Why I Am a Baptist [Paperback]

Tom J. Nettles (Author), Russell Moore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001

In light of the current identity crisis facing Baptists today, editors Nettles and Moore offer a volume of testimonies from contemporary Baptists expounding on that very question—Why I Am a Baptist. Taking a more objective approach than offered in earlier books, Why I Am a Baptist models a more doctrine-oriented approach, explaining Baptist life on the basis of historical tenets of the Christian faith worked out in practice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 257 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805424261
• ISBN-13: 978-0805424263
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #609,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Russell D. Moore is dean of the School of Theology and senior vice president for Academic Administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also serves as professor of Christian Theology and Ethics. He is the author of several books including The Kingdom of Christ, Adopted for Life, and Tempted and Tried. Moore and his wife have five sons.

Product Details

• Paperback: 257 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805424261
• ISBN-13: 978-0805424263
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #609,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Russell D. Moore is the dean of the School of Theology and senior vice-president for academic administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. The grandson of a Mississippi Baptist preacher, Dr. Moore also serves as a preaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church, where he ministers weekly at the congregation's Fegenbush location.

Dr. Moore writes and speaks frequently on topics ranging from the kingdom of God to the mission of adoption to a theology of country music. He is a senior editor of Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity, and also blogs regularly at Moore to the Point (www.russellmoore.com). He is the author of several books, including "The Kingdom of Christ," "Adopted for Life," and most recently of "Tempted and Tried." Dr. Moore and his wife, Maria, have four sons.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read May 22, 2001

By David E. Prince

Format:Paperback

Dr. Tom Nettles and Russell D. Moore have edited a wonderful volume on the true glue that holds Baptists together and that is theological conviction. The list of contributers is a veritable "who's who" of Baptist theological conservatives. The contributers span from the U.S. to Wales to Zambia. They reflect the theological diversity that is found among conservative, confessional and committed Baptists. They are pastors, scholars and lay people. The men and women in this volume stand in the tradition of their Baptist forebearers, committed to God's inerrant Word and the doctrines contained therein and willing to suffer for those distinctives they find in the Bible that makes them Baptists. I would implore every Baptist to read this book and rejoice in the true glue of theological conviction that holds us together as Baptists. I would also encourage every non-Baptist to read this volume for an honest understanding of what is at the core of what it means to be a Baptist Christian.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars More than just testimonies August 27, 2009

By Calvin W. Fergins, M.Div.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is so much more than a mere book of testimonies. This is a solid polemic for Baptist theology in the areas of the absolute authority of Scripture, Believer's Baptism, Religious Freedom, and Local Church Autonomy. It's very interesting that many of the contributors flirted with becoming Presbyterian (one even left being a Baptist to become a Presbyterian, only to come back) but the issue of infant baptism was something they could not overcome. I can truly relate to them on that.

Contributors include:
-Albert Mohler
-Wayne Grudem
-Paige Patterson
-Ann Judson
-Mark Dever
-Stan Norman

If you are flirting with becoming a Baptist, once were a Baptist or just want to understand the Baptist position this book is without a doubt for you.

The one drawback is that there's nothing by Spurgeon or John Gill in here which would have fit so perfectly. Also there is a lack of minority contributors for whatever reason. Why Voddie Bachum (sic) was not in here is very strange.

2.0 out of 5 stars Personal Narratives are Not Helpful March 27, 2013

By J. Tomes

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This book is not an apologetic for Baptist doctrine and distinctives. Instead, it is a series of short essays from various Baptist persons that amount to nothing more than personal conversion narratives with different doctrinal emphases. The authors do nothing more than state their position. If asked why they hold the position, "because it's clearly taught in Scripture." There is so much repetition in this book and no real argumentation.This book comes of as triumphalistic. It is profoundly unhelpful. On the other hand, it is exactly what it says that it is. If the Baptists are truly facing an identity crises (and they are) then they should (and could) have produced something weightier. How are personal narratives supposed to aide with this crises? Ultimately, Why I am a Baptist does not answer the questions that the reader is asking, it merely gives a few reasons as to why the individual authors are Baptists. The reader doesn't need to know why the writers are Baptist. They need to know why the position is (or isn't) true.

4.0 out of 5 stars Celebrates our Baptist faith and heritage July 28, 2009

By Stephen Jones VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

A book of testimonies by various Baptist leaders, both past and present, on our common faith and heritage. Sadly, Baptists are often known more for our traditions and emotional revivalism than our deep theology, but this book shows there are indeed many biblical, theological, and historical reasons to celebrate being a Baptist. Some great chapters, though the book could probably have been titled, "Why I wish I was Presbyterian, but the Bible's teaching on believer's baptism would not let me."

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read October 11, 2004

By Chris Meirose

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found this to be a good read. I liked the editor's choice to draw from fairly diverse group of Baptists (though some larger groups go unrepresented). I thought a couple of segments were outstanding, and couple of segments were uninspiring, and the rest was pretty good. I don't know if I would put this on a must read level, but if you are a Baptist and you want to come into a better understanding of the Baptist family, then this is worth your time and money.

-Chris-

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Doctrinal Distinctives and Personal Testimonies October 19, 2008

By Trevin Wax

Format:Paperback

Search for books called Why I Am a Baptist and you will find titles going back for more than a century. One of the more recent books to claim this title explores the reasons for Baptist identity by drawing from the personal experiences of a variety of Baptist leaders.

Russell Moore and Tom Nettles (both of Southern Seminary) have done conservative Baptists a service by editing a book that describes Baptist doctrinal distinctives in the context of personal testimony. This readable collection of essays will be an encouragement to Baptists who may not know why they are Baptist, aside from their upbringing.

Why I Am a Baptist contains essays from Baptist forefathers (Isaac Backus, Ann Judson, F.H. Kerfoot), from current Baptist leaders (such as Jimmy Draper, Paige Patterson, and Al Mohler), European Baptists (Erroll Hulse, etc.), pastors (Mark Dever, Al Meredith, etc.), pastors' wives, professors, and other Baptist evangelical leaders (Carl Henry, Wayne Grudem, etc.).

Baptist distinctives are clearly articulated in this book, especially the doctrine of believer's baptism as the key to Baptist identity. The contributors emphasize the trustworthiness of Scripture and the autonomy of the local church.

The only complaint I have with this collection is that the majority of the writers lean to the Reformed side of Baptist life. This fact is most clearly seen in many of the authors' journeys between Presbyterian and Baptist churches. Several of the essays could have just as well been titled "Why I Am No Longer a Presbyterian." While I enjoyed these essays, I would have rather heard from a broader spectrum of Baptist theology.

Still, Why I Am a Baptist is a worthy addition to the library of anyone interested in Baptist belief and practice.... The distinctiveness of Baptist belief is presented in the form of testimony, leading to a deep appreciation for the Holy Spirit's guidance of Baptists throughout the centuries. Read more ›