Baptists

The Baptist is a Christian individual who devoted to faith, and scripture of the bible. They believe in praise and worship of the lord and keep a strong community base within local churches. Baptist faith incorporates Protestantism, evangelism, and fundamentalism into their faith. Each Baptist worships differently, and recognizes different aspects of their faith. Although they are of the Christian faith, they are unique since they honor the trinity. The attitude most Baptists have toward other Christians differs from person to person. However, most of the Baptist faith allow all to praise an worship with them. A Baptist ministry is made up of pastors and deacons, that preach and interpret the word of Christ.

Baptists derived from the church of England, after worshipers left. Beginning after the reformation, Baptist faith recognizes Jesus Christ as the origin of humans. The way the Baptists worship is different from how Catholics worship. Baptists are energetic and unconventional during worship and praise, where as Catholics tend to be more traditional and serene. Baptists make up the largest group among the Protestant section of Christianity. There are more than one hundred and ten million Baptist worshipers throughout the world. The Baptist faith is over four hundred years old. The term Baptist is a Greek word that is associated with baptism. The Separatist movement that erupted out of the Catholic church started because many worshipers believed the faith included significant errors within it. To combat their dissatisfaction with the Catholic Church separatists left and formed their own religious movement. Through this movement the base of the Baptist was created. A true Baptist is considered one who is baptized based off of the faith they possess. Once a person dedicates themselves to the Baptist faith they can be baptized and saved in the eyes of Christ.

The creation of Baptists has been influenced significantly by the Anabaptist. These two groups had many of the basic religious beliefs and understandings like the separation of church and state, and religious liberties. However, the two groups also had many differences between them. The Anabaptist tended to have extreme pacifist views, and differed in their belief of baptism. They did not see immersing someone and calling it baptism is accurate. With all the differences between them, Anabaptist left a influence on Baptists that has followed the faith since its begging.

Baptists view their faith as being separate from the Catholic church. It is believed to have been this way since the origin of the Baptist. They also believe that they are faith that has existed since the time of Christ. Although most theories point to the separatist movement as the time of origin for Baptists, they have faith in the contrary. This is because many historians consider Anabaptist and Baptists to be the same faith, which would trace the Baptist faith further back than four hundred years ago. In North America, the Baptist was formed by John Clarke, and Roger Williams. Their influence started in the state of Rhode Island, where the first two Baptist congregations were set up in North America. Conflict erupted in the nation of the United States during slavery. Mirroring regional views of slavery, southern and northern Baptists held opposing views. The southern Baptist was in favor of slavery, while the northern Baptist was opposed to slavery. This conflict divided the Baptist throughout the United States and introduced separate organizations representing each region. Out of this separation came the largest Baptist organization that still exists today known as the Southern Baptist Association. Although others exist in the United States, the southern one is the most well known and recognized. Those ignorant of the origins of the Baptists associate the faith with the southern region of the United States. However, the United States was not the first place the faith existed, and neither was the southern region of the country. The faith came to the United States and established itself first in the northern part of the country.
The Baptist is considered a born again Christian. They believe in Jesus Christ as their savior and trust and believe that he will grant them access into heaven. Baptists are a religious people that recognize him first in their lives always, and live to worship, praise, and thank him. They recognize themselves as sinners, who confess to Jesus Christ their sins, while asking for forgiveness. The Baptist are accepting of those individuals that have been away from religion for a long period of time and often allow people to be born again under the faith. Baptists exist in many countries throughout the world including, Europe, United States, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In the United States, about every fifth Christian is considered Baptist.

Their are many different races that fall into the Baptist faith. In the United States about forty million Baptists exist making it the largest amount of believer in one place. The second largest Baptist population exists in the continent of Africa, with a total of seven million people taking part in the faith. Specifically, the country of Nigeria holds about two million followers as well as the Republic of Congo. The third largest Baptist population belongs to the continent of Asia, which holds a total for about four and a half million followers. India inhabits about two million Baptists, with more spread out throughout Korea, Philippines, and Indonesia. In South America, about one and half million Baptists live and worship. There are about one million Baptist believers reside in the country of Brazil. The smallest number of Baptists exist in places like Europe, Central America, Middle East, and Caribbean Islands throughout the world. Collectively Baptists make up a large part of the Catholic faith, with influence throughout the entire world.

Different Organizations bring together the Baptist faith throughout the world due to collective belief in Jesus Christ. One organization known as the Baptist World Alliance is an organization that focuses on exactly that. It is an organization that allows every Baptist throughout the world to unite. It incorporates regional groups from all areas in which Baptists reside. All of these groups meet together in congress to discuss the Baptist faith, and defend people in need. They work to defend human rights, and bring together more than forty seven million Baptists throughout the world. Although this organization includes many of the worlds’ Baptists, there are associations that opt to distance themselves from the Baptist World Alliance. The Southern Baptist Convention is one of them.
The Southern Baptist Convention exists only in the United States and historically groups together those individuals that live throughout the southern states. The SBC currently includes sixteen million Baptists that are apart of more than forty thousand different churches. The slavery conflict between the northern and southern state dwindled, since the SBC denounced the sinful act. However, they never broke up, and gained popularity throughout more than one region of the United States. Currently Baptists throughout all regions are members of the Southern Baptist Convention. Specifically, each state within the United States currently have subsidies of the SBC within their communities.

The Progressive National Convention is an organization that incorporates African American Baptists. They focus mainly on civil rights and social justices in the United States and abroad. It was formed in the United State in the state of Ohio in 1961. It formed as a subset of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc., in which policies regarding the desegregation of public schools, and other African American issues forced a division. It was created during the Civil Rights Movement in which people like Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X were prominent figures. The PNC has been known to represent Baptists that had an interest in political reform and activism. Although the PNC originated to serve the rights of African American Baptists, they collaborate with Baptists of all backgrounds, especially whites. Due to its roots, the PNC is a liberal organization the treats women differently than traditional Baptists do.

The National Baptist Convention USA Inc.,is the second largest Baptist organization in the world. For African American Baptists, it is the largest throughout the world. About eight million Baptists make up the membership of this organization. This convention existed back when black Baptist churches were not allowed to form organizations and had limited rights. The first meeting for the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. took place in the eighteen eighty in Montgomery Alabama.
Baptists have been around for quit some time. The influence of the separatists in England trickled into other countries throughout the world due to immigration of different peoples. Baptists have combated important issue throughout centuries, while keeping a main focus of serving Jesus Christ. The acceptance of Jesus Christ as the savior and guide through the lost worlds people live in has guided Baptist faith. The important of praise, worship, and baptism has crossed over ethnic barriers that are created by man. Baptists consider all people to be brothers and sisters under Christ, and continue to serve him daily. In addition, the Baptist faith now influences more believers of the Protestant faith.