Regular Baptists are "a moderately
Calvinistic Baptist
Reformed Baptists (sometimes known as Particular Baptists or Calvinistic Baptists) are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology (salvation). The first Calvinist Baptist church was formed in the 1630s. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith w ...
sect that is found chiefly in the southern U.S., represents the original English Baptists before the division into
Particular
In metaphysics, particulars or individuals are usually contrasted with universals. Universals concern features that can be exemplified by various different particulars. Particulars are often seen as concrete, spatiotemporal entities as opposed to a ...
and General Baptists, and observes
closed communion
Closed communion is the practice of restricting the serving of the elements of Holy Communion (also called Eucharist, The Lord's Supper) to those who are members in good standing of a particular church, denomination, sect, or congregation. Though ...
and
foot washing", according to Merriam Webster. This definition describes
Old Regular Baptists
The Old Regular Baptist denomination is one of the oldest in Appalachia with roots in both the Regular and Separate Baptists of the American Colonies and the Particular Baptist of Great Britain. This group has seen a marked decline in its member ...
, not those who formed as a result of the
Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy.
The most prominent Regular Baptist group is the
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC), established in 1932 is an Independent Baptist Christian denomination in United States, retaining the name "Regular Baptist". The association's home office is located in Arlington Height ...
. While the term ''Regular'' ''Baptist'' was originally a reference to the
Particular Baptists
Reformed Baptists (sometimes known as Particular Baptists or Calvinistic Baptists) are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology (salvation). The first Calvinist Baptist church was formed in the 1630s. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith w ...
, it came to be used more loosely as a synonym for ''orthodox''. The
Baptist Bulletin' of the
GARBC
The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC), established in 1932 is an Independent Baptist Christian denomination in United States, retaining the name "Regular Baptist". The association's home office is located in Arlington Height ...
defines them simply as groups who believe "orthodox,
Baptist doctrine" and "affirm the rule or measure of the Scripture."
As compared to
General Baptist
General Baptists are Baptists who hold the ''general'' or unlimited atonement view, the belief that Jesus Christ died for the entire world and not just for the chosen Election (Christianity), elect. General Baptists are theologically Arminian, whic ...
s or
Free Baptist
Free Will Baptists are a group of General Baptist denominations of Christianity that teach free grace, free salvation and free will. The movement can be traced back to the 1600s with the development of General Baptism in England. Its formal est ...
s, Regular Baptists were strict in their beliefs, and therefore also called Strict or Hard-shell Baptists.
To be a Regular Baptist church in the
GARBC
The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC), established in 1932 is an Independent Baptist Christian denomination in United States, retaining the name "Regular Baptist". The association's home office is located in Arlington Height ...
is to hold to distinctive baptistic ecclesiology and interpret the Bible literally.
History
United States
The term Regular Baptists developed in America from English immigrants who had been influenced by the
Particular
In metaphysics, particulars or individuals are usually contrasted with universals. Universals concern features that can be exemplified by various different particulars. Particulars are often seen as concrete, spatiotemporal entities as opposed to a ...
and
General Baptist
General Baptists are Baptists who hold the ''general'' or unlimited atonement view, the belief that Jesus Christ died for the entire world and not just for the chosen Election (Christianity), elect. General Baptists are theologically Arminian, whic ...
s churches that were established in England.
According to Stuart Ivison and Fred Rosser: "By 1638 there were also congregations of ‘Particular’ Baptists, who held that the Atonement was of particular application, i.e., for the sake of the elect only."
The General, also known as
Free Baptists
Free Will Baptists are a group of General Baptist denominations of Christianity that teach free grace, free salvation and free will. The movement can be traced back to the 1600s with the development of General Baptism in England. Its formal est ...
, however, believed that all people could reap the benefits of atonement.
This meant, particularly for the western pioneers, that individuals that were
baptize
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christians, Christian sacrament of initiation and Adoption ...
d were allowed to become church members and take
communion.
The number of Regular Baptists began to increase over the number of
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
or
Free Baptists
Free Will Baptists are a group of General Baptist denominations of Christianity that teach free grace, free salvation and free will. The movement can be traced back to the 1600s with the development of General Baptism in England. Its formal est ...
after the 1707 formation of the Philadelphia Baptist Association (PBA), which in 1742 developed a
Confession of Faith
A creed, also known as a confession of faith, a symbol, or a statement of faith, is a statement of the shared beliefs of a community (often a religious community) in a form which is structured by subjects which summarize its core tenets.
The ea ...
.
The influence and mission program of the Philadelphia Baptists shifted many of the
Free Baptists
Free Will Baptists are a group of General Baptist denominations of Christianity that teach free grace, free salvation and free will. The movement can be traced back to the 1600s with the development of General Baptism in England. Its formal est ...
to Regular Baptists.
John Asplund traveled the United States and created the first comprehensive list of Baptist denominations in the United States in 1790 entitled ''Annual Register of the Baptist Denomination in America''. He found that the greatest number of Baptist churches at that time were Regular Baptist churches.
In the 1800s, the term ''Regular Baptist'' came to describe the
Free Baptists
Free Will Baptists are a group of General Baptist denominations of Christianity that teach free grace, free salvation and free will. The movement can be traced back to the 1600s with the development of General Baptism in England. Its formal est ...
.
This was a surprising change as the term ''regular'' initially described the opposing position to the
Free Baptists
Free Will Baptists are a group of General Baptist denominations of Christianity that teach free grace, free salvation and free will. The movement can be traced back to the 1600s with the development of General Baptism in England. Its formal est ...
(i.e., particular atonement). This happened as a result of the strict view of
communion they took which held that individuals must be baptized prior to partaking of the Lord's Table.
Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the
Northern Baptist Convention
The American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is a mainline/evangelical Baptist Christian denomination within the United States. The denomination maintains headquarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The organization is usually considered mainli ...
was polluted by individuals who were adopting the higher-critical theories of German theologians. This caused many to separate from the convention and to form several groups of conservative, fundamental baptists. During this, the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches was born. Their designation as Regular Baptists was unrelated to the dispute over general and particular atonement.
There are still a number of organizations that are considered Regular Baptists, but the degree of strictness regarding atonement beliefs may vary across Regular Baptists churches today.
*
Old Regular Baptist
The Old Regular Baptist Religious denomination, denomination is one of the oldest in Appalachia with roots in both the Regular Baptists, Regular and Separate Baptists of the American Colonies and the Particular Baptist of Great Britain. This group ...
s is a group formed in Kentucky in 1825 from the New Salem Association of United Baptists, which was formed in Kentucky in 1825. After several name changes, its name has been Old Regular since 1892. They practice
foot washing and observe closed communion.
* The Sovereign Grace Association of Old Regular Baptist Churches of Jesus Christ conducts many of the practices of the Old Regular Baptists, but consider themselves more conservative.
* The
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC), established in 1932 is an Independent Baptist Christian denomination in United States, retaining the name "Regular Baptist". The association's home office is located in Arlington Height ...
— organized in 1932 by conservative and fundamentalist churches withdrawing from the Northern Baptist Convention (now
American Baptist Church
The American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is a mainline/evangelical Baptist Christian denomination within the United States. The denomination maintains headquarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The organization is usually considered mainl ...
es).
Today, there are more than 1,200 churches in their association. Unlike other Regular Baptist groups, they are primarily in the North, they do not practice
foot washing as an ordinance, and they take no position on
calvinism
Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Cal ...
. They manage and operate
Regular Baptist Press
The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC), established in 1932 is an Independent Baptist Christian denomination in United States, retaining the name "Regular Baptist". The association's home office is located in Arlington Height ...
, the publishing arm of their association. They are headquartered in
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Arlington Heights is a municipality in Cook County with a small portion in Lake County in the U.S. state of Illinois. A suburb of Chicago, it lies about northwest of the city's downtown. Per the 2020 Census, the population was 77,676. Per the ...
.
Canada
The term Regular Baptists denotes churches with strict, orthodox Baptist beliefs.
In 1928, the Union of Regular Baptist Churches was formed in Hamilton, Ontario. It was succeeded in 1957 by the
Association of Regular Baptist Churches
The Association of Regular Baptist Churches was an Independent Baptist Christian denomination in Canada.
History
One of its leading churches is Jarvis Street Baptist Church of Toronto, Ontario, whose well-known pastor of 45 years, Thomas Todhun ...
of Ontario, Canada, which continues to uphold closed communion teaching and practice.
Related organizations
*
Union Baptists
Union Baptists is a Baptist Christian denomination in United States.
History
It trace their origin to the American Civil War, or war between the northern and southern United States. Baptist churches and associations, especially in border states, ...
— a strand of Regular Baptists that owes its origin to the
Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
. Churches and associations, especially in border states, were rent asunder by this national conflict. Tensions over secession, war and reconstruction, as well as the fact that Primitive Baptists did not allow members to hold membership in secret societies, combined to incubate the Union Baptists. Many pro-Union Primitive Baptists joined Union Leagues and were expelled from their churches and associations. The Mountain Union Association, formed in 1867, was the first "Union" Baptist Association. Unlike other areas, this distinction, at least in name, has persisted, and some churches and associations consider themselves "Union Baptists". There seems to be no doctrinal distinction between Union Baptists and Regular Baptists. Three associations — Original Mountain Union, Primitive and Union — have about 3300 members in 36 churches. Mitchell River Union Baptist Association may still be in existence.
*Regular Baptists — found in 5 local associations; much like the Old Regular Baptists, and located in the same region, but more open to changes in worship and lifestyle. Churches have allowed notated hymnals, Sunday Schools, revivals and even instrumental music. Three associations, mostly in
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
, are in correspondence — Little River, Little Valley and Mountain Union (708 members in 15 churches in 1999). Two others are in isolated areas and not connected to the first three — East Washington in
Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...
(1560 members in 10 churches in 1999) and Enterprise in
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
,
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
and bordering areas (4288 members in 63 churches in 1999).
*
Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada
The Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada is an Evangelical Baptist association in Canada. It is affiliated with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The national headquarters are located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. In 2011 Rev. St ...
— although the FEBCC is not generally considered Regular Baptist, some churches of this Fellowship still carry Regular Baptist as part of their name, especially in
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
. Three of four major bodies forming and entering the FEBCC from 1953 to 1965 were Regular Baptist.
*
Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ)
Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ) is a Baptists, Baptist Christianity, Christian association of churches in central Canada. The organization's headquarters is based in Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. CBOQ is a partner of Canadian ...
— Many Baptist churches were once Regular Baptist Churches. The CBOQ exists to equip churches and leaders to engage with their mission from God in their community.
Notable members
*
Thomas
Thomas may refer to:
People
* List of people with given name Thomas
* Thomas (name)
* Thomas (surname)
* Saint Thomas (disambiguation)
* Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church
* Thomas the Ap ...
and
Nancy Lincoln
Nancy Hanks Lincoln (February 5, 1784 – October 5, 1818) was the mother of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Her marriage to Thomas Lincoln also produced a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Thomas Jr. When Nancy and Thomas had been married for j ...
, President
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...
's parents, were members of the Licking-Locust Association of Regular Baptists in Kentucky.
Notes
References
Further reading
*
* Kevin Bauder (2012).
Baptist Distinctives and New Testament Church Order'' Regular Baptist Press. .
*Kevin Bauder; Robert Delnay (2014).
One in Hope and Doctrine: Origins of Baptist Fundamentalism 1870—1950'. Regular Baptist Press. .
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* Paul N. Tassel (1991)
''Quest for Faithfulness: the Account of a Unique Fellowship of Churches'' Regular Baptist Press.
*
* {{cite book, author=Terry Wolever, title=A Noble Company, Volume 4: Biographical Essays on Notable Particular-Regular Baptists in America, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REzQngEACAAJ, date=January 1, 2014, publisher=Particular Baptist Press, isbn=978-1-888514-46-9
Baptist movements
Reformed Baptists