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 Scriptures'
inherent authority.
2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20,21
AUTONOMY OF THE
LOCAL CHURCH
The local church is an independent body accountable
to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the
church. All human authority for governing the local church resides
within the local church itself.
Thus the church is autonomous, or self-governing. No religious
heirarchy outside the local church
may dictate a church's beliefs or practices. Autonomy does not
mean isolation. A Baptist church
may fellowship with other churches around mutual interests and
in associational tie, but a Baptist
church cannot be a "member" of any other body.
Colossians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5,19,23
PRIESTHOOD OF THE
BELIEVER
"Priest" is defined as "one
authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially
as a
mediating agent between humans and God." Every believer today
is a priest of God and may
enter into His presence in prayer directly through our Great High
Priest, Jesus Christ. No other
mediator is needed between God and people. As priests, we can
study God's Word, pray for
others, and offer spiritual worship to God. We all have equal
access to God -- whether we are
a preacher or not.
1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 5:9,10
TWO ORDINANCES
The local church should practice two ordinances:
(1)baptism of believers by immersion in water,
identifying the individual with Christ in His death, burial and
resurrection, (2) the Lord's Supper,
or communion commemorating His death for our sins.
Matthew 28:19,20; 1 Corinthians 11;23-32
INDIVIDUAL SOUL
LIBERTY
Every individual whether a believer or an unbeliever,
has the liberty to choose what he believes is
right in the religious realm. No one should be forced to assent
to any belief against his will.
Baptists have always opposed religious persecution. However, this
liberty does not exempt one
from responsibility to the Word of God or from accountability
to God Himself.
Romans 14:5,12; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Titus 1:9
SAVED, BAPTIZED
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
Local Church membership is restricted to individuals
who give a testimony of personal faith in
Christ and have publicly identified themselves with Him in believer's
baptism. When the members
of a local church are believers, a oneness in Christ exists, and
the members can endeavor to
keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians
4:3
TWO OFFICES IN
THE CHURCH
The Bible mandates only two offices in the church
- pastor and deacon. The three terms -
"pastor," "elder," and "bishop"
or "overseer" - all refer to the same office. The two
offices of
pastor and deacon exist within the local church.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH
AND STATE
God established
both the church and the civil government. He gave each its own
distinct sphere
of operation. The government's purposes are outlined in Romans
13:1-7 and the church's
purposes in Matthew 28:19 and 20. Neither should control the other,
nor should there be an
alliance between the two. Christians in a free society can properly
influence government toward
righteousness, which is not the same as a denomination or group
of churches controlling the
government.
Matthew 22:15-22; Acts 15:17-29
