5 Beliefs That Set Southern Baptists Apart From Anabaptists

Southern Baptists can trace their roots, in part, to the Protestant Reformation that arose in Germany and Switzerland in the 16th century.

Anabaptists were one of the main groups that arose in Europe along with Calvinists and Lutherans at that time. The term "Anabaptist," according to the Online Etymology Dictionary, means "one who baptizes over again" and it was applied to Anabaptists by their persecutors.

Anabaptists eventually branched off into several different sects, including Amish, Mennonites, and Hutterites. Some of these sects retain the three core Anabaptists beliefs.

SPECIAL: Prayer Changes Your Brain in 4 Amazing Ways

1. Believer's Baptism

Anabaptists teach a person must first believe the gospel before accepting baptism. This based on the biblical teachings of Jesus Christ which placed believing ahead of baptism. For this reason, they do not baptize infants.

2. Pacifism

Anabaptists do not believe in obtaining or protecting rights through use of force. They are committed to nonviolence per teachings of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament to turn the other cheek.

3. Community of Goods

Anabaptists believe all property should be shared in common with fellow believers in Christ. This is in accordance with Christ's command to rich young ruler to give up all of his possessions and follow him.

ALERT: When Do You Think Christ Is Returning? Vote Now

4. A few key differences exist between Anabaptists and Southern Baptists in their core doctrines. One major difference is the emphasis on salvation by Southern Baptists versus an emphasis on discipleship by Anabaptists.

Southern Baptists do not believe that a person can fall from grace after accepting Jesus Christ as their savior. The Southern Baptist Convention states that "Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end."


Anabaptists, on the other hand, believe that mere faith alone is not enough. True believers in Christ must show their faith through living what the Bible teaches. The official Anabaptist website declares that "The Bible's position is that mere faith in Christ's sacrifice is not enough. The Bible teaches clearly that saving faith produces — and needs— good works." 

5. Many Anabaptist sects choose to embrace plain living and separate their communities from the outside world. Amish still travel by horse and buggy and do not use electricity. Hutterites live on large communal farms and believe in holding all possessions in common. Devout members in these sects do not hold political office or serve in the military. They embrace showing pacifism toward all people

Southern Baptists, on the other hand, integrate into their local neighborhoods, towns, cities, states and countries. They get involved in government and willingly hold political offices and serve in the military.

SPECIAL: Can Prayer Heal You? Dr. Crandall Discovered the Truth

Related Stories:

• The 10 Most Conservative Baptist Churches in America 
  
• The 10 Largest Baptist Churches and What Sets Them Apart From Rest