The Baptist Way: Distinctives of a Baptist Church

by R. Stanton Norman

But Baptists do argue that our consistent and absolute adherence to biblical authority is different from non-Baptist Christians.

Really?

Baptists insist that our consistent and exclusive adherence to the Scriptures for matters of faith and practice distinguishes us from other Christians. Baptists further

Its one tbing to say we adhere to biblical authority. Its another to say we are the only ones that do.

These Baptists made this assertion because they believed that no other Christian denomination was as consistent or as committed in their appeal to and application of the teachings of the Bible for ecclesiastical practice as the Baptists were.

Hang on-- are you giving baptists credit for sola scriptura? You just said we got that from the Reformed tradition. Now you are saying we are the only ones tbat believe it?

“Any interposition of ecclesiastical machinery...is a manifest impertinence...and always a usurpation and a wrong.”

SOunds like a credentials committee to me.

This process appears to have had the desired effect because 2 Corinthians 2:4-8 indicates that the apostle had to remind the congregation to forgive and comfort the repentant man and to restore him back into the fellowship.

Eisegesis-- nothing in text says it is the same man.

Finally, the pastor is to lead in the exercise of church discipline (Gal. 6:1), but not to the exclusion of the entire body when warranted (Matt. 18; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Cor. 2).145

I agree with all of these. However the way it is written leads you to think of one pastor per church. I don’t think there is anything biblical about this.

If public recognition and affirmation of church officers were absent, then the congregation would not know from week to week who would fulfill or perform the duties associated with these ministries. Several people could show up on any given Sunday ready to give the sermon.

Isnt this whaf paul dacribes in 1 cor 14? Why would that be a bad thing? That is Quakerism.

at which point he was instructed, “If you believe with all your heart you may” (Acts 8:37).

Not in all translations

Baptists

This whole section is based on circular reason. Your thesis is thar the bible only teaches credobaptism, so any biblical support for paedobaptism is dismised on the grounds that the Bible only teches credobaptism. For an alternate view, see "The Case for Paedobaptism" on TGC.

of sin

Peter doesnt say "of sin." This is more circular reasoning.

“If you believe with all your heart you may” (Acts 8:37).

Again, not in the most reliable translations. We sbould at least be homest about what the text does and does not satg.

To practice another mode for the ordinance of baptism would be to disobey the Bible's teachings on the manner and destroy the meaning of the rite.

True. However, because baptism does not save, you cannot say, as you did ealier, that there is no such thing as an unbaptized beiever. The elderly, the shy, the hydrophobic , and those with physical limitation may allbe unbaptized believers. ANd millions of.christians are unimmersed believers. The baptist distinctive is that we make it a requirements for membership.

Because of the strong temperance convictions in Baptist life, most Baptist churches use unfermented grape juice for the cup.

I get it. However. Jesus used wine. If we insist on immersion because that was hbow it was done in nt, then we have to admit that a lot of this comes down to personal preference.

Soul competency addresses matters of conscience, while the priesthood of all believers is primarily a matter of mission and service.

This os extremely helpful!