Sermon Summary
July 6, 2025
In the early 1500s, a German farmer named Fritz Erbe was imprisoned in a dungeon for refusing to baptize his infant son. He believed baptism should follow personal faith, and for that conviction, he spent 16 years in isolation—never once wavering. His courage reminds us that biblical convictions are worth suffering for, even in the darkest places.
In today’s church landscape, many congregations are dropping denominational labels in favor of trendier names—“Mosaic,” “The Table,” or “Anchor Church.” While these can be creative and appealing, at Millington Baptist Church, we’ve chosen to keep “Baptist” in our name. Why? Because it tells a story. It carries theological convictions. And it helps define the blueprint for how we do church—not based on convenience or culture, but grounded in Scripture.
Just as every building needs a blueprint, so every church should follow one too. Ours is drawn from the Bible and expressed through what are known as the Baptist Distinctives. These convictions aren’t about pride in a label—they’re about our understanding of how Christ calls us to live and function as His people. To explore these, let’s walk through the acronym B.A.P.T.I.S.T.S.
B – Biblical Authority
Baptists are first and foremost “Bible people.” The Bible, not tradition, hierarchy, or current trends, is our final authority. Paul exhorted Timothy to “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching, and to teaching” (1 Tim 4:13). That’s why the preaching of the Word is central in our worship services.
Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher of the 1800s, once stood nearly alone against theological liberalism in what was called the “Downgrade Controversy.” His stance? That any “advance” beyond Scripture was actually a downgrade into compromise. That legacy reminds us that we don’t edit God’s Word—we uphold it, whatever the cost.
A – Autonomous Congregationalism
Unlike denominations with bishops or presbyteries, Baptists believe that the local congregation is the final earthly authority under Christ. We see this in Matthew 16 and 18 where Jesus gives the “keys of the kingdom” to the gathered church, not to a pope or denominational leader.
In Baptist churches, the members—not just pastors—are responsible for safeguarding doctrine, disciplining members, and discerning truth. This is why members vote on things like the calling of a pastor or major budget items. It’s not bureaucracy—it’s stewardship.
P – Priesthood of All Believers
Every Christian is a priest with direct access to God through Jesus Christ (1 Tim 2:5). That means you don’t need a mediator in a collar to confess sins or pray for you. In Baptist theology, every member is a minister.
This belief shapes our emphasis on church membership—not as a formality, but as a covenant commitment. Just as a body part is vitally connected to the rest of the body, so church members are meant to be deeply joined to one another, loving, serving, and building up the church together.
T – Two Ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Jesus gave the church two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Unlike sacraments in other traditions, we don’t believe these ordinances confer saving grace—but they are powerful signs of the gospel.
Baptism, by immersion, follows personal faith and publicly identifies a believer with Christ’s death and resurrection. The Lord’s Supper unites the church in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and recommits us to Him and to one another.
These ordinances turn individual Christians into a visible, covenantal church.
I – Individual Soul Freedom
Baptists believe every individual is personally accountable to God. Faith cannot be coerced or inherited. Romans 14 teaches that each one “will give an account of himself to God.”
This is why Baptists have long championed religious liberty—even for people we disagree with. We don’t ask the government to enforce Christianity. We don’t use the state to silence other faiths. The gospel does not advance through coercion but through proclamation and persuasion.
S – Saved Church Membership (Jer 31:31-33)
Church membership isn’t for everyone—it’s for believers. The Baptist church is meant to be a community of the regenerate, not just the religious.
That’s why we practice believer’s baptism and require a credible profession of faith before someone can join the church. In contrast to traditions that include unconverted infants or nominal Christians, Baptists emphasize that the church is for those who know and follow Christ.
This conviction shapes how we disciple, how we protect the gospel, and how we carry out church discipline. A church is not just a gathering—it’s a committed family of faith.
T – Two Offices: Elders and Deacons (1 Tim 3)
The New Testament outlines only two offices in the church: elders and deacons (1 Tim 3, Phil 1:1). Elders lead and teach; deacons serve and support. We do not have bishops, cardinals, or a clerical hierarchy.
Leadership in a Baptist church is not about power—it’s about equipping the saints and protecting the flock. It’s servant leadership modeled after Christ.
S – Separation of Church and State
Jesus said, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). Baptists believe the church and the state have separate God-given roles.
We’re not anti-government. We pay taxes, we vote, and we serve our communities. But we don’t look to politics to do the work of the Spirit. The church must remain a prophetic voice—not a political pawn.
This legacy goes back to early Baptist leaders like Roger Williams, who argued for religious liberty and founded the First Baptist Church in America. He believed the state should never control the conscience—and he was right.
Why It Matters
These distinctives shape how we gather, how we govern, and how we grow. They are not just historical preferences—they are biblical convictions.
Are other denominations wrong? Not necessarily. In fact, many share elements of this blueprint. But the Baptist tradition uniquely pulls them all together into one coherent ecclesiology. That’s why we keep the name—and more importantly, the convictions.
We’re Baptists not just because of history, but because of fidelity to Scripture.
And like Fritz Erbe, a simple farmer imprisoned for refusing to baptize his infant son, we believe convictions matter. Truth matters. Even when it’s costly.
May we be found faithful in upholding these truths—not to preserve a label, but to exalt the Lord of the church, Jesus Christ.
