Origin and History

In England, among the Puritans, there was a group who thought that the avowed goal of “purifying” the Church of England was not succeeding. They separated themselves from the Church of England for the purpose of establishing congregations whose practices would be in accordance with the New Testament, as they understood it. Hence their opponents called them “Separatists.”

A leader in this Separatist movement was John Smyth, formerly a priest in the Church of England. Because of opposition, Smyth and his congregation fled to Holland. During this short exile Smyth became convinced that baptism should only be administered to adults. Whether or not his views were influenced by a group of Anabaptist heritage is uncertain.

In 1609 he baptized himself by pouring, and then baptized the other members of his congregation.

In 1611, Smyth and his group returned to England, becoming the first Baptist congregation in that country. Soon similar groups sprung up, but it was 30 years before immersion became accepted as the only proper mode of baptism. The term “Baptist” was first applied to these groups as a term of derision. But, as was so often the case with such names, it became firmly affixed to the movement.

Baptists in America

It is difficult to determine exactly when Baptist churches were first established in America. Roger Williams is generally credited with establishing the first one in what is now Providence, Rhode Island. But when Roger Williams came to this country he was identified with the Puritan “Separatists,” not with the Baptist. Because of his unorthodox views regarding separation of church and state, he was banned from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. On land obtained from the Indians he established the city of Providence. A Baptist church was founded at Providence, and Williams was certainly a member of it. But whether or not he was the one who founded it is a matter of debate among historians. However, Williams remained a member of this group only a short time. He spent the rest of his life as a “Seeker,” searching for what he considered the true church.

The first Baptist church building was built at Newport, Rhode Island, under the leadership of John Clarke. Some Baptists claim that this church was established even before the one at Providence, although there is disagreement about this. The growth of the Baptist movement in America was slow and is hidden in obscurity. But by 1707, the Baptist Churches of the central section of the colonies established the Philadelphia Association, which exerted a great influence on the further spread of the moment.

Is the Baptist Church the New Testament Church?

There are those who think there is not much difference between the New Testament church and Baptist Churches. In fact, there are those who think the Baptist Church is the church of the New Testament. But how can we determine whether or not the Baptist Church is the church of the New Testament? In answer to this we would reply that the Bible sets out the distinguishing marks of the church of the Bible. When one honestly and sincerely compares the Baptist Church to these distinguishing characteristics of the New Testament church it is easy to see that the Baptist Church cannot be the New Testament church.

The New Testament Church Preached But One Gospel

The church of the New Testament did not teach a gospel but the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is {really} not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed” (Gal 1:6-9 NAS).

As one reads the New Testament, he cannot help but be impressed with the singleness of the Gospel of Christ. There is one and only one gospel to be preached and obeyed if one would go to heaven when life is over. “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into {your} house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds” (2 John 1:9-11 NAS).

But Baptist people say, in effect, that one gospel is just as good as another. They will tell you that you do not have to obey what they preach to go to heaven. In this they are saying there is more than just the Gospel of Christ. They are telling us there are many gospels and that one is just as good as another. Therefore, we may rest assured that the Baptist Church cannot be the New Testament church since the New Testament church preached the Gospel, and the only gospel by which one can be saved.

The New Testament Church Preached God’s Plan of Salvation

Which is Different from the Plan Taught by the Baptist Church

The Bible plainly sets forth there is but one plan of salvation from God. Now there may be many plans taught and preached but there is but one plan of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus preached the great Sermon on the Mount, He set forth that there were and is only two ways man may go. There is the wide way that leads to destruction and there is the strait way that leads to life. “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 NAS). Paul and others preached the way of salvation (Acts 16:17). They did not preach a way of salvation but the way of salvation. But the Baptist church will quickly tell you that you can be saved by following teachings other than theirs. This means they believe there is more than one plan to save men and women.

The New Testament clearly presents baptism as necessary to salvation. The New Testament presents six passages that mention both baptism and salvation and in each case baptism always precedes (comes before) salvation. Consider the following passages:

Mark 16:16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” Acts 2:38 “And Peter {said} to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 22:16 “And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” Romans 6:3-4 “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Galatians 3:27 “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” 1 Peter 3:21 “And correspondence to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

We invite anyone to produce just one passage that mentions both baptism and salvation and places baptism after salvation. It cannot be done. Yet, the Baptist Church teaches one is saved before baptism. The Bible clearly teaches that faith saves. However, the question is WHEN does faith save? Faith saves when faith moves one to obey the commands of God regarding salvation. As you read through the book of Acts you will notice many cases of salvation and the Divine Record clearly mentions that in each case the people were baptized.

What is ironic about the teaching of the Baptist Church, on this very point, is the fact they say water is not in God’s plan of salvation; however, they tell us that one cannot be a Baptist without water baptism. This means that it is harder to get into the Baptist church than it is to go to heaven. It also suggests that one can be a Christian and never be a Baptist. So why be a Baptist????

The New Testament Church Worships God according to God’s Pattern

For worship to be acceptable to God, it must be according to the pattern as set forth in the New Testament: “Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father. "You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews. "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:21-24 NAS).

Man may worship God in many different ways, but if we are to please God it must be done in spirit and in truth. In spirit means it must be done from the heart. Jesus said, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me” (Matthew 15:8 NAS). In truth means it must be done according to the Bible or the Word of God. “But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:9 NAS).

The New Testament church observed the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week. Jesus commanded it to be observed (Matthew 26:26-28); the early church observed it (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11:23-29); and they partook of it on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). (Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Pliny and others tell us that the supper was eaten weekly during the second century. Erskine’s Dissertations tell us that the Greek Church continued this weekly observance until the seventh century. John Calvin and other reformers lamented the decline in the weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper as late as the sixteenth century.) The Baptist Church takes the Lord’s Supper whenever they please instead of following the Divine Pattern.

The New Testament Church worshipped God with vocal praise and did not use mechanical instruments of music. The Scriptures are crystal clear in setting the pattern for praising God. The church is told to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16); what to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16); when to sing (Heb. 2:12; James 5:13); and how to sing (1 Cor. 14:15). The church is never commanded to play, what to play, when to play or how to play.

The sounds of mechanical instruments (piano, organ, etc.) were never heard accompanying this singing, for Jesus Christ, the head of the church, never authorized any kind of mechanical instruments in worship. The best of historical scholarship agrees that singing only, was the apostolic practice. Frank Landon Humphreys in his book, Evolution of Church Music, p. 42, said, “All the music employed in the services of the early Christians was vocal.” Such comments can be duplicated many times over. In the Sistine Chapel, the principal chapel in the Vatican at Rome and the Pope’s private chapel, no instrument has ever been used. The Baptist church disregards all of the evidence and has choirs and mechanical instruments of music and are in disobedience to God.

New Testament Church Was Governed According to God’s Authority

God has given us everything we need to guide us religiously (2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). In this divine guide, the Scriptures, we learn that the church was overseen by a plurality of elders, bishops, overseers, pastors, or presbyters (Acts 14:23; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-3; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; these terms all refer to the same function in the local church). But the Baptist church has only deacons and a pastor. This practice is completely unknown in the New Testament and this makes the Baptist Church unscriptural in their government.

Baptist Churches are Governed More in Doctrine by John Calvin Than Jesus Christ

While Baptists may not hold to every doctrine espoused by John Calvin, they do hold to at least most of the basic tenets of Calvinism. John Calvin (1509 – 1564) seized upon the doctrine of original sin, as advocated by Augustine and endorsed in AD 418 by the General Council of the African Churches, and developed it into a logical system, which system is quite logical, if the doctrine of original sin be accepted. Calvin’s system of doctrine is now defined by an acrostic of the word “tulip,” as follows:

“T” stands for “Total Depravity”

“U” stands for “Unconditional Predestination”

“L” stands for “Limited Atonement”

“I” stands for “Irresistible Grace”

“P” stands for “Perseverance of the Saints.”

Calvin’s influence prevails today to one degree or another within the realm of all denominationalism. Every facet of this insidious teaching is false and contrary to God’s divine plan of salvation. We offer a tract on each one of the subjects suggested by the word “tulip” and they are free of charge to anyone requesting one or all of them.

Our Sincere Plea to Our Baptist Friends

We have both friends and relatives who are Baptists. We feel it our duty to have this frank and open study. Please study these thoughts in the same sincere spirit of love in which they are written. We are concerned only with serving the Lord Jesus Christ according to His divine word as revealed in the New Testament and we plead for everyone to do the same. We will be happy to discuss this article with anyone. If there is a reputable preacher for the Baptist Church who will defend the Baptist doctrine in an open forum or public debate we will be happy to work out the arrangements and discuss these matters.

Return To: Our Sincere Plea

Return To: Denominationalism

Return To Home Page