If you're on this page. You're really doing a deep dive into our church! 😅
That's ok we love that.
What's Free Will Baptist? What's different about Free Will Baptist? Yeah, we get this question a lot.
First, we are Baptist. All Baptists come from a common English heritage and eventually made their way to America. All Baptists in America can basically trace their roots back to Roger Williams and the First Baptist Church of America. In this way, like all other Baptists, we maintain something called Baptist disticitives. They are...
1. Biblical Authority
2. Believer's Baptism by Immersion
3. Regenerate Church Membership
4. Congregational Church Government
5. Local Church Autonomy
6. Priesthood of All Believers
7. Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State
Click here for a great article on this.
Again, Free Will Baptists, like all Baptists, affirm all of the above.
Secondly, the "Free Will" in our name signals that we are non-Calvinist. Now, if you don't know what Calvinism is or who John Calvin was, or if you've never read the Westminster Confession of Faith while stroking your beard and sipping scotch (sorry... low-hanging Calvinist stereotype😉)... well, that's ok. Just know... Free Will Baptists are not Calvinists.
Don't get me wrong, we love our Calvinist brothers and sisters in Christ. However, we are not Calvinists. Much more could be said about all of this, and if you'd like further explanation or just to nerd out about theology... our pastor, Daniel Sweet, would love to talk to you. He's a real theology nerd and an actual Bible scholar, like actually. So reach out to him here if you have further questions.
Fun Fact: Free Will Baptists have a proud anti-slavery & abolitionist history. Do your own research, of course, but here are two articles to get you going. Here & Here.
That's ok we love that.
What's Free Will Baptist? What's different about Free Will Baptist? Yeah, we get this question a lot.
First, we are Baptist. All Baptists come from a common English heritage and eventually made their way to America. All Baptists in America can basically trace their roots back to Roger Williams and the First Baptist Church of America. In this way, like all other Baptists, we maintain something called Baptist disticitives. They are...
1. Biblical Authority
2. Believer's Baptism by Immersion
3. Regenerate Church Membership
4. Congregational Church Government
5. Local Church Autonomy
6. Priesthood of All Believers
7. Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State
Click here for a great article on this.
Again, Free Will Baptists, like all Baptists, affirm all of the above.
Secondly, the "Free Will" in our name signals that we are non-Calvinist. Now, if you don't know what Calvinism is or who John Calvin was, or if you've never read the Westminster Confession of Faith while stroking your beard and sipping scotch (sorry... low-hanging Calvinist stereotype😉)... well, that's ok. Just know... Free Will Baptists are not Calvinists.
Don't get me wrong, we love our Calvinist brothers and sisters in Christ. However, we are not Calvinists. Much more could be said about all of this, and if you'd like further explanation or just to nerd out about theology... our pastor, Daniel Sweet, would love to talk to you. He's a real theology nerd and an actual Bible scholar, like actually. So reach out to him here if you have further questions.
Fun Fact: Free Will Baptists have a proud anti-slavery & abolitionist history. Do your own research, of course, but here are two articles to get you going. Here & Here.