The Distinctive Doctrine of Baptists
"Why We Are A Baptist Church"
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. - I Peter 3:15-16
“I just believe in being a Christian--I don’t want to be part of a denomination.” Have you ever heard a statement such as this? It seems very pious, but it makes it sound like there is something wrong with being part of a denomination of Christians.
What Is A
“Denomination”?
“Denomination” describes a set of beliefs and practices held in common by a
group of people who are joined together. Denominations usually develop various
organizations to help fulfill the values and beliefs of the denomination, but
the organizations are not the denomination, they are just an expression of it.
For example, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the Southern Baptist
Convention and the Baptist World Alliance are not separate denominations; they
are organizations within the Baptist denomination.
Some people believe that it would be ideal if all Christians held exactly the
same doctrine, and also followed the same practices. It is not that way and it
never has bee. From the beginning of the Christian movement, various opinions
have existed about different matters such as the nature of the church, the way
of salvation, the meaning of baptism, and the polity of the church. The trend
in Christian circles today is to be non-denomination, and still indicate that
you hold a specific believe. For instance, more than one church in the area has
changed its name, adding community, Bible, but when you call them, they indicate
that they are really Baptist, but without the name. My sense is, that if you
are a Baptist, why not be honest and call yourself a Baptist. We have nothing
to be ashamed of.
Denominations are a fact. They exist and they are not vanishing. In fact, some, such as the Baptist denomination, are growing throughout the world. And denominations are important. They make a big difference in the lives of people throughout the world. A person’s denominational belief has an impact on that person’s life. So it is important to know what denominations believe and practice.
What Makes Baptists
Distinctive?
If
someone were to ask you, “What is the one thing that makes the Baptist
denomination different from other Christian denominations?” what would you say?
Is it baptism by immersion of persons who have believed in Jesus Christ as Lord
and Savior? Is it a strong commitment to the concept of the priesthood of the
believer? Is it an enduring belief in religious freedom?
Each of these is certainly held by nearly all Baptist Christians. But Christians
of other denominations also hold them, but in some cases there is a different
interpretation. The fact is that there is no single belief or practice that
makes Baptists distinctive from other Christians. So what makes a Baptist a
Baptist?
A combination of beliefs and practices sets Baptists apart from other Christian
groups. There is a distinctive group of doctrines and polities for Baptists, a
sort of Baptist recipe. Like most recipes, each of the ingredients is not
unique to Baptists, but the total mix is distinctively Baptist. Although some
of those ingredients are part of the recipe for other Christian groups, no other
Christian group has the same combination of beliefs and practices as Baptists
do.
Baptists come in a variety of “flavors.” They hold different interpretations and
views on certain issues, such as the Second Coming of Christ, worship styles and
denominational organization. But all Baptists have the same basic ingredients.
There are certain ingredients that must be included, or the recipe does not
produce a Baptist. Leave the cornmeal out of cornbread and substitute white
flour, and you do not get cornbread. Similarly, leave out a key ingredient of
the Baptist recipe, and you do not get a Baptist.
The Baptist Recipe - What are these key ingredients in the Baptist recipe? Some of them we have in common with Christians of most all denominations, such as belief in God and in Jesus Christ as Savior. However, Baptist beliefs about some major matters differ from those held by certain other groups.
For example, although practically all Christian groups declare that baptism is significant for Christians, Baptists hold a different view of baptism than most.
The Baptist recipe includes several key beliefs or doctrines:
the Lordship of Jesus Christ
the Bible as the sole written authority for faith and practice
soul competency or soul liberty
the
priesthood of each believer and of all believers in Christ
believer’s baptism
salvation only by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
baptism
and the Lord’s Supper as symbolic but not essential for salvation
church membership composed only of persons who have been born again
religious freedom and its corollary, the separation of church and state
Built upon the foundation of these beliefs are certain practices or polities that are part of the Baptist recipe:
congregational church governance under the Lordship of Christ
the autonomy of churches
voluntary cooperation for various causes
Closely related to these beliefs and practices are a number of emphases that characterize most Baptists:
evangelism
missions
Christian education
ministry
social concern
In order to carry these out, Baptists have organized beyond local
congregations, such as associations of churches, societies, conventions,
fellowships, unions and alliances. Baptists have also established numerous
institutions such as those for education, missions, and the care of children,
the aged and the ill. The common ingredient in all of these is voluntary
cooperation.
Baptists endeavor to base each belief, practice, emphasis and organization on
the teachings of the Bible. The desire of Baptists is to be as close to the New
Testament model for an individual Christian and for a church that is humanly
possible with God’s help through the instruction and empowering of the Holy
Spirit.
What Difference Does It Make? What difference does a person’s denomination make? There are wonderfully dedicated people and Christians in other denominations, but there are distinctive beliefs which we hold dear as Baptists that are compelling reasons to be part of the Baptist denomination.
Baptists insist that a church ought to determine who its pastor will be rather
than having a pastor assigned by a person or a group outside of the local
congregation.
The Baptist denomination has made and continues to make a difference in the
world. For example, we are free to worship in our country due in large measure
to the sacrificial and unselfish efforts of persons who were part of the Baptist
denomination. Baptists have championed religious freedom for all to worship
according to the dictate of conscience without interference of government or
religious organizations. They have done this in spite of persecution. Baptists
continue to work for religious freedom for all persons throughout the world.
“As Baptist principles are peculiar to Baptists, every Baptist church, with all its appointments, from preacher to Sunday-school teacher, ought to stand, in the community where it holds forth the word, for something different from any other congregation.” J. B. Gambrell (1841- d.1921) Baptist pastor, university president, editor, seminary professor, denominational leader/statesman
For example, did you know…
…a
Baptist pastor established the first form of governance in America that provided
complete religious freedom for all ROGER
WILLIAMS
…the first Baptist missionaries from America were not Baptists when they set
sail for the mission field but became Baptists on the way to the mission field
ADONIRAM AND ANN HASSELTINE JUDSON
…the first Baptist pastor on English soil was imprisoned by King James I (of
King James Bible fame) for insisting that all persons should have freedom to
worship
THOMAS HELWYS
…the first elected president of the Republic of Texas became an outstanding
Texas Baptist layman SAM HOUSTON
…some of the earliest Baptists practiced baptism by pouring and not by immersion
but soon determined that the Bible taught immersion is the correct way to
baptize EARLY GENERAL BAPTISTS
…some early Baptists in America were publicly whipped for including singing in a
worship service because such singing was viewed as unspiritual and unbiblical.
BAPTISTS IN COLONIAL AMERICA
…the first Baptist missionary from the United States to another country was an
African-American who had been a slave GEORGE
LEILE
…a Baptist pastor from Texas preached a sermon from the steps of the United
States Capitol in Washington D. C. on religious liberty
GEORGE W. TRUETT
…A Baptist pastor in Virginia met with James Madison to encourage an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing freedom of
religion JOHN LELAND
…the best known evangelist in the world is a Baptist whose church membership is
in Texas BILLY GRAHAM
…that the first person baptized in the Gulf of Mexico as a Baptist when Texas
was still an independent nation founded a major milk company
GAIL BORDEN JR.
…that a former President of the United States of America and a Nobel Prize
recipient is a Baptist layman Sunday School teacher
JIMMY CARTER
…that a generous Baptist businessman was the first to develop an
effective process for pasteurizing cheese.
JAMES L. KRAFT
…that the author of the widely used devotional book My Utmost for His Highest
was a Baptist from a devout Baptist family, his father and brother being Baptist
pastors OSWALD
CHAMBERS
The Baptist distinctives are those teachings, which distinguish us from other denominational groups. These distinctives are the primary beliefs of doctrine, polity and practice. Other churches may hold to some of these distinctives, but not all of them. These distinctives have been true of Baptists historically, but some Baptist churches have become so liberal today that they no longer believe what Baptists historically have taught.
These teachings emerged as distinctives of Baptists because Baptists have interpreted the Bible literally and practiced these teachings faithfully while many other churches' have not. In time these distinctives became the distinguishing marks of Baptists around the world. Technically, the Baptist Distinctives should really be called the Biblical Distinctives of Baptists. They are not just denominational ideas, but biblical principles, which we hold dear to our hearts.
QUOTED AND MODIFIED FROM THE ARTICLES TAKEN FROM www.baptistdistinctives.org
B. BIBLE AS THE FINAL AUTHORITY: We believe that the Bible is the final authority. No word of man or council of men can ever supersede the Bible.
The
things that I write unto you are the commandment of the Lord." I Cor. 14:37
"The gospel which was preached unto me is not after man.. but by the revelation
of Jesus Christ." Gal. 1:11 – 12
"...ye received the word of God...not was the word of men, but as it is in
truth, the word of God." I Thess. 2:13
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God" 2 Tim. 3:16
BAPTISTS through the centuries have insisted that the Bible is the sole ultimate written authority for Christian faith and practice. They have resisted those who claimed otherwise, including popes, kings, bishops, pastors and teachers. Both religious and secular powers have persecuted Baptists for this commitment to the authority of the Bible.
Baptists Consider the Bible Authoritative: Basically Baptists have considered the Bible as authoritative for faith and practice because of its very nature. Baptists have insisted that the divine nature of the Bible is the basis of its authority. No other writing compares to the Bible. The Bible stands alone among all other writings in that it is uniquely from God and about God.
Baptists see the authoritative nature of the Bible: unity of the Bible written by a variety of persons over thousands, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, the continuing relevance of the Bible’s message over centuries, the power of its message to transform lives and society, and the repeated claims within the Bible to be the word of God.
The Nature of the Authority of the Bible: Baptists emphasize that the Bible is the sole written authority for Christian faith and practice and deny that other writings such as creeds, confessions of faith, traditions, the teachings of theologians and the statements by founders of denominations have such authority. Although Baptists may gain insight from and express appreciation for some of these documents, they refuse to accept them as authoritative.
This is one reason why Baptists often refer to the Bible as our sole written authority. God is our ultimate authority.
The Holy Spirit inspired persons to write the Bible so that, as The Baptist Faith & Message states, it is a “perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.” As such, the Bible becomes for us a revelation of God.
Jesus Christ is the most complete revelation of God. The Bible reveals Jesus Christ as the Lord of all. The Lordship of Christ and the authority of the Bible go hand in hand; they are not contradictory but rather they are complementary.
The Authority of the Bible Relates to Other Basic Baptist Beliefs: Because Baptists regard the Bible as the sole written authority for faith and practice, the Bible is foundational for Baptist doctrine and church polity. Baptist statements of belief through the centuries have always cited Scriptures for each belief set forth.
For example, belief in individual soul liberty and the priesthood of all believers leads Baptists to insist that each believer-priest is competent to read and understand the Bible and that the opportunity and responsibility of each believer priest for reading and interpreting the Bible ought not be delegated to others.
Similarly, Baptists insist that no other person or group of persons ought to attempt to assume the right to dictate to others what to believe.
Baptists declare that all people should have the freedom to possess, read and interpret the Bible for themselves. Based on the life and teachings of Jesus, Baptists insist that faith cannot be coerced and no one should try to do so. Neither should a particular interpretation of the Bible be forced on another.
Interpreting the Bible’s Teachings: Is there danger in declaring that all believers should be free to interpret the Bible for themselves? Of course, there is danger; strange, even bizarre interpretations may result because not all persons are equally mature in their Christian growth or equally knowledgeable about principles of biblical interpretation.
But the alternative is even more dangerous: believing that a few persons have the authority to determine what the Bible teaches. After all, who has the authority to place such responsibility in the hands of another person or of a group? Furthermore, Bible scholars differ widely in their interpretations of some parts of the Bible. Who is to determine which interpretations are indeed the correct ones?
Does this mean that a person is free to believe anything he or she wants to about the Bible and its teachings? Baptists declare that they are free to do so, but this does not mean that every interpretation is correct. Baptists insist that a heavy responsibility accompanies this freedom to interpret the Bible.
People should study the Bible prayerfully and humbly, depending on guidance from the Holy Spirit. Interpretations of the Bible should be shared with a fellowship of believers to gain insight.
QUOTED AND MODIFIED
FROM THE ARTICLES TAKEN FROM
www.baptistdistinctives.org
A. AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH: We believe that the local church is an independent body accountable to no one but our Lord. There is no person or organization on earth that can dictate what a local church can or should do.
I. No higher appeal in discipline - Each local church should solve its own problems: Man. 18:15-17
2. Chooses its own officers: Acts 6:1-7
3.
Local church alone sends missionaries: Acts 13:1-3; 14:26-27
4. The church at Antioch did not appeal to a headquarters or to the apostles.
The judgment of the church in Jerusalem was advisory, not binding. Acts 15:1-35
5.
The local church has final
authority in matters of church discipline. I Cor. 5:1-5,12,13; 2 Cor. 2:6
P. PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS: Every believer today is a priest and may enter the presence of God directly through the only Mediator, our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. Further, that Christ's work and ministry, as High Priest is the basis for our eternal security.
I. Believers are to come confidently to the throne of grace. Heb. 4:14-16
2. We are to draw near in full assurance when we come to God in prayer. Heb. 10:19-22
3. Believers are to offer spiritual sacrifices to God to praise Him. I Peter 2:5,9
4. Believers are saved for eternity by work of Christ. John 10:28-30; Eph. 2:8-9; John 17:11-12; I Pet. 1:4-5; I John 5:12-13; Heb. 7:24-25; Rom. 8:37-39; Eph. 1:13
T. TWO ORDNANCES: We believe that there are two ordinances for the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
I. Baptism: Man. 28:19-20; Acts 8:26-40; 10:48; 16:15; 16:33; 22:16; 2:42
2. The Lord's Supper: Man. 26-28; Mark 14-16; Luke 22-24; John 19:20; 1 Cor. 11:23-32
I. INDIVIDUAL SOUL LIBERTY: We believe that every person has the liberty to believe as his own conscience or soul dictates and interpret Scripture to the best of his/her understanding. A person should not be forced to believe anything against his will.
1.
Each person must choose, and Paul did not interfere with the choice of the
individual in matters of
understanding. Romans 14:5-12
2. Jesus did not force people to believe, but wept over Jerusalem. Luke 13:34
3. Jesus offered eternal life, but it was the woman's choice. John 4:1-29
4. Paul and Barnabas differed on a decision regarding the taking of John Mark with them, but they simply departed and went their own ways. Acts 15:36-41
*One person's liberty ends where another's liberty begins
*Liberty does not mean a believer does what he wants, and does not care about others.
*Individual liberty is not a justification for disobedience to Scripture.
S. SALVATION BY GRACE AND REGENERATE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Every person who is saved should be baptized and join a local church. Only saved and baptized individuals should be allowed into membership of the local church.
I. People received the Word of God and were baptized. Acts 2:41-42 - These people immediately identified themselves with the local church.
2. They were "in Christ", called saints, and were baptized. I Cor. 1:1-16
3. The Christians at Thessalonica were called brethren & the "church"' by Paul.
4. The passage implies that the membership of the church was known since a list of certain people was compiled. I Tim. 5:9
5. Members should meet regularly with other members. Heb. 10:25
T. TWO OFFICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCH: We believe that there are two offices in the local church: pastor/s and deacons. There is no scriptural support for the hierarchy of offices in many churches today.
1. Pastor: Acts 20:17,28; Titus 1:5-7; I Peter 5:l-4
2. Deacons: Acts 6:1-7; Rom. 15:25; Phil. 1:1 ; Eph.6:21; I Tim. 3:1-13
S. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: The church and the state are two separate entities and one should never control the other.
I. The earthly sphere (government) and the heavenly sphere (God) are separate. Each has authority and is to be obeyed. The church is the visible form of God's realm today. Matthew 22:31
2. When the state makes a demand that conflicts with what Christ demands, we must obey God rather than the state. Acts 5:29