baptist principles

The Baptist author Justo Anderson, in the first volume of his monumental work on the history of Baptists, systematizes seven fundamental principles of Baptists (Anderson: 1987, p., 37ss). Those are a kind of description of what could be called a "Baptist theology" and that I allow myself to systematize, expand and explain from my theological perspective. So:

The Christological Principle: The Lordship of Christ

The Biblical Principle: The New Testament Authority

The Ecclesiastical Principle: A Regenerated Membership

The Sociological Principle: A Democratic Order

The Spiritual Principle: Religious Freedom

The Political Principle: The Separation between Church and State

The Missionary Principle: Evangelization and Missions

The Christological Principle: The Lordship of Christ

It is the fundamental principle, on which all others revolve. The historical background and especially the biblical ones, indicate the lordship of Christ as the fundamental doctrine. In fact, in the motto of the CBE it is: "Jesus Christ Only Foundation", thus indicating what is prescribed in Scripture (Cf., Phil. 2:11, and 1 Cor. 3:11). This statement is the first creed of the apostolic and New Testament church: "Jesus Christ is Lord."

It is said that the future of the Baptist denomination will depend on fidelity to this principle. Assuming this dogma of faith means opposing all kinds of totalitarianism. This declaration of the lordship of Christ implies absolute subjection and submission of the believer as of the church. If Christ is the Lord - as he is - then we are only slaves who owe full obedience. Well, if Christ is not Lord, then it is nothing (Cf., Jn. 9: 1ss; Rom. 10: 9-10; Phil. 2: 1-11; Rev. 1: 1ss).

The Biblical Principle: The New Testament Authority

It is not falling into the bibliolatry. Baptists seek to conform to the model of the NT church, understanding that there are cultural, historical and even administrative differences. They consider the NT more as a historical, normative and divine source; and not an ecclesiastical manual. The NT is the definitive "tradition" of Baptists. Baptists are based on the NT, interpreted under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The AT is important but should always be interpreted from the NT., Never the other way around.

In summary: this principle is Baptist, because it was primarily apostolic. That is why Baptists are considered "biblical" because they cling to the NT as the only standard of faith and practice. This principle is more valid today than ever, due to the theological and doctrinal subjectivism that prevails in the Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal and evangelical world, inclusive.

The Ecclesiastical Principle: A Regenerated Membership

This constitutes the cardinal principle and starting point of the Baptists around ecclesiology. Baptists believe that the Christian church is the fellowship of all believers in Christ, that is, a spiritual community, whose concrete expression in the world is a local church and whose purpose is the understanding of the Kingdom of God. Baptists to accept new members will insist on two aspects before admission: 1. Evidence of a genuine and personal conversion; and, 2. That the believer be baptized biblically and correctly.

According to Baptists, the New Testament baptism requires at least four things: 1. Be a believer (right candidate); 2. By immersion (correct mode); 3. Baptism as a symbol (correct meaning); 4. Authorized minister (correct administrator). We believe that baptism is the dramatic representation of regeneration (Cf., Rom. 6: 4). That is why Baptists believe that their baptismal practice is biblically correct, psychologically true, intellectually free, and symbolically rich (Anderson: 1987, p., 61).

In sum, Baptists believe that the New Testament baptism symbolizes: the personal purification of sin, the reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit and the mystical union with Christ in his redemptive deeds. Baptism is the symbol of the new birth, and therefore it is celebrated only once.

The Sociological Principle: A Democratic Order


The person who accepts the lordship of Jesus Christ cannot have any other sociological principle that is not to consider others as equals before Jesus; and consequently, will fight for the elimination of all kinds of barriers, social, religious, political, racial, etc. This principle emanates from another great and colossal thought of the Baptists, which was also a war cry in the Reformation: The universal priesthood of believers. That means that the believer is regenerated by grace once and for all, and through faith. He has free access to God through the only Mediator (priest) that is Jesus. And he assumes his priestly responsibility for caring in front of others.

Democracy and autonomy, distinctive Baptist words; they mean neither individual anarchy nor social independence; but they mean an effort to free access between God and man, between the Holy Spirit and the congregation.

Before Jesus Christ all men are equal. An elite cannot exist in a Baptist congregation. That is why Baptists fight for democracy in every possible order and context; in order to submit better to an absolute monarchy: that of Jesus and his blessed eternal Kingdom. The priesthood of the believer and the autonomy of the local congregation presuppose a deep sense of responsibility before God.


The Spiritual Principle: Religious Freedom


Religious tolerance is not the same as religious freedom. According to Baptists, religious freedom is: "The freedom given by God, to believe (conscience) to worship (worship) and to propagate (press, radio, etc.) faith without government coercion or clerical interference" (Anderson: 1987, p., 72). Furthermore, I strongly believe that religious freedom must also be marked by equality in terms of rights and privileges. Otherwise, open or underground favoritism would show tolerance, not freedom; which in this context is synonymous with equality.

In summary: religious freedom is of worship, conscience, and proclamation of what we believe. We believe that religious freedom is rooted in the nature of man: he was made free even before God. That freedom is exercised in the context of the social order and must be governed and motivated by Christian love. That freedom involves the acceptance of the responsibility of Christian discipleship; and that implies that the exercise of freedom demands faith and sacrifice; humility and fidelity; intelligence and zeal (Anderson: 1987, p., 77).

And finally, that freedom must be exercised - and is only such - under the direction of the Holy Spirit of God. This principle forces us to remain contestants (negative aspect according to the reading of others), but also to be proactive, because we must positively demonstrate our discipline and adaptability in society.


The Political Principle: The Separation between Church and State


This principle is the corollary of the previous one, and was born from the biblical interpretation of politics. The biblical foundation for such and radical separation can be used in the following points:

The lordship of Christ, Mt. 28:18

The nature of the kingdom of Christ, Jn. 18:36

The sinful state of man, Rom. 3:23

The priesthood of the believer, Eph. 2: 5-10

The spiritual character of the church of Christ, Mt. 16:18

The double citizenship of the believer, Mt. 22.21: Fil. 3:20

In practical terms, the absolute and definitive separation between the church and the State implies aspects such as:

It must occur in the public and legal context

The churches exist on a voluntary basis

Non-existence of ecclesiastical taxes

There will be no "official" religious instruction in public schools

Pursue the welfare of churches within the state.


The Missionary Principle: Evangelization and Missions


If the mind of the Baptists is in biblical theology and in the NT, their heart is in the missions. The entire Bible is the story of God's missionary work. The fundamental stone in terms of the biblical basis, are two texts referring to the so-called Great Commission (otherwise it will remain the Great Omission): Mt. 28: 18-20, which implies the "doing" of the mission (teleological dimension ), "Make disciples"; and Hch. 1: 8, which implies the "being" (ontological dimension) of the mission, "being witnesses of Jesus." But to this another fundamental action is added: that of "telling" the gospel to every creature, in a context of preaching (kerygmatic dimension; Cf., Mr. 16:15).

The mere presence of the church in the world implies mission, because it exists and was sown in history for it. Baptists have thousands of missionaries in the world and a whole superstructure of mission agencies, offerings and logistic support institutions.

How do the Baptists do the missions? For with the inquiring mind of the Holy Scriptures; with a passionate heart for the lost; with broken knees in intercessory prayer; with generous pockets they offer; and finally, with feet that walk towards the unreached (Cf., Is. 52: 7).