The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a Christian denomination in the United States. With over 15 million members, it is the world’s largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. (Ephesians 4:5-6).
The SBC was founded in 1845 by Southern Baptists who split from northern Baptists over the issue of slavery. Southern Baptists defended the right to own slaves, while northern Baptists believed slavery was wrong. This split exemplified the theological divide between North and South. After the American Civil War, the SBC remained a distinct denomination and continued to grow in numbers and influence (Matthew 10:34-36).
Here is an overview of what Southern Baptists believe:
1. The Bible
Southern Baptists uphold the inerrancy and authority of Scripture. They believe the Bible is fully inspired by God and carries God’s authority. The Bible is the supreme and final authority in all matters of doctrine and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
2. Salvation
Southern Baptists believe salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. They affirm the doctrines of total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints – also known as the five points of Calvinism or TULIP. (Ephesians 2:8-9).
3. Baptism
Southern Baptists practice believer’s baptism by immersion. Baptism doesn’t save a person but is a public profession of faith in Christ. They reject infant baptism and believe baptism is reserved only for believers who are old enough to understand the Gospel and choose faith in Jesus (Acts 8:36-38).
4. Eternal Security
Southern Baptists believe in the eternal security of the believer, also known as “once saved, always saved.” They believe someone who is genuinely saved can never lose his or her salvation. Apostasy is evidence the person was never really saved in the first place (John 10:28-29).
5. The Church
Southern Baptists have a congregationalist church structure. Each local church is autonomous and self-governing under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Local Southern Baptist churches voluntarily cooperate through the SBC to support missions and ministry (Matthew 16:18-19).
6. Priesthood of All Believers
Southern Baptists affirm the priesthood of all believers – that every Christian has direct access to God through Christ and shares equal status before God. The clergy have no special access to God beyond lay people (1 Peter 2:9-10).
7. Two Offices
Southern Baptists have two church offices: pastors (also called elders or overseers) and deacons. Pastors provide spiritual leadership and deacons serve the physical needs of the church (1 Timothy 3:1-13).
8. Individual Soul Liberty
Southern Baptists strongly defend individual soul liberty – the responsibility and freedom each person has to relate directly to God without imposition by any institution. However, they believe churches can determine their own membership requirements (Romans 14:5-12).
9. Separation of Church and State
Southern Baptists support the separation of church and state. They do not believe the church should rely on or be controlled by the government. However, individual Baptists are free to shape public policy in ways consistent with Scripture (Matthew 22:21).
10. Evangelism and Missions
Southern Baptists have a strong focus on evangelism and missions. They seek to spread the Gospel to all people throughout the world. Missions and evangelism represent a key purpose of the SBC (Matthew 28:19-20).
Beyond affirming biblical doctrine, here are some traits that characterize Southern Baptist churches:
Worship Style
Worship services tend to be simple with emphasis on the preaching of the Word. Music is often traditional hymns though many churches now sing a mix of hymns and contemporary worship songs. The Lord’s Supper is observed periodically as a symbolic ordinances (Psalm 150:1-6).
Programs and Ministries
Typical programs include Sunday School classes, youth groups, men’s and women’s ministries, music ministries, and mission organizations. Many offer support groups and Bible studies. Activities are centered on spiritual formation and discipleship (1 Corinthians 14:26).
Cooperative Missions
The SBC has a strong cooperative focus on domestic and foreign missions. Members voluntarily contribute through the Cooperative Program to support missions efforts worldwide (2 Corinthians 8:3-5).
Governance and Affiliation
Local Southern Baptist churches are accountable only to themselves and Jesus Christ. They partner voluntarily with the SBC for resources and mutual support but each church is autonomous (Matthew 18:15-20).
Social Positions
Southern Baptists tend to be theologically and socially conservative. They uphold biblical teachings on marriage, gender, sanctity of life, and related issues (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Racial Reconciliation Efforts
In more recent decades, the SBC has focused on efforts toward racial reconciliation and multiethnic inclusion. However, minorities remain a small percentage of members (Galatians 3:28).
In summary, Southern Baptists are evangelical Christians who adhere to key biblical doctrines and Baptist principles. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and sharing the Gospel message represent the core of their beliefs and mission. Their denominational structure allows likeminded Baptist churches to voluntarily cooperate in Great Commission work.
While they aim for unity around biblical doctrine, there is latitude in how local Southern Baptist churches conduct programming and worship. The diversity within the denomination demonstrates how God blesses each church differently with different gifts and styles to reach their local community (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).
Southern Baptists invite everyone to consider the life-changing message of the Gospel. Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection provides forgiveness and eternal life to those who repent and believe. Southern Baptists urge people to open their Bibles to learn more about God’s amazing redeeming grace (John 20:31).
There are over 47,000 Southern Baptist churches in the United States with an estimated 15 million members. It represents the largest Protestant group in the U.S. The SBC holds annual meetings and publishes literature to equip churches for ministry.
While other Baptist bodies exist, the Southern Baptist Convention is the largest and most influential Baptist denomination in America. The SBC’s reach spans not just the southern U.S. but extends through all fifty states and Puerto Rico.
The Southern Baptist Convention formed in 1845 when southern Baptists split from northern Baptists over the issue of slavery prior to the American Civil War. Southern slaveholders defended slavery as biblically permissible, while northern abolitionists asserted that slavery was morally wrong.
This led southern Baptists to break away and form a new convention in order to appoint pro-slavery missionaries. The SBC became the predominant religious organization across the southern U.S. and went on to gain nationwide influence in subsequent decades.
After the Civil War ended slavery, the SBC continued operating as an independent denomination. Throughout its history, the SBC has upheld theological conservatism and social conservatism rooted in a literal interpretation of the Bible.
In 1995, the SBC adopted a resolution repenting of its pro-slavery origins. More recent efforts have focused on racial reconciliation and pursuing multiethnic inclusion within the convention.
The SBC is headquartered in Nashville, TN and led by a president elected annually. Entities of the SBC include seminaries, colleges, mission boards, relief organizations, and publishing houses. Lifeway Christian Resources is the SBC’s publishing arm and retail chain.
The SBC supports missionary work through the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and International Mission Board (IMB). There are over 10,000 SBC missionaries serving worldwide.
The SBC holds an annual meeting attended by messengers from affiliated churches. Resolutions and position statements are adopted to voice the convention’s official stance on issues from a biblical perspective.
While the SBC maintains denominational ties, each local Southern Baptist church remains autonomous. Local congregations voluntarily choose to affiliate with SBC entities for resources and cooperative ministry endeavors.
Due to its large size and strong evangelical identity, the SBC has significant influence in the religious and political landscape of America. Its policy positions and activist initiatives impact the nation as Baptists seek to apply biblical principles in the public square.
In summary, the Southern Baptist Convention formed before the Civil War and has grown into the largest Protestant denomination in America and the world’s largest Baptist denomination. Its cooperative structure allows it to fund missionaries worldwide while maintaining autonomy among individual Baptist churches.