June 7, 2011

• BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES

  I recently finished a teaching series on "What is a Baptist?", also known as the Baptist Distinctives and I taught the following 11 points...

  B iblical Authority
  A utonomy of the Local Church
  P riesthood of the Believer
  T wo Ordinances: Baptism & The Lords Supper
  I ndividual Soul Liberty
  S aved, Baptized Church Membership
  T wo Offices: Elder (Pastor) & Deacon
  S eperation of Church & State & Security of Salvation

  I think this list is both biblical & helpful, however I recently read something by Baptist historian Walter B. Shurden that I think really boils it down even more to the 4 core issues that differentiate a Baptist church. They are entitled "The Four Freedoms"...

  THE FOUR FREEDOMS

  SOUL freedom: the soul is competent before God, and capable of making decisions in matters of faith without coercion or compulsion by any larger religious or civil body

  BIBLE freedom: the individual is free to interpret the Bible for himself or herself, using the best tools of scholarship and biblical study available to the individual

  CHURCH freedom: freedom of the local church from outside interference, whether government or civilian (subject only to the law where it does not interfere with the religious teachings and practices of the church)

  RELIGIOUS freedom: the individual is free to choose whether to practice their religion, another religion, or no religion; Separation of church and state is often called the "civil corollary" of religious freedom

  • 5:10 pm
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