Inside First Baptist Church Jacksonville

[Metro Jacksonville]

Inside First Baptist Church Jacksonville



Metro Jacksonville shares a behind-the-scenes look inside Downtown Jacksonville's largest religious institution, First Baptist Church.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-inside-first-baptist-church-jacksonville

[Jason]

The sanctuary and other interiors are very nice.  I'm still amazed that they operate debt free.  It says a lot about their membership.

[Dan B]

In the history, you left out some stuff.

http://www.bethelite.org/History.aspx

[hightowerlover]

the most evil church in the world....echo world orld rld ld d

I went to church here as a teenager and all they tried to do was brainwash me into hating people for not being baptist and trying to get my divorced mother to remarry some fat baptist guy with a combover

[Captain Zissou]

Wow.  I have been to Saddleback church outside of LA and it always amazes me how much money gets put into these facilities. 

[TheProfessor]

Since First Baptist Chruch takes up so much of downtown; can anyone tell me in it's defense, what contributions it makes to the community it sits in?

[finehoe]

...it always amazes me how much money gets put into these facilities. 

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'" Matthew 19:23-24

"The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall." Proverbs 18:11

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." 1 Timothy 6:17-19

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do for me.'" Matthew 25:41-45

"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:9-10

"Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all." Proverbs 22:2

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24

"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle." Proverbs 23:4-5

"Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." Proverbs 11:4

"If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures." Job 36:11

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26

"Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver." Proverbs 8:18, 19

"The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth." Psalm 37:21

"Then [Jesus] said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'" Luke 12:15

"I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power." Philippians 4:12-13 

[hanjin1]

dang i didn't know there was a basketball court in there. what the heck am i playing with the homies for at liberty street park when i could be playing indoors there.

[JaxNative68]

Did I read the begining of this article correctly and this curch was founded on racist ideals?  Doesn't sound very christian to me.

[Doctor_K]

Being as how there were close to thirty years between its founding and dividing the assets between blacks and whites?  No.  It wasn't founded on racist principles.

[JaxNative68]

the truth is out there

[Dan B]

In the history, you left out some stuff.

http://www.bethelite.org/History.aspx

At the close of the Civil War, an effort was made to separate the Colored and White members but an agreement could not be reached over possession of the property. The opposing fractions went to court and the decision was in favor of the Colored members since they were the majority. They retained the name of the Bethel Baptist Church and were the rightful owners of the Church Street property. A short while after the court’s decision, the Colored members sold the property on Church Street to their White brethren and purchased a lot on the northwest corner of Union and Pine Streets (now Main). In 1868, they erected a one-room frame building where the Bethel Baptist Church congregation worshipped for twenty-seven years and grew from a few souls to several hundred. Also from the separation, the White members established the Tabernacle Baptist Church, located on Church Street, which was later named First Baptist Church (Downtown).

[JaxNative68]

"First Baptist Church of Jacksonville was established in July 1838. At the close of the Civil War, an effort was made to separate the Colored and White members but an agreement could not be reached over possession of the property. The opposing factions went to court and the decision was in favor of the Colored members since they were the majority. They retained the name of the Bethel Baptist Church and were the rightful owners of the Church Street property. From the separation, the White members established the Tabernacle Baptist Church, located on the corner Hogan and Church Streets, which was later named First Baptist Church (Downtown)"

[Doctor_K]

LoL.  they had to establish a new church because the "Colored congregation members" had been ruled in favor of in the division of assets.  I still don't see the racist undertones.

Now, if you were questioning the actual need for or cause of the split, that'd be one thing, and might be worth looking into.  Then again, since the split came in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, it's not at all surprising that there was a split in the integrated congregation.

However, a recently de-churched congregation seeking to start a new church for themselves hardly qualifies as racism or having racist causes.

[tufsu1]

Stephen...you noted last year (or so) that FBC's membership had declined from 28,000 to nearly 7,000....is it now increasing again?