Believer's Baptism and Church Autonomy - Story

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Baptist distinctives center on biblical authority and individual responsibility before God. The Ethiopian eunuch's question epitomizes Baptist conviction: 'What can stand in the way of my being baptized?' (Acts 8:36-37). Philip's response was clear—if you believe, you may be baptized. This establishes the Baptist principle of believer's baptism: baptism follows faith, not precedes it. Baptism by immersion symbolizes our death to sin and resurrection to new life with Christ. It's not a sacrament that conveys grace, but an ordinance that declares grace already received. The Great Commission commands making disciples, then baptizing them (Matthew 28:19). The order matters—discipleship precedes baptism. This connects to soul liberty—the principle that each person must freely choose to follow Christ without coercion from church or state. No one can believe for another; faith is personal and individual. This extends to church autonomy—each local congregation is self-governing under Christ's headship. No external authority—whether pope, bishop, or denominational headquarters—can dictate to the local church. The congregation itself, guided by Scripture and prayer, makes decisions about membership, ministry, and mission. This isn't independence for its own sake, but recognition that Christ alone is head of His church. These principles led Baptists to champion religious freedom and separation of church and state—convictions that helped shape American democracy.