What
do we believe...Margate Baptist Church
An Introduction to the Baptists
Ø Where do Baptists come from ?
Baptists are Christians who share the main beliefs of the whole Christian Church. We believe that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that He is the creator of all things; that Jesus Christ died to save us from the consequences of our sinfulness; that He rose again; and that He is coming back one day, as sovereign Lord and King of all creation. We believe that salvation is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ as redeemer and Lord; and that we are all called to follow him in lives of service and witness. However, Baptists are distinct from many other Christians in two ways. We practice Believers Baptism, in which adult believers are baptized by immersion to profess their faith in Christ; and our churches are locally independant – governed by their Church members, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We do not have a national church, or bishops , only a fellowship of self-governing local churches.
Where do Baptists come from ? [top]
After the Reformation in Europe in the 16th century, small groups of Christians in Holland and England began to meet to study the Bible in their own languages. Some of them met for simple services of worship on Sundays – often in secret, and at great risk to themselves. The first English Baptist Churches were formed in the early 17th century, in the face of much opposition and persecution. When Cromwell and the puritans came to power, laws were relaxed, and religious freedom became easier for a time. Baptists began to grow in numbers and in confidence. The times of greatest growth were during the Evangelical revivals of the 18th century under Wesley and Whitfield, and again in the Victorian era, at the time of great preachers such as C H Spurgeon. It is generally agreed that Baptists were at their most influential during the late 19th & early 20th centuries, when both Gladstone and Lloyd George were eager to consult with Baptist leaders.
Since the First World War, all Christian denominations have declined in Britain; but Baptists have fared better than most, and have maintained a vigorous evangelistic outlook, combined with a commitment to social transformation. In the USA, Baptists are very numerous, but there are Baptists at work in every continent on earth – seeking to know Christ and make him known.