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WHAT
IS THE BAPTIST TRADITION?
Historically,
Christians of the Baptist traditions began as "separatist" which our
fellow Anglicans labeled us, during the late 1500's in England. Since that
beginning FREEDOM has been a key
passion. Four FREEDOMS have
dominated.
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BIBLE
FREEDOM! Christians are obligated to study and be free to use the best
scholarly tools of inquiry. The Bible is central to individual and church life,
but always under the authority of Jesus, the Christ of God. No institutional
church authority can be allowed to obscure or limit this freedom.
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SOUL FREEDOM! The right and
responsibility of every individual to form a personal relationship with God,
without the imposition of a creed (a human summary of absolute truths),
dominance by clergy, or the intervention of civil government (to promote or
to authorize).
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CHURCH
FREEDOM! Under the authority of Jesus, the Christ, local churches are free
to determine their membership, ordain their leadership, determine the form of
their ministry, and to associate with the larger Christian community.
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RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM! Christians are free OF religion, FOR religion, and free FROM
religion. The state is not Christ and Christ is not the state. This protects the
integrity of Christians to speak to public issues without trying to use the
coercive powers of the state to advocate their positions. Religious freedom
advocates that the best society is where persons of Faith and of no Faith are
free to advocate and debate beliefs.
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