Baptist Distinctives

Baptist beliefs are not completely consistent from one church to another, as Baptists do not have a central governing authority. However, Baptists do hold some common beliefs among almost all Baptist churches.

Since the early days of the Baptist movement, various organizations have adopted common confessions of faith as the basis for cooperative interdependency among local churches. These would include beliefs about one God, the virgin birth, the impeccability, miracles, vicarious atoning death, burial and bodily resurrection of Christ, the need for salvation (although the understanding of means for achieving it may differ at times), divine grace, the Church, the Kingdom of God, last things (Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge everyone in righteousness), evangelism and missions.

In addition to the distinctive doctrines of Protestantism, many Baptists today believe in a Zwinglian interpretation of the Eucharist and the rejection of the theological validity and covenantal value of paedobaptism, even if the Baptist theology historically teaches the Reformed interpretation of the Eucharist. Baptist beliefs are seen as belonging to the two historical strands: General Baptists, who uphold an Arminian soteriology, and Particular Baptists, who uphold Calvinist soteriology. Some even add a third, recent strand called Independent Baptists, who might embrace a strict version of either Arminianism or Calvinism, but are most notable for their fundamentalist positions on Biblical hermeneutics, family and the social order, and advocacy of " King James Onlyism."

Overview

The following acrostic acronym, spelling BAPTIST, summarizes Baptists' distinguishing beliefs:
* Biblical authority (; ; )
* Autonomy of the local church (; )
* Priesthood of all believers (; )
* Two ordinances (believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper) (; )
* Individual soul liberty ()
* Saved and baptized church membership (; ; ; )
* Two offices of the church (elder and deacon) ()

Sometimes another "S" is added, making BAPTISTS:
* Separation of Church and State

Practices

Baptists practice ''believer's baptism'' and the Eucharist, or Communion, as the ordinances instituted in Scripture (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Most Baptists call them "ordinances" (meaning "obedience to a command that Christ has given us") instead of "sacraments" (activities God uses to impart salvation or a means of grace to the participant). However, historical Baptist theology used both terms with the sacramental meaning, even if many today don't follow it, meaning that they are means of grace with efficacy for salvation. All Baptists believe that original sin is not washed away in baptism.

Few Baptists observe washing of feet as a third ordinance. The communion and foot washing service is practiced regularly by members of the Separate Baptists in Christ, General Association of Baptists, Free Will Baptists, Primitive Baptists, Union Baptists, Old Regular Baptist, Christian Baptist Church of God.

Varying views

All Baptists hold their services and worship on Sunday. However, there is a group known as the Seventh Day Baptists whose origins are derived from Anabaptism and the pre-Reformation. Seventh Day Baptists gather and worship on the seventh day of the week on Saturday. A large portion of Seventh Day Baptists adopted the teachings of the Sabbath, which led to the formation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Baptists are descendants of the Puritans who, according to some, were probably influenced by Continental Anabaptists, like other Dissenters. Thus the Baptist tradition is considered an outcome of the Reformation. In the early 17th century, those individuals who called themselves Baptists dissented from the Church of England. Some notable Puritan dissenters included John Smyth and Thomas Helwys who were acknowledged as key pioneers for the Baptist denomination.

Furthermore, some Baptists (notably Landmarkists or "Baptist Bride" adherents) hold to a belief in perpetuity, which embraces the notion that the Baptists existed since the time of Christ until today as the Church of Christ founded in Jerusalem was Baptist. Those who believe in this Baptist perpetuity, view the Baptist belief as not being a critical aspect of the Protestant Reformation.

Baptist theologians

See also

* Baptists in the history of separation of church and state
* List of Baptist confessions of faith

References

{{Reflist

Christian belief and doctrine
Beliefs