If you’re thinking about visiting or joining an Independent Baptist church in Galesburg IL, it’s a good idea to look closely at what this group teaches.
Beliefs and practices vary from church to church, but all Independent Baptist churches practice baptism by immersing professing believers and teach that all believers can relate directly to God without the need for an intermediary.
Baptism By Immersion
In an Independent Baptist church, believers choose to be baptized, usually in front of the whole congregation, as a sign of obedience to Christ. The congregation serves as witnesses, confirming the believer’s choice to follow Christ and providing ongoing accountability throughout their life. Since infants are unable to make this choice, they are not baptized.
Typically, baptism is performed close to the time when a person accepts Christ. However, Baptists do not teach that baptism is necessary for salvation. Rather, they view baptism as an outward sign of an inward transformation that has already occurred. Baptism is not done by sprinkling water on a person’s head, but by fully immersing them in water. Baptism by immersion is intended to symbolize Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. It also represents the believer’s choice to continually die to their sins and their flesh throughout their new life as a Christian.
The Bible as Sole Authority
Independent Baptist churches teach that the Bible itself should be our sole authority when determining spiritual matters. Independent Baptist churches do not view themselves as bound by external creeds, councils, or doctrinal statements. Rather, each church and believer is responsible to interpret Scripture directly, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Likewise, Independent Baptists reject church hierarchies which categorize believers into spiritual classes. They do follow the New Testament model of appointing one or more pastors, and sometimes elders or deacons, as practical local church leadership. However, they do not view these leaders as having any exclusive spiritual powers beyond what every believer has access to. This means that major church decisions are often brought before church members for a vote, where a simple majority carries.
When the Bible appears to conflict with a different authority, Independent Baptists teach that the Bible should be trusted at all times. Proverbs 30:5 tells us that every word of God is pure. Thus, our task when reading the Bible is not to separate truth from untruth, but to accept all of it as truth by faith. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that all scripture is truth we can profit from as believers, and knowledge of all scripture is necessary in order for us to be mature and complete in our knowledge of Christ.
Of course, trusting the Bible’s authority isn’t the same as trusting one’s own conclusions about the Bible. While submitting to scriptural authority, Independent Baptists recognize that their own understanding of scripture can mature and be refined over time. This can be a result of the Holy Spirit’s guidance or of interaction with other believers who help us see the truths of the Bible more richly and fully. In 2 Peter 3:16, Peter acknowledges that the Bible contains some truths that are difficult to understand. Rather than twisting and distorting its message for personal gain, Peter encourages believers to grow in knowledge and Christlikeness so that they will be better able to comprehend the truths of God’s word.
The Priesthood of Believers
In an Independent Baptist church, believers are taught to go directly before God’s throne in prayer. When a believer sins, they are to confess to God and ask forgiveness, but going through a priest or other church official is not necessary. Hebrews 4:16 encourages every believer to approach God’s throne with confidence, where they can find grace and help from God Himself. Independent Baptists do often choose to confess their sins to one another in obedience to James 5:16, but this is not considered a requirement to be spiritually cleansed from sin. Independent Baptists see confession to other believers as valuable because sharing one’s struggles with others is an excellent way to gain support, prayer and accountability.
Interpreting Scripture
Independent Baptists accept the plain, literal meaning of Scripture wherever it is found. If a verse makes a clear, easily understood statement, Independent Baptists receive the meaning at face value. They do see the value in examining the grammatical structure of a scriptural passage and considering the historical context. However, they do not read the Bible looking for “hidden” or obscure meanings, but rather seek to understand its normal, literal meaning. Some churches in Galesburg IL take different approaches to Scripture, interpreting statements that could be read as straightforward as having allegorical, symbolic, or mythological meanings instead.
There are many difficult passages in Scripture. When interpreting confusing or controversial Scriptural writings, Independent Baptists seek enlightenment from the Holy Spirit while considering context, grammar, and historical study. However, the Bible makes many plain and direct statements which should be taken to mean exactly what they say. Allegorizing or symbolizing scripture excessively can be a way to avoid acknowledging hard biblical truths that a reader may not want to confront.
Independent Baptists accept all of Scripture as equally authoritative and take care to study the Bible as a coherent whole, rather than picking and choosing certain portions to emphasize and others to ignore. As you explore churches in Galesburg, take a look at the sermons preached over a period of time and notice whether the pastor is preaching systematically (covering verse by verse) or topically. Topical sermons can be effective at times and have an appropriate role to fill. However, Independent Baptists often prefer to also incorporate some expositional preaching to ensure all of God’s Word is being read and discussed faithfully.
Conclusion: Should I Attend an Independent Baptist Church?
Independent churches in Galesburg Illinois certainly have their differences, but they agree on important shared values. Harmony Baptist Church welcomes you to visit our “Our Beliefs” page to gain a fuller understanding of our doctrinal positions. While you’re browsing, check out our “Sermons” page to see how we worship and learn together. If you’re looking for a Galesburg church home, we are happy to answer any questions you may have!
