Baptist vs. Non-denominational
A side-by-side comparison of Baptist and Non-denominational teaching on 16 questions, from Scripture and salvation to baptism, communion and church government.
Baptist
Baptists arose from English Separatist churches in the early 1600s. They baptize only those who profess faith, govern each congregation independently, and hold to the Bible as the sole authority for belief and practice.
Non-denominational
Non-denominational churches are independent congregations with no formal denominational parent. Most are evangelical, centered on the Bible and personal faith in Christ, but each sets its own doctrine and style, so practice varies more here than in any other group.
At a glance
Where they differ: .
Varies within one or both: Can a saved person fall away?; Predestination and free will; Clergy and women in ministry; The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
Where they agree: Authority: Scripture and tradition; Books of the Bible; The Trinity; How a person is saved; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Church government; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; Style of worship; Day of worship.
Side by side
| Question | Baptist | Non-denominational |
|---|---|---|
| Authority: Scripture and traditionAgree | The Bible alone is the authority for belief and practice. Many Baptist bodies adopt confessions, but none is binding on a local church. | The Bible is the final authority, and each congregation interprets it for itself. Most hold to biblical inerrancy in some form. |
| Books of the BibleAgree | 66 books. | 66 books. |
| The TrinityAgree | One God in three persons. Baptists rarely use creeds in worship, but their confessions affirm the Trinity. | Almost always Trinitarian, though statements of faith are set by each church. |
| How a person is savedAgree | Saved by grace through personal faith in Christ, usually described as a conversion experience. Baptism follows salvation and does not cause it. | Usually teaches salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, received by a personal decision to trust him. Details are set by each church. |
| Can a saved person fall away?Varies | Most Baptists, notably Southern Baptists, teach eternal security, often summarized as “once saved, always saved.” Some General Baptists disagree and hold that faith can be abandoned. | Varies by church. Many teach eternal security, and others teach that salvation can be lost. |
| Predestination and free willVaries | Divided. Particular Baptists are Calvinist and hold to election, and General Baptists hold that Christ died for all and that election is based on God’s foreknowledge of who would believe. Southern Baptists include both. | Varies by church. Some are Calvinist and many are Arminian or take no stand. |
| BaptismAgree | Only those who have professed faith are baptized, and by full immersion. It is an ordinance that pictures death and resurrection with Christ and does not save. | Usually believer’s baptism by immersion, as a public witness. A few churches baptize infants or allow other modes. |
| Communion (the Lord’s Supper)Agree | An ordinance in remembrance of Christ’s death, observed periodically. The bread and cup are symbols, and many churches use grape juice. | Usually a memorial ordinance, observed as often as each church chooses. |
| Sacraments or ordinancesAgree | Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptists avoid the word “sacrament” because it can imply that grace comes through the act itself. | Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. |
| Church governmentAgree | Each local church governs itself, calling its own pastor and deciding its own doctrine. Churches cooperate voluntarily through associations and conventions. | Each church governs itself, generally under a pastor or a board of elders. |
| Clergy and women in ministryVaries | Varies. The Southern Baptist Convention limits the office of pastor to men, and other Baptist bodies ordain women. | Varies by church. Many limit pastors to men and others welcome women in leadership. |
| Mary and the saintsAgree | Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus and the saints as examples. Baptists give them little role in worship and do not pray to them. | Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus. Non-denominational churches do not pray to saints. |
| Death, purgatory and hellAgree | Believers go immediately to be with Christ, and unbelievers to eternal punishment. There is no purgatory. | Believers go to be with Christ at death and unbelievers face judgment. There is no purgatory. |
| Style of worshipAgree | Free-form, built around preaching, congregational singing and prayer. Order is set by each church. | Free-form and often contemporary, with a band, a sermon and modern arrangements. Each church sets its own style. |
| The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsVaries | Varies. Many Baptists are cessationist or cautious about tongues, and others are charismatic. | Varies. Some non-denominational churches are charismatic and others hold that miraculous gifts have ceased. |
| Day of worshipAgree | Sunday. | Sunday, with some churches also offering Saturday evening services. |
| Best known for | Believer’s baptism, local church independence, religious liberty and a strong emphasis on missions and evangelism. | Independence, contemporary worship, a focus on personal faith and the Bible, and rapid growth as a share of American churchgoers. |
“Agree” means the two traditions take the same broad position, although the wording above may still note finer differences. “Varies” means at least one of the two is itself divided on the question, so no single position can be given. These summaries describe typical teaching, and individual churches may vary. For an authoritative statement, consult each denomination’s own confessions.
Learn more on this site
- The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture
- The Reliability of Scripture
- The Canon
- Textual Variants and "Lost Books" (Gnostic Gospels, Apocrypha)
- The Trinity
- The Deity of Christ
- What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
- Grace
- Justification
- Baptism
- Catholic Church
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?
- What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
- What Does the Bible Say About Judgment Day?
- What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
- Sabbath
More comparisons
Baptist
Non-denominational
- Catholic vs. Non-denominational
- Eastern Orthodox vs. Non-denominational
- Lutheran vs. Non-denominational
- Presbyterian / Reformed vs. Non-denominational
- Anglican / Episcopal vs. Non-denominational
- Methodist vs. Non-denominational
- Anabaptist / Mennonite vs. Non-denominational
- Pentecostal vs. Non-denominational
- Seventh-day Adventist vs. Non-denominational
- Church of Christ vs. Non-denominational