What is a Baptist Church?
What does the Baptist logo mean?
The circle represents the all encompassing love of God and the world for which Jesus died. The empty cross points to the Lord Jesus Christ who died and was raised back to life. The open Bible indicates that Baptist are people of the Bible which is the Word of God.
Baptists were part of the Reformation which held to the three essential truths of:
Christ alone, Scripture alone, Faith alone
Baptist churches are not the only evangelical churches around. The word 'baptist' however identifies us with other churches that hold a particular set of beliefs about church. These beliefs include:
B believer’s baptism by immersion
A autonomy of the local church
P priesthood of all believers
T the congregation participates in church government
I individual liberty of conscience
S separation of church and state
T the Lord’s Table
Our key characteristics are expanded below:
Believer's baptism by immersion.
We believe that the Bible makes it clear that baptism is an expression of repentance and faith in Christ Jesus. Baptism is about people choosing to believe in the Lord Jesus. In baptism believers receive God’s grace, it is not a work on their part. We follow the New Testament practice of immersion, believing that it best portrays the symbolism and intended meaning of baptism.
Autonomy of the local church.
Each Baptist church manages its own affairs but is in relationship with other Baptist churches.
Priesthood of all believers.
A priest is someone who has access to God and helps others to have access to God. We hold firm to the Biblical and Reformation emphasis that all Christians are priests to serve our God and therefore need no special priest or intermediary except Jesus Christ.
The congregational government.
This is not democracy. The Biblical pattern is that elders lead and teach the Bible, deacons serve in ministry and the congregation participates.
Individual liberty of conscience.
Each person, relying upon the Holy Spirit, is able to read God’s Word and understand it themselves. We have unity in the essential beliefs of the gospel, but in some areas we have the liberty to understand God’s Word according to the Bible, the Holy Spirit and the best of our minds. We do not divide fellowship over minor areas of disagreement.
Separation of Church and state.
We believe the state (government) should not prohibit the purpose of the church. This does not mean that the church will not follow Jesus' example and speak out on issues of morality, justice and contemporary concerns.
The Lord's Table.
We proclaim the gospel until Jesus comes again.
