Being a “baptist” is more about following a particular system of beliefs rooted in the Bible rather than rallying around a single historic figure like some other Christian traditions do. Baptists are unique because their particulars aren’t tied to one key person or leader. Instead, they’re united by a shared set of theological beliefs, particularly around things like believer’s baptism (baptizing those who personally profess faith as opposed to infants) and the importance of local church autonomy (each church being self-governing).

Over time, what it means to be Baptist has gotten a bit blurry. There are now other groups that also practice believer’s baptism but are distinct enough to go by different names, like Pentecostals, Mennonites, or Evangelical Free churches. Plus, many non-denominational churches hold to baptistic beliefs without necessarily calling themselves “Baptist.” You might not see "Baptist" on their sign or their website, but if you look at their doctrine, it’s clear that they’re baptistic.

Unfortunately, some who claim to follow baptistic theology haven’t done the best job representing the true heart of Baptist beliefs. Groups like Westboro Baptist Church or individuals like Steven Anderson have gained attention for their extreme views and lack of love and compassion. This is disappointing because they don’t reflect the core of what it means to be Baptist, let alone a Christian. These outliers stand in stark contrast to the vast majority of Baptists, who seek to obey Christ’s teachings with grace, love, and a genuine care for others.

At its core, Baptist theology is about living out the gospel in a way that’s faithful to Scripture, emphasizes personal faith and individual soul liberty. That’s the true spirit of being Baptist, even if some have misrepresented it along the way.