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Understanding Baptist Distinctives
Part Six:
After a delay of considerable time (Due to a heavy travel schedule and a the Christmas Holiday) I will attempt to present the final three of the Baptist Distinctives in this one article.
Separation of Church and State
The sixth of the eight Baptist distinctives is the separation of church and state. The historic position of separation of church and state is far different that what is common thinking on this subject today. By separation of church and state, I mean keeping the state out of the affairs of the church not the other way around as is perceived today.
Civil governments, rulers
and magistrates are to be respected, and in all temporal matters, not contrary
to conscience and the word of God, to be obeyed; but they have no jurisdiction
in spiritual concerns, and have no right of dictation to, of control over, or of
interference with, matters of religion; but are bound to protect all good
citizens in the peaceable enjoyment of their religious rights and privileges.
No organic union of Church and State should be tolerated, but entire separation
maintained: the Church should neither ask for, nor accept of, support from civil
authority, since to do so would imply the right of civil dictation and control.
The support of religion belongs to those who profess it.
We believe the Scriptures teach that civil government is of divine appointment,
for the interest and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be
prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to
the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and
the Prince of the kings of the earth. But that civil rulers have no rights of
control over, or of interference with, religious matters.
Quoted from The New Directory for Baptist Churches, Written by: Edward T. Hiscox
(1859)
Notice An
Interesting Comparison
Amendment I (Constitution of the United States of
America)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article 52 (Constitution of the United Soviet
Socialist Republic)
(1) Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed freedom of conscience,
that is, the right to profess or not to profess any religion, and to conduct
religious worship or atheistic propaganda. Incitement of hostility or hatred on
religious grounds is prohibited.
(2) In the USSR, the church is separated from the state, and the school from the
church.
The previous Article 52 of Communist Russia's Constitution records the way that
our own courts and legislators in America are interpreting our own constitution.
There is to be a separation church and state, but not the way that the
Communists dictate or the way that is now believed to be the original intent of
our own constitution. True separation is found declared in the Scriptures.
Qualifying Statements:
* The state (government) should not run the church nor dictate its
policies.
* This is not saying that the church should not obey the laws of the state (as
long as they do not violate clear Biblical teaching). These laws should be
obeyed as good citizens of that country.
* The church (as an organized body) should not run the state.
* This is not saying that the church should not be a spiritual and moral
influence in the affairs of the state. It must be in order to direct the
conscience of man toward God.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD... Psalm 33:12
Matthew 22:21... There is a distinction made by the Lord between human
government and spiritual matters. Webster defines separate as to set or keep
apart, to make a distinction between
John 18:36... The government of Jesus Christ is not yet established. (Luke
12:13,14; Psalm 72:11)
Acts 5:29... God is the higher authority (Matthew 10:28; Acts 4:18,19)
Romans 13:1-7... The Christian should maintain proper respect for human
government. (Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13-17)
I Timothy 2:1-4... We are to pray for our government and leadership.
Matthew 5:13,14... We are to be salt and light in our generation.
Good Citizenship Goes Hand In Hand With Christianity.
TWO ORDINANCES - BAPTISM & THE LORD'S SUPPER:
The seventh of the eight Baptist
distinctives is that we as Baptists hold to the fact that there are two
ordnances given to the local church, Being Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
As To Baptism:
We believe that baptism is the immersion, dipping, or burying a
candidate in water, on a profession of his faith in Christ, and that such is the
only form of baptism taught in the New Testament, or practiced by the Apostles
and first Christians. Consequently the form is essential to the ordinance, and
nothing but immersion can be scriptural baptism. Therefore sprinkling, pouring,
and whatever other use of water may be resorted to, are not baptism at all, but
substitutes for it. On the contrary, Pedobaptists hold that sprinkling and
pouring are equally valid baptism with immersion, and because more convenient,
are to be preferred.
Proper Subjects For Baptism:
Baptists assert that the only proper subjects for baptism are
regenerated persons; those who have exercised and professed a saving faith in
Christ, and are living orderly Christian lives.
On the contrary, some hold and teach that unregenerated persons may be baptized
as a means of grace; while all Pedobaptists claim that unconscious infants,
unregenerate and incapable of faith, should receive baptism on the faith of
parents, or sponsors. All of which Baptists declare to be plainly contrary to
the Word of God and the economy of grace.
Quoted from The New Directory for Baptist Churches, Written by: Edward T
Hiscox (1859)
Command of Christ for Baptism:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, BAPTIZING them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:19,20
The responsibility of carrying out this commission has been placed upon the
local church. It is from there that the gospel is declared, baptism is
administered, and the believer is taught the Word of God.
Example of Believer's Baptism:
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture,
and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a
certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to
be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou
mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the
water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come
up out of the water... Acts 8:35-39
Design of Baptism:
As an ordinance, it is a type (sign, symbol, outward illustration) of
what has taken place inwardly in the individual. It shows the death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus Christ; who died for our sins and rose again for our
justification. The person being baptized is publicly professing, (by the act of
baptism) his faith in the merits of Christ's death as the ground of his own hope
and salvation, fellowship with his sufferings, and a declaration of his own
death to sin, and a rising to walk in newness of life in Christ. He is
identifying himself with Christ publicly before man.
Method of Baptism:
The only scriptural way to be baptized is by IMMERSION. The Greek word "baptizo"
which is used in the New Testament is defined as to make whelmed (fully wet), an
immersion in water - to dip.
The proper method of baptism can be described by three words: IMMERSION: to
plunge into something that surrounds or covers; esp; to plunge or dip into a
fluid
Regarding the Lord’s Supper:
The traditional Baptist position is that the elements to be used are unleavened bread and grape juice. The participants are to be those that are saved and right with God. As for how often this is to be done, there is no Biblical command on this. My personal preference is that it would be practiced not so often so that it becomes routine but not so infrequent that we forget about it
And Finally:
SAVED, BAPTIZED & SERVING MEMBERS:
Subjects for Church Membership
What class of persons should be admitted as members to the
fellowship of Christian churches? Baptists say the godly persons, baptized on a
profession of faith, are the only proper and suitable persons. That all others
should be denied admission, and if already within the Church should be cast out.
Consequently, to receive unconverted persons, whether infants or adults,
destroys the spiritual character of the body, and forms an unholy alliance with
the world, instead of maintaining a broad and distinctive separation between
them.
Quoted from The New Directory for Baptist Churches, Written
by: Edward T Hiscox (1859)
Conditions of Membership
1. A regenerate heart
2. A confession of faith
3. The reception of baptism
4. A Christian life
Saved:
There is an importance that must be placed upon the necessity for a
regenerate membership. II Corinthians 6:14-18; Amos 3:3
It should be noted that historic Baptists believe that salvation is a one time
experience that can not be repeated (nor does it need to be). If a person is
truly saved, they are saved for all eternity. John 3:16; 10:27-30; Romans
8:29-39
Baptized:
This shows the public identification with Christ and his Church. A
refusal to follow the Lord in believer's baptism is to show either an
unregenerate heart or a rebellious one. Neither will constitute a proper church
member. Acts 2:41-47
Serving:
There is a divinely appointed place in the church for the redeemed.
Baptists do not believe in the clergy / laity concept or the idea that the work
(ministry) of the church is to only carried out by an elite few. They believe
that God has work for all and he places us in the body to fulfill our individual
responsibilities. Specific spiritual gifts are given by God to each believer
that they may be able to do that which the Lord has appointed for them. Everyone
has a work to do. I Corinthians 12:1-31; Romans 12:3-8