Baptists

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Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers (believer's baptism, as opposed to infant baptism), and that it must be done by immersion (as opposed to affusion or sprinkling). Other tenets of Baptist churches include soul competency (liberty), salvation through faith alone, scripture alone as the rule of faith and practice, and the autonomy of the local congregation. Baptists recognize two ministerial offices, pastors and deacons. Baptist churches are widely considered to be Protestant churches, though some Baptists disavow this identity.^[1]

Diverse from their beginning, those identifying as Baptists today differ widely from one another in what they believe, how they worship, their attitudes toward other Christians, and their understanding of what is important in Christian discipleship.^[2]

Historians trace the earliest Baptist church back to 1609 in Amsterdam, with English Separatist John Smyth as its pastor.^[3] In accordance with his reading of the New Testament, he rejected baptism of infants and instituted baptism only of believing adults.^[4] Baptist practice spread to England, where the General Baptists considered Christ's atonement to extend to all people, while the Particular Baptists believed that it extended only to the elect. In 1638, Roger Williams established the first Baptist congregation in the North American colonies. In the mid-18th century, the First Great Awakening increased Baptist growth in both New England and the South.^[5] The Second Great Awakening in the South in the early 19th century increased church membership, as did the preachers' lessening of support for abolition and manumission of slavery, which had been part of the 18th-century teachings. Baptist missionaries have spread their church to every continent.^[4]

The Baptist World Alliance reports more than 41 million members in more than 150,000 congregations.^[6] In 2002, there were over 100 million Baptists and Baptistic group members worldwide and over 33 million in North America.^[4] The largest Baptist association is the Southern Baptist Convention, with over 16 million members.^[5]

Etymology

The term Baptist comes from the Greek word βαπτιστής (baptistés, "baptist," also used to describe John the Baptist), which is related to the verb βαπτίζω (baptízo, "to baptize, wash, dip, immerse"), and the Latin baptista.

The term Baptist as applied to Baptist churches is a modification of the term Anabaptist (which means rebaptizer),^[7] and was used into the 19th century as a general epithet for churches which denied the validity of infant baptism, including the Campbellites, Mennonites and Schwarzenau Brethren or German Baptists, who are not identified with modern day Baptists.^[8] The English Anabaptists were called Baptists as early as 1569.^[9] The name Anabaptist continued to be applied to English and American Baptists, even after the American Revolution.^[10][11]

Origins

Baptist Historian Bruce Gourley outlines four main views of Baptist origins: (1) The modern scholarly consensus that the denomination traces its origin to the 17th century via the English Separatists, (2) the view that it was an outgrowth of Anabaptist traditions, (3) the perpetuity view which assumes that the Baptist faith and practice has existed since the time of Christ, and (4) the successionist view, or "Baptist successionism", which argues that Baptist churches actually existed in an unbroken chain since the time of Christ.^[3]

English separatist view

The predominant view of Baptist origins is that Baptists came along in historical development in the century after the rise of the original Protestant denominations.^[12] This view of Baptist origins has the most historical support and is the most widely accepted.^[3] Representative writers include William H. Whitsitt, Robert G. Torbet, Winthrop S. Hudson, William G. McLoughlin and Robert A. Baker. This position considers the influence of Anabaptists upon early Baptists to be minimal.^[3] It was a time of considerable political and religious turmoil. Both individuals and churches were willing to give up their theological roots if they became convinced that a more biblical "truth" had been discovered.^[13]

The Baptist faith originated from within the English Separatist movement. Prior to the Protestant Reformation, the Church of England (Anglicans) had broken away from the Catholic Church. Then came the mainstream Reformation.^[3] There were some Christians who were not content with the achievements of the mainstream Protestant Reformation.^[2][14] There also were Christians who were disappointed that the Church of England had not made corrections of what some considered to be errors and abuses. Of those most critical of the Church's direction, some chose to stay and try to make constructive changes from within the Anglican Church. They became known as "Puritans" and are described by Gourley as cousins of the English Separatists. Others decided they must leave the Church because of their dissatisfaction and became known as the Separatists.^[3]

Historians trace the earliest Baptist church back to 1609 in Amsterdam, with John Smyth as its pastor.^[3] Even prior to that, in 1606, John Smyth, a Fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge, had broken his ties with the Church of England. Reared in the Church of England, he became "Puritan, English Separatist, and then a Baptist Separatist," and ended his days working with the Mennonites.^[13]:23 He began meeting in England with 60–70 English Separatists, in the face of "great danger."^[15] The persecution of religious nonconformists in England led Smyth to go into exile in Amsterdam with fellow Separatists from the congregation he had gathered in Lincolnshire, separate from the established church (Anglican). Smyth and his lay supporter, Thomas Helwys, together with those they led, broke with the other English exiles because Smyth and Helways were convinced they should be baptized as believers. In 1609 Smyth first baptized himself and then baptized the others.^[14][16]

In 1609, while still there, Smyth wrote a tract titled "The Character of the Beast," or "The False Constitution of the Church." In it he expressed two propositions: first, infants are not to be baptized; and second, "Antichristians converted are to be admitted into the true Church by baptism."^[13]:24 Hence, his conviction was that a scriptural church should consist only of regenerate believers who have been baptized on a personal confession of faith. He rejected the Separatist movement's doctrine of infant baptism (paedobaptism).^[17][18] Shortly thereafter, Smyth left the group, and layman Thomas Helwys took over the leadership, leading the church back to England in 1611.^[3] Ultimately, Smyth became committed to believers' baptism as the only biblical baptism. He was convinced on the basis of his interpretation of Scripture that infants would not be damned should they die in infancy.^[13]:25

Print from Anglican theologian Daniel Featley's book, "The Dippers Dipt, or, The Anabaptists Duck'd and Plung'd Over Head and Ears, at a Disputation in Southwark", published in 1645.

Smyth, convinced that his self-baptism was invalid, applied with the Mennonites for membership. He died while waiting for membership, and some of his followers became Mennonites. Thomas Helwys and others kept their baptism and their Baptist commitments.^[13]:25 The modern Baptist denomination is an outgrowth of Smyth's movement.^[14] Baptists rejected the name Anabaptist when they were called that by opponents in derision. McBeth writes that as late as the 18th century, many Baptists referred to themselves as "the Christians commonly—though falsely—called Anabaptists."^[19]

Anabaptist influence view

Another view is that early seventeenth-century Baptists were influenced by continental Anabaptists.^[20] Proponents of this view hold that although Baptist originated from English Separatists, some early Baptists were influenced by some Anabaptists. According to this view, the Dutch Mennonites (Anabaptists) shared some similarities with General Baptists (believer's baptism, religious liberty, separation of church and state, and Arminian views of salvation, predestination and original sin). However, there were significant differences between Anabaptists and Baptists, though not so significant as the differences among many contemporary Baptist groups. Representative writers include AC Underwood and William R Estep. Gorley writes that among some contemporary Baptist scholars who emphasize the faith of the community over soul liberty, the Anabaptist influence theory is making a comeback.^[3]

The relations between Baptists and Anabaptists were early strained. In 1624, the then five existing Baptist churches of London issued a condemnation of the Anabaptists.^[21]

Perpetuity view

Main article: Baptist successionism

Prior to the 20th century, Baptist historians generally wrote from the perspective that Baptists had existed since the time of Christ.^[22] Proponents of the Baptist perpetuity view consider the Baptist movement to have always been historically separate from Catholicism and in existence prior to the Protestant Reformation.^[23]

The perpetuity view is often identified with The Trail of Blood, a pamphlet by J.M. Carrol published in 1931.^[23] Other Baptist writers holding the perpetuity view are Thomas Crosby, G.H. Orchard, JM Cramp, William Cathcart, Adam Taylor and DB Ray^[23][24] This view was also held by English Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon^[25] as well as Jesse Mercer, the namesake of Mercer University.^[26]

Baptist Origins in the UK

Historical chart of the main Protestant branches.

In 1612, Thomas Helwys established a Baptist congregation in London, consisting of congregants from Smyth's church. A number of other Baptist churches sprang up, and they became known as the General Baptists. The Particular Baptists were established when a group of Calvinist Separatists adopted believers’ Baptism.^[27]

Baptist Origins in North America

See also: Baptists in the United States and Baptists in Canada

Both Roger Williams and John Clarke, his compatriot in working for religious freedom, are variously credited as founding the earliest Baptist church in North America.^[28] In 1639, Williams established a Baptist church in Providence, Rhode Island, and Clarke began a Baptist church in Newport, Rhode Island. According to a Baptist historian who has researched the matter extensively, "There is much debate over the centuries as to whether the Providence or Newport church deserved the place of 'first' Baptist congregation in America. Exact records for both congregations are lacking."^[12]

The Great Awakening energized the Baptist movement, and the Baptist community experienced spectacular growth. Baptists became the largest Christian community in many southern states, including among the black population.^[4]

In 1845, the Baptists congregations in the United States split over three main issues: slavery, missions, and doctrinal integrity. The northern congregations were opposed to members in the southern congregations owning slaves, and tried to prevent slaveholders from being missionaries. However, not appointing a proportionate number of missionaries to the southern region of the US sparked animosity from the southern churches. The southern congregations were also concerned over perceived liberalism in the north, accusing some missionaries of denying virgin birth and divinity of Jesus. The split created the Southern Baptist Convention, while the northern congregations, then known as Northern Baptists, formed their own umbrella organization now called the American Baptist Churches of the USA (ABC-USA).

After the American Civil War, another split occurred: most black Baptists in the South separated from white churches and set up their own congregations. In the late 1860s, they rapidly set up several separate state conventions. In 1895 their three national conventions merged into the National Baptist Convention. With 8 million members, it is the largest African-American religious organization and is second in size to the Southern Baptist Convention.

Baptist affiliations

Christian Denominations in English-speaking countries

Australia Australian Christian bodies v · d · e Australian Interchurch Australian Evangelical Alliance  • site National Council of Churches Catholic & Anglican Anglican Church of Australia Roman Catholic Church Holiness & Pietist Christian and Missionary Alliance Christian Outreach Centre Church of the Nazarene Salvation Army Seventh-day Adventist Church Historical Protestantism Australian Friends Baptist Union of Australia Open Brethren Christian Reformed Churches of Australia Churches of Christ Fellowship of Congregational Churches Lutheran Church of Australia Presbyterian Church of Australia Uniting Church in Australia Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia Orthodox Antiochian Orthodox of Australia & New Z. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Serbian Orthodox of Australia & New Z. Non-Chalcedonic Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia Pentecostal & Related Australian Christian Churches (AOG) Christian City Church Intl. CRC Churches International Revival Centres International Vineyard Churches Australia Worldwide Church of God Other LDS Church Canada Canadian Christian bodies v · Canadian Interchurch Canadian Council of Churches S. Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America North Am. Presbyterian & Reformed Council Anabaptist & Friends Canadian Mennonite Brethren Churches Canadian Yearly Meeting (Quakers) Mennonite Church Canada Baptist & Stone-Campbell Baptist Association of Regular Baptist Churches Baptist General Conference of Canada Canadian Baptist Ministries Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists Fellowship of Evgcl. Baptist Churches, Canada North American Baptist Conference Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Evangelical Christian Church in Canada Catholic & Anglican Anglican Church of Canada Anglican Church in North America Polish National Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church Holiness & Pietist Christian and Missionary Alliance, Canada Church of the Nazarene Evangelical Free Church of Canada Salvation Army Wesleyan Church Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Lutheran Church–Canada Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Methodist British Methodist Episcopal Church Free Methodist Church in Canada United Church of Canada Orthodox Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, N.Am. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Orthodox Church in America American-Canadian Macedonian Orthodox Diocese Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada Non-Chalcedonic Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Am. Coptic Orthodox Church in Canada Pentecostal Apostolic Church of Pentecost Canadian Assemblies of God Church of God of Prophecy Intl. Foursquare Gospel, Canada Intl. Pentecostal Holiness Church Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Pentecostal Church of God Oneness Pentecostal United Pentecostal Church Intl. Presbyterian & Reformed Canadian and American Reformed Churches Christian Reformed Church in North America L'Église réformée du Québec Presbyterian Church in Canada Presbyterian Church in America Reformed Church in America United Church of Canada Other Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Plymouth Brethren Seventh-day Adventists, North America LDS Church Vineyard Canada United Kingdom Christian denominations in the UK v · UK Interchurch Affinity (formerly British Evangelical Council) Churches Together in Britain & Ireland Evangelical Alliance, UK Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches Churches Together in England Action of Churches Together, Scotland (ACTS) Associating Evangelical Churches of Wales  • site Churches Together in Wales Evangelical Movement of Wales Anglican Church of England Free Church of England Church of Ireland Scottish Episcopal Church Church in Wales Baptist Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland Baptist Union of Great Britain Baptist Union of Scotland Baptist Union of Wales Grace Baptist Assembly Old Baptist Union Catholic Roman Catholicism England & Wales Ireland Scotland Old Catholicism British Old Catholic Church  • site Old Catholic Church in Europe Old Catholic Mariavite Church Old Catholic Church of Great Britain Holiness & Pietist Christian Outreach Centre Church of the Nazarene British Moravian Church Salvation Army Seventh-day Adventist Church Wesleyan Holiness Church Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church of England Lutheran Church in Great Britain Methodist & Wesleyan Free Methodist of the UK Methodist Church in Ireland Methodist Church of Great Britain Wesleyan Reform Union New Church Movement Vineyard Churches UK Ichthus Christian Fellowship Newfrontiers Pioneer Church  • site Orthodox Eastern Orthodox Church Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of G.B. Russian Orthodox Diocese, G.B. & Ire. Russian Tradition Vicariate, G.B. & Ire. Oriental Orthodox Church British Orthodox Church Celtic Orthodox Church Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church of God in Christ Elim Pentecostal Church Foursquare Gospel Church Worldwide Church of God Presbyterian & Reformed Asso. Presbyterian Churches, Scotland Church of Scotland Congregational Federation Evangelical Presbyterian Church Free Church of Scotland Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster Non-subscribing Presbyterian, Ireland Presbyterian Church in Ireland Presbyterian Church of Wales Reformed Presbyterian Church United Free Church of Scotland United Reformed Church Other Brethren in Christ Churches of Christ Fellowship of Ind. Evangelical Churches LDS Church Quakers/ Britain Yearly Meeting Quakers/ Ireland Yearly Meeting United States United States Christian bodies v · d · e United States Interchurch National Association of Evangelicals National Council of Churches Churches Uniting in Christ S. Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America North Am. Presbyterian & Reformed Council Anabaptist & Friends Brethren Church Church of the Brethren Evangelical Friends International Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches Friends General Conference Friends United Meeting Mennonite Brethren Churches Mennonite Church USA Old Order Amish Mennonite Church Baptist & Stone-Campbell Baptist Alliance of Baptists American Baptist Association American Baptist Churches Baptist Bible Fellowship International Baptist General Conference Baptist Missionary Association of America Conservative Baptist Association of America General Association of Regular Baptist Churches National Association of Free Will Baptists National Primitive Baptist Convention North American Baptist Conference Southern Baptist Convention African-American Baptist National Baptist Convention of America National Baptist Convention, USA National Missionary Baptist Convention of America Progressive National Baptist Convention Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Christian Churches and Churches of Christ Churches of Christ International Churches of Christ Catholic & Anglican Anglican Church in North America Episcopal Church Old Roman Catholic Church Polish National Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church Holiness & Pietist Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of God (Anderson) Evangelical Covenant Church Evangelical Free Church of America Church of the Nazarene Salvation Army Seventh-day Adventist Church Wesleyan Church Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Methodist African Methodist Episcopal Church African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Free Methodist Church United Methodist Church Orthodox Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Orthodox Church in America Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia Serbian Orthodox Church Non-Chalcedonic Armenian Apostolic of Am. Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Am. Coptic Orthodox Church Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church of God (Cleveland, TN) Church of God in Christ Church of God of Prophecy Church on the Rock- International Full Gospel Fellowship Intl. Church of the Foursquare Gospel Intl. Pentecostal Holiness Church Pentecostal Church of God Oneness Pentecostal Pentecostal Assemblies of the World United Pentecostal Church Intl. Presbyterian & Reformed Christian Reformed Church in North America Conservative Congregational Christian Conference Cumberland Presbyterian Church Evangelical Presbyterian Church Korean Presbyterian Church in America International Council of Community Churches National Asso. of Congregational Christian Churches Presbyterian Church (USA) Presbyterian Church in America Reformed Church in America United Church of Christ Other Church of Christ, Scientist LDS Church Community of Christ Grace Gospel Fellowship Independent Fundamental Churches of America Jehovah's Witnesses Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Plymouth Brethren Vineyard USA See also: Non-denominational Christianity International Associations Interdenominational Associations World Council of Churches World Evangelical Alliance Denominational Associations Friends World Committee for Consultation Mennonite World Conference Anglican Communion Baptist World Alliance World Convention of Churches of Christ Eastern Orthodox Church Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference International Lutheran Council Lutheran World Federation World Methodist Council Pentecostal World Conference International Conference of Reformed Churches Reformed Ecumenical Council World Communion of Reformed Churches World Reformed Fellowship Regional Associations Africa All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) Association of Evangelicals of Africa (AEA) All Africa Baptist Fellowship Africa Lutheran Communion Asia Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) Evangelical Fellowship of Asia Asia Pacific Baptist Federation Asia Lutheran Communion Caribbean Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) Evangelical Association of the Caribbean Caribbean Baptist Fellowship Europe Conference of European Churches (CEC) European Evangelical Alliance European Baptist Federation Pentecostal European Fellowship Middle East Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Latin America Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) Latin American Evangelical Fellowship (FIDE) Union of Baptists in Latin America North America North American Baptist Fellowship Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council Pacific Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) Evangelical Fellowship of the South Pacific (EFSP) Asia Pacific Baptist Federation This box: view · talk · edit

Many Baptist churches choose to affiliate with organizational groups that provide fellowship without control.^[4] The largest such group is the Southern Baptist Convention. There also are a substantial number of smaller cooperative groups. Finally, there are Baptist churches that choose to remain autonomous and independent of any denomination, organization, or association.^[29]

In 1905, Baptists worldwide formed the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). The BWA now counts 218 Baptist conventions and unions worldwide with over 41 million members.^[30] The BWA's goals include caring for the needy, leading in world evangelism and defending human rights and religious freedom. Though it played a role in the founding of the BWA, the Southern Baptist Convention severed its affiliation with BWA in 2004.^[31]

Membership

Statistics

See also: List of Christian denominations by number of members and List of Baptist sub-denominations

Today, 46 million Baptists belong to churches cooperating with the Baptist World Alliance. Many Baptist groups, including the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist Bible Fellowship do not cooperate with the Alliance. Their number can add up to a total of close to 100 million adherents in the world through 211 denominations, making Baptists the largest Protestant denomination in the world.^[32]

According to the Barna Group researchers, Baptists are the largest denominational grouping of born again Christians in the USA^[33] A 2009 ABCNEWS/Beliefnet phone poll of 1 022 adults suggests that fifteen percent of Americans identify themselves as Baptists.^[34]

Besides North America and Europe, large^{[weasel words]} populations of Baptists also exist in Asia, Africa and Latin America, notably in India (2.4 million)^{[citation needed]}, Nigeria (2.5 million),^{[citation needed]} Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (1.9 million)^{[citation needed]}, and Brazil (1.7 million)^{[citation needed]}.^[32]

A large percentage of Baptists in North America are found in five bodies—the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC); National Baptist Convention (NBC); National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.; (NBCA); American Baptist Churches in the USA (ABC); and Baptist Bible Fellowship International (BBFI).^[35]

Qualification for membership

Membership policies vary due to the autonomy of churches, but the traditional method by which an individual becomes a member of a church is through believer's baptism, which is a public profession of faith in Jesus, followed by water baptism.^[36]

Most baptists do not believe that baptism is a requirement for salvation, but rather a public expression of one's inner repentance and faith.^[12] Therefore some churches will admit into membersip persons who make a profession of faith but fail to follow through with believers' baptism. ^[37]

In general, Baptist churches do not have a stated age restriction on membership, but believer's baptism requires that an individual be able to freely and earnestly profess their faith.^[38] (See Age of Accountability)

Baptist beliefs and principles

Main article: Baptist beliefs

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Even the briefest glance at early Baptist writings confirms that they sought to draw their teachings directly from Scripture. Other movements may have provided a framework for their understanding, but Baptists never consciously sought to pattern their teachings from these sources. Instead, they consciously and conscientiously sought to draw every teaching and practice from Scripture. Perhaps [John] Shakespeare is too partisan, but he made his point when he wrote that one could wipe out all the religious groups of the seventeenth century, leave an open Bible, and “there would be Baptists tomorrow.”

— H. Leon MacBeth. Four Centuries of Baptist Witness, p. 63^[39]

Baptists, like other Christians, are defined by doctrine—some of it common to all orthodox and evangelical groups and a portion of it importantly distinctive.^[40] Through the years, different Baptist groups have issued confessions of faith—without considering them to be creeds—to express their particular doctrinal distinctions in comparison to other Christians as well as in comparison to other Baptists.^[41] Most Baptists are evangelical in doctrine, but Baptist beliefs can vary due to the congregational governance system that gives autonomy to individual local Baptist churches.^[42] Historically, Baptists have played a key role in encouraging religious freedom and separation of church and state.^[43]

Shared doctrines would include beliefs about one God; the virgin birth; miracles; atonement for sins through the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus; the Trinity; the need for salvation (through belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God, his death and resurrection, and confession of Christ as Lord); grace; 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); and evangelism and missions. Some historically significant Baptist doctrinal documents include the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, 1742 Philadelphia Baptist Confession, the 1833 New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith, the Southern Baptist Convention's Baptist Faith and Message, and written church covenants which some individual Baptist churches adopt as a statement of their faith and beliefs.

Most Baptists hold that no church or ecclesiastical organization has inherent authority over a Baptist church. Churches can properly relate to each other under this polity only through voluntary cooperation, never by any sort of coercion. Furthermore, this Baptist polity calls for freedom from governmental control.^[44]

Exceptions to this local form of local governance include a few churches that submit to the leadership of a body of elders, as well as the Episcopal Baptists that have an Episcopal system.

Baptists generally believe in the literal Second Coming of Christ. Beliefs among Baptists regarding the "end times" include amillennialism, dispensationalism, and historic premillennialism, with views such as postmillennialism and preterism receiving some support.

Some additional distinctive Baptist principles held by many Baptists:^[45]:2

• The supremacy of the canonical Scriptures as a norm of faith and practice. For something to become a matter of faith and practice, it is not sufficient for it to be merely consistent with and not contrary to scriptural principles. It must be something explicitly ordained through command or example in the Bible. For instance, this is why Baptists do not practice infant baptism—they say the Bible neither commands nor exemplifies infant baptism as a Christian practice, even though nowhere does the Bible forbid it. More than any other Baptist principle, this one when applied to infant baptism is said to separate Baptists from other evangelical Christians.
• Baptists believe that faith is a matter between God and the individual (religious freedom). To them it means the advocacy of absolute liberty of conscience.
• Insistence on immersion as the only mode of baptism. Baptists do not believe that baptism is necessary for salvation. Therefore, they do not consider it to be a sacrament, since it imparts no saving grace.^[45]

Further information: List of Baptist confessions

Most Baptist traditions believe in the "Four Freedoms" articulated by Baptist historian Walter B. Shurden:^[41]

• Soul freedom: the soul is competent before God, and capable of making decisions in matters of faith without coercion or compulsion by any larger religious or civil body
• Church freedom: freedom of the local church from outside interference, whether government or civilian (subject only to the law where it does not interfere with the religious teachings and practices of the church)
• Bible freedom: the individual is free to interpret the Bible for himself or herself, using the best tools of scholarship and biblical study available to the individual
• Religious freedom: the individual is free to choose whether to practice their religion, another religion, or no religion; Separation of church and state is often called the "civil corollary" of religious freedom

Beliefs that vary among Baptists

Protestantism (The Ninety-Five Theses)

The Reformation History Pre-Reformation movements Hussites  • Lollards  • Waldensians Reformation era movements Anabaptism • Anglicanism • Calvinism • Counter-Reformation • Dissenters and Nonconformism • Lutheranism • Polish Brethren • Remonstrants

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Since there is no hierarchical authority and each Baptist church is autonomous, there is no official set of Baptist theological beliefs.^[46] These differences exist both among associations, and even among churches within the associations.

Some doctrinal issues on which there is widespread difference among Baptists are:

• Eschatology
• Calvinism vs. Arminianism
• The doctrine of separation from "the world" and whether to associate with those who are "of the world"
• Glossolalia (speaking in tongues)^[47]
• How the Bible should be interpreted (hermeneutics)
• The extent to which missionary boards should be used to support missionaries
• The extent to which non-members may participate in the Lord's Supper services
• Which translation of Scripture to use (see King-James-Only movement),^[48] the very nature of Gospel
• The role of women in marriage
• The ordination of women as deacons or pastors.^[49]

Controversies that have shaped Baptists

Baptists have faced many controversies in their 400-year history, controversies of the level of crises. Baptist historian Walter Shurden says the word "crisis" comes from the Greek word meaning "to decide." Shurden writes that contrary to the presumed negative view of crises, some controversies that reach a crisis level may actually be "positive and highly productive." He claims that even schism, though never ideal, has often produced positive results. In his opinion crises among Baptists each have become decision-moments that shaped their future.^[50] Some controversies that have shaped Baptists are:

• Missions crisis
• Slavery crisis
• Landmark crisis
• Modernist crisis

Missions crisis

Early in the 19th century, the rise of the modern missions movement, and the backlash against it, led to widespread and bitter controversy among the American Baptists.^[51] During this era, the American Baptists were split between missionary and anti-missionary. A substantial secession of Baptists went into the movement led by Alexander Campbell, to return to a more fundamental church.^[52]

Slavery crisis

Leading up to the American Civil War, Baptists became embroiled in the controversy over slavery in the United States. Whereas in the First Great Awakening, Methodist and Baptist preachers had opposed slavery and urged manumission, over the decades they made more of an accommodation with the institution. They worked with slaveholders in the South to urge a paternalistic institution. Both denominations made direct appeals to slaves and free blacks for conversion. The Baptists particularly allowed them active roles in congregations. By the mid-19th century, northern Baptists tended to oppose slavery. As tensions increased, in 1844 the Home Mission Society refused to appoint a slaveholder as a missionary who had been proposed by Georgia. It noted that missionaries could not take servants with them, and also that the Board did not want to appear to condone slavery.

The Southern Baptist Convention was formed by nine state conventions in 1845, founded in part on the premise that the Bible sanctions slavery and that it is acceptable for Christians to own slaves. They believed slavery was a human institution which Baptist teaching could make less harsh. Not only were many planters among its membership, but some of the denomination's prominent preachers, such as the Rev. Basil Manly, Sr., president of the University of Alabama, were planters and owned slaves (he owned 40.)

As early as the late 18th century, black Baptists began to organize separate churches, associations and mission agencies, especially in the northern states. Not only did blacks set up some independent congregations in the South before the American Civil War, freedmen quickly separated from white congregations and associations after the war. They wanted to be free of white supervision.^[53] In 1866 the Consolidated American Baptist Convention, formed from black Baptists of the South and West, helped southern associations set up black state conventions, which they did in Alabama, Arkansas, Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky. In 1880 black state conventions united in the national Foreign Mission Convention, to support black Baptist missionary work. Two other national black conventions were formed, and in 1895 they united as the National Baptist Convention. This organization later went through its own changes, spinning off other conventions. It is the largest black religious organization and the second largest Baptist organization in the world. Currently American Baptist numerical strength is greatest in the former slaveholding states. The Baptist faith is the predominant faith of African Americans.^[54]

On June 20, 1995, the Southern Baptist Convention voted to adopt a resolution renouncing its racist roots and apologizing for its past defense of slavery. More than 20,000 Southern Baptists registered for the meeting in Atlanta. The resolution declared that messengers, as SBC delegates are called, "unwaveringly denounce racism, in all its forms, as deplorable sin" and "lament and repudiate historic acts of evil such as slavery from which we continue to reap a bitter harvest." It offered an apology to all African-Americans for "condoning and/or perpetuating individual and systemic racism in our lifetime" and repentance for "racism of which we have been guilty, whether consciously or unconsciously." Although Southern Baptists have condemned racism in the past, this was the first time the predominantly white convention had dealt specifically with the issue of slavery.

The statement sought forgiveness "from our African-American brothers and sisters" and pledged to "eradicate racism in all its forms from Southern Baptist life and ministry." Currently about 500,000 members of the 15.6-million-member denomination are African Americans and another 300,000 are ethnic minorities. The resolution marked the denomination's first formal acknowledgment that racism played a role in its founding.^[55]

Landmark crisis

Southern Baptist Landmarkism sought to reset the ecclesiastical separation which had characterized the old Baptist churches, in an era when inter-denominational union meetings were the order of the day.^[56] James Robinson Graves was the primary leader of this movement and one of the most influential Baptists of the 19th century.^[57] While some Landmarkers eventually separated from the Southern Baptist Convention, the movement's influence on the Convention continued well into the 20th century.^[58] Its influence continues to affect Convention policies. In 2005 the Southern Baptist International Mission Board forbade its missionaries to receive alien immersions for baptism.^[59]

Modernist crisis

The rise of theological modernism in the latter 19th and 20th century also greatly affected Baptists.^[60] The Landmark movement, already mentioned, has been described as a reaction against incipient modernism among Southern Baptists.^[61] In England, Charles Haddon Spurgeon fought against modernistic views of the Scripture in the Downgrade Controversy.^[62]

The Northern Baptist Convention had internal conflict over modernism in the early 20th century, ultimately embracing it. Two new conservative associations were founded as a result: the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches in 1933 and the Conservative Baptist Association of America in 1947.^[63] Following similar conflicts over modernism, the Southern Baptist Convention adhered to conservative theology as its official position. Two new Baptist denominations were formed by former Southern Baptists who rejected the Southern Baptist interpretation of the Bible: the Alliance of Baptists in 1987^{[citation needed]} and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in 1991.^[64]

See also

Baptist portal

• List of Baptist confessions
• List of Baptist denominations
• List of Baptists

Notes

1. ^ Buescher, John. "Baptist Origins." Teachinghistory.org, accessed 23 September 2011.
2. ^ ^{a b} Shurden, Walter (2001). "Turning Points in Baptist History". Macon, GA: The Center for Baptist Studies, Mercer University. http://www.centerforbaptiststudies.org/pamphlets/style/turningpoints.htm. Retrieved 16 January 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Gourley, Bruce. "A Very Brief Introduction to Baptist History, Then and Now." The Baptist Observer.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e} Cross, FL, ed. (2005), "Baptists", The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church, New York: Oxford University Press 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Baptist." 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
6. ^ "Member Body Statistics". Baptist World Alliance. May 30, 2008. http://www.bwanet.org/bwa.php?site=Resources&id=19. Retrieved 6 May 2010. 
7. ^ Newman, Albert Henry (1894). A History of the Baptist Churches in the United States. Christian Literature. ISBN 079054234X. http://books.google.com/?id=wCrmT5eki7YC. "This rejection of infant baptism and this insistence on believers’ baptism were so distinctive of these Christians that they were stigmatized as ‘Anabaptists’, ‘Catabaptists’, and sometimes as simply ‘Baptists’; that is to say, they were declared to be ‘rebaptizers’, ‘perverters of baptism’, or, as unduly magnifying baptism and making it the occasion of schism, simply ‘baptizers’." 
8. ^ "The Illustrated Book of All Religions From the Earliest Ages to the Present Time", Star Publishing Company, 1895.
9. ^ Christian, John T (1922). "15". A History of the Baptists. Broadman Press. pp. 205–6. ISBN 0665679327. http://www.reformedreader.org/history/christian/ahob1/ahobp.htm. "The word Baptists was used by a high official of the English government in the earlier days of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. That official was Sir William Cecil, afterwards Lord Burleigh, then the Secretary of State and especial adviser of the Queen. The date is March 10, 1569." 
10. ^ Christian, John T, History of the Baptists, I, Reformed Reader, p. 205, http://www.reformedreader.org/history/christian/ahob1/ahobp.htm .
11. ^ Christian, John T, History of the Baptists, II, Reformed Reader, p. 212, http://www.reformedreader.org/history/christian/ahob1/ahobp.htm .
12. ^ ^{a b c} Brackney, William H (2006). Baptists in North America: an historical perspective. Blackwell Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 1405118652. 
13. ^ ^{a b c d e} Leonard, Bill J. (2003). Baptist Ways: A History. Judson Press. ISBN 978-0817012311. 
14. ^ ^{a b c} Briggs, John. "Baptist Origins". Baptist History and Heritage Society. http://www.baptisthistory.org/contissues/briggs.htm. Retrieved 10 January 2010. 
15. ^ Beale, David (2000). The Mayflower Pilgrims: roots of Puritan, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, and Baptist heritage. Emerald House Group. ISBN 978-1889893518. 
16. ^ Traffanstedt, Chris. "A Primer on Baptist History". http://www.reformedreader.org/history/pbh.htm. Retrieved 23 December 2009. 
17. ^ Nettles, Tom J. (Spring 2009). "Once Upon a Time, Four Hundred Years Ago…". Founders Journal (Founders Ministries) 76: 2–8. http://www.founders.org/journal/fj76/article1.html. 
18. ^ Vedder, HC. "A Short History of the Baptists". The Reformed Reader. http://www.reformedreader.org/history/vedder/ch14.htm. Retrieved 23 December 2009. 
19. ^ McBeth, H Leon. "Baptist Beginnings". Baptist History and Heritage Society. http://www.baptisthistory.org/baptistbeginnings.htm. Retrieved 19 October 2007. 
20. ^ Priest, Gerald L PhD (14 Oct 2010) (PDF), Are Baptists Protestants?, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, http://www.dbts.edu/pdf/macp/2007/Priest,%20Are%20Baptists%20Protestants.pdf .
21. ^ Melton, JG (1994), "Baptists", Encyclopedia of American Religions .
22. ^ Torbet, Robert G (1975), A History of the Baptists, Valley Forge: Judson Press, pp. 18–9 .
23. ^ ^{a b c} McBeth, H Leon (1987), The Baptist Heritage, Nashville: Broadman Press, pp. 59–60 .
24. ^ Torbet, Robert (1975), A History of the Baptists, Valley Forge: Judson Press, p. 18 .
25. ^ The New park Street Pulpit, VII, p. 225 .
26. ^ Jesse Mercer (1838). "A History of the Georgia Baptist Association". pp. 196–201. http://baptisthistoryhomepage.com/1811cl_mercer.html. 
27. ^ Wright, Stephen; Early English Baptists 1603-49 (2004)
28. ^ Newport Notables, Redwood Library, http://www.redwoodlibrary.org/notables/clarke.htm .
29. ^ Moore, G Holmes (17 January 2010), 300 Years of Baptist History, http://www.reformedreader.org/history/350years.htm, "Bible Baptist Church of St. Louis, MO, is an example of an independent Baptist church that has never been a denominational church in the sense of belonging to some convention or association" .
30. ^ "Statistics". Baptist World Alliance. http://www.bwanet.org/bwa.php?site=Resources&id=168. Retrieved 8 November 2011. 
31. ^ Cooperman, Alan (16 June 2004). "Southern Baptists Vote To Leave World Alliance". Washington Post: p. A4. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44658-2004Jun15.html. Retrieved 2009-11-04. 
32. ^ ^{a b} History, CBWC, http://www.cbwc.ca/content/view/7/10/ .
33. ^ "Catholics Have Become Mainstream America", Born again Christians in US, July 9, 2007, http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/100-catholics-have-become-mainstream-america, retrieved 16 January 2010, "Barna defines Born again Christians as "people who said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life today and who also indicated they believe that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior" .
34. ^ Langer, Gary (18 July 2009), Poll: Most Americans Say They're Christian. Varies Greatly From the World at Large, http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/beliefnet_poll_010718.html, retrieved 16 January 2010 .
35. ^ Wardin, Albert W (1995), Baptists Around the World, 367: Broadman and Holman Publishers .
36. ^ Pendleton, J. M. (1867). Church Manual For Baptist Churches. The Judson Press. http://www.reformedreader.org/rbb/pendleton/churchmanual/bcm01.htm. 
37. ^ "Church’s elders cancel vote on membership without baptism". Baptist Press. http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=23725. Retrieved 8 November 2011. 
38. ^ "Baptist Faith and Mission". Southern Baptist Convention. http://www.sbc.net/bfm/. Retrieved 8 November 2011. 
39. ^ McBeth, H Leon (1987), The Baptist Heritage: Four Centuries of Baptist Witness, B&H Academic, p. 63, ISBN 978-0805465693 .
40. ^ Nettles, Thomas J. "A Foundation for the Future: The Southern Baptist Message and Mission". 
41. ^ ^{a b} Shurden, Walter B (1993). The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms. Macon, Georgia: Smyth & Helwys Publishing. ISBN 978-1880837207. 
42. ^ Buescher, John. "Baptist Origins." Teachinghistory.org, accessed 23 September 2011.
43. ^ "Baptists", Religion Facts, http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations/baptists.htm, retrieved 17 January 2010 .
44. ^ Pinson, William M, Jr. Trends in Baptist Polity. Baptist History and Heritage Society. http://www.baptisthistory.org/contissues/pinson.htm. 
45. ^ ^{a b} Newman, Albert Henry (1915). A History of the Baptist Churches in the United States (3rd ed.). Christian Literature. ISBN 079054234X. http://books.google.com/?id=F38uAAAAYAAJ. 
46. ^ Hammett, John; Hammett, John S (2005), Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches: A Contemporary Ecclesiology, Kregel Publications, ISBN 978-0825427695, "One thing that all Baptists have in common is that everything is built upon the Bible." .
47. ^ "Position Paper Concerning the IMB Policy on Glossolalia", Florida Baptist Witness, http://www.gofbw.com/news.asp?ID=5592, retrieved 18 March 2010 .
48. ^ (PDF) An Introduction to Bible Translations, Trinity Baptist Church Discipleship Training, April 2005, http://www.trinitybaptistreformed.org/files/Download/Bible%20Translations%20+.pdf, retrieved 18 March 2010 .
49. ^ Beck, Rosalie, Response to 'The Ordination of Women Among Texas Baptists' by Ann Miller, "Perspectives in Religious Studies", Journal of the NABPR (Baylor University, Baptist General Convention of Texas), http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Document.Doc?&id=3338, retrieved 18 March 2010 .
50. ^ Shurden, Walter B. Crises in Baptist Life. http://www.baptistdistinctives.org/crises.pdf. Retrieved 16 January 2010. 
51. ^ John T. Christian, History of the Baptists, vol. 2, (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1926) pp. 404-420.
52. ^ Christian, John T (1926), History of the Baptists, 2, Nashville: Broadman Press, pp. 421–36 .
53. ^ Fitts, Leroy (1985), A History of Black Baptists, Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, pp. 43–106 .
54. ^ (GIFF) Baptists as a Percentage of all Residents, 2000, http://www.valpo.edu/geomet/pics/geo200/religion/baptist.gif .
55. ^ "SBC renounces racist past - Southern Baptist Convention", The Christian Century. July 5, 1995
56. ^ Ashcraft, Robert (2003). Landmarkism Revisited. Mabelvale, Arkansas: Ashcraft Publications. pp. 84–5. .
57. ^ Bogard, Ben M (1900). Pillars of Orthodoxy. Louisville: Baptist Book Concern. p. 199. .
58. ^ Smith; Handy; Loetscher (1963). American Christianity: An Historical Interpretation With Representative Documents. Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 110. .
59. ^ "Guideline on Baptism". International Mission Board. http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?LanguageID=1709&StoryID=3837. 
60. ^ Torbet, Robert G (1975). A History of the Baptists. Valley Forge: Judson Press. pp. 424–45. ISBN 978-0817000745. 
61. ^ Ashcraft, Robert, ed. (2000), History of the American Baptist Association, Texarkana, History and Archives Committee of the American Baptist Association, pp. 63–6 .
62. ^ Torbet, Robert G (1975), A History of the Baptists, Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, p. 114 .
63. ^ Torbet, Robert G (1975), A History of the Baptists, Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, pp. 395, 436 .
64. ^ "CBF History". The Fellowship. http://www.thefellowship.info/About-Us/FAQ. Retrieved 16 January 2010. 

References

• Gavins, Raymond. The Perils and Prospects of Southern Black Leadership: Gordon Blaine Hancock, 1884–1970. Duke University Press, 1977.
• Harrison, Paul M. Authority and Power in the Free Church Tradition: A Social Case Study of the American Baptist Convention Princeton University Press, 1959.
• Harvey, Paul. Redeeming the South: Religious Cultures and Racial Identities among Southern Baptists, 1865–1925 University of North Carolina Press, 1997.
• Heyrman, Christine Leigh. Southern Cross: The Beginnings of the Bible Belt (1997).
• Isaac, Rhy. "Evangelical Revolt: The Nature of the Baptists' Challenge to the Traditional Order in Virginia, 1765 to 1775," William and Mary Quarterly, 3d ser., XXXI (July 1974), 345–68.
• Leonard, Bill J. Baptist Ways: A History (2003), comprehensive international history
• Life & Practice in the Early Church: A Documentary Reader, New York University press. 2001. pp. 5–7. ISBN 9780814756485.
• McBeth, H. Leon, (ed.) A Sourcebook for Baptist Heritage (1990), primary sources for Baptist history.
• McGlothlin, W. J. (ed.) Baptist Confessions of Faith. Philadelphia: The American Baptist Publication Society, 1911.
• Pitts, Walter F. Old Ship of Zion: The Afro-Baptist Ritual in the African Diaspora Oxford University Press, 1996.
• Rawlyk, George. Champions of the Truth: Fundamentalism, Modernism, and the Maritime Baptists (1990), Canada.
• Spangler, Jewel L. "Becoming Baptists: Conversion in Colonial and Early National Virginia" Journal of Southern History. Volume: 67. Issue: 2. 2001. pp 243+
• Stringer, Phil. The Faithful Baptist Witness, Landmark Baptist Press, 1998.
• Torbet, Robert G. A History of the Baptists, Judson Press, 1950.
• Underhill, Edward B. (ed.). Confessions of Faith and Other Documents of the Baptist Churches of England in the 17th century. London: The Hanserd Knollys Society, 1854.
• Underwood, A. C. A History of the English Baptists. London: Kingsgate Press, 1947.
• Wills, Gregory A. Democratic Religion: Freedom, Authority, and Church Discipline in the Baptist South, 1785–1900, Oxford.

External links

• Baptists at the Open Directory Project