Being a Gracious Baptist

For years, many of us have struggled with ways to describe how we go about being Baptists. Very often, we have defined ourselves in contrast to another group and resorted to comments like, “We are not THAT kind of Baptists.”

In a recent conversation, I suggested that Baptists that I identify with might call ourselves “gracious Baptists.” You can look up the definition of that word for yourself but, for me, it suggests several things.

First, being a gracious Baptist means embracing the power of God’s grace. As a former pastor said, “God has not called us to judge but to love.” Our God is a gracious God, showing patient forbearance while offering forgiveness and hope. As God’s people, we should reflect and exhibit that same grace. The message we bear is the one that God exemplifies.

Second, being a gracious Baptist calls upon us to welcome the stranger and marginalized persons into our midst. Grace and hospitality go hand in hand. We exemplify grace in our openness, care, and provision for others.

Third, a gracious Baptist is collaborative. I could use the term “cooperative,” but collaboration goes further. When we collaborate with others, we not only work together but we welcome the gifts of others and their unique contributions. Gracious Baptists are not only ecumenical--willing to work with other faith communities--about ready to enter into collaborative activities with anyone who seeks the good of the community, nation, and world.

Fourth, a gracious Baptist is prophetic without being judgmental. A gracious Baptist has a clear understanding of his or her own values, principles, and beliefs and is willing to articulate those. Even so, there is no desire to force or intimidate another into accepting those commitments. A gracious Baptist is honest and transparent about her or his stance, but willingly enters into dialogue with others.

Fifth, being a gracious Baptist means being evangelistic. The meaning of the word “evangel” is both “gospel” and “good news.” There is plenty of bad news in the world today; the good news that a gracious Baptist presents is that God cares and so do I.

Perhaps you have other ways of describing a gracious Baptist. I continue to add to my list.

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