Baptists vs. Presbyterians
Baptists and Presbyterians are both Christian denominations however, they do have different histories, beliefs, and practices. The start of the Presbyterian Church is connected to a 16th century French reformer named John Calvin, He put a lot of thought into ministry, the church, religious education, and the Christian life. John led the Reformation in Geneva, Switzerland. The town council of Geneva allowed his Ecclesiastical Ordinances which set regulations on issues that had to do with the church order, gambling, dancing, and swearing. Another man that was important to the Presbyterian history is John Knox. He lived in Scotland in the mid 1500‘s and also led a Reformation. It protested against Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, and Catholic practices. The Presbyterian form of church government and the reformation were adopted as the national Church of Scotland in 1690 and it still remains Presbyterian today. Baptism started in the early 17th century C.E. There was a huge growth in the US during the Great Awakening in the mid 18th century, followed by an increased interest and effort in foreign missions. There are several branches and in the US, an important split occurred within the Baptist tradition along with a north and south distinction in 1815 with the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention. There are still differences between northern and southern Baptists including theology, missions, and worship. Presbyterians worship God and believe that he is the absolute authority of the universe. They believe that the Bible gives us our knowledge of God and his purpose for humans and they accept the New Testament. Presbyterians accredit our salvation through Jesus is God’s gift to us. The Presbyterian Church is governed by a combination of clergy and laity, including men and women. Baptists accept that there is one God, the virgin birth of Jesus and his resurrection. They worship the trinity and the need for salvation. Baptists also believe that Jesus Christ