What do Baptists believe?

Answer 1

Baptist are the largest sect of protestant xianity, protestant being non-catholic. There is many types of Churches and they all have various beliefs. To state what all Baptist belive would be difficult, but I will attempt to explain common point of the theology in historcal context. Then I will touch on some key features of major Baptist Churches.

Like most protestant religions, Baptist have no hierarchy or saints and popes. They are all saints and believe in the Pauline idea of the "priesthood of the believer".

Baptists practice full body emersion of adult (non-infant) converts to show conversion or faithfulness. This is based on the story of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, not a historical link to Baptist Churches.

The name may come from the 16th century reformation 'Anabaptist' a small sect that re-baptized converts from other xian churches. This may not be accurate. I am not sure of the historical link; I have not research recently, and doubt some of the sources that proclaim these links. And Anabaptist The denominations descending from the Anabaptist, the Amish, Hutterites, Mennonites and Brethren in Christ. The first Baptist Church in America was founded over 350 years ago and is still in operation in Providence RI. Dr. John Clarke, a trained Calvinist who also was the founder of RI with Roger Williams, founded it.

The original members of Clark’s church were from the Puritans and Calvinists. A successor of Clarke as pastor said of the original body under Clarke that they maintained "the doctrine of efficacious grace, and professed the baptizing of only visible believers upon personal profession by total immersion in water...". This is the beginning of the Baptist Church. They believe in Calvinism and total immersion Baptism, as opposed to sprinkling.

Well than what is Calvinism? Calvinism comes from the teaching of John Calvin a figure in the Reformation. Their major theology endorses on way or the other the five points of Calvinism.

The point of Calvinism are detailed below, but some keys ideas are (1) you are worthless and damn, unless god chooses to save you, (2) there is nothing you can do to "save" yourself, (3) only certain people will be chosen, (the elect), (4) you cannot resist god's will in choosing, and (5) once he chooses you, you are good to go to heaven.

In practice Calvinism is often rolled up into a Born Again - Sinner's Prayer motif -common with most Evangelicals and Fundamentalist Xians. If asked what they believe you usually get Christ as Savior or other simple answers. The points of Calvinism are the main point of Baptist theology; even though some of the Baptist today would be hard press to understand that they are Calvinist.

They often have a very literal interpretation of the scripture. They usually fall into the literal interpretation of the Bible over science and logic camp that is called "creationism"
Individual churches, especially the "independent" and "fundamentalist" Baptist can come up with some crazy ideas, based on this interpretation of the Xian bible. The "fundamentalist" use the "King James Version" or the KJV bible, often avoiding or forbidding the use of more modern translations.


There are many differing group, but a large vocal part of them are white right-wing political extremist mixing American nationalism and right-wing politics as an important feature of their church life. This again is usually on the "fundamentalist" side of the Baptist. Jerry Farwell’s Liberty University and Moral Majority are examples of this part of "Baptist".

Another major group, the largest protestant denomination, is the "Southern Baptist." They are an actual denomination. The Southern Baptist Convention. They still interpret the Bible Literally. When you read their basic belief statement you see the term "the elect", showing the Calvinistic theology.

You also see the words "Religious Liberty" and "A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal" in the Southern Baptist convention Basic Belief Statement. This illustrates the mixing of American politics and nationalism into Baptist the religion. The mixing is much more evident than the simple statement implies. They also have written in comment about life beginning at conception and marriage being between one man and one woman. These are further evident of how enmeshed the faith is with politics, seeing these are culture war issues in America.

Wikapedia says: "Since the late 1970s, the Southern Baptist Convention has moved in an increasingly more conservative direction theologically and philosophically, which has led to a partial schism and the formation of an alternative group, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship." Further showing the right-wing nature of this group.

Both the southern and fundamentalist type of Baptist often has "Christian Schools". Small private schools that often have very conservative pedagogies and spend a lot of time teaching religious views. The motivation of this school is often to keep children away from gays, evolution, and other culture war issues. They are very, very, much anti-choice and have been very politically active to try to keep women from having choices with their bodies.

Moving to the American Baptist. The American Baptist are the "mainline" denomination of Baptist. The Southern Baptist spilt from them in 1845. American Baptist do believe in the bible is the inspired word of god, but they seem to avoid the hard literal interpretation of the scriptures. They give the local church a lot of autonomy. The practice of belief must vary allot from church to church. A statement from the ABCUSA web page reads: "As early Baptists overcame oppression by establishing a congregational church system emphasizing local church autonomy and separation from state influence, so contemporary American Baptists continue to emphasize both the importance and the responsibility of every church and the individual believer before God." However, they maintain school and seminaries so the leadership of the local church most likely had training from the central denomination.

(I have personally found American Baptist to be much more tolerable that their fundamentalist and southern counter parts and have made friends with a few.)

There are many more "branches" off the "mainline" of the Baptist religion. A go ogle search turns up dozens of types. I have focused on the “Calvinistic” root of Baptist belief. There are many variation of Baptist including a few that support the opposite view of Calvin’s views Arminian
Theology, but that is too big of debate to explain both sides. This is my attempt to answer, what do Baptist believe? It is not a complete listing of the beliefs it is an overview of the important theology and its history. I am including information about some of the main branches of the religion and how their individual focuses and beliefs make them appear in practice. I hope this answered your questions.

From your name, I assume you are seeking. I am of the mind that religion stops a thinking mind. I respect anyone right to believe what they want. However, it is clear to me that the beliefs and practice of monotheisms - xianity, Islam, and Judeism – is responsible for many deaths. From the crusades, to the religious wars of the 16th century, to the violence in the Middle East and the war today, one or more of the major monotheisms is involved. I would respectfully suggest that you be true to yourself and seek the spirituality within yourself. If you are happy, as a xian then be that, you don’t have to have denomination or label.

Answer 2

Here is a little Christian history:

When Christ was on the earth, he called and ordained 12 apostles and gave then the keys to direct the church. An apostle is a priesthood office that has the commission to establish the gospel throughout the world. As the apostles spread the gospel, they ordained local bishops (another priesthood office) who were mostly responsible for the temporal needs of the church.

Living the gospel included not only faith in the savior but a need to keep on the straight and narrow path of obedience to commandments and caring for other members of the church. In an effort to develop faith (which comes through sacrifice), the early members were required to give all that they had to the church. One couple died for not fully complying (see Acts 4:32 thru Acts 5:10).

When the apostles died, the priesthood keys died with them also. The local bishops were in disarray because there was no one to guide the church. As time went on, they argued about who should lead the church (the reality is that none of them had the authority). It became customary for the bishop over the largest city to take precedence. This was Rome. In about 350 ad, the emperor of Rome (Constantine) determined to bring order to the bickering bishops who were now being elected by the voice of the people. Constantine's goal was to bring unity. The bishops were commissioned by Constantine to develop a doctrine that they could all agree upon. Constantine influenced the most popular doctrines because it would bring quicker unity. The Nicene creed was voted on and accepted by the majority. This committee also determined which records to compile into what is now the bible.

The catholic church grew out of this effort to unify. The pope is basically the highest bishop. In time, the bishops decided that since they were the closest people to God, that anyone who would defy them could be punished or killed.

The protestant reformation grew from unrest concerning the catholic church and it's doctrines. Protestant churches were developed as followers of famous reformers such as Martin Luther gathered together.

Answer 3

You are right. Baptists believe we are saved by faith alone--that they, and all of their sins, are "covered by the blood" of Jesus. Jesus is our Savior from sins. Most Baptists believe that Baptism is simply a symbol of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. They believe that in and of itself, baptism holds no power--but is an only an outward sign of obedience and is a way to become a member of the Baptist church. The statement above is qualified with the words *most Baptists*, since Baptists do not have a Catechism or a Statement of Beliefs that members can read and study. Thus, our beliefs are sometimes all over the board. .

Answer 4

Baptists believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour and the only way to eternal life is through Him. My wife was raised Baptist.

Answer 5

That Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins.

Answer 6

that God loves them

Answer 7

in baptisms

Answer 8

GOD!