“So then …stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.” 2 Thessalonians 2.15

     As Paul wrote to the Christians gathered in the Greek city of Thessalonica, he was aware of the importance of each individual understanding the basic teachings of Christianity. Paul instructed these young believers to stand firm in their convictions as they sought to live a life devoted to Christ. The image invoked by Paul’s words is the passing of the baton (the core beliefs of Christianity) from the current generation to those who are coming along to take up the race of the infant church.

     Paul’s advice of using the teachings of the church as the foundation for our life in Christ demands a certain acquaintance with those teachings and traditions. It demands a call to the Thessalonians to revisit the principles that set Christians apart from the world around them. It is a call to remember the identity that God has crafted within through the daily discipleship experience.

     Much like these early Christians, we, in our varying denominations, can find our collective identity lost in the maze of contemporary Christianity. It is easy to understand how we can end up asking our- selves, “What is a Baptist?” After all, Baptist is our middle name isn’t it? We are members of Grace Baptist Church; we are associated with the American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region; our denomination is the American Baptist Churches USA. So what are those Baptist distinctives that have helped form the identity of our church? In the next few issues of Grace Notes, we will remember why “Baptist” is our middle name.

     (TO BE CONTINUED)

     See you Sunday,

  Pastor Dave

     To view past issues of the Grace Notes, click HERE.