I was given a Montblanc pen. Wow! Honestly, I did not know that it was special; it was a pen, and it wrote. Then someone told me the value and high quality of this pen. Wow again! After a while, the ink ran out (really soon in fact), so I tried to find a refill. Normally, if a pen runs out of ink, I simply toss it and grab another one that has some hotel name on it and continue. After considering the notable value of my Montblanc pen, I decided it would be best to buy a refill. After searching stores and the internet, I found a comment alluding to the fact that if my Montblanc pen had this little thing or that small marking, Montblanc refills would not fit my pen — it was a fake, a knockoff. The description fit that of my pen — I could not even get a refill…back to Holiday Inn pens for me! The same fact is true of Rolex or Coach. Someone uses the quality name on a cheaply produced product.
We are Baptists — independent, fundamental, Bible-believing Baptists. The brand matters. There are Baptists who do not believe the Bible at all. There are Baptists who say they believe the Bible, but only as it has been properly translated. There are American Baptists, GARB, BBF, Conservative Baptists, Southern Baptists, Freewill Baptists, Hardshell Baptists, and many others. Our brand of Baptist, “Independent Fundamental Bible-believing Baptists,” believes the Book in our hands to be true, word for word. Our “brand” of Baptists is set apart by distinctives — usually three things: our view on standards, soul winning, and the Scriptures. As people, we are not better than others, but our church is different.
Catholics used to be known by the dress of those in leadership. (Remember the “Flying Nun”?) Pentecostals were known by their dress and by the style of ladies’ hair — it was their brand. Nazarenes, Mormons, JW’s — all were distinct. Fifty years ago, you would never hear a Catholic or a Mormon call himself a “Christian”; today they all do it. So the “knock off” Christian has arrived. The same is true of churches. Now, everyone wants to be a community church or a fellowship or something “non-denominational.” Brands do matter, and we all know that. Brands help us know what to expect. Churches ought to call themselves something that identifies them so others know what to expect. A big church in the next town over from our town is a Dutch Reformed church, but that is not written on their sign. Their sign says Community Church, which is probably a more accurate description. They did not want the “stigma” of Dutch Reformed.
We live among a generation of Baptists who want to call themselves Independent Fundamental Baptists while criticizing the basic principles of Independent Fundamental Bible-believing Baptists. They say older churches (older INDEPENDENT BIBLE BELIEVING BAPTISTS) are this or that, and they criticize us for being one way or another, but these labels they criticize us for having are those by which we have always been identified — even to the point of strong differences among us. Remember Paul and Barnabas fussing over John Mark? Baptists have always been strong, anchored, and a little stubborn. If John the Baptist were to come to town today, do not think for a minute that John the Baptist would attend a “fellowship” rather than a Baptist church. He would expect some preaching — straight forward, blunt, and perhaps some “name-calling” preaching; for that is how he preached, and he was the first Baptist. This “new generation” of Independent Baptists wants to keep the name, but not the distinctives that identify us.
If this new generation wants to be a community church, they should call their churches by that name. If they want to be non-denominational, go for it; but do not be a knockoff of an Independent Fundamental Bible-believing Baptist. In the business world, the act of using a label that is not yours is fraudulent and illegal. This new generation of Baptists enjoys being “Baptist knockoffs”; they want to ride the sails of the real deal while providing something easier to attain and less costly. They want to bring exclusive outward appearances to a counterfeit inside. This same ordeal occurred thirty years ago, only back then these churches had the integrity to pull “Baptist” from their names. Now they try to be knockoffs.
2 Corinthians 8:21 says, “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”
A brand name does matter. The brand identifies and helps us know what to expect. I do not object to the Presbyterian church down the road being Presbyterian. That is their name, and that is what they are. The Catholics are Catholic; no problem. But if a Baptist name is placed on those churches, they become fakes. I do resent someone being a knockoff Independent Fundamental Bible-believing Baptist. It gives the real deal a sour name. If I am out of town, and I visit an Independent Fundamental Bible-believing Baptist church only to find their music contemporary, I have found a knockoff. Take the name off and call yourselves a vine or branch, but do not violate mental copyrights.
Independent Fundamental Bible-believing Baptists have always been separated from the world, separated in dress and in social life; we are those unusual folks who believe the Bible word for word, and we go soul winning — we go out, knock on doors, and confront people about their need for Christ. That is what we are; we are not trying to be a Community Church. Those folks are fine, and they, no doubt, minister to people; but we would be fraudulent to call ourselves a community church.
Romans 12:17, “…Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
Dr. Bruce Goddard
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Wildomar, CA