Baptist Church Explained
Baptists have long been a people who stand for spiritual freedom and against all forms of tyranny, whether political or religious. They have a strong distrust for church hierarchy and creeds, and they strongly favor separation of church and state.
They believe in Sola Scriptura, the principle that the Bible is the only source of authority for Christian beliefs and practices. While they share many common beliefs with other Protestant denominations, there are some differences.
Baptism
Baptists believe that the Bible is the sole authority on matters of faith and practice. They emphasize the principle of sola scriptura, or “scripture alone.” For something to be considered biblical, it must be both explicitly commanded and exemplified in scripture.
Similarly, they hold that church leaders should be elected by their local congregations rather than appointed by outside organizations or groups. This polity is closely linked to the stance that each Baptist priest has soul competency, meaning that only they can decide how to live out their Christian faith.
Many Baptist churches also hold the practice of immersion baptism, which is when a person is dipped in water to represent their new life in Christ. These ceremonies are often very emotional and heartfelt for those who participate. Baptists also frequently hold the Lord’s Supper, which is a time of remembrance and reflection on Jesus’ sacrifice for us. They may have this on a weekly basis, or at other intervals.
Communion
Baptists share many of the same orthodox Christian beliefs as most other conservative denominations, including the Bible as the ultimate authority for faith and practice, salvation by grace through belief alone in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, baptism, the Lord’s Supper (a time of communion with bread and wine or grape juice), evangelism and last things (the end of the world, the rapture, and Christ’s return). What distinguishes Baptists is the emphasis on local church autonomy, religious liberty and a free will.
Local churches determine who will be their pastors and make all other decisions. This contrasts with other traditions where a bishop or presbytery assigns a pastor to a congregation. The church may also decide to admit new members based on their profession of faith, or through other methods such as personal interviews or confirmation classes. Communion is a time of fellowship and remembrance. Different kinds of bread are used and some churches use only grape juice instead of wine.
Evangelism
The Baptist church has a strong commitment to evangelism. This commitment is evident in every aspect of their lives and in the many means that they use to share the gospel. However, there are many obstacles that can sabotage the effectiveness of evangelism. These include doubts about the uniqueness of Christ as the only way to salvation, relativism, and materialism.
Among other things, the Baptist faith emphasizes that salvation comes not through good works, sacraments or baptism, but only by Jesus’ sinless life, shedding of his blood and resurrection. The Baptist church also emphasizes that sharing the gospel is not just a matter of deeds, but must involve words. This is because the Bible teaches that faith response to Jesus’ word of forgiveness is necessary for salvation (Romans 10:13-17). This belief is known as sola scriptura, or scripture alone. The Bible is a primary source of teaching and guidance for the Baptist church. It is also important for Baptists to remember that the Bible is not a book of human ideas, but it is God’s inspired Word.
Discipleship
Baptists believe the Bible is the only authority on matters of faith and practice. They also stress the independence of churches from any centralized church government. This emphasis on personal interpretation can lead to a diversity of beliefs among members, which some view as a strength of the denomination.
Most Baptists emphasize the need to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all people. This is called evangelism. Evangelism is often done through the use of tracts and books.
Baptists have a long tradition of separation of church and state, believing that religion should be free to flourish without interference from political or social pressures. They have historically argued that religion should not be coerced or regulated by the government, as this can distort its core message and lead to corruption. Rather, they believe that Christians should be free to express their religion freely and openly.