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| Background |
NOTES ON THE PROPOSAL |
| The Proposal | |
| Notes on the Proposal | |
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International Baptist Convention Comments on a
Summary of Basic Beliefs The
following commentary is NOT part of the text of the summary of basic
beliefs and will not form part of any resolution to be considered by the
Annual Convention Meeting but is merely added as an aid to understanding
the background to some of the clauses in the text. The actual text is
that which is written in bold. The
International Baptist Convention has become an association of over 60
very diverse English-speaking Baptist churches. We are based in over 20
counties that have various cultures. The constituency of our autonomous
churches is even more diverse ethnically, nationally, and culturally
with some 120 nationalities represented in our churches. This is very
different from the homogenous nature of the early churches that
originally made up the convention. A
time had come when it was necessary to revisit our convention’s
“Statement of Faith”. For many years the convention’s statement
was “The Baptist Faith and Message (1963)”. This no longer seems
appropriate not because of what it says but because of the way it says
it. We felt that a statement should be more concise and more reflective
of our diverse international and intercultural situations. Introduction:
We believe… The
statement begins with the words “we believe”. This is a summary of
what we believe as a convention when we meet and work together. It is
not essential for the individual autonomous churches of the convention
to adopt this as their own statement although some may wish to do so.
Likewise this is not an “I believe” statement to be imposed on
individuals or churches but is an affirmation of our essential unity in
Christ amidst local diversity. 1.
We believe…
We
begin with the Triune God who has been revealed to us as Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit. The nature of God and the relationships within the
Trinity are a matter worthy of our lifelong study and devotion and
cannot be adequately expressed by a short or by a long statement. We
acknowledge our debt to the ancient church and its scholars who
formulated those early confessions of faith (such as the Apostles’
Creed and the Nicene Creed) that remain the fundamental expressions of
the nature of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 2.
We believe…
Our
first clause was always going to be about God or about the Bible. We do
not believe in God because we believe in the Bible. We believe in the
Bible because we believe in God. Therefore it seems right that God
should come first but the Bible comes high on our list as it is through
the revelation of the Bible that all Christian doctrines and standards
are determined. We acknowledge that the Bible is divinely inspired and
is essential for Christian growth and development. The ‘canon’ of
Scripture remains the ‘yard stick’ against which our understanding
of Christian beliefs and behavior is to be measured. 3.
We believe…
Our understanding of God and our relationship with Him is determined by
the self-revelation of God through His Son, the Eternal Christ
incarnated as Jesus of Nazareth. His life, teachings, death,
resurrection, and ascension are not just about the revelation of God to
mankind, but constitute the work of salvation which continues to make it
possible for individuals to enter into an eternal relationship with God
through Jesus Christ. 4.
We believe…
Most
Christian groups use the word “sacraments” when referring to baptism
and communion. We prefer the term “ordinance” because we see these
as initiated or ordained by Christ. We use the term “believer’s baptism”
because we believe that Christian baptism is only valid if the person
being baptized is (1.) a Christian believer and (2.) asks for baptism
for himself or herself. This ‘once in a lifetime’ declaration of
faith is reaffirmed by the believer each time he or she joins with the
community of faith in the celebration of communion. 5.
We believe…
We
set no age limits on baptism or church membership (although some
churches set an age requirement for voting at Church Members’
Meetings). The important thing is that each candidate for baptism and
church membership can personally affirm their faith in Christ as their
Lord and Savior. 6.
We believe…
The
convention is not a church but is a voluntary association and
partnership of autonomous churches each of which is accountable directly
to God as a priesthood of believers to discern and follow His leading
and will for that local assembly of disciples. As a convention of
churches we too endeavor to discern and implement God’s will when we
meet together and as we work together. A local church is both a church
in its own right and is part of the Church – the Universal Church of
Christ made up of true disciples of all nations, languages, cultures,
denominations, and generations here on earth and in heaven. 7.
We believe…
Although
we endeavor to respect local laws and customs we are first and foremost
subjects of Heaven’s King and citizens of the 8.
We believe…
We
believe that the state should not impose a religion on its citizens but
that all people (believers or non-believers) should be at liberty to
choose whether or not to believe and participate in a religion without
fear of discrimination. We do not request for ourselves what we are not
willing to give to others. As Baptist disciples we respect the rights of
others to have religious freedom of expression as we request the same
for ourselves. 9.
We believe…
“Every
Baptist is a Missionary”.[4]
Through our following of God’s leading in our career, education, or
economic circumstances we find ourselves on a mission in a town, city,
or country that is not our ultimate home. We recognize that we have been
‘sent by God’ to this place to fulfill His mission. We therefore
endeavor to reach all people with the good news of Jesus Christ
irrespective of those peoples’ nationality or ethnic background. We
recognize and acknowledge that God alone, through the power and work of
the Holy Spirit enables people to become ‘believers’. As churches we
seek to introduce people to the gospel of Jesus and pray for the
intervention of the Holy Spirit ‘to make believers’. Our role as
churches is then to work with God in helping these God-made believers to
become “disciples” – disciplined followers of Jesus who know what
Jesus teaches and try to “obey” that teaching. 10.
We believe…
Although
we are a convention of autonomous churches we do not consider ourselves
to be independent but rather are interdependent on each other.
Co-operation with each other and with others outside the convention who
are like-minded in Christian mission is a continuation of the mission
that finds its beginnings at the heart of the Trinity – “as the
Father has sent me, I am sending you”. We are willing to work with
others in order to fulfill this mission. Conclusion: As the International Baptist Convention we celebrate and affirm our unity
in diversity as part the worldwide body of Christ. We seek no uniformity
in worship or service but are “many faces, many places, one message”
not restricted by national or cultural bounds. We live and serve
together here on earth in anticipation of our future celebration and
service of God in Glory with the redeemed of every nation and
generation.[6] The
purpose of this statement is to be ‘inclusive’ rather than
‘exclusive’ while affirming our commitment to the fundamentals of
Christian belief and practice. We do not seek to exclude people or
churches on cultural or ethnic grounds, or over minor domestic, local
practices that are not forbidden by scripture. We seek to be faithful to
God and welcoming of the vast tapestry of cultural and ethnic diversity
within those churches of Christ that are part of the Baptist faith and
order. Respectfully
submitted, Peter
Idris Taylor Coordinator
of Working Group
[1]
These include the ancient confessions of faith such as the
Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed & later great Christian
Confessions. [2]
Matthew 28: 18-20 [3]
John 20: 21-22 [4]
Johann Gerhard Oncken [5]
ibid & John [6]
Revelation 7: 7-12
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