Convictional, Confessional, Cheerful Baptists

by Nate Akin

In an age where we are tempted to either be angry, weak, or arrogant; Convictional, Confessional, Cheerful Baptists argues about the importance of holding to Baptist Confessions and distinctives strongly and with a cheerful disposition. In this book, author Nate Akin, a passionate Baptist, delves into Baptist beliefs and how we can hold them well through the lenses of 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. Rooted in his own personal upbringing as a Baptist and theological studies, Akin articulates the importance of holding to Baptist doctrine through the categories of confession, conviction, courage, compassion, and cheerfulness.



The book begins detailing the author's own journey to embrace these Baptist convictions while also sharing his concern that many who hold strongly to convictions often do so, it seems, without humility or joy. Akin shares in the preface:



The first occasion for much of this book was a sermon at the annual Pillar Network Unite Conference. I called the sermon, "Convictional, Confessional, Courageous, Compassionate, Cheerful, and Corinthians Baptists." That sermon was borne out of a burden not only to hold strongly to what we believe but to do so in a distinctly Christian way. I want us Baptists to really be Baptists! I want us to have strong convictions but to hold to them joyfully and not like jerks. And yet, when I say "us," I know I'm really preaching to myself. I recognize my own temptations and faults. I know the secrets of my heart and how I often want to respond to others with whom I disagree.



In Part 1, "What We Hold Dear and Why," the focus is on being convictional and confessional from 1 Corinthians 16:13a. Chapters 2 and 3 examine Baptist Confessions and how they have been understood and used throughout Baptist history. However, the book emphasizes that it is not enough to be confessional; one must also be convictional about the doctrines lined out in the confessions. So, the author turns his attention to the sort of doctrines that have distinguished Baptists throughout their history. In chapters 4-9, the doctrines of regenerate church membership, believer's baptism by immersion, locally autonomous elder-led congregationalism, and liberty of conscience are explored. In each chapter, the author highlights key texts, theologians, excerpts from confessions, and practical implications of each Baptist distinctive for identity and mission. Akin concludes this section by highlighting that Baptists seek to be doctrinally aligned for an evangelistic purpose.



Part 2 is entitled "How Can We Hold These Convictions Well." In this part, Akin emphasizes the need for courage and compassion in the present hour. In seeking to make the point about being confessional, convictional, courageous and cheerful, Akin considers two case studies pertaining to current pressing issues. Akin takes a look at Christian Nationalism and complementarianism and how the confessions help us in navigating these hot topics.



The book concludes by considering how the gospel can make us convictional and cheerful because we are reminded that we are forgiven.

Genres: Theology, Ecclesiology

124 pages, Hardcover

Published June 10, 2024

Reviews

[Jon Pentecost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear concise summary of Baptist distinctives, grounded in 1 Corinthians. Akin shows an awareness of confessional history and a confidence in kind, cheerful, strongly-held convictions as good for the kingdom and good for local churches.

Useful for a thoughtful person wanting to understand what biblically based convictions makes Baptists Baptists.

[Caleb Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

(13) Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. (14) Let all that you do be done in love. - 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

This book successfully shows that confessions are vital to biblical fidelity and missional cooperation. Overall, just super helpful in thinking of ways to defend confessionalism and be strong in convictions, all while being loving. Our future as Baptists should be like our past. That is, convictional, confessional, courageous, compassionate, and cheerful. We can only be watchful, stand firm, act like men, and be strong, while letting all we do be done in love because Christ was for us. We have nothing that we have not received. We drink from the wells that we did not dig. Let us hold the things we do in such a way that testifies to how we came to know them in the first place, by grace.

Also, let us be more convictional about church membership and a strong commitment to congregationalism. Too many churches and Baptists take this too lightly which has led to many of the problems we now experience.

[Jake Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a nice intro to the subject of Baptist confessions and distinctives. I appreciate Akin seeking to show we are to be confessional and convictional in a way that is cheerful. The book is suited well for a local church discipleship setting to introduce church members to this subject.

I do wish the book had a recommended resources page at the end.

Pick this up!

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. The discussion of the distinctive and the second case study are great. Not super in depth but enough to make me excited to talk about what a Baptist believes. The case study on Christian Nationalism was not about CN at all but about how people talk about it. I was super excited about a Baptist response to CN and was super disappointed. It was good content about how we talk about things online and all that…but I wanted the CN analysis.

[Dan Messick · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Star rating system for Good.
5 everyone should read.
4 recommend to some.
3 select interest.
2 research only.
1 burn all copies.
This is definitely a (2)research book, for some it will provide value but most it will be more confusion than clarity. The language is not that of a normal spoken language.
It took me just over 2 hours at 125 minutes.
Granted I only fact checked the occasional verses as who is, the author is someone who is more intellectual and well versed but that is also his boundary. He speaks at such a lofty level it is hard to follow and grasp his points.
I know many people will hate this review, but this book is not for the masses and if the masses tried they would be more frustrated and fuel the divide.

I think it is valuable to know what you believe but being able to articulate in a simpler way makes it more attainable to get a point across.

I agree with much of the book, just not the delivery.

One key take aways is the church should invest time in making members feel special and not just an attender. What makes your members of your church stand out from the occasional visitor?
I have mixed feelings on speed of baptism, which I also think the author to state both sides well.

Another great point is you can’t be autonomous and part of a group. You have to have similar beliefs and share them to be in a group. Autonomous may run strong shortly but ultimately it will disappear into oblivion.

If you made it this far and you enjoy lofty words and want to see the evolution of some of the faith and message of the SBC then grab this book, but if you rather have a more applicable understanding invest this time in read 1 Corinthians, Acts, and Matthew as that is where much of this is pulled from.

[Tanner Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like how I used to write essays in college - with way too many quotes to fill space. I’m not sure Nate completed the task at hand incredibly well - but I did agree with everything, and I mean that in a good way.

I would call this book semi-solid and pretty helpful to give to someone who is unfamiliar with Baptist distinctives.

[Nathaniel Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Akin has helpfully provided us with a brief primer that offers a positive vision of Baptist confessionalism. It will be rather introductory for many readers, but for this reason, it serves as a good discipleship tool to teach baptist distinctives to church members.

[Alan Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conviction, Confessional, Cheerful Baptists is a helpful book that argues clearly for doctrinal faithfulness and a gracious representation. It is concise and introductory on many issues. I recommend this as a great discipleship tool or a good read to remind oneself.

[Kyle Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate Akin's approach in this overview of Baptist distinctives, along with his pastoral tone throughout. This would be a solid resource to hand out to church members in Baptist churches, and for every Baptist pastor to have handy for ecclesiological reference.

[Will Standridge, II · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope to be a convictional, confessional, cheerful Baptist.

[Nate Jacques · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, very solid. I appreciate the message and the way in which it is delivered. It doesn’t feel wooden, but also not particularly natural either.

[Landon Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm thankful to be part of the Pillar Network, and thankful for Nate's leadership in the Pillar Network. This book describes well what it means to be a Baptist - convictional and cheerful.

[Jaxon Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5🌟

you can see my full review on fable