The Reformed Baptist Church is a denomination of Baptist churches that adheres to Reformed theology. Reformed theology emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Bible, the necessity of grace, and salvation through faith alone. Here is an overview of some of the key beliefs and practices of Reformed Baptist churches:
History
The Reformed Baptist movement has its roots in the 16th and 17th century Reformation led by figures like John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli. Early English Baptists like John Bunyan and Benjamin Keach held to Reformed theology while maintaining credobaptist views (believer’s baptism). In the late 1700s, Baptist pastor Andrew Fuller helped promote Calvinistic doctrine among Baptists in England, paving the way for later Reformed Baptist leaders like Charles Spurgeon. The first Reformed Baptist church in the United States was formed in the early 1800s. Today there are Reformed Baptist associations across North America and the world.
Doctrine
Reformed Baptists affirm the key doctrines that came out of the Reformation, including:
- The sovereignty of God over all things (Isaiah 46:10)
- The supreme authority of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- The depravity of mankind due to sin (Romans 3:10-12)
- Salvation by grace alone through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- Thedoctrines of grace, often represented by the acronym TULIP:
- Total depravity
- Unconditional election
- Limited atonement
- Irresistible grace
- Perseverance of the saints
Reformed Baptists also hold to credobaptist views on baptism, believing that baptism is reserved only for professing believers, not infants.
Worship
Reformed Baptist worship services are generally simple, with a focus on preaching, prayer, singing psalms and hymns, and reading Scripture. The Regulative Principle of Worship guides their services, meaning they include only those elements they believe are positively commanded in Scripture. Reformed Baptists practice two ordinances or sacraments – believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Most Reformed Baptist churches do not use musical instruments or have choirs.
Church Government
Reformed Baptist churches are elder-led and congregationally governed. Each local church is autonomous and elects its own elders/pastors and deacons based on the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Elders provide spiritual leadership and oversight, while deacons attend to practical needs and service. Reformed Baptists have a plural elder structure where pastor and elders share equal authority.
Missions & Evangelism
Reformed Baptists emphasize the need to spread the gospel message for God’s glory. They reject Arminian views of free will and instead hold to predestination and election. At the same time, they believe preaching the gospel freely to all is a means God uses to call His elect. Historic confessions like the 1689 London Baptist Confession promote gospel proclamation. Many Reformed Baptists are active in domestic and global missions efforts.
Key Figures & Groups
Some prominent Reformed Baptists and groups include:
- Benjamin Keach – 17th century English Baptist leader
- Charles Spurgeon – famous 19th century London preacher
- John Piper – influential 20th/21st century pastor and theologian
- Al Mohler – president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- John MacArthur – pastor and radio teacher
- Founders Ministries – promotes Reformed theology in the SBC
- Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America – association of RB churches
- 1689 Federalism – Reformed Baptist covenant theology
Relation to Other Baptists
Reformed Baptists differ from Arminian evangelical Baptists primarily on doctrines of salvation, predestination, and election. They also differ from Landmarkism Baptists who believe only Baptist churches are legitimate. Compared to Southern Baptists, Reformed Baptists have a more elder-led structure and emphasis on confessions. But many Southern Baptists today are Calvinistic in soteriology.
Comparison to Other Reformed Traditions
Reformed Baptists share the core doctrines of Reformed theology with other Reformed and Calvinistic groups. However, they differ from Presbyterian and Continental Reformed churches in their views on baptism, church government, covenant theology, and the relationship between the church and state. Reformed Baptists reject infant baptism, practice elder-led congregational church government, and support religious liberty. But they share more in common with these groups than with Arminian churches.
Key Distinctives
Some of the key distinctives of Reformed Baptist churches include:
- Reformed theology coupled with credobaptist views
- Elder-led congregational church government
- Believer’s baptism by immersion only
- Weekly observance of Lord’s Supper
- Expository preaching
- Simplicity in worship, no instruments/choirs
- Importance of confessions like 1689 LBCF
- Commitment to evangelism and missions
- Connectedness to broader Reformed community
Demographics & Geographical Presence
There are no definitive statistics on Reformed Baptists worldwide. Estimates suggest around 2-3 million adherents globally. Reformed Baptists have associations of churches across North America, the United Kingdom, Africa, Asia, and South America. Larger concentrations are found in the United States and South Africa. Many Reformed Baptist churches are still quite small. But some prominent mega-churches like John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church reflect Reformed Baptist beliefs.
Criticisms & Controversies
Some criticisms and controversies related to Reformed Baptists include:
- Accusations of hyper-Calvinism – Critics argue five point Calvinism leads to extreme views.
- Debates over covenant theology – Different systems like 1689 Federalism vs New Covenant theology.
- Exclusive psalmody in worship – Only allowing psalm singing is divisive.
- Overemphasis on doctrine – Focus on right doctrine minimizes Christian unity and love.
- Too restrictive – Strict adherence to the Regulative Principle and simplicity is legalistic.
- Ecumenism concerns – Cooperation with non-Reformed evangelicals is problematic.
- Lack of compassion/evangelism – Harsh Calvinist views inhibit evangelism.
Proponents counter these critiques by arguing Reformed Baptists affirm God’s sovereignty while still promoting evangelism, Christian liberty allows diversity in worship, and doctrine brings clarity and devotion. These debates continue within Reformed Baptist circles.
Institutions, Publications & Media
Some key institutions, publications, and media that reflect or support Reformed Baptist beliefs include:
- Reformed Baptist Seminary (RBS) – trains pastors and church leaders
- Founders Ministries – promotes Reformed theology via conferences/resources
- Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America (ARBCA) – association of RB churches
- 1689 Baptist Network – connects Reformed Baptist churches
- Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary – trains students in Reformed Baptist theology
- Founders Journal – published by Founders Ministries
- Reformation 21 – online magazine from AIIA Institute
- Inheritance Publications – publishes Reformed Baptist books
- Reformed Baptist Academic Press – publishes scholarly Reformed Baptist works
- Grace to You – John MacArthur’s radio/media ministry
Through these organizations, publications, and multimedia platforms, the beliefs and influence of Reformed Baptists continue to spread worldwide.
Concluding Thoughts
The Reformed Baptist movement traces its origins back to the 16th century Reformation but took on a distinct identity in the 17th and 18th centuries as Calvinistic Baptists emerged holding to sola scriptura, salvation by grace alone, and credobaptist views. Today Reformed Baptist churches uphold Reformed theology coupled with Baptist doctrine and polity. With their emphasis on the sovereignty of God, authority of Scripture, elder leadership, and gospel proclamation, Reformed Baptists aim to reform churches to align with the Bible’s doctrines. They also seek to share the message of salvation by grace with the world. Though still relatively small, the Reformed Baptist tradition continues to grow and make an impact within the larger evangelical world.