What is the Regular Baptist Church, and what do Regular Baptists believe?

Answer

The Regular Baptist Church is a fellowship of conservative, evangelical churches within the Baptist tradition. Their organization is known as the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC), with approximately 1,300 churches in the association.

The Regular Baptist Church traces its origins to various pre-Reformation groups that advocated for believer’s baptism by immersion and rejected the hierarchy and formalism of the established church during that period. By the late 1500s, the groups that would later identify as “Baptist” started to distinguish themselves from other Nonconformist groups. Two branches of Baptists emerged: the General Baptists and the Particular Baptists. The General Baptists were named for their belief in a general atonement—following the Arminian doctrine that Jesus died to make all individuals, in a universal sense, capable of being saved. On the other hand, the Particular Baptists adhered to the more Calvinistic belief that Jesus died solely for the elect and that His death was to definitively secure their salvation, known as particular atonement.

In Colonial America, Roger Williams founded the First Baptist Church in Providence (now in Rhode Island) in 1638. Over time, the General Baptists in America became known as Free Baptists, while the Particular Baptists were referred to as Regular Baptists. The numbers of the more Calvinistic Regular Baptists surpassed those of the Free Baptists, particularly after the First Great Awakening (circa 1735–1743), which had a distinctly Calvinistic inclination.

Today, according to the GARBC, the term Regular in “Regular Baptist” does not directly relate to their perspective on the atonement. It is merely a general term signifying adherence to the “regulation” or “rule” (from the Latin word regula) of Scripture. Being a “Regular” Baptist indicates membership in a church that upholds orthodox Baptist teachings and acknowledges the authority of Scripture as the ultimate guide for faith and conduct.

The official ReThe Regular Baptist perspective on the atonement is moderately Calvinistic, embracing both unlimited atonement and divine election. This means that God offers the benefits of Christ’s atonement to everyone equally, while ensuring its application specifically for the elect. Other beliefs and customs of the Regular Baptist Church are in line with Baptist traditions: congregational governance, two sacraments (baptism and communion), two church roles (pastor and deacon), the priesthood of all believers, and the requirement for church membership to include salvation and baptism. Some Regular Baptists also practice “closed” communion, which stipulates that immersion baptism (and thus church membership) is necessary before participating in the Lord’s Supper.

The General Association of Regular Baptists is not a denomination but a fellowship of churches sharing the same faith. Churches within the GARBC consider themselves independent, self-governing congregations that have chosen to unite for mutual assistance. These churches host national and regional conferences, release publications through Regular Baptist Press, offer aid during disasters, support new church construction and renovations through the Baptist Builders Club, and run Talents for Christ, a scholarship program for high school students.

In general, Regular Baptist Churches uphold biblical teachings, prioritize missions, and strive to emulate the early Christian community described in the New Testament. Like any group or denomination, individual churches have distinct characteristics, and the beliefs and practices of each church should be evaluated based on scriptural teachings.