Alliance of Baptists American Baptist Association American Baptist Churches USA Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America Baptist Bible Fellowship International Baptist General Conference Baptist Missionary Association of America Baptist World Alliance Central Baptist Association Christian Unity Baptist Association Colored Primitive Baptists Conservative Baptist Association of America Continental Baptist Churches Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Evangelical Free Baptist Church Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of America General Association of BaptistsGeneral Association of General Baptists General Association of Regular Baptist Churches General Six-Principle Baptists Global Independent Baptist Fellowship Independent Baptist Fellowship International Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America Institutional Missionary Baptist Conference of America Interstate & Foreign Landmark Missionary Baptist Association Landmark Baptist Church Liberty Baptist Fellowship National Association of Free Will Baptists National Baptist Convention of America, Inc National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc National Baptist Evangelical Life and Soul Saving Assembly of the U.S.A. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America National Primitive Baptist Convention of the U.S.A. New Testament Association of Independent Baptist Churches North American Baptist Conference Old Regular Baptists Old Time Missionary Baptists Original Free Will Baptist Convention Primitive Baptists Progressive National Baptist Convention Reformed Baptists Regular Baptists Separate Baptists in Christ Seventh Day Baptist General Conference Southern Baptist Convention Southwide Baptist Fellowship Sovereign Grace Baptists United American Free Will Baptist Church United American Free Will Baptist Conference United Baptists Unregistered Baptist Fellowship World Baptist Fellowship

Baptists are a non –creedal folk who are identified by certain traits rather than by doctrinal creeds. Claiming no creed but the Bible, Baptists express their uniqueness through a series of distinctives. In this list the word BAPTISTS is used as an acrostic to discuss what defines a Christian as a Baptist.

The Bible is the final authority in all matters of belief and practice because the Bible is inspired by God and bears the absolute authority of God Himself. Whatever the Bible affirms, Baptists accept as true. No human opinion or decree of any church group can override the Bible. Even creeds and confessions of faith, which attempt to articulate the theology of Scripture, do not carry Scripture's inherent authority. 1st Thessalonians 2:13

The local church is an independent body accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church. All human authority for governing the local church resides within the local church itself. Thus the church is autonomous, or self-governing. No religious hierarchy outside the local church may dictate a church's beliefs or practices. Autonomy does not mean isolation. A Baptist church may fellowship with other churches around mutual interests and in an associational tie, but a Baptist church cannot be a "member" of any other body. Colossians 1:18

Every born-again believer has direct access to the throne of God. Therefore, since every child of God shares in the priesthood of the believers, all have the same right as ordained ministers to communicate with God, interpret Scripture, and minister in Christ's name. This is first and foremost a matter of responsibility and servanthood, not privilege and license. 1 Peter 2:5

We practice believer's baptism by immersion because it preserves the picture of saving truth. No other form pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Romans 6:1-5 We believe that the Lord's Supper is a symbolic ordinance, picturing Christ's body broken for our sins and His blood shed for our redemption. It is not a saving ordinance, but helps us remember His death, and inspires us while looking forward to His coming. It is to be observed by regenerate, obedient believers. 1 Corinthians 11:23-24

Every individual Christian has the liberty to believe, right or wrong, as his/her own conscience dictates. While we seek to persuade men to choose the right, a person must not be forced to into compliance, realizing that it is not always the larger group who holds the truth when, in fact, our heritage as Baptists has demonstrated the worth of every individual believer. Romans 14:12

Local church membership is restricted to individuals who give a believable testimony of personal faith in Christ and have publicly identified themselves with Him in believer's baptism. When the members of a local church are believers, a oneness in Christ exists, and the members can endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Acts 2:41&47

The Bible mandates only two offices in the church--pastor and deacon. The three terms--"pastor," "elder," and "bishop," or "overseer"--all refer to the same office. The two offices of pastor and deacon exist within the local church, not as a hierarchy outside or over the local church. 1st Timothy 3:1-13

God established both the church and the civil government, and He gave each its own distinct sphere of operation. The government's purposes are outlined in Romans 13:1-7 and the church's purposes in Matthew 28:19 and 20. Neither should control the other, nor should there be an alliance between the two. Christians in a free society can properly influence government toward righteousness, which is not the same as a denomination or group of churches controlling the government. Romans 13:1-3

Through thirty and more centuries, he has wandered about on earth, He has seen far-flung empires crack and crumble, and mighty peoples dwindle to naught… With their kings and priests, their tyrants and princelings, They have marched over him in vainglorious pride – only to fall and die by the roadside. But he, the Jew, still lives on… – Lewis Browne, 1926

It is almost impossible to define a “Jew.”  “Race” is not an accurate designation. 1. We think of Jews as “Semitic,” but so are Arabs. 2. Many Jews are not Semites. 3. Modern Jewry includes many races.

 Not all Jews are religious. 1. Christians are much more regular in attendance at worship than Jews. 2. Jews are more interested in obeying prescribed regulations than in theology. 3. Non-religious want to be considered Jews. 4. Judaism is the faith aspect of being a Jew.

 The Jews are not a nation. 1. Israel is a nation, but not all Jewish. 2. Nearly twice as many Jews in U.S. and five times as many world wide.  Being a Jew involves a sense of self- identity – it is anyone who considers himself a Jew.

Babylonian Persian Hellenistic Roman Byzantine Arab Crusaders Mamluk Ottoman British 587 BCE BCE BCE 63 BCE-313 CE

 We are aware of the Biblical history but less familiar with the post-biblical period.  We begin our story with the destruction Jesus warned his disciples was coming…

"Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity: It is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago. You dig the soil and you find pottery from Davidic times, coins from Bar Kokhba, and 2,000-year-old scrolls written in a script remarkably like the one that today advertises ice cream at the corner candy store." Charles Krauthammer - The Weekly Standard, May 11, 1998

 Rigid monotheism  Centrality of the Law (Torah)  Family-centered worship  Emphasis on deeds rather than creeds  Emphasis on present, not future life  Many holy days and holidays

 Orthodox  Reform  Conservative  Reconstructionist  (Kabbalahistic Judaism)

 Threat of assimilation  Threat of annihilation

 Islam means “surrender.”  Muslim or Moslem means “One who submits.”  Mohammedan implies Muslims worship Mohammed and is thus improper.

 Brought the many tribes of Arabia into one community, the Ummah.  Brought people from polytheism to monotheism.  Stopped the killing of infant daughters.  Expanded laws on marriage and divorce and provided care for widows and orphans.  Established a religion dealing with all aspects of life (legal, social, and political).

 Unity of God  Angels  Books of Allah  The Prophets of Allah  Day of Judgment/Resurrection

 Creed (recitation)  Daily Prayer  Fasting  Giving Alms  Hajj