Why attend a Southern Baptist church if I don’t believe in OSAS?
I’ve been attending a Southern Baptist church for a while,
I don’t personally hold to “once saved, always saved” (eternal security) in the way it’s often explained. I also don’t believe that a Christian must always know with absolute certainty that they are saved but instead as some kind of end goal. I believe assurance can grow over time, but I don’t see it as something that defines whether someone is truly saved.
In conversations, I’ve felt like this view gets pushed pretty strongly almost as if not agreeing with it puts you outside of orthodoxy. That makes me wonder: If OSAS and strong assurance are core parts of Southern Baptist doctrine, and I don’t agree with that framework, is it wise to stay?
If I disagree on something that foundational, does that mean other doctrinal differences might also exist?
How much doctrinal agreement is necessary to meaningfully belong to a church? And when does disagreement become a reason to find a different church home?
Posted Feb 26, 2026, 1:48 PM UTC