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What are the doctrinal differences between the Southern Baptist and Free Will Baptist churches?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
A very good question for a beginning denominational lesson.
I can answer this based on my area and the books and lessons I have learned. In
each region in America there are likely slight curves or differences even in the same denomination. However the Southern Baptist are the largest and most active of all the baptists. This is not to say that the FWB don't do lots of Godly work, they do. (I'm a Freewill myself.) Furthermore the SB churches are more consolidated than the FWB church is.
You can find more differences among FWB than you can the Southern Baptists, laymen and clergy alike. In my area of eastern US including KY, VA, OH and IN there are FWB churches that are affiliated with an association. (A group of FWB united in doctrine and bylaws that cover a larger area.) The largest FWB association by far is the National FWB association and they stress tithing just as the Southern baptists do. The John-Thomas association has ministers who don't believe The Bible commands the church to tithe 10 percent, but "to give cheerfully according to your ability of your money and time. God is mainly concerned with your desire to serve Him, not your ability to put 10 percent in the plate." ( I'm telling you the differences, you read and make your own decision.) Furthermore, the FWB churches are louder in their worship and less predictable in the order of things. You will see Freewill worship in a style more like a Pentecostal church except they don't practice speaking in unknown tongues or "being slain in the spirit." In some areas you may find a FWB Pentecostal or and independent church that calls themselves FWB but practice unknown tongues or being "slain in spirit".
The FWB in my area are all part of either the John-Thomas or the National Association and do not practice these relatively new ideas of Pentecost. Nevertheless the FWB do believe in shouting, running, crying, and praising God by lifting up holy hands. Most of this happens during the singing. When the preaching comes you see a more quiet, attentive ear. Although some preaching gets folks stirred up and you may hear clapping, shouting and praising but generally we do not interrupt the preaching unless guided that way by the preacher himself. Ex: "Get up church and praise Him! Let folks know you are not ashamed." Or something like that. Other services are quieter and more like a teaching service than a worship. FWB believe that saved men can willingly turn their back on God's grace and walk no more with God and be condemned to Hell if they remain that way at death. We believe that a saved person can tempt God by sinning continually to the point of apostasy and thus never be able to return to His grace.
All other Baptist including SB believe in eternal security and once you have been saved you can never fall away back into sin. (I never could understand this because all men are liable to sin and fall into sin even after salvation. God can and is willing to deliver us if we call on him. However some folks go deeper into sin after fervently serving God, but "If a righteous man turn from his righteousness to do wickedly, all the righteousness he hath done will not be remembered. HE WILL DIE IN HIS SIN" look that up. Ezekiel 3:20-21
The Southern Baptist, Regular Baptist and Primitive Baptist put less stress on baptism of water than the FWB. However all agree that the water doesn't have any ability or power to save or wash away sin. Only the Blood of Christ and our faith in that can do that.
SB services will generally include contemporary singing and the whole congregation quietly paying attention. the deacon will come by for the offering and then the preacher will preach his sermon that he has prepared. FWB generally don't prepare a drawn out sermon but preach as they have studied the bible and as they feel led of the Holy Spirit. But I have heard our minister preach a sermon and use the same general message again at another FWB church or after a while use it again. But from memory, not notes.
These are some differences. I love God's people no matter what denomination as long as they live and teach and preach the Holy Bible not some new thing. The old is sufficient. God Bless u.
The main doctrinal differences belong in two major categories. The first has to do with basic theology. Free Will Baptists are Arminian, Southern Baptists tend toward Calvinism. The main point is that Free Will Baptists believe that a person who has accepted Jesus as their Savior can, willfully and knowingly, divorce themselves from faith in Jesus Christ. This condition is known as apostasy. The person who has willingly entered into apostasy, a renunciation of faith in Christ, is forever lost and cannot be renewed again to faith. Southern Baptists, in general, do not believe that a true believer in Christ will, or sometimes can, renounce their faith in Christ.
Secondly, in the area of church ordinances, Free Will Baptists believe in three ordinances; Believer's Baptism, Lord's Supper, and Washing the Saints' Feet. Southern Baptist only believe in two ordinances; Believer's Baptism and Lord's Supper.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThere is no such thing as THE Southern Baptist Church. All SBC churches are independent churches. The are nearly all controlled by the local members. The real question is your personal relationship with God and his son Jesus Christ. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and have an eternal relationship with God. Yes, the above answer is true, each SBC church isautonomous, however, the Southern Baptist Convention does uphold a set of beliefs as supported by the Bible. The largest differences are that Southern Baptist churches do not believe in speaking in tongues, the loss of one's salvation, and women serving as pastors. All of the beliefs upheld by the Southern Baptist Convention are laid out clearly on its website, as well as listed with Bible references which support the stands taken by the SBC. I agree with the previous answerer that ultimately your personal relationship with Jesus Christ is what counts. Just know that if you are saved and you are genuine in this decision, you can never lose your salvation. EVER (See Romans 8:38-39).
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Wiki User
∙ 15y agoOne major difference is that the Mennonites are a 'peace' church discouraging members from military service. The Southern Baptists support the military.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoBaptist churches baptize older children and adults who have made a commitment to Christ. United Methodist churches Baptize infants and Confirm those who have made a commitment to Christ.
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Beliefs of First Baptist churches?
1st Baptist churches are not a separate denomination they are the first Baptist church that was established in a certain town or city. Most 1st Baptist churches are southern Baptist (although outside of the south this is not always true). As Southern Baptist churches most 1st Baptist church believe in the basic tenants of the Southern Baptist Convention as laid out in the Baptist Faith and Message.
Are there Southern Baptist Churches in Ireland?
There are many Baptist churches in Ireland. Check the link below for more information.
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No, he's Churches of Christ.
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many many many!
Why did foot washing decline in the southern baptist churches?
they have become too proud!
What is the difference in southern baptist and independent?
Southern Baptist is a denomination or organization of Baptists while Independent Baptist is a category of Baptist. Baptist churches are autonymous. By this, each baptist church is self-governing. In this sense all Baptist Churches are "independent." However, many Baptist churches choose to associate together in denominational groups. Southern Baptist Convention would be one such "denomination." Other Baptist churches may affiliate with other Baptist churches on some level but still call themselves "Independent." Other Baptist churches have no real affiliation and would also, understandably, call themselves as "Independent." While Independent Baptists, statistically speaking, may tend to be more theologically conservative than the average Baptist church, the actual beliefs of any Baptist church is really the decision of the individual church, so there is a limit to what extent one can know a Baptist Church by its label.
Is a Baptist church in the south a Southern Baptist church?
A Southern Baptist Church is part of the Southern Baptist Convention and hold to certain conservative beliefs although each church is fundamentally autonomous. There is a Southern Baptist Church actually in Northport, Washington 7 miles from the Canadian border so, location is not the only thing that determines Southern Baptist. Actually, not only is location "not" the only thing, it isn't a factor at all. If a church is officially a member of the SBC, it is a Southern Baptist Church, no matter where it is located. There are Southern Baptist churches in many parts of the country and the world.
Why are you a Baptist?
I am a Baptist because I need to be rooted and grounded in the Word of God, and I believe that the best way to interpret the Bible is to take it literally. However, I am a Independent fundamental Baptist, so I may not believe the same as Southern Baptists, though I am in the South. I am a Baptist also because I believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He is the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament prophecies. I am a Baptist because I feel that Baptist churches, Southern Baptist churches specifically, stand strong by the truth of the Bible. The Bible is God's Word and if we don't follow it, then aren't we acting like we don't believe it? We can't pick and choose what parts of the Bible we want to follow. I haven't found yet a doctrinal statement in Southern Baptist beliefs that is not supported by the Bible.
What are the top southern baptist churches in US?
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Continental Baptist Churches was created in 1983.
When was Brotherhood of Baptist Churches created?
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What is the difference in General Baptist and Southern Baptist?
Southern Baptist Churches are members of the Southern Baptist Convention, which is not quite a denomination, because it does not truly govern the individual churches. Baptists in general hold to, among other things, "autonomy" of the local church, but through the system of seminaries, Sunday School Board, and other services, the SBC is very influential. It is an association, the largest among Baptists, through which churches pool resources both for missions and outreach, and for services back to the individual churches. There are of course any number of Baptist associations of various sizes and purposes, but none quite as extensively developed as the SBC. The original national Baptist association formed in 1814 was called the "General Missionary Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States of America for Foreign Missions". The SBC was formed in 1845 in part over the usually regional differences in perspectives within this association regarding slavery. At the same time the Baptist churches up North remained somewhat loosely joined until 1907, when the Northern Baptist Convention was formed. This name ultimately was changed in 1950 to the American Baptist Convention & in 1972 to American Baptist Churches, USA. During the 1930's and '40's, controversy among the Northern Baptists over adherence to Biblical beliefs spawned the general Association of Regular Baptist Churches and the Conservative Baptist Association, which continue to exist today. These are the major Baptist organizations, yet smaller groups exist & Independent Baptist churches, who often fellowship & associate together, such as the Bible Baptist Fellowship See "Related Links" below for further pertinent information:
