What is a baptist church?
Most of what you think you know about baptists is wrong -- especially if your main source is popular TV shows, movies or books.
The bottom line is that there are many flavors of Christian churches. The one thing we all have in common is Jesus Christ.
Just like all Christians everywhere, Baptists believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, that he is God in human flesh. This means that rather than making his broken creatures approach him, God came down to earth to meet us where we are and to rescue us -- along with all the rest of his creation -- from our brokenness. He did this by dying on the cross and by rising again to new life.
When we trust in him as the source of life and salvation, he makes that same new life available to all of us through his Spirit.
Beyond that, if you want to know what makes Baptists baptist, here is a very brief explanation of a few things we emphasize that give our particular way of following Jesus it's particular flavor.
The bottom line is that there are many flavors of Christian churches. The one thing we all have in common is Jesus Christ.
Just like all Christians everywhere, Baptists believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, that he is God in human flesh. This means that rather than making his broken creatures approach him, God came down to earth to meet us where we are and to rescue us -- along with all the rest of his creation -- from our brokenness. He did this by dying on the cross and by rising again to new life.
When we trust in him as the source of life and salvation, he makes that same new life available to all of us through his Spirit.
Beyond that, if you want to know what makes Baptists baptist, here is a very brief explanation of a few things we emphasize that give our particular way of following Jesus it's particular flavor.
Baptism
We have to start with baptism -- because, after all, it's in the name.
Baptism is an ancient ritual that uses washing with water to symbolize our death and rebirth in Christ. Our Lord Jesus himself was baptized by the Prophet John and before he left this earth he commanded his disciple to make other disciples and baptize them.
Baptists believe that this command of Jesus means that we baptize people only after they confess sincere belief in Jesus. This means that we don't baptize infants or very small children, as they are not capable of making such a confession of their own will. Many baptist churches will offer parents the opportunity to prayerfully commend their children into God's care through a ceremony called "dedication." Even so, dedication is not a substitute for baptism and performs a different function.
Baptism is an ancient ritual that uses washing with water to symbolize our death and rebirth in Christ. Our Lord Jesus himself was baptized by the Prophet John and before he left this earth he commanded his disciple to make other disciples and baptize them.
Baptists believe that this command of Jesus means that we baptize people only after they confess sincere belief in Jesus. This means that we don't baptize infants or very small children, as they are not capable of making such a confession of their own will. Many baptist churches will offer parents the opportunity to prayerfully commend their children into God's care through a ceremony called "dedication." Even so, dedication is not a substitute for baptism and performs a different function.
The Primacy of the Local Church
Local church congregations are often connected through administrative structures called denominations. This can be a very good thing as it helps us pool our resources to get more done. Many of these denominational structures organize themselves so that authority flows from the top down.
Baptists believe that each group of local believers gathered together should decide how to run their own church. This is called "congregational polity." Authority flows up from the roots. Each local congregation decides its own structure, calls its own leadership and determines its own priorities and budget. It's actually a very "Yankee" way of doing things.
It isn't a perfect system, but we think it's the right way. Like democracy, we figure that local church rule is by far the worst way of running a church, except for every other way.
Baptists believe that each group of local believers gathered together should decide how to run their own church. This is called "congregational polity." Authority flows up from the roots. Each local congregation decides its own structure, calls its own leadership and determines its own priorities and budget. It's actually a very "Yankee" way of doing things.
It isn't a perfect system, but we think it's the right way. Like democracy, we figure that local church rule is by far the worst way of running a church, except for every other way.
The Direct Relationship of Individual Believers to God
Baptists reject the idea that we need any other person to act as a mediator between us and God -- that is, none other than our Lord Jesus Christ himself. All who truly seek God are both competent and called to develop their relationship with God directly. American Baptists also celebrate the special gifts of all believers, testifying that God can use each of us in ministry.
At the same time, community is also an absolutely necessary aspect of the Christian life. While we may certainly read and study scripture, it is not good to do so alone. We always seek to understand what God is telling us under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and within the community of faith.
At the same time, community is also an absolutely necessary aspect of the Christian life. While we may certainly read and study scripture, it is not good to do so alone. We always seek to understand what God is telling us under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and within the community of faith.
The Call of God to Share his Good News with Everybody
God's message for the world in Jesus Christ is Good News of the best kind. Therefore, we respond to Christ’s call to “make disciples of all nations.” This starts with our neighbors, then our communities, our nations and the whole world. In church language, we call this "Missions."
Think about this for a minute. If we really believe that we have this true message of good news -- that God is fixing everything that is wrong with this world through Jesus Christ -- why would we keep it to ourselves? That would selfish and just plain wrong. That's why we seek to make Christ’s love known in the U.S. and around the world.
Think about this for a minute. If we really believe that we have this true message of good news -- that God is fixing everything that is wrong with this world through Jesus Christ -- why would we keep it to ourselves? That would selfish and just plain wrong. That's why we seek to make Christ’s love known in the U.S. and around the world.
Want to know more?
You can learn more about the American Baptist Church here.
If you like history, you can learn where Baptists come from historically here.
If you like history, you can learn where Baptists come from historically here.