The Baptist tradition constitutes one of the largest branches of Protestant Christianity. Baptist churches have existed since the 17th century and are currently found worldwide. The denomination’s global presence and influence lead many people to wonder what the tradition believes. Baptists affirm Believer’s Baptism, i.e., it’s for professing Christians. They support the autonomy or independence…
The Baptist tradition and Mormonism are two distinct belief systems with deep-rooted histories and unique practices. While both have emerged from the broader landscape of spiritual beliefs, they have carved out individual identities. This article offers a comparative overview, shedding light on their similarities and differences, and enhancing our understanding of their respective places in…
Baptist and evangelical churches are numerous in America, and the influence of each tradition has also spread to different continents and countries. As a result, many people have heard the terms “Baptist” and “evangelical” and may even have such a church nearby. Yet sometimes, the similarities and differences between the traditions aren’t readily apparent, so…
The Baptist denomination and the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel are two Christian traditions that have flourished in America and grown in influence worldwide. Each tradition has a storied history and a bright future. Yet many people know that Christian traditions can have unique features. This reality makes many people wonder about the difference…
The Bible has always been central to the Baptist tradition. Baptists believe that Scripture is God’s Word to people in which He reveals Himself, including His nature, His will, and His love for people. Yet there are many English Bible translations today, so which ones do Baptists use? Most Baptists use the New International Version…
The Baptist tradition is one of the largest branches of Christianity in America and around the world. Historically, some Protestant denominations have prohibited their members from activities like dancing, drinking alcohol, and gambling. These facts have led many people to wonder if Baptists are allowed to dance. Baptists have the freedom to dance, though, in…
From wedding celebrations to warnings about drunkenness, alcohol is a subject that readers encounter throughout the Bible. Historically, Christian denominations and traditions have offered their members instruction and wisdom on the consumption of alcohol, weighing the freedom each believer has and the serious dangers of intoxication. Baptist churches have traditionally warned their members about the…
Christians believe that God created the institution of marriage. Yet given the numerous branches of the Christian faith, like Roman Catholicism and the Baptist tradition, it can be challenging to know how a particular denomination or church views various issues like marriage. A Baptist can marry a Catholic without jeopardizing their denominational or church membership….
The denominations and churches that comprise the Baptist tradition are devoted to biblical teaching and the health of the Christian church. The Bible’s teaching about the Holy Spirit is important to Baptists. The Baptist tradition teaches that the Holy Spirit is God and a co-equal member of the Trinity along with the Father and the…
The Baptist tradition and Roman Catholicism are two of the most prominent historical branches of the Christian faith. While the beliefs and practices of each church and its members have noteworthy similarities, they have significant differences, too. Unlike Roman Catholicism, the Baptist Church doesn’t recognize the authority of the pope, it affirms the authority of…
Baptist beliefs about death and the afterlife are an important part of the tradition’s theology. Doctrines related to the human body and the nature of life in heaven are deeply rooted in the Bible’s teachings, which Baptists have historically zealously followed. In light of this, do Baptists think cremation is acceptable for corpses? The Baptist…
The Baptist tradition, like other branches of the Christian faith, has a variety of expressions. The different names of denominations and churches within the tradition reflect this. Understanding various church names can be enlightening for those inside and outside the Baptist tradition. The difference between First Baptist and Second Baptist churches isn’t theological but chronological….
The person and work of Jesus Christ are central to all Christian denominations and churches, and the Baptist tradition is no different. Who is Jesus of Nazareth? Is he a mere man who said and did extraordinary things, or does he have a divine identity that exists alongside his humanity? Baptists believe that Jesus of…
Predestination is an important theological topic to many Christians because it informs their understanding of God’s sovereignty, people’s salvation, and the Church’s mission in the world. What exactly is the extent of God’s involvement in determining the eternal destiny of individuals? In the Baptist tradition, there are denominations, churches, and individuals that rigorously defended the…
Angels are important to Christianity because they play a key role in many Bible stories as purposefully created messengers of God. From Genesis to Revelation, Bible readers learn about how God used angels and how people experienced them and even interacted with them. Baptists believe that angels exist. Baptist denominations and churches have historically acknowledged…
Baptism is important to every branch of the Christian faith, and as the title of their tradition suggests, it is central to Baptist beliefs and practices. It is significant because Jesus was baptized (Matt. 3:13-17) and told people to baptize others (Matt. 28:18-20). But is it necessary for salvation? Baptists don’t believe baptism is necessary…
Baptist churches comprise a large part of Protestant Christianity, especially in the United States. Within the Baptist tradition, there are various denominations and churches, each of which has different names. One common name is “First Baptist,” but what does it mean? The name “First Baptist” means that a church was the first one in the…
Baptist denominations and churches, which date to the 17th century, comprise one of the largest branches of Christianity in the Western world. While Christian churches in Baptist networks and associations have many similarities, they have differences, too. The Southern Baptist Convention is a type of Baptist church, yet it has distinct aspects when compared to…
The origin of human beings is an important topic in Baptist denominations and churches, just as it is in other branches of the Christian faith. Did God create human beings immediately and purposefully, or are people the product of Darwinian evolutionary processes? Baptist denominations and churches have traditionally affirmed God’s immediate and purposeful creation of…
The veneration of saints is an important practice in certain branches of the Christian tradition, like Catholicism. To some churchgoers, regularly engaging with faithful men and women who lived in previous centuries is as common as Bible reading and praying to God. Yet not all Christians revere the saints as Catholicism does. Baptists don’t venerate…
Baptists denominations and churches comprise one of the largest branches of Protestant Christianity, and their leaders and members are passionate about theology. Original sin is controversial in the twenty-first century, so many people wonder what Baptists believe about it. Baptists denominations and churches believe in the doctrine of original sin. It’s their conviction that the…
A crucifix is one of the most recognizable images in the Christian faith. For those who embrace using a crucifix, it symbolizes the death of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sin. However, other Christians avoid using the crucifix because they believe that the Bible instructs believers not to use such objects. Baptists don’t…
The Baptist denomination is one of the largest Protestant denominations in America and the world. Given that it has millions of members, Baptist churches host thousands of weddings every year. Baptist pastors commonly officiate weddings, but what about deacons? Baptist deacons can marry a couple when certain conditions are met. First, the church must recognize…
The doctrine of mortal sin is a central belief in Roman Catholic theology. It concerns sins that are deemed especially serious and has eternal consequences for baptized members of the Catholic church. Baptists also believe that sin is serious, but do they believe in mortal sin? Baptists don’t believe in mortal sin, as the Catholic…
Methodists and Baptists have much in common with Protestant Christian denominations, but they also have important differences. One of these differences involves the practice of communion, also called the Lord’s Supper. Because of this, many people wonder if Methodists can take communion at a Baptist church. Methodists can take communion at a Baptist church if…
The doctrine of the Trinity has always been central to Christianity. The Baptist tradition is one of the largest branches of the Christian faith in the world today. A lot of people want to know what Baptists believe about the Trinity. Baptists believe in the Trinity. This means they believe that there is one God…
Baptism is an important event in Christianity. Christians take baptism seriously because the New Testament — and even Jesus Christ himself — instructs people to be baptized and to baptize others. Yet Christians have different views on baptism, including Baptists. Baptists conduct “believer’s baptism,” as opposed to “infant baptism,” because they believe that only people…
Godparents have been part of certain Christian traditions for centuries, playing an important role in churches and families. To some parents, deciding who will be their child’s godparent is as important as what name to give them. But can anyone be a godparent? Can Baptists be godparents? A Baptist church member would be allowed to…
Salvation is one of the most important beliefs in Baptist theology. It is as foundational to Baptist convictions as doctrines like the Trinity and the inspiration of the Bible. But what exactly do Baptists believe about salvation that makes it so important? Baptists believe salvation is based on God’s grace, through people’s faith, and in…