The Baptist denomination emerged around the 17th century as a consequence of the reformation movement that had begun earlier. The Reformation movement was led by Martin Luther and other leaders and they sought to reform the catholic church but the result was the emergence of the protestant churches including the Baptists. Baptists were inspired by the Anabaptist movement that advocated for adult baptism and rejected the commonplace infant baptism that was rampant in both catholic as well as protestant churches. From the very onset, Baptists differed from other Christians on the issue of infant baptism. But there are many other differences. 

The most noticeable difference between Baptists and Christians is the fact that Baptists teach against infant baptism. However, there are other differences that stem from their core beliefs like the doctrine of separation of church and state,  the worship styles, as well as the structure of church governance. We will look at these differences in more detail below. 

Core Beliefs and Practices

The best way to understand the differences between Baptists and Christians is to investigate their core beliefs and practices. We will start by looking at the Christian Beliefs and then move to the Baptists’

Shared Christian Beliefs

There are many denominations in the Christian faith each with their unique doctrines and beliefs. However, there are some shared beliefs irrespective of denomination. These shared beliefs include:

• The Holy Trinity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion. This means that Christians believe in only one God. During the early years f the catholic church, Christians were accused of worshipping three Gods and it was around this time that theologians started explaining the concept of the Trinity. It was meant to clarify that they only believe in one God who appears in three persons – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. This is arguably the most unifying factor across the different doctrines of Christianity.

• Salvation through faith

The concept of salvation elicits a lot of debate because different denominations hold different views on it. For instance, some believe that salvation can only be attained through faith by God’s grace while others contend that good works are also important in attaining salvation. However, all Christians agree on one thing – that salvation comes through believing in Jesus Christ. They all believe in the virgin birth which paved the way for Jesus the incarnate who later on died on the cross for the salvation of mankind. Henceforth, all those who believe in him have access to salvation. 

• Importance of the Bible: 

The different denominations have different views on Bible interpretation and application. However, all Christians agree that the Bible is comprised of the Old and the New Testaments and that both testaments are inspired by God. All Christians agree that the Bible is the source of teaching, guidance, and authority for believers. 

Distinctive Baptist Beliefs

Even though Baptists share the beliefs above with all other Christians, they also have a set of doctrines that are unique to their denomination. Some of these doctrines include:

• Water Baptism

This is the most important difference and it is in fact the foundation of the Baptist denomination. The Baptist denomination emerged as a way of championing the abolition of the baptism of infants. Baptist doctrine emphasizes that water Baptism is meant to be an outward expression of a believer’s inward faith in Jesus Christ. As such, infants are incapable of making a personal commitment and are therefore not to be baptized. Catholics and most other protestant churches view baptism as a sacrament that introduces a person to the Christian faith (almost like a rite of passage) and that is why they allow for infant baptism. 

• Church governance 

Baptist doctrine lays emphasis on the independence and autonomy of the various local churches. According to Baptists, every congregation should be allowed to self-govern and make their own decisions. The decision-making process is usually a transparent and democratic process that involves both clergy and members. This is quite different from other Christian denominations.  Most denominations use a hierarchical structure that is akin to the Roman Catholic structure and decision-making is typically made by the ordained clergy. 

• Separation of Church and State

Baptists are big on religious freedom as well as the separation of church and state. Baptist doctrine teaches against state-sponsored churches because they believe that may deny the churches freedom of practicing their faith without interference from the government. Other Christian denominations may not be very keen on the issue of separating the church from the state. 

Worship and Liturgy

The way Baptists approach worship and liturgy is another distinguishing factor from other Christians. Most Christian denominations have some common elements in their worship including: 

• Prayer – Christians believe that prayer is n important means of communication between them and God and every service includes time of corporate or personal prayer.
• Scripture Reading – the common belief in the word of God amongst Christians is one reason why all have some form of scripture reading in the worship service. 
• Sermons – Clergy as well as laypeople typically give a sermon as a way of helping the congregants to interpret and apply the scriptures in their personal life. 
• Sermons, delivered by clergy or laypeople, provide insight and interpretation of biblical passages, connecting them to the lives of the congregation. Sermons aim to inspire, challenge, and educate believers.
• Eucharist – All Christians believe in communion and practice the Eucharist in their worship services albeit with varying frequency. The Eucharist commemorates the last supper and it reminds them of the symbols (bread and wine) that represent the body and blood of Jesus that were given as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. 

Baptist Worship Specifics

Baptist worship also shares some of the common worship practices with other Christians. However, there are some distinct differences including:

• Flexibility in Worship Style – A typical Baptist worship service is simple and flexible. The main focus of the service is the sermon and congregational involvement is encouraged. The flexibility allows the different Baptist churches to adapt to their cultural and theological diversity. 
• Emphasis on Congregational Singing – Music is important to the Baptist worship service. A combination of hymns and contemporary music is sung during service and they are typically accompanied by musical instruments. 
• Regular Practice of Believer’s Baptism: Water baptism is an important tenet of the Baptist doctrine and as such, Baptists practice regular baptism. 

Conclusion

To wrap things up, Baptists follow most of the rituals and beliefs of Christians with a couple of distinct differences. The most important difference however is the role of water baptism in the life of a believer. Unlike most Christians, Baptists believe that each adult should be baptized through immersion. Additionally, the Baptist doctrine is against the baptism of infants and children.