Baptist Distinctives is a name usually given to a list of doctrinal titles that have traditionally described what Baptists as a whole believe. The Baptist Distinctives usually include:

• Biblical Authority
• Autonomy of the Local Church
• Priesthood of All Believers
• Two Ordinances (Believer's Baptism and the Lord's Supper)
• Individual Soul Liberty
• Saved Church Membership
• Two Officers (Pastor and Deacons)
• Separation of Church and State

To aid in recall, these distinctives are often arranged as shown above to spell the acronym "Baptists."

Baptists who continue to hold the foundational beliefs of Christianity define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Baptists are not unified on doctrines related to the end times, although the premillennial position has become a major force among Baptists who continue to hold to the foundational beliefs of Christianity.

Each of the eight distinctives will be examined individually:

Biblical authority

Baptists through the centuries have insisted that the Bible is the sole ultimate written authority for Christian faith and practice. They have resisted those who claimed otherwise, including popes, kings, bishops, pastors and teachers. Both religious and secular powers have persecuted Baptists for this commitment to the authority of the Bible. The Bible is foundational for Baptist doctrine and church polity.

Baptist statements of belief through the centuries have always cited Scriptures for each belief set forth. It is on the authority of the Bible that Baptists base beliefs in matters such as salvation by grace through faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, soul competency, believer's baptism, the symbolic nature of baptism and the Lord's Supper, a church membership only of those who have been born again, congregational church governance, the autonomy of churches, religious freedom, and voluntary cooperation for missions and ministry.

Baptists declare that all people should have the freedom to possess, read and interpret the Bible for themselves. Based on the life and teachings of Jesus, Baptists insist that faith cannot be coerced and no one should try to do so. Neither should a particular interpretation of the Bible be forced on another. Yet, when Baptists differ on certain doctrines or practices, they use the Bible as the authority for their position, not some other source. Therefore, although Baptists may disagree about what the Bible teaches about certain doctrines and practices, they agree that the Bible is our sole ultimate written authority for faith and practice.

Autonomy of Baptist churches

The word "autonomous" comes from two Greek words that mean "self" and "law." Autonomous means self-governing or self-directing. Thus, an autonomous church governs itself without any outside human direction or control. The exception to complete autonomy is that Baptist churches recognize the control and authority of Jesus as Lord.

Autonomy means that each Baptist church, among other things, selects its pastoral leadership, determines its worship form, decides financial matters and directs other church-related affairs without outside control or supervision. Baptist denominational organizations such as associations of churches and state and national conventions have no authority over a Baptist church. For any one of these organizations to attempt to exercise control over an individual church is to violate a basic Baptist conviction about polity. Being autonomous, a Baptist church recognizes no governmental control over faith and religious practice.

Baptists also have rejected the practice of some denominations for denominational authorities to hand down to local congregations what to believe and how to worship. Baptists have insisted that there is no human authority over a Baptist churches, and that only Jesus is Lord of a church.

Although challenges are associated with church autonomy, it is a basic biblical concept that is a vital part of Baptist identity.

Priesthood of all believers

Baptists insist that all who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior are priests, believer priests. The concept of the priesthood of believers is basic for Baptists. As with some other beliefs important to Baptists, there are varying interpretations of what the concept means, but all Baptists treasure the biblical truth of the priesthood of believers.

In the Old Testament, priests were responsible for certain aspects of worship, and served as mediators between the people and God. The High Priest, the head priest, was the only one allowed to enter the Holy of Holies in the Jewish temple. This especially sacred place was separated from the rest of the temple and from the other priests and worshipers by a great curtain or veil.

With the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, all of this changed, according to this doctrine. No longer was the sacrifice of animals appropriate, because Christ as the Lamb of God had given himself as a sacrifice for sin. It is seen as a once-and-for-all act.

At the resurrection of Jesus, the great veil in the temple "was torn in two from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:51), indicating that Jesus, the great High Priest, now mediated between God and humankind. No longer were priests of the Old Testament variety needed. Indeed, all who believe in Jesus become priests with direct access to God. Human mediators are no longer needed. Every believer in Christ can go directly to God in prayer, confession, praise and worship.

The term "the priesthood of the believer" communicates the biblical emphasis on the individual and soul competency. The term "priesthood of believers" communicates the biblical emphasis on community and fellowship.

Two ordinances (Believer's Baptism and the Lord's Supper)

Baptist beliefs about baptism and the Lord's Supper differ from those of many other denominations. These differences are some of the ingredients in the distinctive Baptist recipe of beliefs and practices.

Baptists usually use the term "ordinances" rather than "sacraments" when referring to baptism and the Lord's Supper. Even if "sacraments" is used, it is never intended to imply that either of these two is necessary for a person to be saved.

Baptists consistently declare that baptism and the Lord's Supper are symbols and are not necessary for salvation. Because baptism and the Lord's Supper are symbolic, the use of the proper symbols is important. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus that has made salvation possible. Baptism also symbolizes that a person through faith in Christ has passed from death to life and that this person has identified with Christ's death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12).

Baptists maintain that only the total immersion of a person in water adequately symbolizes this death, burial and resurrection.

Likewise, using the correct elements in the Lord's Supper with a biblical understanding of them is important to Baptists. Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper at his last meal with his disciples as part of the Jewish Passover (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-20). According to the New Testament, unleavened bread and "the fruit of the vine" were part of the meal. Jesus indicated that the bread was symbolic of his body and "the cup" was symbolic of his blood. Baptists believe the unleavened bread symbolizes the purity of Christ, for he was without sin (Hebrews 4:15) and thus his body was an unblemished sacrifice for our sins. The juice from crushed grapes symbolizes the blood that Christ shed for us.

In partaking of the bread and the cup, Christ's disciples are to remember his sacrifice on the cross of Calvary as he gave his body and shed his blood for our sins. Baptists believe the Bible teaches that the elements used in the Supper are not literally the body and blood of Christ. They are seen as symbols of his body and blood. In eating the bread and drinking from the cup, a person does not actually partake of Christ's flesh and blood. Rather, it is an opportunity to obey a command of Christ and to recall his sacrifice for us, his presence with us and his certain return (1_Corinthians 11:24-28).

Individual Soul Liberty

Various terms have been used for this concept, such as soul freedom, freedom of conscience and soul competency. It refers to the God-given freedom and ability of persons to know and respond to God's will. Baptists believe that God gives people competency - that is ability - to make choices.

Baptists emphasize that this ability is not a mere human characteristic, but a gift from God. In creation, God gave to persons the freedom to make choices, a freedom that carries with it awesome responsibility. We are responsible for our choices. God sets forth the consequences of good and bad decisions. If we exercise our freedom to obey him, we have life. If we use our freedom to deny him, the result is death (Genesis 1-2).

According to New Testament accounts, neither Jesus nor leaders in the New Testament churches coerced or forced persons to follow him, hence respecting the soul freedom of individuals.

Saved Church Membership

Baptists believe that only "saved" persons - those who have attained salvation through faith in Christ as their savior - should be members of a church. Baptists also believe that saved persons should be members of a church. While becoming a Christian is an individual response of faith, growing as a Christian is enhanced by fellowship with other Christians. The Christian life was designed not as a solo endeavor but as a fellowship experience, with a church being the primary fellowship.

The New Testament concept of church focuses on a local body of baptized believers in Christ. However, in a few New Testament passages the word "church" also refers to the redeemed of all the ages (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:23-32; Colossians 1:18).

Although Baptists believe that church membership should include only those who are redeemed in Christ, they encourage and welcome all persons to attend various activities of the church. For example, worship services, Bible studies and ministry events are open to all persons.

Two Offices (Pastor and Deacons)

Baptist polity through the years has affirmed two scriptural officers of a New Testament church, pastor and deacon. Baptists believe the Bible teaches that all Christians are called to serve and minister to others in Christ's name, but some are called and gifted by God to function in specific roles of ministry, such as pastors and deacons.

Baptists declare the office of pastor is one of two that a church patterned after New Testament churches should have. The Bible uses three words for the same office: elder, pastor and bishop. In the Greek language of the New Testament, these words indicate different functions and not different persons (Acts 20:17-28;1_Peter 5:1-5).

Pastor

Baptists look to the Bible for the qualifications for persons to serve as pastor (1_Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). The qualifications fall generally into two categories : character and gifts for ministry. The office of pastor should be used to serve others, not in selfish or self-promoting ways. Each Baptist church selects (calls) the person to be its pastor. The specific process differs to some degree among churches, but the following pattern is followed by most.

• When the church is pastorless, the congregation elects a pastor search committee to prayerfully evaluate the qualifications of various persons to be the church's pastor.
• After careful deliberation, the committee recommends to the church as a whole the person it believes God wants to be the pastor.
• The prospective pastor visits the church and preaches "in view of a call." The congregation then votes on whether or not to "call" the person. If the vote is favorable, the prospective pastor either accepts or declines.
• A pastor serves in the church as long as both pastor and congregation agree the relationship should continue.

Deacons

The second office in a Baptist church is that of deacon. Whereas pastors are usually selected from persons outside the membership of the congregation, deacons are selected from within the membership. The biblical qualifications for a deacon (1_Timothy 3:8-13) focus primarily on character and relationships within the church, family and community. Deacons are to be persons of impeccable character and deep faith who rely on the Holy Spirit.

Acts 6:1-6 likely records the beginning of the role of deacons. They are to care for the physical needs of the congregation so that pastors can concentrate on spiritual needs. The deacons, according to the New Testament, are not viewed as a governing body but as servant leaders.

In a Baptist church the process of selecting deacons involves the entire congregation. Although churches differ in regard to the details of the process, the common practice is for the entire church to vote on who will be selected as deacons.

The role of a deacon varies from church to church. In many churches, deacons are asked to evaluate and recommend major matters to be brought to the entire congregation for vote. Churches involve deacons in various ministries, such as visiting the sick, helping families in distress and providing relief to the poor.

Ordination

Baptists believe ordination does not endow a person with any special powers or authority. It is a means of indicating to churches and to the world in general that a person has been accredited as worthy to be a pastor or deacon. In recent years, Baptists have extended ordination to include other persons in ministry, such as chaplains, missionaries and church staff members.

Not all Baptists agree that ordination is necessary or even appropriate. However, ordination is practiced by most Baptist churches and is considered valid for a lifetime. Thus, when a person moves from one church to another as pastor or deacon, there is no need to be re-ordained.

Separation of Church and State

The Bible indicates that governments are ordained by God to provide law and order (Romans 13:1-5). Government leaders are to act for the benefit of the citizens (1_Peter 2:13-14). Baptists and other Christians are to honor and pray for government officials (1_Timothy 2:1-3; 1_Peter 2:17), pay taxes (Matthew 22:17-22; Romans 13:6-7) and obey the government except when obedience would be clearly contrary to God's will (Acts 4:19-20; Acts 5:29). Historically, Baptists have affirmed their loyalty to the state.

The term "church" refers to religious organizations. For Baptists, this includes both local congregations and various entities established for religious purposes, such as associations, conventions, schools and institutions for ministry. Baptists teach that the nature of "church" is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8), to teach doctrine and develop believers (Matthew 8:19-20; Ephesians 4:11-13) and to minister in Christ's name (Matthew 25:31-46). The church is to rely on the "sword of the Spirit" (the Bible) and not the sword of the government in carrying out its mission.

Ideally, the relation of church and state is mutually beneficial. For example, the state is to provide order and safety; these are useful to the church in carrying out its mission (Acts 13-16). And the church contributes to a positive social order by helping to develop law-abiding, hard-working, honest citizens (Ephesians 4:24-32; 1_Peter 2:11-17).

Conclusion

The Baptist denomination defies simple descriptions. Baptists do not fit into neat categories. Diverse in many ways, Baptists are defined, not by a single doctrine, but by a group of beliefs and practices. Taken as a whole, these make Baptists a distinct fellowship of Christians.