What is a Baptist?
Baptists began in England in the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation, then later in the United States as Roger Williams left Puritan Massachusetts to settle Rhode Island as a colony devoted to religious freedom. Baptists are Christians who seek to worship freely as followers of Jesus Christ according to their own consciences as they are informed by the Word and Spirit of God. Baptists emerged as a people who desired to establish their lives upon the Scriptures, and not be governed by church hierarchy or creed. Nor would they allow their consciences to be determined by the state. Though as humans we are subject to just laws governing society, such laws are not to determine religious belief, so Baptists separated from the “established church” to form churches independent of their authority. This brought them enormous persecution in both old England, and New England, but the freedoms they secured have now been enshrined in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. Rhode Island Baptists stand within a proud heritage and we seek to preserve that heritage even as we look to the future with great hope and purpose. Our distinctive Baptist beliefs also include:
The Lordship of Jesus Christ: We have been called to be disciples of Jesus, the Son of God, who died for our sins and has been raised from death to reign as King of kings, who alone is our ultimate authority in all matters of faith and life.
The centrality of the Scriptures: We view the Bible as a living word of God and our most trusted testimony concerning Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are foundational to our belief and may be read freely and understood by all believers as they are enlightened by the Holy Spirit.
Regenerate Church Membership: Membership is open to all who confess Jesus Christ to be their Lord, have accepted his grace in forgiveness of sin, and have been reborn by the Holy Spirit.
Believer’s Baptism: This rite is reserved for those who have come freely to Jesus Christ, confessed their faith in him and are now ready to devote their lives to him as his disciples. We practice total immersion as a sign of our death to sin and rising to new life in Jesus Christ.
The Priesthood of all Believers: As brothers and sisters in Christ we are each empowered by the Holy Spirit with gifts for ministry, and are called to pray and minister alongside one another as fellow disciples of Jesus Christ. We recognize no church hierarchy but labor alongside one another as equals in the sight of Christ.
Separation of Church and State: Having suffered persecution from church-governed states, Baptists now defend the right of all to worship as their consciences so dictate, calling upon governments everywhere to honor the freedom of its citizenry to enjoy faith, or not, in a manner of their choice.
The Autonomy of the Local Church: Each Baptist church is called to govern itself according to its best understanding of the Scriptures and their unique call in Christ. Each church calls its own minister, establishes its own governance structures, and pursues its own mission as they are led by the Lord.
Association with other churches: Baptists, while independent, also join with other Baptist churches, and enter into ecumenical relationships as they see fit in order to support one another and sustain mission endeavors too large for any one church to manage on its own.
Called to Missions: Baptists were pioneers in global efforts to extend the Gospel into as many lands as humanly possible in response to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations. Since our earliest days we have felt compelled to “go into all the world,” beginning close to home, then moving further and further abroad in order to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
