IV. Specific Baptist Distinctives Considered
The following portions are quoted from http://www.allaboutbaptists.com/distinctives.html:
A. INDIVIDUAL SOUL LIBERTY
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
~ 2 Corinthians 3:17
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” ~ Galations 5:1
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” ~ James 1:25
Baptists have had a long-term determination to adhere to the Biblical doctrine that they call “Individual Soul Liberty.”
Church history verifies that Christians have died for this principle. The teaching that individuals are sovereign in matters of faith is one that Baptists will not compromise.
The individual soul is answerable to Almighty God and to Him alone. This precludes giving up that independency to a pope, a priest, a system, an organization, a convention, a fellowship, an association, or any other human being. None of these are given the authority to interpose anything whatsoever between the individual believer and God concerning any matter of faith.
To demand, whether directly or indirectly, that believers submit to any kind of authoritarian rule is both unscriptural and, in fact, questionable. This generation has seen its Jim Jones’s and David Karesh’s. Whenever believers give up their individual soul liberty in favor of following the demands of another person or affiliation, they do indeed compromise this essential doctrine of the faith.
B. PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER
| “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” ~ 1 Peter 2:5 |
| Every born-again believer has direct access to the throne of God. Therefore, since every child of God shares in the priesthood of the believers, all have the same right as ordained ministers to communicate with God, interpret Scripture, and minister in Christ’s name. This is first and foremost a matter of responsibility and servanthood, not privilege and license.
Where does the Bible teach that only ordained “priests” can hear confessions and determine penence? The Baptists will tell you that no such indication exists in all of Scripture and they are right. |
According to the Scriptures, every born-again believer has access to God. This was secured by Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. We are to have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19).” Furthermore, the Holy Spirit enables our access as we “have access by one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18).”
C. BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
| The Bible is the final authority in all matters of belief and practice because the Bible is inspired by God and bears the absolute authority of God Himself. Whatever the Bible affirms, Baptists accept as true. No human opinion or decree of any church group can override the Bible. Even creeds and confessions of faith, which attempt to articulate the theology of Scripture, do not carry Scripture’s inherent authority. |
| “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” ~ 1st Thessalonians 2:13 |
