Baptist vs. Presbyterian

1. Presbyterians believe in infant baptism, Baptists in believer's baptism. Therefore, they see the significance of the practice differently.
2. The form of government. Baptists practice the "autonomy of the local church," while Presbyterians are governed not only at the local church level, but also by their denomination - the presbytery, or governing elders.

There are plenty of more subtle doctrinal differences, and organizational differences, but in actual practice, those are the two things one would notice right away. The more learned among us could get deeper than that.

[ January 17, 2005, 04:10 PM: Message edited by: Debby in Philly ]

 

Presbyterian's believe in Covenant Theology while the majority of Baptists are either dispensational (and the various forms of it) or New Covenant Theology. It is this difference that brings about all the other ones.

Now there are Refromed Baptists (IE. James White)that hold to the London Baptist Confession of 1689. The type of theology in this document is a slighlty modified form of Covenant Theology which is why Reformed Baptists often have more in common with Presbyterians then some groups of baptists.

Bryan
SDG

 

That is a human characteristic that is not bound by denominational lines.

 

Depeds which group of Press Buttons! There are several denominations within the Presbyterians, a little like Baptists!

 

1. Ecclesiology: Presbyterian churches are governed by a plurality of elders, Baptists ultimately by autonomous congregations

2. Soteriology: all Presbyterians are in theory at least Calvinist of one stripe or another; Baptists are a mixture of General (Arminian) and Particular (Calvinist)

For starters...

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

the main diference is that Presby's are afraid of water!

 

And we see the Biblical justification for ordaining women, for calling sacraments sacraments, etc.

And, fyi, eaglewing, we are most decidedly not afraid of water. A person wishing to be baptized by full immersion will be accomodated, as well as someone wanting sprinkling or pouring. We find that the most important aspect of baptism is the person's willingness to submit to the will of God, not how wet he or she gets in the process.

 

How can an infant decide that?

 

The Baptists are always right and Biblical.

Everyone else is always wrong and unBiblical.

Joseph Botwinick

 

BTW,

I am just kidding.

Joseph Botwinick

 

The main difference is that Baptists are all wet.


I was born and raised a Baptist (actually been baptized twice), joined a PCA church 2 years ago.

When discussing what goes by the name 'Presbyterian' today, there is a need for awareness of the fact that much of the larger 'Presbyterian' body has gone apostate and denied fundamental Christian truth.

 

No we don't. There is no Biblical justification for that, and to suggest otherwise denies the old Presbyterian standard of Sola Scriptura.

 

This is a summary of real Presbyterian belief:

The Westminster Confession of Faith

 

Once a Baptist and a Presbyterian were arguing about Baptism.

"Tell me something," says the Presbyterian, "if a man gets baptized but only goes under the water up to his knees, is that Baptism valid?" "No," his friend replied.

"What if he gets wet up to his waist, then is it valid?" "No," again was the reply.

"What if he goes under up to his shoulders?" "No"

"What if he goes all the way under except for the very top of his head? Is his Baptism valid then?" "No," was the Baptist's reply.

"But if the top of his head gets wet, then the Baptism is valid?" "Yes, that is correct," replied the Baptist.

"Oh I see," said the Presbyterian--"so you're saying that the only thing that matters is the top of his head!"




(...hoping I don't get kicked off the board now. )

 

You're welcome.

Do you know the denomination of your friend's church? (PCA, PC-USA, OPC, etc...)

 

That is - "one who wishes to be obedient to the Lord regarding baptism will be accomodated, as well as someone wanting to be disobedient." If someone is willing to submit to the will of God, he will be immersed as the Bible teaches.

 

No we don't. There is no Biblical justification for that, and to suggest otherwise denies the old Presbyterian standard of Sola Scriptura. </font>[/QUOTE]Oh, I forgot to say that most Presbyterian denominations see the Biblical justification for ordaining women. The PCA split from the PC(US) in the early eighties, if memory serves, over this issue.

monergist, you want to debate it, start a thread. Try and give me more than the usual single-Scripture justification, OK?