What Are Some Differences Between the Presbyterian and Baptist Faiths?
Baptists and Presbyterians hold different views on the practice of baptism. Baptists believe that the person being baptized must profess their faith in Christ before being immersed in water, while Presbyterians believe that people should be sprinkled with water as immersion is not scriptural. Presbyterians also believe that infants can be baptized, even though they cannot express their faith. Baptists believe that people are born in sin, so must be old enough to repent before being baptized.
Presbyterian churches allow people who have not been baptized to take communion, even if the person has not expressed any faith. Baptists, on the other hand, only allow people who are baptized and have faith to take part.
Baptists believe that each church is independent, while Presbyterian churches must answer to legislative and judicial church bodies. Members of Presbyterian congregations can appeal to the Presbytery if they are concerned about mismanagement or any other issues, while Baptist churches do not have this provision.
Presbyterian priests must have a college degree or other proof of education before they can be ordained. The Presbytery also checks the priest’s knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, along with philosophy, ethics and church government. Baptists believe that a person does not require a course of study to become a priest; instead, they believe that God calls men to the ministry and that knowledge of the gospel and a desire to save souls are all that is required.
