Baptist Church?

Question

I am doing an anthropoloy project and I decided I am going to go to a baptist church to do it. I basically have to write down stuff on a piece of paper. What am I going to expect? How is the service carried out? I am really nervous, I am catholic and our masses are quiet and stuff. Is the baptist service really energetic? I've got 2 hours before I go.

Answer 1

No, not very energetic...not much more than a Catholic Church.

The stand a few minutes a sing some songs, then sit and listen to announcements and a few jokes from the speaker, then stand a sing some more. They may sit and sing too.

Then they listen to the sermon which usually lasts around 30 minutes or so. Then they do an altar call and anyone who wants to "accept Jesus into their heart" comes forward and shakes the preachers hand and gets introduced to the congregation as a new convert. Accepting Jesus into your heart is as easy as shaking a preacher's hand and they keep the "altar call" until at least one person "goes forward".

Baptists refer getting "born again" as "going forward". Some people in order to let the altar call not last so long..."goes forward" to "rededicate their lives"...and that means that they will start trying to live better or by the church rules more.

Terms you will hear in the Baptist Church

Sunday School - Children go to this before church and are divided by age.

Training Union - The same as Sunday School but at night. Adults also have a Bible Discussion group referred to as "Training Union".

Accepting Jesus as your Savior -- Becoming "Born Again" and believing in Jesus.

Coming Forward -- Walking down the aisle while everyone else is sitting down...to indicate that "the spirit" really moved you to take some action in your life.

Rededicate your life -- making a commitment to live better.

Prayer Requests -- Telling personal concerns or problems you or someone else is having that you want to have people pray about.

Every head bowed and every eye closed -- Pray hard! A miracle is about to happen and someone will either accept Jesus as their savior or rededicate their lives.

Transfer a membership - Sometimes people "come forward" to become a member of the church when they used to go to a different BAPTIST church. You can't transfer a membership if you are Catholic and want to become Baptist. You would first have to "Accept Jesus as your Savior." (Baptists don't believe that Catholics really believe in Jesus.) Then you could join the church if you wanted to.

In reality, the Baptist church services are much less formal and yet somewhat similar to Catholic services except there isn't any kneeling or quoting of prayers. Sometimes they have "congregational responses" which are found in the back of a hymnal...the preacher reads a line and then the congregation reads a line. Pretty straight forward and it doesn't happen often.

Don't worry, you'll do just fine but there will be some pressure to become Born Again. Try not to become to emotionally involved or you will do some strange stuff and think you were pretty ridiculous later. People do that all the time under pressure.

If they ask you to stand and introduce yourself, just say your name and that is all. They will give you a name tag to wear and some spiel about their church on a paper....and maybe a free pen or small flower. If they ask you directly to accept Jesus as your savior, just say, "I'm praying about it." and leave it at that. They will say that they will pray for you and most likely leave you alone.

I can advise you like the military advises their soldiers...tell them your name, rank and serial number...that is all. I'll tell you, say your name, that you are checking out churches in the area and if they pressure you to do anything, say, "I'll pray about it". Drink coffee and eat donuts after the service, smile and be friendly but don't do anything just because they want you to.

Not all Baptist Churches are over zealous and pressuring but a great many are. Baptist Churches vary just as Catholic ones differ from place to place...same basic tenets though.

By the way, is this a SOUTHERN Baptist Church? I've described SOUTHERN Baptist not Freewill Baptist or other branches. Freewill don't pressure you at all and are more liberal (in a nice way) than Southern.

You'll be fine...its all very interesting.

Answer 2

Depends on the church. In my Baptist church, we have an hour of singing worship and an hour of preaching time. They are not much on protocol, but really good at calling God into the room.

I've been to others however, that were more sedate. They are calm and soothing, they start out with singing some hymns you'll find familir I'm sure, then pray, pass the plate, pray some more, have announcements, then the preacher gets up and has his sermon.

It's not that much different than the Catholic service, you just don't have to dip the fingers in holy water, kneel or cross yourself. Oh, and it's in English, not Latin lol.

Answer 3

You'll do Alright.
It Might be Just a Little more energetic than the Catholic service.
(ex-Catholic here, made Head Altar Boy too).
I GOD SAVED.
Baptist Churches are GREAT for getting Born-Again.
Ditto............

Answer 4

well go and see, but to ask about a denomination, doesn't tell you how the church is

Answer 5

no rituals, no taking of the sacrament, no confession...but you will go out to eat chicken afterwards, so bring plenty of napkins

Answer 6

Hellfire and brimstone, baby...