I, along with most everyone in my hometown, grew up in church. Fortunately, I grew up in a Baptist church, full of traditions, food, and love. If the church was open, I was there. We didn't do anything without praying, quoting Scripture, or announcing prayer requests.
If you remember any of these, you probably grew up Baptist too.
1. All the Amen's
If you grew up Baptist, you're used to hearing 'Amen'. "I think it's going to rain this afternoon", "AMEN!"
2. Hymns every Sunday
Did you ever try to convince a Southern Baptist church to play or sing modern day Christian music? Yeah, neither did I.
3. Eating for EVERYTHING
There is nothing like Sunday lunch after church, or Sunday dinner, or Wednesday dinner. If you're Baptist, you're going to eat! Oh, you just answered a call to preach? Let's eat! You just got a new dog? How about pot luck?
4. That one person who never gets enough sleep
If you grew up Baptist, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Mr. Jones must not get enough sleep during the week, or maybe he just saves it for Sunday morning.
5. You know all of the Bible stories
Growing up Baptist, you could teach the story of David and Goliath before you could count if you grew up Baptist. You know all about Jonah and the whale, Noah's ark, and Adam and Eve.
6. You raced to the back row
If you grew up Baptist, you may have set your alarm a little earlier to make sure you got a seat on the back row. You liked being a back row Baptist.
7. You've gotten the "mom look"
Talking in church is worse than robbing a bank. But if you do talk in church, make sure your mom doesn't catch you or you might get the look, and nothing good ever comes from that.
8. You've been to all the VBS's in your town
I don't know about you, but my momma raised me right and made me go to every Vacation Bible School within a twenty mile radius.
9. You knew where everyone sat
The seat may not have had your name on it, but everyone knew you were going to sit there. Everyone knew Mrs. Jan was going to sit in the second row, first seat, and how dare a visitor come and sit there.
10. The CEO Baptists
"Christmas and Easter Only" Baptist. You only saw them twice a year, but you hugged them anyway.
11. The elders always had candy
If you grew up Baptist, you've asked an elder for a stick of gum or a peppermint a time or two. That was the only reason the kids from children's church liked Mr. Ken.
12. All the hugs
If you're like me, this part made growing up Baptist hard. Physical contact is not my forte, but it is every other Baptist's. Baptists LOVE to hug. There is no way to avoid hugs in a Baptist church, everyone hugs everyone.
13. How dangerous it was to forget your Bible
"How could you come to church without your sword?" This is the question you will get over and over again if you forget your Bible. But don't fret, someone will have an extra for you to use for the day.
14. Avoiding eye contact with the preacher
Oh, you don't want to pray? Just look down, or away, then hopefully the preacher won't call on you. Unless it's my preacher, then look away all you want, he'll still call on you.
15. Writing notes on the back of tithe envelopes
I mean, that's why they're conveniently placed in front of you, right? Wrong. But come on, who needs to tear out a piece of paper when you have a tithe card or envelope right in front of you if you're just going to write "What's for lunch"?
16. John 3:16
If you grew up Baptist, you can quote it frontwards, backwards, sideways, and in Spanish. You may not be able to quote any other verse, but you know John 3:16.