what is a baptist?

Question

a church came to my door offering bus ride to another town for sunday school/services at a baptist church. I don't know anything about the Baptist religion. Anyone have an opinion or answer?

Answer 1

Be cautious. Baptists are very aggressive. I know, I was raised as one. Just google Baptist beliefs and read for yourself. But they are like a private club that you must renounce your past life to join.

Answer 2

A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church. Baptist churches are often regarded as an Evangelical Protestant denomination originating from the English Puritan movement with Anabaptist influences. However there are disagreements with these labels and origins views (See "Questions of labelling" and "Origins")

Theologically many Baptists emphasize a believer's baptism by full immersion, which is performed on non-infants after a profession of faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. A congregational governance system gives autonomy to individual local Baptist churches. However, churches will often associate in organizations such as the Southern Baptist Convention which is the largest Baptist association in the world.

Answer 3

There are several sects of Baptist. Some are very narrow and legalistic. Others are moderate, and others still are very liberal. "Generally speaking" most Baptist believe that the Bible is without error. They believe in the trinity., virgin birth of Jesus, and that you must be born again to get to heaven. They are very evangelical. They are probably one of the safest churches theologically in the world.
If you try them, you may want to start with a more moderate church at first. An independent or fundamental Baptist may frighten you. They are all okay-some are a little too tight.

All "lunatic" churches claim they belong to some denomination. Some claim to belong to the Baptist denomination. My point is that there are a lot of idiots out there-don't let the idiots cause you to miss a good church.

Answer 4

A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church. Baptist churches are often regarded as an Evangelical Protestant denomination originating from the English Puritan movement with Anabaptist influences. See http://encyclopedia.wowla.com/?title=Baptist

Answer 5

The name "Baptist" covers a great range of belief within Protestantism. The main feature of Baptist chruches (as opposed to Methodist, and so on) is that baptists believe that God intends baptism as the means of joining the Christian church. "Baptism" is a word that comes from Greek, meaning "dip" or "immerse". What some churches call "Christening" -- where they daub a little water usually on the forhead of an infant -- others call "baptism", but Baptist churches consider baptism to be an act of TOTAL immersion in water, done NOT to a child, but to a willing adult. In the New Testament John the Baptist is seen as a prohet foreshadowing Christ's own ministry. John, like some other religious leaders of the time, used baptism as a ceremony whereby men showed that they followed his teaching. The early Apostles also baptised with water in the same way: see Acts 9:26-39 for an example.
Not just Baptists believe in and practice baptism: Brethren, Church of Christ, Pentecostal Assemblies and many others also observe baptism of adults by immersion.
In more recent days some Baptist churches have become more liberal, and regard baptism more as an option rather than a principle.
If you visit a Baptist church you are NOT likely to see a baptism -- they are held usually in special services, periodically. Also do not fear that you will be pressured into being baptised: usually baptist preachers and teachers will speak of its importance to the new believer, but it is left to the believer rather than forced on them. However if you aim to cooperate in their ministry (for example as a voting member, or a Sunday school teacher) you may be expected to submit to baptism. Normally churches that obbserve adult immersion (as opposed to "Christening") will acknowledge baptism that was performed at an earlier date by a different "denomination": however if you were Christened as a baby that will count for nothing.

Answer 6

Baptists are generally Christian fundamentalists, but it's hard to nail down just one opinion because the Southern Baptist Convention differs from the Independent Baptists (which are big in my area). Independent Baptists can have any number of different stances on theological, social, and political issues. I date one, and even though I'm Methodist (which, as a whole, isn't that different from them), we still disagree on a lot.

To understand more about it, I would suggest going to the service they are offering. If you don't like it, it's never to late to switch!

Answer 7

It is a Protestant church, similar to Presbyterian or Methodist. I believe it is based on the Gospel passage where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. They don't believe in baptizing babies. They think that a person must be old enough to confirm their belief in Christ, by choosing to be baptized. Baptism is also the means to becoming a full member of the Baptist Church.

Answer 8

The Baptists are a Christian church. They are good people. I am a Christian who attends and is a member of a Baptist Church.

Answer 9

Baptist are christians who believe a person should be baptisted after becoming saved. They use musical instruments in their church and they believe in the trinity. They also believe if you are saved you do something wrong but ask for forgivness you need not to be saved again. Much like the prodical son in the bible.

Answer 10

I go to a Southern Baptist church and just to clear things up,I am not a memeber of the KKK nor have I ever been racisist toward anyone.Also I am not crazy.