The Meaning of “Baptist”The Meaning of “Baptist”

A Very Diverse Family…A Very Diverse Family…

• Over 55 million baptized believers, a total Over 55 million baptized believers, a total community of perhaps 150 millioncommunity of perhaps 150 million

• Counting our children, this would make us the Counting our children, this would make us the fourth-largest Christian tradition, after Roman fourth-largest Christian tradition, after Roman Catholics, Pentecostals, and Eastern OrthodoxCatholics, Pentecostals, and Eastern Orthodox

• 7 million in Africa, 5 million in Asia, but…7 million in Africa, 5 million in Asia, but…• Nearly four out of five Baptists are American Nearly four out of five Baptists are American

(d’oh!)(d’oh!)

First Things First…First Things First…

• Our first duty is to be faithfully Christian, and Our first duty is to be faithfully Christian, and then go from there…then go from there…

• 400 years – 2,000 years400 years – 2,000 years• We cannot choose to be “more Baptist” and We cannot choose to be “more Baptist” and

“less Christian”“less Christian”

What do you think makes a Baptist “baptist”?

The Parts of the Baptist Wheel:The Parts of the Baptist Wheel:• AxleAxle

(Central Idea)(Central Idea)• SpokesSpokes

(Principles/beliefs)(Principles/beliefs)

• RimRim(Practices)(Practices)

““Friction,” a.k.a, Friction,” a.k.a, Sacred PowerSacred Power

The Axle:The Axle:

The Free God Calls a The Free God Calls a Gathered ChurchGathered Church

The Free GodThe Free God

““All the power on Earth cannot make one All the power on Earth cannot make one Institute or Divine ceremony in Religion, Institute or Divine ceremony in Religion,

because God’s Authority is then usurped by because God’s Authority is then usurped by Man…” – Thomas GranthamMan…” – Thomas Grantham

Idolatry = humanity trying Idolatry = humanity trying to control what it worships!!to control what it worships!!

A Gathered ChurchA Gathered Church

• Brought together not by custom or law, but by Brought together not by custom or law, but by the call of Godthe call of God

• Both our “gathering” and “being gathered”Both our “gathering” and “being gathered”

• Emphasis on fellowship and community - Emphasis on fellowship and community - covenantcovenant

On to theOn to the Spokes! Spokes!

• The Rule of ChristThe Rule of Christ

• A Discipling PeopleA Discipling People

• Freedom of Freedom of ConscienceConscience

• Primacy of ScripturePrimacy of Scripture

The Rule of ChristThe Rule of Christ

• ““In Christ”In Christ”• Matthew 18Matthew 18• The goal: consensus in The goal: consensus in

imitation of Jesus underimitation of Jesus underthe guidance of the Spiritthe guidance of the Spirit

• ““Christonomy”Christonomy”

A Discipling PeopleA Discipling People

• “Regenerate” or…“no imposters, please”

• Personal experience of being “gathered”

• Mutual accountability• – “walking the walk”

““All penitent and faithful Christians are brethren in All penitent and faithful Christians are brethren in the communion of the outward life” – John Smyththe communion of the outward life” – John Smyth

““Those thus called, he commandeth to walk Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together” – 1677 London Confessiontogether” – 1677 London Confession

Freedom of ConscienceFreedom of Conscience

• To keep from violating To keep from violating the sanctity of othersthe sanctity of others

• To protect the integrity To protect the integrity of God and Churchof God and Church

Primacy of ScripturePrimacy of Scripture

• Tradition = bad?Tradition = bad?

• Tradition = usefulTradition = useful

• Bible as norm Bible as norm (e.g., Lent)(e.g., Lent)

The Wheel Hits the GroundThe Wheel Hits the Ground

• Believers’ BaptismBelievers’ Baptism

• CongregationalCongregational

• LibertyLiberty

Believers’ BaptismBelievers’ Baptism

• What’s wrong with infant baptism?What’s wrong with infant baptism? • State church – nominal ChristiansState church – nominal Christians

• The NT pattern (Acts 2, Romans 6)The NT pattern (Acts 2, Romans 6)

• World Council of Churches:World Council of Churches:““baptism upon personal profession of faith is baptism upon personal profession of faith is the most clearly attested pattern in the New the most clearly attested pattern in the New Testament documents”Testament documents”

• Vatican II: believers’ baptism “the theological Vatican II: believers’ baptism “the theological norm”norm”

CongregationalismCongregationalism• All have the ministry of the “royal priesthood”All have the ministry of the “royal priesthood”

vs. St. Ignatius of Antiochvs. St. Ignatius of Antioch

• Diversity of gifts (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12)Diversity of gifts (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12)

• Church meetingChurch meeting

• Bottom-up instead of top-downBottom-up instead of top-down

• NOT independence!NOT independence!

Defense of Religious LibertyDefense of Religious Liberty

• Separation of church and stateSeparation of church and state• Aid to the harassed, persecutedAid to the harassed, persecuted• Still an issueStill an issue