Baptists
Definition
Baptists are Christians who believe in 'believer's baptism', meaning that only individuals who profess faith in Christ should be baptized. This baptism is usually done by full immersion in water.
Analogy
Imagine going to a buffet restaurant where you're allowed to eat only when you declare you're hungry enough for it - not because someone else decides for you. That’s how Baptists view baptism – it’s a conscious choice made by someone old enough to understand its significance.
Related terms
John Smyth: An early Baptist minister from England whose teachings greatly influenced the Baptist Church.
Separation of Church and State: The principle that government must maintain an attitude of neutrality toward religion; many Baptists strongly support this concept due to their historical experiences with state churches in Europe.
Evangelicalism: A worldwide trans-denominational movement within Protestant Christianity that maintains the belief that the essence of the Gospel consists of the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ's atonement.
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