What is a Baptist church like?
In the 16th century, opposition to the doctrines and systems of the Roman
Catholic Church led to the Reformation in Germany, which gave birth to
many Protestant denominations.
Among them, Lutheranism was born of Luther’s theology, who was a leading
figure in the Reformation, and likewise Presbyterianism of Calvin’s, who
initiated the Reformation in Switzerland, Methodism of Wesley’s, in England…
Thus different denominations were born in different places.
Even before the Reformation, however, there were groups that opposed the
state-affiliated Catholic Church and its doctrinal interpretations, including
a group known as the Baptists. They were severely persecuted for their
opposition to infant baptism and other practices of the Rome.
Those Baptist churches had no inter-church organization, operated under
a congregational council system, and practiced baptism by immersion, symbolizing
death and resurrection, and emphasized the literal interpretation of the
Bible. Since then, the number of Baptist churches around the world has
increased. They have also carried the load for God of world missions. His
useful vessels in their world mission history include W. Carey, who evangelized
people in India, and A. Judson, in Burma (now Myanmar).
Many missionaries came to Japan after the ban on Christianity was lifted
in the early Meiji period. Among them were missionaries of the Baptist
faith, who established the first Baptist church in Yokohama. He emphasized
the importance and necessity of education based on Christian values, and
established educational institutions such as Kanto Gakuin and Soshin Gakuin.
During World War II, by the government order and under the Religious Organization
Law, all Christian churches were labeled as and governed by The United
Church of Christ in Japan (denomination). After the war, the Religious
Corporation Law was issued to protect religious freedom and activities,
and many churches were released from the forced denomination, and our church
was one of them. With the post-war influx of Baptist missionaries, many
Baptist churches were established throughout Japan.
By retaining the name “Baptist Church”, rather than simply naming “Christian
Church”, is a testimony of our journey and our honor in God.
If you are looking for a Christian church but don’t know which you should
go to, I highly recommend you choose one that clearly shows it’s Christ’s
church, with a sanctuary where they gather for worship service regularly,
and even more highly that you visit a Baptist church.
Articles of Faith
Baptist Bible Fellowship International: Articles of Faith
https://www.bbfi.org/articles-of-faith