What does it mean to be a Reformed Bahamian American? (Part 1)

I was born in Nassau, Bahamas and lived there during my childhood up until I was 11 years old.  I grew up in the Baptist church, with my grandfather as the Senior Pastor.  Most Bahamian Baptist Churches are very traditional…wooden pews, Baptist hymnals, King James Bibles, alter calls, etc.  During my experience as a child in the Baptist Church, Evangelism and Baptism were paramount.  I remember going to countless mission trips to the Bahamian family islands, sharing my faith, and living a life that was undefiled by the world.  I followed the rules.  I didn’t listen to “devil” music, I never watched any “bad” movies, I kept my mouth clean of foul language, I honored my parents, and stayed out of trouble.  I was a good Baptist kid who wanted to see people saved and transformed.  When my family decided to move to the U.S. so that my dad could go to a reformed seminary by the name of RTS, my whole world changed. 

My dad would come home talking about what he had learned in school.  He talked about predestination, election, and God’s sovereignty.  As a young teen, I remember having countless discussions with my dad until the wee hours of the morning, while I was trying to understand at what point does Jesus save a person after the Holy Spirit opens their eyes?  Why are some predestined to hell and others to heaven?  What is free will if God is all sovereign?  How do works and grace interact after salvation?  Am I really saved if I don’t go through the right formula of salvation? 

I searched the scriptures for myself and found that I was totally dead in trespasses and sins and needed a savior to make me alive.  I realized that in my sinful nature, I am an enemy of God.  I needed a new nature.  I needed God to save me.  I walked down the aisle many times trying to justify myself in the eyes of others.  I wanted people to see, look at me, I’m saved!  No one would question my salvation.

The Holy Spirit made these words come alive to me, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 I couldn’t save myself, no matter how hard I tried to be the good Baptist boy I tried to be all my life.  I had to surrender my will to save myself and submit to God’s salvation.  I prayed the prayer of the tax collector in the temple sitting next to the Pharisee, who would not even raise his eyes to heaven, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Luke 18:13