|
Mainstream Baptists |
|
SBC Fundamentalists |
| God reveals himself by
incarnation. God uniquely and supremely reveals himself in Jesus Christ. |
Revelation |
The Holy Bible is God’s
revelation of Himself to man. |
| The Bible is the record
(testimony) of God’s revelation of Himself. |
Testimony |
All Scripture is a
testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation. |
| The criterion by which the
Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ. |
Criteria |
The criteria by which the
Bible is to be interpreted are “doctrines revealed in Holy Scripture”
that “we hold precious and as essential to the Baptist tradition of
faith and practice.” |
| Every believer under the
direct guidance of the Holy Spirit is an official interpreter.
_________ |
Official
Interpreters
_____ |
The “blue ribbon”
committee members Paige Patterson appointed to revise the BFM are the
official interpreters.
_________ |
| 1) Confessions of faith
are guides that are not “official creeds carrying mandatory authority.”
2) Dialogue with others in a face to
face community.
3) Reflection on the Church’s
historical traditions and testimonies.
_________ |
Guides for
Interpreting Faith
|
1) Confessions of faith are guides
that are “instruments of doctrinal accountability.”
2) Submissiveness to the authority of
pastors, elders, deacons, administrators, etc. who hold believers
accountable . . . under the word of God.”
_________ |
| Soul competency “under
God.” Believers are directly accountable to God. Every person is
accountable to Christ for reading the Bible and interpreting His will for
their own life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. |
Soul
Competency |
Soul competency “under
the church.” Believers are “accountable to each other under the word
of God.” Every person is accountable to others for how they read the
Bible and interpret God’s will for their life. |
| Each believer receives
gifts from the Holy Spirit that are to be exercised in serving the body of
Christ. The Holy Spirit determines how gifts are distributed and calls
whomever He wills to serve as pastor. Pastors are “servants” of the
church. |
Priesthood
of Believers |
Each believer receives
gifts from the Holy Spirit that are to be exercised in serving the body of
Christ. Women cannot receive gifts giving them direct authority over men
and cannot serve as senior pastors. Pastors are “rulers” of the
church. |
| Each believer respects the
right and responsibility of others to be accountable directly to God. Each
believer follows the dictates of a conscience that is directed by the Holy
Spirit and guided by confessions of faith, dialogue with others, and
reflection on the traditions and testimonies of God’s people throughout
history. Whenever believers conscientiously hold differing convictions, we
agree to respectfully disagree agreeably. |
Liberty in Christ |
Accountability to the
church is “voluntary.” Missionaries, denominational employees, and
seminary professors who disagree with the new confession of faith are free
to resign. Al Mohler said, “No one is forced to accept [the terms
of ] employment.” Members who disagree with the pastor and/or the new
confession of faith are free to move their membership. No one is forced to
remain a member of a Southern Baptist church. |