Is There Really A Difference
In Being A Baptist?
by
William L. Brown
Pastor,
Someone once asked why we do not join together with other
faiths in some common cause. There is a good reason. Baptists differ from them
in doctrine and practice. This is not to cast doubt upon their sincerity or
salvation. Our job is not to inter-mingle with other churches but to maintain
the purity and defense of the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.
Some find this to be an arrogant position to take. We do not but find it to be
a biblically based position. If we did not disagree practically or doctrinally
we should and would join with others. Most of the time we
find that "common cause" to be a common error and a call to unite on
the lowest common denominator among differing brethren. With a call to
unite so prevalent among so many today why do Baptists stand opposed to this
unity? Why do we feel we have a right, and even a calling, to stand separate
from other faiths? I agree with Dr. J. L. McCurry who stated "No
religious denomination has a moral right to a separate existence unless it
differs essentially from others. Nothing short of the truth of revelation, the
authoritative force of God's word, rising above passion or prejudice can justify
a distinct organization." Baptists do indeed differ in constitution,
membership, ordinances, and other doctrines authorized by the word of God and
once delivered unto the saints. We cannot join with those who stand in direct
opposition to what we understand are the clear teachings of God's word. What
makes Baptists different from other denominations? What identifies us as
Baptists? The following are but a few of the areas in which we see a primary
difference and identifying marks. These points are not intended to be
exhaustive dissertations on each subject but points of declaration of our
biblical persuasions. They are also not intended to be the only definitive
marks of Baptists for they are many in number and nature.
Baptists Believe Baptism is by Immersion only!
The only biblical method of administering the ordinance of
baptism is by immersion. The actual Greek word found throughout the New
Testament is "baptizo." It literally means to immerse or to dip. This
is the only baptism practiced by John and by Christ (yes we know Christ himself
did not baptize) and his disciples. They did not immerse their fingers. They
did not dip a cup into the water. They immersed or dipped the individual into
the water fully. If the meaning the word were to sprinkle we would find the
Greek word "rhantizo" used in its place. If God intended us to pour
water he would have used the word "ekcheo." These are not the words
God used and it clearly teaches us that to sprinkle an individual, or pour
water upon them, and call it baptism is following man's doctrine and not God's.
To accept a practice of sprinkling or pouring would be in direct violation of
the command of God (Matthew 28:19-20). Anyone who is sprinkled or has water
poured upon them is not baptized. Violate the mode of baptism and you have
violated the biblical validity of baptism.
Baptists Believe in a Suitable Subject for
Baptism!
The only suitable subjects for baptism are those who have
truly been born again. Baptism does not save but declares the subject's faith
in God's provided salvation. Anyone who has not
exercised saving faith in Christ or has not conscientiously exercised faith in
Christ is an unsuitable and unbiblical subject for baptism. How many
denominations continue to practice the unbiblical method of baptizing infants?
There are many and the reason they do this is because they believe in baptismal
regeneration. They may call it "washing away of original sin" but it
is still heresy. Infants cannot express faith in Christ and you cannot find one
infant being baptized in the New Testament. The reformers stopped short in
their reformation. They sought freedom from the hierarchy of the Catholic church but not from its unscriptural practices. Baptists
still ask the same question we find in Phillip asking in Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain
water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be
baptized? (37) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou
mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God. A qualified confession of faith by the subject must precede the
act of baptism.
Baptists Believe in a Proper Administrator of
Baptism!
While many may agree with us on the previous two points it
is here the difference begins to be made clear. The proper administrator of
baptism is a scriptural New Testament Baptist church. Elders or pastors are not
the administrators of baptism. They are the agents acting in the place of the
church by their authority. The authority to baptize was not given to
individuals but to the church Christ organized Himself and then left with a
commission before his assent into heaven. The authority does not lie in just
any church. The authority was given to one church which then passed it on to
another, and then another, until we find it existing today in many qualified
churches. While I may know what it takes, and have all the information to make
someone a citizen of the
Baptists Believe in a Proper Design in
Baptism!
Baptism that has a design of washing away sin is
unscriptural and nothing short of heresy. Baptism that has a design of bringing
the Holy Spirit into ones life is unscriptural and a complete heresy. Baptism that has any other design than the one designated in the
New Testament is extra-scritpural and unbiblical. The Bible clearly
states that baptism is a declaration of one's personal faith that has already
been exercised in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It declares to all that we
have (past tense) been united with Christ in his death, burial, and
resurrection. It also qualifies us to be scriptural candidates for membership
in a local New Testament church. It is sad to see how many so-called
"churches" seem to despise the ordinance of baptism.
Baptists Believe in Proper Candidates for
Church Membership!
The only biblical candidates for church membership are those
who have been regenerated and scriptually baptized. To receive an unregenerate
individual into the fellowship of a local church would destroy the distinction
between the world and the church. To receive an unbaptized individual into the
fellowship of a local church violates the order we find through out the New
Testament. Look at Acts
Baptists Believe in Closed Communion!
The
Lord's Supper was instituted during the Lord's personal ministry with the
church he had organized. It is a perpetual church ordinance to be observed by a
local New Testament church until Christ comes again. Baptists believe it to be
a church ordinance. Baptist believe a church to be a local and visible body of
baptized believers who have covenanted together to obey the great commission.
They do not believe the church is some universal and invisible body made up all
the regenerate. We do not confuse the family of God with the
Baptists Believe in a
Each
church is a separate, autonomous or self-governing body. We are not part of
some larger denomination. Each church in entirely independent
of all other churches, persons, and bodies of men. It is to be governed
by it's members alone guided by its one and only head,
Jesus Christ. Churches governed by popes, synods, presbyteries, conferences,
associations, fellowships, and even boards are not constituted after the model
we have been given in the Bible. Our only rule of faith and practice is the
Bible. The church is to be free from all civil government. Baptists have always
protested against the union of church and state but have equally protested
against the state's invasion into our affairs. We do not and will not seek
governmental approval to exist since that right has been clearly granted by
Almighty God.
Baptists Believe in only
The
only officers given to a New Testament church is that of deacon and pastor. The
office of pastor is also called elder and/or bishop. The deacon is a servant of
the church and not a ruling or guiding body within a church. They were set
aside to free the apostles for study and prayer not for the purpose of
conducting the business of the church. The elder, bishop, pastor, or overseer
is not to be a dictator but a spiritual caretaker under the leadership of the
Lord Jesus Christ. He is to feed the flock over which he has been made an
overseer.
Baptists Believe in the Sovereign Rule of
God's Word!
We
hold that the Bible is supreme, sufficient, exclusive, and absolute in all
matters of faith and practice. This appears to be a clear doctrine that
distinguishes us from most all other faiths. Man has no authority to add to, or
subtract from, divine revelation. This means we look to the Bible to be our
guide in all matters of conscience and religion. The soul of a Baptist church
is its submission and conformity to the New Testament. The church is not a
legislative body but is ordained to carry out the laws set in order that are
within the divine revelation of God's word.
Baptists Believe in Soul
Baptists
have longed held to the fact that each man and woman has the freedom to worship
God according to the dictates of his or her heart. If each human soul is alone
responsible to God for the discharge of it's biblical
duties then no human authority has a right to come between that soul and its
God. Any interference with the faith and practice designated by God is a direct
violation of the sacred and biblical right and is not to be tolerated. One
American historian wrote, "freedom of conscience,
unlimited freedom of mind, was from the first the trophy of Baptists."
Read back through history and you will find all other denominations often
sought to destroy this principle while Baptists alone have held it in high
esteem. What does your church believe? Does it make a difference what we
believe? We believe it does and therefore we are Baptist by conviction. What
are your convictions?