Featured What makes a person a Baptist?

I believe holding to Baptist distinctives makes one a Baptist. This assumes being a member of a Baptist church (with the oridences, autonomy, leadership, ect.).


B (Biblical Authority): God's Word is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. (2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Psalm 12:6-7, 119:128)

A (Autonomy of the Local Church): The local church is an independent body accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the church. The church is autonomous, or self-governing. (Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 3:21, 1 Corinthians 11:3, 12:12)

P (Priesthood of the Believer): Every believer is a priest of God and may enter into His presence in prayer directly through our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:9, Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 Timothy 2:5)

T (Two Ordinances): Baptism by immersion for believers and the Lord's Supper. (Mark 16:15-16, Luke 3:7-8, Acts 8:12, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 1 Corinthians 11:2, 23-32)

I (Individual Soul Liberty): Every person, whether saved or unsaved, has the liberty to choose what he believes about God. (Romans 14:5,12; 2 Corinthians 4:2, Titus 1:9)

S (Saved, Baptized Church Membership): Every member of a Baptist church must be a born-again baptized believer.

T (Two Offices): Baptists have maintained only two offices in the local church - Pastor and deacon. (1 Timothy 3:1,10; 1 Peter 5:1,5; )

S (Separation of Church and State): No church or government should control each other, nor should there be any alliance between them. (Romans 13:1-7, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 5:29, Proverbs 14:35, 29:2)

 

No, not really. It does not matter if someone believes in principles from which he or she is alienated.

 

No aspect of Baptist theology bothers me. I am a Baptist.

What aspect of Baptist theology bothers you?

 

I identify as Baptist because I believe the "Baptist distinctives"" to be true.

1. I belive in biblical authority in all matters of belief and practice. God ordained teachers for congregations, but each generation is tasked with weighing doctrine against the biblical text. Creeds and Confesions may fail, but God's Word will stand.

2. I believe in the autonomy of the local church. The local church is an independent body accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church. All human authority for governing the local church resides within the local church itself. The church is autonomous, or self-governing.

3. I believe in the "Priesthood of the believers". Every born-again believer has direct access to the throne of God. Churches are "congregational" (NOT elder-led).

4. I believe two ordinances are necessary - Believers baptism and the Lord's Supper.

5. I believe in individual soul liberty. Every individual Christian has the liberty to believe, right or wrong, as his own conscience dictates.

6. I believe in saved and baptized church membership.

7. I believe in separation of Church and State.

Why are YOU a Baptist?

 

My answer is the inverse of yours.

I joined a Baptist church because I believe the "Baptist distinctives" are correct and are significant enough to unite (or separate, dependingon how you look at it) over.

 

I guess it depends on the church. I have been Baptist all of my saved life. I am a member of a SBC, have preached and taught in SBC churches for a long time. I am ordained and licensed to preach in a Baptist church (a "mainstream" Baptist "denomination")

I do not think I would fit in well in a Reformed Baptist church or a free-will Baptist church (although I would have no qualms about attending one) but that depends on how they hold secondary to Baptist doctrine. I am a Southern Baptist. So while I would attend (perhaps join) a Reformed or free-will Baptist church, I would not be comfortable preaching or teaching the congregation as I do not hold the additional distinctives they hold.

I am not sure why you or @Yeshua1 suspect I am alienated from Baptist churches (as this is far from the case).

 

Nothing prevents me from being a member of a Christian church. But since I am not Reformed or Free-Will I would not he comfortable preaching or teaching in those denominations.