Dr. Mohler on being Baptist...

From time to time I will pick up the book entitled, "Why I Am A Baptist" edited by Tom J. Nettles and Russell D. Moore so that I can read what individuals have to say about being a Baptist. On this occasion it was Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. that I came across. Dr. Mohler is probably the face of the Southern Baptist Convention right now. He is the President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky; the flagship school of the SBC. SBTS is one of the largest seminaries in the world and even in these tough economical times the school continues to grow and thrive. I truly enjoy reading and listening to Dr. Mohler because of his knowledge for church history and his desire to be known for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. I thank God for what He is doing through Dr. Mohler and the rest of the leadership at SBTS.

I have pulled the following from Dr. Mohler's article in the book. This information and a little more about Dr. Mohler can be found on pages 58-64 of "Why I Am A Baptist" edited by Tom J. Nettles and Russell D. Moore. I hope the following give us Baptists a little more understanding on why we are Baptist.

THE INTEGRITY OF THE GOSPEL

Baptists are gospel people. We cherish the gospel of Jesus Christ as the means of salvation to all who believe. We know that there is salvation in the name of Jesus and in no other name. Sinners come to Christ by faith, and are justified by faith alone. Grace is our theme and the gospel of Jesus Christ is our message. As the 1644 London Confession stated: "The tenders of the absolutely necessary, any qualifications, preparations, terrors of the Law, or preceding ministry of the Law, but only and alone the naked soul, as a sinner and ungodly to receive Christ, as crucified, dead, and buried, and risen again, being made a Prince and a Savior for such sinners."
Believer's baptism is essential to our understanding of the gospel, for it is our public profession of faith in Christ. It underscores the necessity of personal confession of Christ as Savior and Lord, and denies any faith by proxy. Our rejection of infant baptism is rooted in the clear and normative New Testament witness to the baptism of believers by immersion. But we are also chastened by the knowledge that millions of persons, baptized as infants, consider themselves Christians while never confessing Christ as Savior. I am a Baptist because we defend the integrity of the gospel.

THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

Every denomination operates under some concept of spiritual authority, however vague or unbiblical it may be. Baptists often describe their churches as "spiritual democracies." This is a true statement, but it can be dangerously misunderstood. Christ rules in his church, and he rules through his Word.
The Bible, and the Bible alone, hold ultimate authority in a Baptist congregation. The Second London Confession of Faith (1677) put the issue plainly: "The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own Glory, man's salvation, Faith and Life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture; unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new Revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men."
Baptist congregationalism is an exercise in bringing ourselves under submission to the Word of God--not in exercising our own authority in the place of Scripture.

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

Congregationalism is more than a system of church polity; it is the Baptist vision of the visible church as revealed in the New Testament. The core of congregationalism is the affirmation of our responsibility, under the lordship of Christ and the authority of Scripture, to come together as believers under a covenant of faithfulness to Christ. No one is a Baptist alone.
Seeking to define the church, the New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1833) states that a visible church is a "congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word." Every word of this definition is essential to the New Testament vision of the church.
In a Baptist congregation, every believer is in covenant with brothers and sisters in Christ. Believer's baptism by immersion, faithfully following the example and instruction of our Lord, is the sign of that covenant, and is prerequisite to membership. We are a congregation of believer priests, serving the Lord in the preaching of the Word, the observation of the ordinances, discipline in accord with God's laws, and the proclamation of the gospel.
I cannot reconcile any other form of church government with the New Testament. Believer's baptism is so central and essential to our understanding of the church that we can see no church without this ordinance and can recognize no other baptism as true baptism. We came by our name honestly.
Baptist by family heritage, I am a Baptist by conviction. With thankfulness to God, I claim this heritage as my own and pray that the Baptists of this generation will stand in faithful obedience before God. By God's grace, this is why I am a Baptist. -Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr.

In Christ Alone,
Mr. V.