5 Beliefs That Set Baptists Apart From Other Protestant Christians

From the beginning of the Christian movement, there have been differing opinions on the nature of the church, the way of salvation, and the meaning of baptism. Some beliefs Christians of all denominations have in common, such as belief in God and in Jesus Christ as Savior. However, Baptist beliefs about some major matters differ from those held by other groups.

Below are five beliefs that set apart Baptists from other Protestant Christians.

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1. Baptism: While some Christian faiths perform Baptism on infants, for Baptists this ritual is only performed after a person professes Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. It is an act that symbolizes the cleansing away of their sins. And while some faiths perform baptism by sprinkling water on the subject, Baptists must be fully immersed in the water. This is usually done by lowering a candidate backwards into the water to imitate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

2. Local Governance: Baptist churches assert that each local church is self-governing and independent of other churches. Baptists are not under the administrative control of any other body, such as a national council, or a leader such as a bishop or pope. Each Baptist church usually has a pastor, deacons, and trustees, but administration, leadership and doctrine are decided democratically by the lay members of each individual church. This is why there is such a variation of beliefs from one Baptist church to another.

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3. Separation of Church and State: Baptists have led the way in the struggle for freedom of religion and separation of church and state in the U.S. and other countries. Historically, many Baptists were even imprisoned and died for their faith and this belief. Baptists were influential in the formation of the first civil government based on the separation of church and state in what is now Rhode Island, according to Religion Facts.

4. Lifestyle: If gambling, alcohol and tobacco use are part of your lifestyle, the Baptist faith is probably not for you. Many conservative Baptists oppose these vices and some even prohibit dancing and watching movies. This is especially prevalent in areas where Southern Baptists form a majority of the population.

5. Biblical Authority: Baptists believe that the Bible is free of error and is the only source of God's truth. Any view that can't be tied to scripture is based on human traditions and is not God's teaching. Individuals are responsible for their own understanding of the Bible and can receive salvation through faith alone.

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