Baylor University

Geroge W. Truett Theological Seminary

Baptist Identity THEO 3796
Elí Gutiérrez Briseño

What Makes the Baptist Faith Distinctive?

Among the spectrum of world religions, Baptist is, above all, a Christian faith. Among the
spectrum of Christianity, the Baptist faith is protestant. And among Protestantism it is not that
easy to express what makes the Baptist faith distinctive. I must make it clear that the question is
not what makes Baptists Baptist but what makes Baptist unique. There is a great difference
between this two questions. To ask what makes Baptist faith Baptist is to inquire into its essence,
into that without which it could not exist. In that sense we could talk about the fundamental
beliefs of Christian protestant faith. The doctrine of God, the deity of Christ, the salvation by faith,
the authority of the Scripture, and so on. However, those beliefs are also shared by the majority
of the Protestantism, and our question now is not what makes Baptists similar to other groups
but what makes them distinctive. On the other hand there are characteristics held by some
Baptists that are not shared by all the Baptists. We can say that those elements are not essential
for Baptist faith, If they were, those communities that do not support them would not be Baptists.
Thus, our question becomes increasingly complicated.
After several hours of self-reflection searching for those characteristics essential to
Baptist faith and that makes it distinctive from other Christian groups, I came to the personal
conclusion that there is nothing that makes the Baptist faith distinctive. All the essential
characteristics of the Baptist faith, those that make Baptist the Baptists, that without which there
is no Baptist, are all shared by other Christian groups. Therefore, there is nothing that makes the
Baptist faith distinctive among protestant Christianity.
However I cannot say either that the Baptist faith is not unique. Of course it is a particular
expression of Christian faith. What I am trying to say is that the essence of Baptist faith is not
unique but shared by other Christian protestant groups. Notwithstanding there are some not
essential characteristics of Baptist faith that makes it distinctive. I cannot say that there is a single
fact that distinguishes Baptists, but rather a combination of characteristics. Some of them also
can be found in other Protestant groups, and even Christianity in general. Nevertheless, what
makes different the Baptist faith is a combination of practices and beliefs, some of them shared
by other Christian groups. What makes Baptists Baptist is the sum of certain elements that come
to be a particular whole.
Beside the characteristics shared by traditional Protestantism (the fundamental beliefs of
Christian faith, some of which I listed above), there are some particular elements of Baptist,
which, although shared with others, make the whole something particular. A passion on the
Scripture as the sole written authority for faith and practice. A strong commitment with the New
Testament teachings above all, above traditions, above customs, above privileges. An emphasis
on the priesthood of all believers. The baptism of believers in Jesus as Lord and Savior by
immersion. The autonomy and self-government of local churches. An enduring belief in religious
freedom and the separation of the church and the state.
Finally I must say that this reflection is the reflection of a Mexican Baptist. And I say this
not just to explain my writing flaws but to clarify that it is what I have learned and seen in my
Mexican Baptist experience.