Followers of one of the branches of the Protestant church are called Baptists. This name comes from the word baptize, which is translated from Greek as “to dip”, “to baptize by immersing in water”. According to this teaching, it is necessary to be baptized not in infancy, but at a conscious age by immersion in consecrated water. In short, a Baptist is a Christian who consciously accepts his faith. He believes that man's salvation lies in selfless faith in Christ.
Church of Evangelical Christian Baptists. Origin History
Baptist communities began to form in the early seventeenth century in Holland, but their founders were not Dutch, but English Congregationalists who were forced to flee to the mainland to avoid the persecution of the Anglican Church. And so, in the second decade of the 17th century, namely in 1611, a new Christian doctrine was formulated for the British, who, by the will of fate, lived incapital of the Netherlands - Amsterdam. A year later, a Baptist church was established in England as well. At the same time, the first community professing this faith arose. Later, in 1639, the first Baptists appeared in North America. This sect has become widespread in the New World, especially in the USA. Every year the number of its adherents grew with incredible speed. Over time, Baptist evangelicals have also spread throughout the world: to Asia and Europe, Africa and Australia, and, well, the Americas. By the way, during the American Civil War, most black slaves accepted this faith and became its ardent followers.
Spread of Baptism in Russia
Until the 70s of the 19th century, people in Russia practically did not know who the Baptists were. What kind of faith unites people who call themselves in this way? The first community of adherents of this faith appeared in St. Petersburg, its members called themselves evangelical Christians. Baptism came here from Germany along with foreign masters, architects and scientists invited by the Russian tsars Alexei Mikhailovich and Peter Alekseevich. This current found the greatest distribution in the Taurida, Kherson, Kyiv, Yekaterinoslav provinces. Later it reached the Kuban and Transcaucasia.
The first Baptist in Russia was Nikita Isaevich Voronin. He was baptized in 1867. Baptism and evangelism are very close to each other, but they are nevertheless considered two separate areas in Protestantism, and in 1905 their adherents created the Union of Evangelists and the Baptist Union in the Northern capital. In the early years of Soviet powerthe attitude towards any religious movements became biased, and the Baptists had to go underground. However, during the Patriotic War, both Baptists and Evangelicals became active again and united, creating the Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists of the USSR. The Pentecostal sect joined them after the war.
Baptist Ideas
The main aspiration in life for adherents of this faith is service to Christ. The Baptist Church teaches that one must live in harmony with the world, but be not of this world, that is, obey earthly laws, but honor only Jesus Christ with one's heart. Baptism, which arose as a radical Protestant bourgeois movement, is based on the principle of individualism. Baptists believe that the salvation of a person depends only on the person himself, and that the church cannot be an intermediary between him and God. The only true source of faith is the Gospel - Holy Scripture, only in it you can find answers to all questions and, by fulfilling all the commandments, all the rules contained in this holy book, you can save your soul. Every Baptist is sure of this. This is the undeniable truth for him. All of them do not recognize the sacrament of the Church and holidays, do not believe in the miraculous power of icons.
Baptism in Baptism
The adherents of this faith go through the rite of baptism not in infancy, but at a conscious age, because a Baptist is a believer who fully understands what he needs baptism for, and regards it as a spiritual rebirth. In order to become a member of the congregation and be baptized, candidates mustpass a probationary period. Later, they go through penance at a prayer meeting. The process of baptism includes dipping into water, followed by the breaking of bread.
These two rituals symbolize faith in spiritual unity with the Savior. Unlike the Orthodox and Catholic churches, which consider baptism a sacrament, that is, a means of salvation, for Baptists, this step demonstrates the conviction that their religious views are right. Only after a person fully realizes the full depth of faith, only then will he have the right to go through the rite of baptism and become one of the members of the Baptist community. The spiritual leader performs this rite, helping his ward to plunge into the water, only after he was able to go through all the trials and convince the members of the community of the inviolability of his faith.
Baptist Attitudes
According to this teaching, the sinfulness of the world outside the community is inevitable. Therefore, they stand up for strict observance of moral standards. An evangelical Christian Baptist should completely refrain from drinking alcohol, using swear words, and so on. Mutual support, modesty, and responsiveness are encouraged. All members of the community should take care of each other and help those in need. One of the main responsibilities of each of the Baptists is the conversion of dissidents to their faith.
Baptist doctrine
In 1905, the First World Convention of Baptist Christians was held in London. On it the basisdoctrine, the Creed of the Apostles was approved. The following principles were also adopted:
1. Adherents of the Church can only be people who have gone through baptism, that is, an evangelical Christian Baptist is a spiritually reborn person.
2. The Bible is the only truth, answers to any questions can be found in it, it is an infallible and unshakable authority both in matters of faith and in practical life.
3. The universal (invisible) church is one for all Protestants.
4. Knowledge about Baptism and the Lord's Vespers are taught only to baptized, that is, reborn people.
5. Local communities are independent in practical and spiritual matters.
6. All members of the local community are equal. This means that even an ordinary Baptist is a member of the community who has the same rights as a preacher or spiritual leader. By the way, the early Baptists were against church hierarchy, but today they themselves create something like ranks within their church.
7. There is freedom of conscience for all, believers and non-believers alike.
8. Church and state must be separated from each other.
Baptist Sermons
Members of evangelical communities gather several times a week to listen to a sermon on a particular topic. Here are some of them:
- About suffering.
- Heavenly knead.
- What is holiness.
- Life in victory and abundance.
- Can you listen?
- Evidence of the Resurrection.
- The secret of family happiness.
- The first ever bread breaking, etc.
Listening to the sermon, adherents of the faith are trying to find answers to the questions that tormented them. Everyone can read a sermon, but only after special training, obtaining sufficient knowledge and skills in order to publicly speak to a large detachment of fellow believers. The main service of the Baptists is held weekly, on Sunday. Sometimes the congregation also meets on weekdays to pray, study and discuss information found in the Bible. The divine service is held in several stages: sermon, singing, instrumental music, reading of poems and poems on spiritual topics, as well as retelling of biblical stories.
Baptist holidays
The followers of this church movement or sect, as it is customary to call it in our country, have their own special calendar of holidays. Every Baptist reveres them sacredly. This is a list that consists of both common Christian holidays and solemn days inherent only in this church. Below is a complete list.
- Every Sunday is the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- The first Sunday of each month according to the calendar is the day of the breaking of bread.
- Christmas.
- Baptism.
- The Presentation of the Lord.
- Annunciation.
- Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
- Good Thursday.
- Sunday (Easter).
- Ascension.
- Pentecost (descent on the apostles of the Holy Spirit).
- Transfiguration of the Lord.
- Harvest Feast (exclusively Baptist holiday).
- Unity Day (celebrated since 1945 to commemorate the unification of Evangelicals and Baptists).
- New Year.
Famous worldwide Baptists
Followers of this religious trend, which has spread in more than 100 countries of the world, and not only in Christian, but also Muslim, and even Buddhist, are also world-famous writers, poets, public figures, etc.
For example, the Baptists were the English writer John Bunyan (Bunyan), who is the author of the book "The Pilgrim's Progress"; the great English poet, human rights activist, public figure John Milton; Daniel Defoe - the author of one of the most famous works of world literature - the adventure novel "Robinson Crusoe"; Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King, Jr., who was an ardent campaigner for the rights of black slaves in the United States. In addition, big businessmen, the Rockefeller brothers, were Baptists.
