Tim Sweetman is a 20-year-old freelance writer, blogger, and student who lives near our nation's capital,
Washington D.C. He is much more widely known by his "code-name," Agent Tim. This name also serves as
the name of his popular blog, which has received well over 750,000 visits since its debut. Contact Tim 
The question as to “Why I am a Baptist†has never been answered on this site, partly due to the fact that it’s never been specifically asked. But with many friends and acquaintances that are non-denominational, Presbyterian, Catholic, and a number of other labels, I felt led to address this question. I do not want to alienate any readers by posting this, but rather want to let you understand why I believe what I believe. Another reason for posting this is because of the audio you can listen to if you click on the picture to the left: most teens don’t hold personal convictions about being a Baptist, or anything, for that matter. So I now unveil to you a special new feature on Agent Tim Online and Square Talk Radio: Hittin’ the Street.
But now back to “Why am I a Baptist?â€
Personally, it’s a question that I need to continuously ask myself, and each time that I have asked it, I feel prouder to be a Baptist and I feel firm in my beliefs as a Baptist.
First of all, the question must be asked: What is a Baptist? What do Baptists stand for? What do they believe? And what makes them different?
James Draper, Jr., lists for us seven basic beliefs of Baptists.
1. A Baptist is an individual who has experienced salvation through personal faith in Jesus Christ.
We believe that no human, such as a priest, mediates between the believer and God (see 1 Timothy 2:5). We pray directly to God.
2. A Baptist is one who acknowledges the sufficiency of Scripture. Such an individual believes the Bible is God’s truth without any error.
I believe that God’s word is the inspiration of God, profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction, and for instruction in righteousness. The word of God is my final authority on all matters.
3. A Baptist is one who acknowledges the lordship of Jesus Christ. All of our worship and service centers on him. (Colossians 1:18-19).
Baptists also believe the Word of God is centered on Jesus Christ.
4. A Baptist is Trinitarian in his or her own understanding of God.
God is three in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
5. A Baptist is one who recognizes the autonomy of the local church.
As James Draper says, “there is no such thing as ‘the Baptist church.’ There are only local Baptist churches.†This is in line with the example set by the New Testament church. It’s local, it’s independent, and it’s made up of born-again, baptized believers. These churches “have voluntarily come together to carry out the mission of the church.â€
Also, when it comes to the Lord’s Supper and baptism, we believe these are ordinances, not sacraments, and they do not save us in any way. In order to take part in these ordinances, we must receive Jesus Christ and His saving grace. They are not essential to our salvation, but are beneficial. As Baptists, we believe in baptism by immersion, following the example of Jesus and the New Testament church. As some have said, “you can get a baby wet, but you can’t baptize it.â€
6. A Baptist is one who believes in the command of the Great Commission and has a deep commitment to evangelism and world missions.
The church is for believers to worship and to grow, but we are also to follow Jesus’ command to go and witness to all people. Our churches have a deep desire to lead our communities, our nation, and our world to Christ.
7. A Baptist is one who fully advocates and supports the cause of religious liberty and freedom for all.
We believe in the separation of Church and State, or rather, the separate “identities†of the church and state. They must both function for the good of the people. This does not prohibit us from being involved in the public realm, but rather we encourage this. We are to push for morality at all levels, but we must not control the state. And likewise, the state should not control religion. Baptists have long been guardians of religious liberty, beginning in Rhode Island.
Finally, as Southern Baptists, we are a believers’ church that voluntarily cooperates around the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word in all matters necessary for life “in Christ.â€
And that’s why I am a Southern Baptist. It’s because I believe in it. I believe that a denomination is important and helpful for a number of reasons.
First, it provides a doctrinal understanding. I know exactly what I believe, and others can too, when I say I am a Southern Baptist. It is what unifies the believers of the denomination. The believers are able to preserve doctrine through a denomination. This leads to a sense of unity which results in cooperation to further the gospel.
Secondly, a denomination is also helpful because it can lead to the furthering of the gospel. The Southern Baptists’ Cooperative Program is amazing, as churches from around the country voluntarily give their money to one goal: missions. Missionary zeal is immense in the Southern Baptist community, and is emphasized week after week.
Thirdly, a denomination has accountability. With an autonomous church, one would think that it could do and be whatever it wants. If a Southern Baptist church is not preaching from the Bible, is becoming very liberal, and just flat out being Southern Baptist only be name, one could examine the Scriptural principles of the Baptist Faith & Message to easily determine that it has gone astray. This accountability leads a church to stay within its doctrinal standards.
But Why Are You A Baptist?
I have come to the conclusion that I am a Baptist not only because I attend a Southern Baptist Church, but also, and more importantly, I truly believe what I’ve said above. The more I read God’s Word, I the more I am encouraged and convinced of what I believe. Baptists have a rich history—and a great task before. We must not be taken over by the “seeker-sensitive†movement. We cannot fall into the temptation to make Christianity look wonderful and inviting. This leads to unregenerate members of our churches, and a decline in morality within and without the churches.
When it comes to Baptism of new church members, salvation always precedes. As W.A. Criswell said, “We should not throw them into the water, dash them into the water, or splash the water all over everywhere as we lower the candidate into the watery grave.†Instead we “lovingly and tenderly†lower them down into the grave, then raise them back up “in triumphant exaltation.â€
We must also be assured that our church rolls are filled with regenerated believers. That is not to say that we are legalistic in any way, but want to be sure that our church is heading into eternity with Christ. We must also have fervor for reaching the lost.
Another issue for Baptists is discipline. We must use the Biblical example when approaching a brother in sin. We cannot close our eyes when we see a brother in sin, and we cannot allow him to continue in his sin. What if he isn’t saved? We must be as assured as we possibly can that those of whom we know will be in heaven.
These are all reasons why I am a Baptist, along with some warnings and concerns. But, really, I believe that the ultimate question here is not “why am I a Baptist†but “why am I a Christian?†That is what this discussion leads to ultimately.
I am a Christian because I believe that I have sinned. I’ve lied, I’ve committed murder in my heart, etc. I’ve broken the laws that God has set in his Word, and because I have broken them I stand condemned before him. The only way to be forgiven was to take a free gift given by Jesus Christ who took my punishment—which was death—when He died on a cross. I believed in my heart that he had not only died for me, but that He had been raised to life on the third day after He died. I asked Him to forgive me of my sin—my wrongdoings—and to come into my heart. And he has.
Each and every day I am more and more convinced that Christ lives in me, and works through me. It’s amazing and wonderful. And that is why I am a Christian.
February 2nd, 2006 at 10:39 pm
Interesting post, Tim. While reading your list of seven, I kept thinking to myself, “He’s not describing Baptists, he’s describing a Christian.” If that’s all there was to being a Baptist, I’d be one
I’ll leave it at that
February 2nd, 2006 at 11:25 pm
Good post. Although the SBC is far from perfect, I am very thankful that God has allowed me to be a part of it. Thanks for this article.
February 3rd, 2006 at 3:31 am
As Jake said, that list of 7 describes the fundamental tenants of every born-again Christian.. There’s really nothing baptistic about it, eg. Presbyterians believe those seven and are not baptists. I was actually expecting believer’s baptism in that list — and yes, by water immersion
Tim, great post nonetheless!
February 3rd, 2006 at 8:06 am
Interesting analysis! In the book “Why I am a Baptist” each number has a long explanation after it (much longer than my own). Under #5, Draper talks more about Baptism. I actually did explain what a Baptist believes about each point, but, yes, it really does define a Christian!
My Baptism quote
I’m sure many would agree with me there, and it’s awesome to conclude that the above 7 “descriptions of a Baptist” really describe a believer!
February 3rd, 2006 at 8:17 am
Very good post, Tim! While I have attended Baptist churches practically all my life, my family for awhile attended a church that held to all those beliefs above, yet was not Baptist. To my thinking, it is not so important what denonmination the sign outside the church says, it’s what goes on inside and in the hearts of the people.
Jake and Patrick: There are many “Christian” churches who do not believe those seven statements. Perhaps you all wouldn’t call them Christian, though?
February 3rd, 2006 at 11:19 am
Lita: How _can_ you be a Christian (or a Christian church) if you don’t believe in those 7 things? (OK, admittedly, 4, 5 and 7 are not always acknowledge by some.) It would really depend on which of those seven they didn’t believe in as to whether or not I would see them as Christian or not. At the same time, God hasn’t told me to go around telling people who is a Christian and who’s not, so unless they’re doing something that directly contradicts the Bible, I probably won’t be “condemning” anyone soon.
February 3rd, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Lita: hold on now.. that list of 7 is not a qualifying list of attributes that mark a true Christian, maybe only the first half.
All I meant to say is that Tim’s list is not baptistic in nature because he ommitted one of the most fundamental attributes of baptists which is believer’s baptism — even though he comments on it, it’s not on the list of 7.
February 3rd, 2006 at 4:42 pm
Tim’s list
Correction: James T. Draper, Jr.’s list. Not mine, actually. He says, under #5, in the book I linked to that “as the name implies, we insist upon baptism by immersion of the body of the believer in water.”
But I’d like to discuss the whole article, not just the list. The list is just part of it. What about denominations? Things like that…
February 3rd, 2006 at 4:59 pm
As a reformed Presbyterian, I believe in all seven things. I agree with Jake, you just described MOST Christians.
Hmmm… Lita, which of the seven Baptist beliefs did those churches you mentioned not believe in?
Oh, I do not believe in Baptism by immersion…
But that, to me, is a minor issue.
February 3rd, 2006 at 8:10 pm
good stuff, tim! I’d agree with the others and say that the list basically discribes any true Christian church. there may be petty disagreements abou how baptism should be done, the fate of a stillborn or aborted child, and how regeneration actually comes about (predestination for me, folks), but it’s not much that truly matters in light of eternity. I’m a five-point calvinist, but not sure about convenant theology. baptism in my view should be immersion. but since it’s not going to save anyone, who cares? water sprinkled on a new believer in the name of the Lord in a house church at night in secret should have the same symbolism. Tim’s right. it’s more important if you’re a sinner redeemed by the Lord’s blood than how you were baptised. and that’s why the church is such a wonderful equalizer–because we’re all on level gound, sinners saved by grace.
February 4th, 2006 at 8:14 am
While I am a Southern Baptist, too, I agree that the most important thing is being saved by the grace of God.
February 4th, 2006 at 10:16 am
Very interesting post, Tim. But as I read through I didn’t see anything on discipleship (the training of a convert, whether old or new, in self denial and obedience to God). Is this something Baptists take for granted, or do you/they actually hold a different view?
February 4th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
BTW – Early christians did not teach immersion only, that is a modern tradition, except Christian churches don’t have sacred traditions.
“Chapter 7. Concerning Baptism. And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before. ”
from the Didache, c.100 AD
(100 AD is well before the New Testament became canon)
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0714.htm
Christian scholars may also like to read Cyril of Jerusalem’s writing on baptism at:
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310120.htm
March 18th, 2006 at 3:14 am
Dear tim, I am very encouraged by your blog and i plan to subscribe. This the first full article i’ve read on your site. Very good blog.
One thing i noticed, Like “a fellow soldier”, is that there is no mention of discipleship, There is no mention of Soverign grace, just salvation. “1. A Baptist is an individual who has experienced salvation through personal faith in Jesus Christ.”
salvation through personal faith in Christ? there is no mention of God’s work of turning a sinners heart.
Is one saved by their faith, or is one saved by Christ who gave them faith?(Ephesians 2:8-9). Romans 10:11 says that “There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God”. Salvation is God’s work, a sinner who gets saved has no doing in his new birth, just as a baby has no control over his/her conception and birth.
You mention: “I am a Christian because I believe that I have sinned. I’ve lied, I’ve committed murder in my heart, etc. I’ve broken the laws that God has set in his Word, and because I have broken them I stand condemned before him. The only way to be forgiven was to take a free gift given by Jesus Christ who took my punishment—which was death—when He died on a cross. I believed in my heart that he had not only died for me, but that He had been raised to life on the third day after He died. I asked Him to forgive me of my sin—my wrongdoings—and to come into my heart. And he has.”
). I dont know you in person, or your writing style, but i notice that you said that you “sinned”, past tense. I dont know if im being over-critical here, but do you think that you dont sin any more? I know when Christ saves us, and annoints us with His righteousness at the moment of conversion, we are declared justified by God, sinnless because Jesus was sinless. But justified is a legal term, and God can “justify” a sinner because of Christs payment. we are forgiven of our sins, but that dosent mean we sin no more does it? Christians are human and still bound by human nature, so we sin (habitual sin is different).
This is a very good explination, but you seem to give yourself too much credit(or your just so happy he did this for you
And when you say you take the free gift that He gave you, do you really believe that You take it? that it’s your work? It says in Ephesians 1:
3)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4)just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love
5)He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
6)to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
7)In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
8)which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight
The whole list is great, ive never seen it before, but it seems to have some holes (unless you can see number two as an umbrella
). I agree with every one except number 7, im still undecided on that one, i dont know if my chruch stands for it, but I havent formed a scripture-based personal conviction on the subject yet. (I attend non-denominational church)
sorry my comment was so long.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:31 pm
Tim, I’m a little surprised that your list of seven items left out the actual mode of baptism. I consider myself both a “little-b baptist” and a “little-c catholic.” I’m a baptist in that I believe in water baptism for those who have made a conscious choice to accept Christ’s sacrifice for their own sins, as opposed to my Presbyterian or Roman Catholic friends, who accept infant baptism.
I wholeheartedly agree with #7 (separation of church and state), but I think it is one of the few things that really separates the Baptist tradition from the rest of the Christian church. Baptists were the first to fight against government control AND support of the church, and the fruit of that centuries-long struggle has been good. Countries that had an Established Church are in deep trouble these days, while Christian nations which separated church and state (that would be the US) are spiritually vibrant (by comparison).
I have a real problem with item #5 (the autonomy of the local church). I don’t see anything in Scripture that requires it, and church history seems to show a lot of problems with congregational government.
I have a brother who is a Southern Baptist pastor, and his wife was a Southern Baptist preacher’s kid. All their stories convince me that it can be TERRIBLY painful to try to lead a democratically-run congregation, and I have yet to see how a pastor can command Christ’s flock to obey the Word of God if the flock can just vote him out and replace him with someone who will coddle their sin.
I’m sure there are wonderful Southern Baptist congregations out there who love their pastors and gladly repent of their sins… but I would view them as an exception to the normal rules of human nature.
I’m not saying any other form of church government is perfect. I used to be a Presbyterian, which has its strengths and weaknesses. (My current church has been described as “Presbyscopalian,” if that makes any sense.)
When Jesus returns, we’ll finally have the church government God intended.
April 21st, 2006 at 2:51 pm
Well, I really did follow Draper’s list of 7, and would probably add “Baptism by immersion” and perhaps discipleship. All in all, my belief is in the Baptist Faith and Message, which is based on the Bible, the ultimate source of my belief’s.
June 6th, 2006 at 6:12 am
Hey by that definition I’m a Baptist too!
September 16th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
Hey, Your site is really cool. One thing though. Ive been going to a presbyterian church since i was like 5. and you probably know that presbyterians believe that you can be baptised at any age. this includes babies. Does this mean that if i came to your church and said i was baptised as a baby by having water sprinkled on my head, i wouldnt be considered baptised?
I agree with you on everything else!!
September 17th, 2006 at 6:33 am
First of all, we have to understand that Baptism is an outward sign of an inner change, and not essential to our salvation. Now, I understand why Presbyterians baptise their children, but in a Baptist church that would not be considered “baptised.” You are baptised after you personally have made the decision to be saved.
I believe that Jesus showed the best example in that he was not baptised as a baby, but as a man.
But again, if you came to our church, we would encourage you to be baptised (especially if you wanted to become a member), but just because you’ve been sprinkled doesn’t mean shunning. It’s just a symbol – although a very important symbol in my opinion.
July 11th, 2007 at 12:17 am
Exellent Tim! I recently was voted in as Pastor in a little Independant Baptist Church in Kansas, and alot of the teens in my youth dept. probably couldnt come up with that kind of material. Stay close to the Lord and keep up this good site.