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LESSON 1 – An introduction to the Baptist Distinctives – the doctrines that separate Baptists from other types of churches.

This can be modified for any age group, however this was intended for pre-teens (10-12 age rage). There are seven letters here and the easiest way to teach this would be in 7 weeks covering a letter per week. It can be adapted to go a little longer than that and can be shortened to fit within a few weeks if required. This curriculum will be set up so that it will cover an 8 week period.

All scriptures will be from the King James Verson by conviction.

Note: Some churches that call themselves Baptist may not aligned 100% with these doctrines, however Baptist historically – though they may have been called by other names – did hold to these doctrines.

BAPTIST Acrostic

Biblical Authority

Autonomy of the Local Church

Priesthood of the Believer

Two Ordinances – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Individual Soul Liberty and Accountability

Separation of Church and State

Two Offices In a Church – Bishop and Deacon

B is for Biblical Authority. Baptist have long believed that the Bible is the only rule for faith and practice and that those who claim to follow Christ should view the Bible as the basis for all authority. Throughout the centuries Baptist have held that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, it has been preserved by the supernatural power of God, and that it is inerrant – that is without error – because the God who gave us the Bible is without error and completely perfect in every way.

A is for Autonomy of the Local New Testament Church. Historically, Baptists have never been part of a comity outside of their own member walls. While all core beliefs of the Baptist doctrines must align to be true Baptists, the nuances of each autonomous body of believers are to be determined by those who are committed and brought in as members in that particular church – not other churches around them.

P is for Priesthood of the Believer. A priest is someone who speaks to God for a man or woman. The Bible clearly teaches that “…there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” I Timothy 2:5. Because Jesus is God, and because Jesus is the only mediator between men and God, we do not need a man (other than Christ) to be our priest. The Bible also says that he has made us priests Rev 1:6. Baptist hold that every saved soul can come boldly to the throne of grace being made a priest toward God.

T is for Two Ordinances – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These two things Christ has given us a specific directive to do these. An Ordinance is something that God wants us to do after we have been born again and not before. These ordinances are only symbolic to help us follow God and they are not required for salvation.

I is for Individual Soul Liberty and Accountability. This means that each soul – man, woman, and child (after reaching the age of accountability) – is responsible for their own sin, and all of their choices. Also, we have (what is known as) free agency. This means that we are directly accountable to God and that we must determine what he wants us to do. He did not make us robots that must praise his name or worship him, we must freely choose to do so. The Bible says that Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess – this shows that every person will give and account of their own actions.

S is for Separation of Church and State. Baptists have been the object of much persecution by Roman Catholic, pagans, and protistans alike. Because of these, and because of the believe of Individual Soul Liberty – along with many other biblical reasons, Baptists hold that a secular state should not be in control (in anyway) of the church, nor should one sect of Christianity (even if that sect were Baptist) control and mandate the laws and morality of the subjects of a state (AKA a nation). the Church should influence through their morals and biblical teaching, but when the state decides to merge with the church it always ends in a bloody act of martyrdom.

T is for Two Offices In a Church – Bishop and Deacon. The Bible only records two offices in the church. A bishop – also called an Elder or a pastor – and a Deacon – which are both ministers or servants. The members of a church are brothers and sisters, and none is higher than another although there is a certain amount of authority and honor given to these two offices and there are requirements for the MEN who hold these offices.

This is an overview of some of the things that distinguish Baptists from other churches. It is not necessary to be a Baptist to be saved, however if one is following the Bible to determine how to live it should bring them to the same doctrines as listed above. It is sad to note that today, many Baptist churches are no longer holding to many of the things that make them distinct and are following the ways of the world. A possible reason for this is because they no longer stand on the accuracy and inerrancy of the Word of God. The Bible makes us Baptist.

There is a push in most modern “churches” today to say that doctrines don’t really matter all that much. Most ecumenical, new evangelical, charismatic type churches (that have infiltrated nearly every church in the world through their music, books, and other media) usually teach that there are essential doctrines and non-essential doctrines. They preach inclusivity by stressing the “essentials” and overlooking great differences in non-essentials. Many churches have an extremely weak doctrinal statement that has their list of essentials. These usually say that they believe Jesus is “the son of God.” They may even say that he is co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit. They almost never expressly say that Jesus is God. They usually express a belief that the Bible was written by men under the inspiration of God/ the Holy spirit and that it is without error. However, they never state which version of the Bible they believe is without error and if you really wanted to know the truth, they don’t believe the statement they just wrote. They use fancy words that they define in order to ease their conscience enough to agree to what is written down. Most of them believe that the Bible is without Error in the original autographs (basically the Leaf or animal skin that the biblical author actually wrote on). There are exactly zero of these known today; not even in our museums or libraries. This means that they don’t have an absolute authority and so they have to be the ultimate judge of what is right and wrong.

These people do not necessarily know that they are false teachers (although it is doubtful all of them don’t) but are merely deceived by Satan. It is not our intent here to tear down any individual (in particular) only to teach the true doctrine of the Bible and point out the false teachings of men.

Doctrines mater. This new age push is not new at all. Paul tells us that false teachers were already abounding in his day. Peter gives us a similar warning. Christ himself warns us and tells us that not everyone that calls him Lord will enter into the kingdom of God. As Baptists, we believe that Christ and church should be exclusive and the church body should promote unity in body, in doctrine, in worship,

1 Timothy 4-6 King James Version

4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

³ Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

2 Peter 2 King James Version

2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Matthew 7:21-23 King James Version

²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

God wants us to know truth from the lie. He wants us to be holy people. That means that we need to be separate and different. It is true that some doctrines are not as “essential” as some other doctrines, but God wants us to be people concerned with truth. While a person can be saved by the “essential” doctrines of salvation, they can also suffer great consequences by not understanding the “un-essential” doctrine of temperance. It is true that a man can be saved and drink alcohol; it is also true that a man can ruin his life, destroy his family, be a stumbling block to people that would come to Christ, be chastened by God, and lose all kinds of heavenly rewards all in the name of (so called) Christian liberty.

Doctrines are important. If they are biblical, they should direct every aspect of our lives.

S.T.
Acts 20:24
"But none of these things move me..."