What is a Reformed Baptist Church?

"So, what church do you go to?", I am asked.
"I go to Port Cities Reformed Baptist Church.", I reply.
The usual response is, "What is a Reformed church? What does it mean that it's reformed?"

So, how do I answer this question in a quick concise, easy to understand way? I have often stumbled over this very issue. So, in this post, I hope to be able to try to explain what a Reformed Baptist Church is.

First of all, I will say that Reformed Baptist churches come in all stripes and colors. Some of them have worship teams and fairly contemporary services with many programs going on throughout the week like many other churches do. Others are more old fashioned, sticking to the older hymns, preaching and fellowship without all the bells and whistles of many programs. The church I am a member of is of the latter description.

So if being Reformed Baptist doesn't necessarily mean they all look alike in their church worship and weekly activities, then what is the difference?

The term reformed hails from the reformers who broke off of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther and Calvin being the most prominent men of the era. All protestant churches have their roots here, hence the term protestant. They were protesting the Catholic system of works based salvation....candle lighting, indulgences, praying to Mary, confession to an earthly priest, etc, etc. They sought to bring the church back to the Bible without all the added works and ritual. They maintained that salvation was all of grace through faith and not by works. Ephesians 2:8-9.

A key doctrine of Reformed Baptists, and many other congregations that hold to a reformed position, is that of election. Ephesians puts it simply.

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: -Ephesians 1:4

Simply put, we believe that God is sovereign over our salvation. He has chosen those whom He will save before the foundation of the world. This does not negate the need for missionary work and evangelism as some suppose. God has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel, because this is the means He has ordained for saving those He has chosen.