Sermon Tone Analysis

“Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practise these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”1

The name “Baptist,” is an opprobrium in some Christian and non-Christian circles.

Why would anyone deliberately adopt the name “Baptist?”

What you may not know is that Baptists did not choose the name they bear—it was conferred by people who stood opposed to the principles the early Baptists espoused; the name was given by people opposed to what we believe and hold dear as Baptists.

Few people who identify as Baptists today are aware of the history of the name.

More tragic still is the fact that few people claiming to be Baptist know what Baptists believe.

For too many, “Baptist” is simply a name; however, it should define a Faith.

What makes a Baptist a Baptist?

The question is central to the search for Baptist identity.

There is no individual Baptist without a Baptist congregation.

Staunch advocates of believers‟ church, Baptists must answer this question of identity together, as well as individually.

Eventually, the answer to this question will shape our churches, our affiliations, and every aspect of our work together.2

It is sadly obvious that the truths that define us as Baptists are neglected today.

Even denominational leaders and seminary instructors have permitted a dilution of Baptist theology during recent years.

This is a trend which concerns me deeply, and which should concern each of us both as Christians and as seekers of truth.

The current generation of Baptists knows little about Baptist doctrine.

Consequently, contemporary Baptists invest considerable energies searching for some solid ground on which they can base their lives and Christian discipleship.

Sadly, this statement is made regarding denominational leaders and teachers in our theological institutions.

If those supposed to provide leadership prove to be ignorant of the doctrines Baptist have championed, should we marvel that those occupying the pews of our churches know so little concerning this rich heritage?

The tragedy of this censure is that our Baptist people are joining with non-Baptist evangelicals in a virtual new evangelical ecumenism leading to a number of novel ministry ventures that are not always beneficial to spiritual health of the congregation.

Areas of commonality and agreement have been identified with many of these evangelical Christians; and while this trend has decidedly positive elements, the trend exposes neglect of the traits that have forged our unique theological identity and shaped our mission and our passion in pursuing many of these ventures.

The result of this dilution of Baptist doctrine is that we Baptists have lost the power of our convictions and too often lost even our identity as a historic people.

If we are truly identical to all the other communions, then let us cease clinging to our identity and join with whoever best fulfils the mission we were assigned.

However, if we hold distinctive truths that mark us as a people, and if those distinctive truths make us the people we admire historically, then let us return to those truths and proudly proclaim them.

Our endeavour is not to proselytise non-Baptists in order to make them Baptists; rather, it is to clearly articulate truths that may otherwise be neglected to the detriment of the world in which we live.

Our purpose is to remain true to the Word of the Living God.

With the Word of God as our authority, Baptists must relearn the basics and reclaim the richness of our doctrinal heritage.

We must rediscover a lost and neglected wisdom, and reconstruct the foundation and framework of our faith.

It is time that we were again about this task.

Though we rejoice in the stand of every believer who honours God—whatever label they bear, we must not turn aside from declaring the truths that have defined us as a people.

If we are to define what it means to be Baptist, it will be necessary that we establish the basis for every belief, the basis for every statement.

In order to do this we must agree upon a standard.

The standard for faith and practise is the Word of God; and in particular, our authority is the New Testament.

That truth needs to be explored thoroughly as we prepare ourselves for the future.

Baptists share many doctrines and practises in common with other religious bodies.

In common with Jews, we believe in one God, Creator of all things.

Many of the teachings of the Catholic Church are acceptable to Baptists.

With them, we believe in one God in three Persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We also believe in concert with those of the Roman Catholic persuasion in the incarnation, the atoning death and the glorious resurrection of Christ the Lord.

As is true of Catholics, we have high regard for the Scriptures as the written Word of God.

We do not hesitate to say that we share similar moral views with both Jews and Catholics and even with Mormons.

Nevertheless, we hold most truths in common with other evangelical denominations.

The whole body of evangelical truth belongs to all evangelical denominations.

We rejoice in the fact that the things in which we agree are more numerous and more important than the things in which we differ.

We join with other evangelical denominations in holding to precious truths such as the inspiration of Scripture, the existence of one God in three Persons, the necessity of the new birth through repentance and faith and salvation by grace and not by works.

We hold in common with other evangelical groups the deity, substitutionary death, resurrection, ascension and Second Coming of Christ Jesus our Lord.

As is true for all evangelical Christians, we hold a final judgement, with eternal blessedness for the redeemed and eternal death for the wicked.3

Throughout the whole of Christendom, there are differences in church polity, in our views of church sacraments and ordinances, the appointment of church officers and the conception of the church.

This does not begin to address the differences in the doctrines of salvation, the authority of creeds and the worth of the individual before God.

It is in these areas that Baptists have distinguished themselves and served to bring a great host of evangelical Christians into amazing agreement during the past three centuries.

Certain truths must be stated at this point.

First, BAPTISTS ARE NOT PROTESTANTS.

Protestant denominations are those that protested against the sinful abuses of the Roman Catholic Church and finally severed their relationship with that institution.

The Reformers sought to establish new religions; unfortunately, not one of the Reformers carried through on their intent, for each brought out of their mother church doctrines and practises antithetical to New Testament teaching.

Such corrupt practises include the union of church and state, infant baptism, pouring or sprinkling as the mode of baptism, and a hierarchical form of church governance.

Baptists did not come out of the Catholic Church; hence, in the strictest sense, Baptists are not to be classed as Protestants.

Baptists are evangelical, but we are not Protestant.

A second important truth is that THERE IS NO MODERN FOUNDER OF BAPTISTS.

Martin Luther is the founder of the several denominations bearing his name; and well may the various Lutheran sects be proud of Luther‟s bold stand.

We Baptists honour Martin Luther as a great Reformer and as a stalwart of the Christian Faith.

Methodism began with the ministries of John Wesley, though Wesley Himself never forsook the Anglican Communion.

Presbyterians proudly look to John Calvin as their founder.

The Anglican Church was born as result of the religious controversy arising from the matrimonial escapades of Henry VIII, as an offspring of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Disciples of Christ and the Churches of Christ all trace their beginning to the teachings of Alexander Campbell in the early part of the nineteenth century.

Campbell was excluded by conscientious Baptists who saw that he was beginning to teach doctrines that violated biblical tenets, and so he started a new denomination.

The Foursquare Church was the result of the ministry of Aimee Semple McPherson and the Vineyard Movement can point to John Wimber as the founder.

Nevertheless, there is no founder of Baptists.

A final truth that will prove helpful as we consider the challenges facing Baptists in the new century is that BAPTISTS RECOGNISE NO FOUNDER BUT CHRIST.

Although the name Baptists was not used to designate a particular group until a few centuries ago, and though it may not be possible to trace Baptist history back to the apostles without a break, it is true that Baptists are a Bible-made people, and Baptist principles and practises have prevailed among those seeking to honour God through the centuries.4

BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES — When I came to faith in Christ the Lord, I did what some may believe to be a strange thing.

After the fact, my actions seem quite reasonable, but at the time, some dear friends thought me to be quite radical.

I wrote on a sheet of paper a list of major doctrines.

To the right of each doctrine, I provided two additional columns.

One column bore the title “Proved,” and the other column was entitled “Disproved.”

I then purchased a wide-margin Bible and began to read through the Bible.

A doctrine is naught but biblical truth expressed in some convenient and concise language.

What better way to learn doctrine than through reading the Bible?

As I encountered a truth concerning a given doctrine, I would note it by underlining the relevant verses, noting the doctrine(s) involved and citing other references in the margin of my Bible.

By the time I had read the Bible through, I had gain a somewhat thorough grasp of biblical truth.

Later, I learned that I had developed a biblical theology, in contradistinction to a systematic theology.

Thus, I became a Baptist by conviction.

What is a Baptist?

A Baptist is distinguished by a set of doctrinal truths, and not through denominational affiliation.

As previously noted, we share many doctrines in common with other Christians.

Certainly, we share in common with all Christians, faith in the Triune God.

We believe, together with all Christians, that Jesus is very God and also fully man.

Likewise, we share with all true believers the conviction that Jesus died a sacrificial death, that He was buried and that He rose from the tomb on the third day.

Together with all Christians, we believe that the Risen Son of God ascended into heaven, from whence He shall return to judge the living and the dead.

We believe that faith in Him is both mandatory and sufficient for salvation.

Whilst these truths are held in common with all Christians, it is nevertheless true that certain convictions distinguish us from other believers.

Together with most evangelical believers, Baptists hold that Bible to be authoritative for faith and practise.

However, Baptists are insistent that it is the Bible alone that is the basis for our faith.

This position has been historically identified as a Baptist position.

Though we are aware of traditions, we do not elevate our traditions to the same level of authority as we do the Word of God.

Baptists are insistent that we must find biblical warrant for every practise and for each doctrine.

Those areas in which the Bible is silent are to be viewed as areas of freedom for us as a people of God.

Therefore, the first great Baptist distinctive is that the Scriptures alone are authoritative for faith and practise.

We are insistent upon the Lordship of Christ.

Consequently, it is our insistence upon His mastery which impels us to reject all baptismal modes except for that which He has given in the Word—immersion.