Originally posted by hblair
Of the ten or so conversions found in the new testament, which ones became baptists and which ones became catholics, and the ones that became baptists, how many were southern baptists? do you become a baptist when you become a christian or does that happen later?
Baptists basically believe that before Christians had true organization, they were all "Baptists", although the term was not used back then. The Welsh Baptists record a visit from Paul in about 64 AD and also record men who were taken prisoner to Rome during the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, who returned to preach the gospel. Baptists, therefore, also claim a direct link to the teachings of the Apostles.
The first organized churches to call themselves by that name appeared in the early 1600s after fleeing from England to Amsterdam, running from the separatists. They wanted to 'reconstitute', and not just reform the church. Most were British, influenced and led by John Smyth and Thomas Helwys. When they returned to England, they were differentiated by their unique name "Baptists", so called because of their style of immersion. Baptists heavily influenced those setting out to colonize the Americas, and were very influential in the forming of America in the 17th century. They have been here ever since.
They believe strongly that the Bible is the first and last word in all things. That even though it was written by men, they were divinely inspired and the scripture is always right. They believe in "individual priesthood", meaning that each individual can recieve the blessing of forgivness of sin directly from God through Jesus, and that the intercession of Priests was done away with. They also believe the only "institutions" left by Christ for us to carry on were Baptism of believers and Communion (rememberance of the Lord's Supper).
Southern Baptists are members of the Southern Baptist Convention, mostly in southern states (hence the name).
If you like, you can read the Baptist Faith and Message (on the SBC website). About halfway down the page you will find the views on Baptism, and just about anything else you would like to know about Baptists. I myself was raised Southern Baptist, and although many of my views have undergone changes as I grow older, I still hold with enough of their beliefs that I still consider myself Baptist.
Here is the link:
http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.aspI'm not saying they have it all right, and I dont endorse the Baptist version of the Christian faith over any other denomination. My own life experience has lead me to the belief that most of the requirements you find in organized Religion are made from the rules of men, and that God's requirements are much simpler. I'm simply offering you the link as a peek into the world of Baptists.
I'd also like to include this. This statement pretty much sums up what it means in simple terms to be Baptist, rather that any other form of Christianity (as a frame of reference, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister, although his studies and his faith took him in other directions as well).
What makes us different from the others can be easily discussed by considering the Baptist Distinctives. These 'distinctives' are those beliefs and practices that establish the unique character of the New Testament faith, setting it apart as 'distinct' from any and all other faiths or systems of belief of religious thought.
These distinctives are easily remembered using the acrostic BRAPSISS... and here is a breakdown for us to better understand:
1. Bible, the only rule of faith and practice.
2. Regenerate, immersed church membership.
3. Autonomy and independence of the Local Church
4. Priesthood of the believer
5. Soul Liberty.
6. Immersion of believers and the Lord's Supper... the only two ordinances.
7. Separation of Church and State
8. Separation, ethical and ecclesiastical.
These distinctives in faith and practice have set those who have become known as Baptists (and their forefathers) as being distinct from all other forms of religion, including Catholics and Protestants. Our Baptist forefathers have held to the above noted distinctives since the time of Christ creating an unbroken "trail of Truth" from that day till this one.
