Foots Cray Baptist Church
The Church on Sidcup Hill
Becoming a Christian | Basis of Faith |
What we believe
Of course you believe in God, but what is he like?
There is one and only one true God and he
- Created everything
- Loves us all deeply
- Rules the universe with providential care
We therefore call him both “Lord” and “Father”
What do you believe about the people God loves?
Human beings were created by the special act of God, and are the crowning work of his creation.
However, we have turned our backs on him and decided to go our own way. We call this sin and it spoils our relationships with God and with each other.
So how does Jesus Christ fit in?
We believe Jesus is the Son of God who was born as a baby on earth on the first Christmas Day. He grew up to teach us how to live a life that would please God, and was executed on the first Good Friday. He was the only person not to sin and his death was accepted by God as the punishment for our wrongdoing.
Jesus was nailed on a cross to die, which is why the cross is used as a symbol to represent our faith.
We can therefore be forgiven by God. We can restore a relationship that we have damaged by being genuinely sorry and being forgiven. That is why we follow Jesus.
On Easter Sunday he came to life again and now reigns with God the Father in heaven where he is preparing a place for us when we die.
Will we all go to heaven?
Jesus said he is preparing a place in heaven for those who follow him. The Bible indicates that those who do not follow him will not join him.
Why is the Bible so important to you?
The Bible was written by people inspired by God. We read it because we find God speaking to us about himself. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction.
Who or what is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and we believe he is a person and not just a force. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship and living.
Why are you called ‘Baptists’?
It is because we “baptise” people by immersing them completely in water. The term “Baptist” was probably an insult when it was first used! “To baptise” literally means “to plunge” so baptism can be quite spectacular.
Some other churches baptise babies, but Baptists believe that baptism is for people who can say for themselves that they follow Jesus.
Whilst there is no minimum age, we do not normally baptise children below secondary school age.
At Foots Cray we have what we call a baptistry under the floor at the front of the church and which we open and fill with water for the ceremonies. And we heat it!
So you do not christen babies, then?
No, but we do recognise that people want to celebrate God’s gift of a child. We have a ceremony called “dedication” in which we thank God for the new life and pray for the parents and the future of the child.
Some of your services have “Communion”. What is that?
The last time Jesus ate a meal before he died, he asked his followers to eat bread and drink wine to remember what he means to us. These represent his body and blood that he gave for us.
We also call communion “The Lord’s Supper” or “The Lord’s Table”. At Foots Cray Baptist Church we use non-alcoholic wine as several members follow temperance principles.
I would like to be a Christian. What do I have to do?
We have a separate page on becoming a Christian, so please visit that.
(We have a more formal statement of our beliefs in the page Basis of Faith.)
Office Address:
137 Sidcup Hill
Sidcup
Kent
DA14 6JS