I often here about how someone says that they don’t like Baptists beliefs or denominations. They prefer to be nondenominational and free to worship God as the Bible says. I think this is awesome.
I ask then if you want to worship God as the Bible says, you believe in Biblical Authority. You believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God and that it is the final authority on all matters of faith? Yes, is the usual answer.
Then I ask, why don’t you like denominations? Well, I just don’t think that a church should answer to another church or to an ecclesiastical body. Oh, so you believe in the Autonomy of the Local Church. You think that the local church is meant to be independent, self-governing, and accountable only to Christ. Yes! Is the usual answer.
That is very interesting, then how do believers interact with God? Well, I think that God talks to each of us, and we can talk to God on our own. So then, you believe that all believers are Priests to God. I mean that every Christian has direct access to God through Jesus Christ, and that we do not need another person to stand in as an intermediary, no priest, no pastor, no pope, no elder. You don’t think that you need to confess your sins to a priest for absolution? No, I don’t, uh what did you call that? Priesthood of the believer. Yes, that is it. We are all priests. I confess to God.
So then, if you don’t believe in the confession and penance to men, then you don’t believe that sacraments or Holy Orders, established by men, are a necessity to be a member of the church? No, the only commandments Jesus gave was for us to be baptized and to remember his death in the Lord’s Supper. So then, you believe in the Two Ordinances of Christ. That is that there are two symbolic decrees given by Jesus, and they are the observance of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
So if you believe in the authority of the scripture, the autonomy of the church, and the priest of all believers, how does a person determine what scripture means and how it is applied? Well, I think that everyone has to listen to the Word and the Holy Spirit will convince your heart on what he wants you to do. So, you believe that every individual has the right to choose their faith, including the right to choose not to believe and that the Holy Spirit is responsible for conviction of the heart, not a man made agenda? Wow, that’s a lot of words, but I guess. Ok, that is called Individual Soul Liberty. You chose your faith, by reading the Word of God and listening to his Spirit. You are responsible for your own soul. Yes, I can believe what I want to.
Well, who can join the church? I think that anyone who confesses that they believe in Jesus is a member of the church. So you have to be Saved to be a member of the church? Sounds like a good place to start.
So if the church governs itself, and each person is a priest. Who does God put over the church to assist it in staying organized and focused? Who teaches the believers and takes care of them? Well that would be the job of the pastor and the deacons. So then those jobs are a part of the structure of the local church? These two offices of Pastor and Deacon are responsible for the teaching and well fair of the church members? Yes, you have to blame someone… LOL.
Well sounds good to me, but what gives the church the authority to do all of these things in this manner? Shouldn’t there be some sort of government oversite or licensing of a church to make sure they are doing what they should do, and teaching what they should teach? Oh, no, the church belongs to God. The government should stay out of church business and teachings. Oh so separation of Church and State is a good thing? Does that mean the church should also remain out of the government’s business? No, the government needs the guidance of the church. Without the teachings of the church, the government has no moral direction of what is good and just.
Well, I must say for someone who does not like organized religion or denominations, you sound very Baptist.
B – Biblical Authority
A – Autonomy of the local church
P – Priesthood of all believers
T – Two ordinances: Believer’s Baptism (by immersion) and the Lord’s Supper (Communion).
I – Individual soul liberty
S – Saved church membership
T – Two offices
S – Separation of church and state
The Way of Christ Ministries 