What’s In a Name?
Names and labels are valuable- not because they present a complete picture, but a church’s name gives a beginning snapshot to help describe their doctrine and practice. However, a church name does not completely reveal the spiritual nature or fervor of the church, nor whether that church truly follows the Holy Scripture. We all know, that you can smack a label on a skunk and call it a kitty all you want, but it doesn’t make it so; it is the same with a church and its name. A church’s practice is more important than what their sign says, yet a church’s name can be very helpful in understanding where they stand on certain issues, as well as remind a church what their practice ought to be.
Our church name is Grace Baptist. Obviously this is not the only name that a Biblical church can wear- either with the words “Grace” or “Baptist.” But something very dynamic is being said with that name that we wear.
“Grace” defines our view of doctrine and practice. We desire to be an organized body (church) that emphasizes God’s grace in our lives. What is grace? Grace is God’s undeserved, loving favor on sinners which enables us to serve and worship Him. If we are emphasizing grace, that means, primarily, we will not teach nor accept any doctrine that includes human work and effort in securing eternal salvation and Divine forgiveness for sins. We will separate ourselves from any church or organization that is sympathetic to man-willed energy in drawing, believing, or accepting God’s gift of eternal life. We are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9). This does not mean that we will whitewash or ignore sin and man’s sinful tendencies. But rather we recognize that when we come to grips with our own depravity, the great grace of God is emphasized. This also does not mean that man is not responsible to respond to God’s calling by grace. God desires all men and women, boys and girls, to repent and believe the Gospel of Grace.
Grace also defines our position concerning God’s sanctifying work. We believe that God saves us by His Divine grace and then He grows us by His sanctifying grace. Keeping rules (even really good ones) and obeying OT law (or modern man-made law) cannot truly grow a Christian in the Holy Faith. Only when we humbly submit our hearts, minds, and wills to God’s Holy Word through the Holy Spirit’s illumination of that Word will we recognize the immense mercies and grace of God. And as we recognize God’s mercies and grace in our lives, we are able to respond by presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice; and out of love and devotion we live holy, godly lives while growing by grace (Rom. 12:1-2;
II Pet. 3:18).
Grace not only describes our doctrine of salvation and sanctification (our Christian growth), but grace must also describe our practice with one another. A church is made up of people, and therefore it is far from perfect. The structure and blueprint is perfectly Divine, but the materials (that’s us folks), are far from perfect. The only way we as a church can be a lighthouse of God’s grace is through gracious living and interaction with one another. Jesus told his disciples that the world would recognize true disciples by their genuine love for one another (John 13:35). We want to be grace-filled, gracious people. That means thinking of one another before ourselves; it means placing another’s good above our own benefit (Phil. 2:3-4); it means being slow to take offence and quick to forgive those who do cause offence. It means that we treat one another as we would treat one holding the light of Christ in their soul (as all believers do).
So we see that “Grace” predominately defines both our doctrine and our practice. We are people of Grace! And by being that, the God of Grace is exalted with great glory.