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The Baptists

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The Baptists are one of the largest Christian denominations. As indicated by their name, the primary Baptist distinctive is their practice of "believer's baptism" instead of infant baptism. Baptist churches tend to be evangelical in doctrine and reformed in worship, but beliefs and practices can vary due to the autonomy of individual Baptist churches.
Historically, Baptists have played a key role in encouraging religious freedom and separation of church and state. In the United States, the two largest Baptist organizations are the Southern Baptist Churches (SBC) and the American Baptist Churches (ABC). Notable Baptists have included Martin Luther King, Jr., Charles Spurgeon, John Bunyan and Billy Graham. My friend, whom I attended a Baptist …show more content…
Baptist roots date back four centuries to people seeking the opportunity to worship God as individual members of freely organized and freely functioning local churches. Baptists always have maintained the need for free congregations, responsible for articulating their own doctrine, style of worship and mission. American Baptists partake in two ordinances: believers’ baptism and The Lord’s Supper. Baptism, an act of full immersion following Christ’s example, is undertaken by those spiritually mature enough to understand its profound, symbolic significance: resurrection to new life in Christ. Through The Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, the bread and cup that symbolize the broken body and shed blood offered by Christ recall God’s great love for us—just as they did for the disciples on the eve of Christ’s crucifixion. American Baptists believe that the committed individual Christian can and should approach God directly, and that individual gifts of ministry should be shared. American Baptists hold that all who truly seek God are both competent and called to develop in that relationship. They have rejected creeds or other statements that might compromise each believer’s obligation to interpret Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and within the community of faith. American Baptists also celebrate the special gifts of all believers, testifying that God can use each of us in ministry. American Baptists take seriously the call to evangelism and missionary work. This is an attribute that corresponds to the book, Heaven’s Kitchen, by Courtney Bender. At God’s Love We Deliver their mission is to help people suffering with AIDS in New York by cooking and delivering meals to them. American Baptist worldwide mission work is a response to Christ’s call to “make disciples of all nations.” Although God’s Love We Deliver is not a religious organization, the mission they

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