Could you explain about Baptists?

[Agapeton]

Hi,
I've put myself down as being baptist because thats the church I'm attending at the moment. But I don't really know a lot about the Baptists.

I know they practise adult baptism, and that (the people I'm with) are keen on ecumenical things (we borrow the local catholic church a lot) but aside from that, I don't really know.

I'm technically Church of England - how do they differ? The services I've been to seem to operate on a Quaker model (sitting quietly, singing/speaking if led to) - is that normal?

So really, what do baptists believe?

[BBAS 64]

Hi,
I've put myself down as being baptist because thats the church I'm attending at the moment. But I don't really know a lot about the Baptists.

I know they practise adult baptism, and that (the people I'm with) are keen on ecumenical things (we borrow the local catholic church a lot) but aside from that, I don't really know.

I'm technically Church of England - how do they differ? The services I've been to seem to operate on a Quaker model (sitting quietly, singing/speaking if led to) - is that normal?

So really, what do baptists believe?

Good Day, Agapeton

Have you discussed this with the church you are attending....?

Do they have a confession of Faith, or a statement of belief?

You might wish to read the 1689 Baptist confession.

http://www.1689.com/Confession/confession.html

In Him,

Bill

[daveleau]

A major difference is the form of worship. Whereas Anglicans are primarily liturgical, Baptists have less elaboration in our services.

Another major difference is that most Baptists do not consider baptism and the Lord's Supper/Communion as sacraments. Sacraments are thought by some to convey God's grace upon those who observe the sacraments. Baptists believe these both should be observed, but that they serve a different function. Baptists call these ordinance (as they were ordained by Jesus), but that they do not in themselves convey any grace or favor from God. Instead, baptism is seen as a testimony of the conversion of the new saint, and a foreshadow of their repentance. Only the saved are baptized. As for the Lord's Supper/Communion, it too conveys no grace, but is "done in remembrance" of Jesus. Both testify to the congregation the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

These are probably the only cut-and-dry differences. There are a myriad of different types of Baptists. So, it depends a lot on what your church or church convention believes and teaches.

As BBAS 64 said, speaking with someone in your congregation (deacon, elder or pastor) might be the best way to flesh out the differences.

While both may have varied ways of worship, both Anglicans and Baptists follow Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord, making us related despite our differences.

[TexasSky]

Baptists churches are indepedent protestant churches. This means, every church sets its own rules, ergo, it is hard to say what Baptists believe collectively when you get down to details.

Generally speaking though. Baptists believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They believe that salvation is a personal commitment to Christ, made individually, that cannot be made for you by someone else. They believe in baptism by submerssion.

While some denominations teach that baptism is actually a necessity in salvation, and therefore people who dedicate their hearts to Christ but for some reason die before being baptised are not saved, Baptists believe that salvation comes the moment you dedicate your heart to Christ and that the water baptism is an act of profession of faith, and an act of obedience for those who are already saved.

My brother-in-law is an Anglican. We have found that on most core beliefs we agree.

His church, though, is ruled by the diocese which moves around his local priest, tells the church how to conduct various things, and basically dictates to the local church.

Baptists are ruled by their own congregations.

Anglicans are much closer to Catholics, and the style of their worship is very much like the Catholic church.

This makes sense given the history of the anglican church and its close ties to the Catholics.