MAJOR DIVISIONS WITHIN  THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION.

AMERICAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

       American Baptists can be found in the towns and cities of all 50 states and Puerto Rico. About 1.5 million worship and find inspiration in 5,800 congregations throughout the country. Some grew up as American Baptists; some have left other religious traditions to join. Still others come without any previous connection to a church, acting simply on an invitation or desire to follow Christ and become part of a community of faith.

       In today's complex world, the American Baptist family draws its strength from members and churches convinced their God wants nothing more than to redeem that world. It is through a vast variety of ministries that we seek to serve our God here and now.

 -Believe there is no universal church.
 -Organized in 1905 as Baptist General Association
      -Changed its name in 1924
 -Fundamentalist in doctrine.
 -Pre-millennial
 -Congregational form of government.
 -Highly missions oriented.
 -Often very social conscious
 -Open communion
 -Male/Female clergy
 -Interpretation of the Bible is thru the HS but in the community of the church. Therefore,  they are tolerant of diverse
   interpretations even within the denomination.
 -Some/many hold that not all Scripture is historically true but it is the idea or moral that is     inspired and true.
 -Ecumenical in nature
          -Member of the National Council of Churches and World Council of Churches

BAPTIST BIBLE FELLOWSHIP

 -Evangelical independent
 -Fastest growing of all Baptist bodies.
 -Ultra-conservative and  ultimate fundamentalists.
 -Closed communion
 -Legalists
 -No Women pastors
 -They teach that Jesus was a Baptist in his thinking and  work.
 -History:

        As theological liberalism, also called modernism, made inroads in the Baptist conventions,   concerned fundamentalists stood against the compromise. In 1921 they organized the Baptist Bible Union.  In 1928 the World Fundamental Baptist Missionary Fellowship, (later the name was shortened to   World Baptist Fellowship) was established under the leadership of Norris as a reaction against modernist   inroads in the Southern Baptist Convention. A training center, the Bible Baptist Seminary, a missionary   organization and a publication, The Fundamentalist, were established.

BAPTIST GENERAL CONFERENCE

Role of women in the church
     In this church  the spiritual gifts of women and men are to be recognized, developed, and used in serving and teaching ministries at all levels of involvement: as small group leaders, counselors, administrators, ushers, commission members, communion servers, elder board members, and in pastoral care, teaching, preaching, and in worship.

Eternal Security
       We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare, and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

CONSERVATIVE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

 -It was officially formed in 1947 in Atlantic City, NJ.
 -Conservative and fundamental in doctrine and  practice.
 -Sacraments are Baptism and Lord Supper
 -Split from the American Baptists over their growing  acceptance of liberal churches and pastors in the    association.
 -No women pastors.
 -Pre-Millenial

FREE WILL BAPTISTS
 -Arminian in doctrine
    -Christ died for all not just the elect.
    -God calls all to repentance and we have the free will to refuse.
    -Free will of man is important.
 -Practice open communion
 -Mostly located in the South.
 -Practices foot washing
 -Government is congregational

FULL GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Excerpts from their doctrinal statement
         We believe in the authority of the believer over the enemy, Satan and the victory to be gained by the exercise of that authority in the areas of deliverance, healing and holiness. Ephesisans 1:20-23, 6:10-17.

         We believe in the personality and reality of Satan as the enemy of the Kingdom of God and the Saints of the Lord; and in his ultimate defeat by the Lord Jesus Christ and potential defeat in the lives of Spirit-filled believers clothed in the armor of God. Revelation 12:9-10; Matthew 4:2-11; Isaiah 14:12-17; John 8.

         We do not feel that others in the Baptist Church are not preaching the full gospel. But, ... As Full Gospel Baptists, we do not believe that we have fully utilized the power Jesus left when He returned to Glory. He left His power when He left the keys with us. The Bible says that, "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew l8:l8) We have dealt with salvation at Calvary but have left out the experience at Pentecost.  The Full Gospel Baptists are using those keys to take full authority over the devil. The word of God states that we can legally use our gifts in the name of Jesus! It does not matter how strange it may look to the natural man or to our denomination.

         Our purpose is to let Baptists know that we do have a Right to Choose. According to our faith, we can reach the level we desire in Him as we grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let it be known that we shall not condemn you if you do not speak in tongues, cast out demons or operate in the gifts of the Spirit. Fullness is simply giving God full control and no one knows that better than you. Our responsibility is not to judge and tell you what you don't have, but to enlighten you of what you can have according to God's Word.

         We fulfill our purpose in the Baptist Church when our people are taught, enlightened and realize that they have a choice. In the Full Gospel Baptist Church, many speak in tongues and many do not, but no one feels uncomfortable because we have a CHOICE.

GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF REGULAR BAPTISTS CHURCHES

 -Spit from American Baptist in 1932. Was established under the leadership of Robert Ketcham as a reaction against liberalism
   in the Northern Baptist Convention.
   -Disagreed with liberal teaching and associations
   -Disliked missions plan.
   -Disliked whole association structure.
 -Separationists
   -They keep to themselves or other churches in their association
   -NOT ecumenical minded.
 -Missions oriented.
 -Fundamental and ultra conservative in doctrine and practice.
   -Pretrib...pre-Mil.
   -Eternal salvation
 -2 Sacraments: Baptism by immersion and Lords Supper.
 -Congregational government
 -Closed communion
 -Legalists

 Excerpts from their doctrinal statement
       To maintain an association of sovereign Bible-believing, Christ-honoring Baptist churches; to promote the spirit of evangelism; to spread the gospel; to advance Regular Baptist educational and missionary enterprises at home and abroad; to raise and maintain a testimony to the truth of the gospel and to the purity of the Church; to raise a standard of Biblical separation from worldliness, modernism and apostasy; to emphasize the Biblical teaching that a breakdown of divinely established lines between Bible believers and apostates is unscriptural and to be a voice repudiating cooperation with movements which attempt to unite true Bible believers and apostates in evangelistic and other cooperative spiritual efforts.

Separation
         We believe in obedience to the Biblical commands to separate ourselves unto God from worldliness and ecclesiastical apostasy.

Israel
         We believe in the sovereign selection of Israel as God's eternal covenant people, that she is now dispersed because of her disobedience and rejection of Christ, and that she will be regathered in the Holy Land and, after the completion of the Church, will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ. Genesis 13:14-17; Romans 11:1-32; Ezekiel 37.

 NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST CONFERENCE
   -Began as German Baptist churches and first churches began in 1840.  Fleishman an  Pilgrim are one of  the first two in the
     country.
   -High missions minded
   -Congregational form of government.
   -Fundamental and conservative in doctrine.
   -Open communion
   -2 Sacraments

PRIMITIVE BAPTISTS

       The name Primitive Baptist became popular in the early 1800s when the term primitive conveyed the idea of originality rather than backwardness. Accordingly, Primitive Baptists claim to maintain the doctrines and practices of the original Baptists, who claim to be the New Testament church.

       Primitive also conveys the idea of simplicity. This well describes the Primitive Baptists, whose church services consist of nothing more than preaching, praying, and singing.

 1611 King James version is the superior English translation of the scriptures.

Excerpts from their doctrinal statement
       Primitive Baptists cannot consent with those who compromise scriptural commandments in order to gain social acceptance. We deny the claim that terms of truth and morality are to be guided by the ever changing winds of social values

      Primitive Baptists not have schools for training ministers. Primitive Baptists elders are chosen by the individual congregations from among male members who have proven to be faithful to the church and its principles. These men are given the opportunity to speak over a trial period to determine if they have a gift to preach. This trial period typically lasts from one to five years. Those judged by the congregations to satisfy scriptural qualifications for the ministry are then ordained by a presbytery of elders.

       All Primitive Baptist elders are expected to be self educated in the Word of God and are expected to seek the counsel of experienced ministers about questions of scriptural interpretation and other matters pertaining to the church. Both young and old elders are expected to seek the aid of the Holy Spirit in the furtherance of their wisdom and understanding.

This system of education is preferred above ministerial training schools because:
    -Elders in the New Testament were primarily self-educated in the scriptures.
    -Elders in the New Testament learned under the direction of the Holy Spirit and other elders rather than    academicians.
    -The system makes the scriptures themselves to be the curriculum.
    -The elder learns in the same setting in which he is expected to teach. Congregations taught by these elders will be expected
      to have the discipline to educate themselves in the Word of God. The elder should therefore prove himself to have the same
      discipline.
    -The system is less vulnerable to the widespread propagation of error so commonly found when numerous ministers are
      trained under the same teachings of heretical academicians.

Primitive Baptists use real wine and real unleavened bread in communion
       -While scriptural descriptions of the original communion use the terms bread, the cup, and fruit of the vine, it may be
         conclusively inferred that the bread was unleavened and that the drink was fermented wine.

       -The importance of adhering to the scriptural example in this matter cannot be questioned since God punished the
        Corinthians with illness and death for departing from it (I Cor 11:29-30).

       -The usage of a leavened substance, such as grape juice, to represent the Lord is, in our opinion, a severe  negligence,
         and is at risk of being chargeable as failure to discern the body of the Lord (I Cor 11:29).

Primitive Baptists wash feet during communion
       -John explains that, at the end of the Last Supper, the Lord began to wash the feet of the disciples. After performing this
        great act of humility, the Lord said, If I then, your Lord and master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one
        another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I    have done unto you (Jn 13:14-15).

       -Primitive Baptists understand that this commandment is to be followed in literal detail as well as in spirit.

       -Many will dismiss these actions of Jesus as being no more than symbolic gestures; however, these same persons
        understand the last supper to be a literal example. We fail to see the consistency in this.

       -Neither should baptized persons participate in the communion of churches espousing principles contrary their own.

       -For this reason, Primitive Baptist communion services involve only baptized individuals of like faith and practice.

Primitive Baptists rebaptize persons joining them from other orders
       -The scriptural precedent for rebaptism is taken from Acts 19:1-7. These verses teach that persons formerly baptized
         under improper principles should be baptized again, and that failure to do so can prevent proper reception of the Holy
         Spirit.

Primitive Baptists not use musical instruments
       -We can find no biblical precedent for the usage of musical instruments in New Testament worship. The scriptures give
         repeated instructions to sing in the church, but never to play (Rom 15:9, I Cor 14:15, Eph 5:19, Col 3:16, Heb 2:12).

       -It will occasionally be objected that there are also many other things in all modern churches which are without scriptural
         precedent - things such as electric lights, air conditioners, etc; however, these items affect only the setting of worship
        and are not integral to it.

       -The scriptures have clearly afforded much liberty in such matters (Lk 5:3, Jn 4:20-24, Acts 20:7-8, Acts 21:5).
         A distinction must also be made between an addition to the New Testament pattern and an aid to this pattern.
         Electric lights, song books, reference Bibles, etc. are aids to worship, but musical  instruments are additions to worship.

QUESTION: How are they different? Both are aids to worship. They help create an atmosphere of worship.

Primitive Baptists use scriptural precedent to resolve questions of church practice
       -Primitive Baptists believe that issues of practice which are not explicitly addressed by scriptural commandment should be
         resolved, where possible, by scriptural precedent. Primitive Baptists are very disinclined to treat scriptural practices as
         mere cultural fashions of biblical times, and will do so only  where this is obviously the case (I Cor 9:19-23).

       -Scriptures themselves teach that adherence to scriptural example is not a matter of indifference. Paul told  the Corinthians,
         Be ye followers of me, even as I also am a follower of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all
         things, and keep the ordinances (traditions), as I delivered them to   you (I Cor 11:1-2).

      -Accordingly, he told the Thessalonians, Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught,
       whether by word or our epistle (II Thes 2:15).

       -One chapter later he wrote, Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw
         yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us (II Thes 3:6).

       -Traditions which have no biblical authority are nonobligatory, and to make them otherwise can reduce worship to vanity
        (Mk 7:5-13).

       -On the other hand, traditions which have biblical authority are clearly expected of us, and are sufficiently important to be
         criteria of fellowship.

       -Since the New Testament church was a highly multicultural institution, being found in many nations of the world, practices
         uniformly observed in them cannot be dismissed as cultural peculiarities. They clearly expected these practices of
         themselves as churches of Jesus Christ, and we should view these  practices the same way.

       -No Sunday School, No Youth groups or other programs. Because they are not found in the Bible.

       -No crucifixes or pictures of Jesus in their churches and homes
 

REFORMED BAPTISTS
 -Not all Reformed Baptists have either reformed or Baptist in their names.
 -They are strict 5 point Calvinists.
 -Sovereign Grace is important
 -Established in 1954.
 -2 Sacraments
 -Closed communion.

SOUTHERN BAPTIST
 -Split from the Baptists over the slavery issue as well as how to form an association issue.
 -Calvinistic in doctrine.
 -Congregational government.
 -Fundamental, conservative in doctrine.
 -Very big on missions.
 -Big on Sunday School and have a major publishing house for this.
 -Fastest growing of the larger denominations
 -Having problems between conservatives and moderates in its organizational structure.

 7TH DAY BAPTIST

       Seventh Day Baptists are evangelical Baptists who hold to keeping the seventh day Sabbath of the Bible as sacred time. From their first church in Newport, Rhode Island in 1671, until today, Seventh day Baptists have been a Christ-centered, Bible believing people with traditional family values. We have over seventy churches in North America, and churches in over twenty countries.

 -Women and Men pastors

The Sabbath Question     'Answers to common questions about keeping the Sabbath'         By: Kyle D. Pratt
1.  What is the Seventh Day Baptists church?
     While not the biggest or most well known of the Sabbath keeping  churches the Seventh Day Baptist church is, perhaps, the oldest.  The   Seventh Day Baptist church has over a 300 year history in North America   and even longer in England.  While they are a Sabbath keeping church  they are first and foremost a Christian church with beliefs and practices  very similar to that of other Baptist believers.

2.  Why do Seventh Day Baptists keep the Sabbath?
     Seventh Day Baptists keep the Sabbath out of a conviction that the Ten Commandments remain valid moral code for us today.  The fourth commandment, the only one we are told to remember, says,   ' Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:    But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter,  thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy  stranger that is within thy gates:   For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD  blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. ' (Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15)

      Seventh Day Baptists believe the Sabbath is a sacred time,  instituted at creation and affirmed throughout the Bible.  Because we  desire to follow God's commandments, Christ's example and the will of  God we observe the Sabbath as a time of rest, worship and celebration.

     The Sabbath was ordained by God at the creation of the  Earth  (Genesis 2:3) and given to Adam and Eve, not Moses, so it predates the  Jews by millennia.  Further, Christ affirms everyone of the Ten Commandments he mentions.  Indeed he says in Matthew 5:17-20 that,  "Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and  teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

3.  But after Christ's death didn't the Apostles meet on Sunday?
     If Christ did not see fit to change the Sabbath to Sunday what authority would the Apostle have to change it?  But the fact is they did   not change it.  On the day of the resurrection, referred to in John 20:19  the disciples are assembled together in fear of mobs of Jews, not for  worship.

4. Are you saying the early church didn't meet on Sunday?
     No, not at all.  They held meetings on everyday of the week.  Look  at a modern Sunday keeping church, they might have a men's prayer  meeting on Monday, a women's meeting on Tuesday, choir practice on  Wednesday, a Thursday night Bible study and a youth meeting on Friday,  but Sunday is their special day of worship.  The early church didn't have  all those programs but would meet eat, sing and preach on a moments   notice. ( Acts 2:42-47 )  But the early church kept the Sabbath as their  special day of worship.