B a p C t c I o c e t t a v B t t b C Gt ist Why Is There a Lack of Knowledge About Baptists? Why do many Baptists today lack understanding of what it means to be a Baptist? Several factors likely have contributed to this lack of knowledge: BYPU, BTU, Training Union, and Church Training held on Sunday evenings in churches (the name differed in different eras of Baptist life, but the aim of each was to “make disciples”) emphasized Baptist doctrine, practice, and history, but they no longer exist. A multitude of people have joined Baptist churches in recent years from other denominations, and others have come with little or no church background. In both cases, their knowledge of Baptist beliefs and practices is usually limited. Some Baptist churches provide little or no help for members to understand what it means to be a Baptist Christian and a Baptist church. Some persons believe that denominations are either a thing of the past or of little importance. The Growing Interest in Baptist Beliefs Such a decline in understanding of who Baptists really are, both among Baptists and nonBaptists, has ignited a renewed interest in the beliefs, practices, and heritage of our Baptist family of Christians. Baptists of the past held steadfastly to those beliefs and practices that made them a distinct denomination. They did so, not because they wanted to be distinct, but because they were convinced that they were true to God’s Word. Built upon the foundation of these beliefs are certain practices or polities that are part of the Baptist recipe: n congregational church governance under the Lordship of Christ n the autonomy of churches n voluntary cooperation for various causes Closely related to these beliefs and practices are a number of emphases which characterize most Baptists: n evangelism n missions n Christian education n ministry n social concern In order to carry these out, Baptists have organized in various ways beyond local congregations, such as associations of churches, societies, conventions, fellowships, unions, and alliances. Baptists have also established numerous institutions such as those for education, missions, and the care of children, the aged, and the ill. The common ingredient in all of these is voluntary cooperation. Baptists endeavor to base each belief, practice, emphasis, and organization on the teachings of the Bible. The desire of Baptists is to be as close to the New Testament model for an individual Christian and for a church that is humanly possible with God's help through the instruction and empowering of the Holy Spirit. ist Recipe
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