Expert: Don Hurray - 3/2/2005

Question
I was wondering if you could tell me the differences between the Presbyterian denomination and the Southern Baptist Denomination.

Thanks so much!
Twilite

Answer
Hello Twilite,
   I am sorry this has taken so long to get to you.  My computer crashed.
   When you ask for the differences between Southern Baptist and Presbyterian it is a very broad question that has many answers.
    At my church in Nebraska I had many Southern Baptists worship at my church because there was not a good Southern baptist church in town.  They attended our Sunday School and worship.  They just refused to appove when we baptized babies.  They said we were just like a SBC.
   The two areas that are different are baptism and church government.  Southern Baptist churches have are independence and congregational.  Presbyterian Churches are connectional.  Thus we are a part of a Presbytery which has say so and imput in our local congregation.  This is usually good, sometimes bad just as being independent has its good and bad points.
   We believe the bible teaches that the "promises of God are for believers and their children".  This is why we baptize children into the church as members through their parents profession of faith to raise them unto the Lord.  We believe that baptism is the New Testament circumcision which marks us as believers and God's chosen people. It is based on God's work not on our work, and as children are under their parents they can make vows for them.  This is confirmed when they are about the age that Southern Baptists baptize.  Thus we confirm when they are accountable what we did as children whereas Baptists dedicate their children and baptize when accountable.
   But you will find that some Presbyterian Churches are very different from SB churches in that they are more liberal, don't believe in inerrancy, etc.  So not every Presbyterian church is like a SB church, and vice versa.  Hope this helps.