Baptists are not Protestant

  Many people believe that if you are a Christian who is not Catholic, then you are Protestant. But this historically is not true. This, I hope, will educate you on how Baptists have historically never been considered or validated to be Protestant.

  Historically, Protestants have persecuted Baptists for their belief that infant baptism and sprinkling is invalid and unscriptural. Martin Luther even signed death warrants for Anabaptists. By March 1530, Luther had publically affirmed his finite vision for the Anabaptists. Zwingli, a Swiss Protestant, persecuted Anabaptists for re-baptizing infants. He made a decree in November 1525 stating “if any be disobedient and stubborn they shall be treated with severity”, in regards towards re-baptizing people. In December 1527, Felix Manz, Henry Reiman, and Jacob Folk, all who were Anabaptists, were put to death by drowning. The counsel decreed “qui mersus feurit mergatur”, or “he who immerses shall be immersed”.  Some Protestants mockingly called this punishment a “third baptism”.

  Baptists were labeled “unlearned”, and treated as criminals. Balthasar Hubmaier and Felix Manz were Anabaptists who were very intelligent. Hubmaier, skilled in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and his native German tongue, was thrown in prison by Zurich Protestants in January 1526. He was tortured repetitively by Protestant officials. He eventually renounced his beliefs being an old, sick, and broken man on April 6^th, 1526. He then was summoned to announce his recantation publically at a cathedral. He recanted from his recantation refusing to believe in Catholic and Protestant doctrine shouting, “Infant baptism is not of God, and men must be baptized by faith in Christ!” He immediately was returned to prison.

  The list goes on and on. Baptists have historically, socially, and politically never been considered Protestants until recent years. Based on a better translation of scripture known as the King James Bible and simple context, we know that baptism should be done by immersion. The Greek word “baptizo”, means to “submerge”, or to “immerse”. The Catholic church never has and still does not have this doctrine correct because their scriptures are not based on the original Greek Textus Receptus, but the Latin Vulgate. Even without linguistic skills, the English Bible says in Colossians 2:12-13, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” How can you burry someone by sprinkling dirt on their head three times?  And how can you raise someone who isn’t buried or submerged? The scripture clearly denotes immersion in other places as well. When Christ was Baptized, it says he came “…out of the water” in Matthew 3:16, further assuring immersion.

  It is important that Baptists don’t forget their roots. Protestant denominations have all been started by men such as John Wesley, Martin Luther, and John Calvin. Baptist doctrine came from men who read the Bible for themselves, and believed what it says. There are many differences between us and them in regards to: the autonomy of the local church; the separation of church and state; the priesthood of the believer; the sole authority of God's Word, and individual soul liberty. It is important that we study history carefully to assure a better context for our church history and secular studies. Baptists have historically never been Protestant.