Historia ya Wabaptisti na Maendeleo ya Dhehebu — Sehemu ya 9: Familia ya Wabaptisti: Wabaptisti wa Kusini, Huru, wa Hiari Huru, wa Kireformed, wa Marekani, na Mikutano Mikuu ya KitaifaBaptist History and Denominational Development — Unit 9: The Family of Baptists: Southern, Independent, Free Will, Reformed, American, and National Conventions

Mstari MkuuKey Verse

"mkijitahidi kuuhifadhi umoja wa Roho katika kifungo cha amani." (Waefeso 4:3, SUV)"endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3, NKJV)

Malengo ya KujifunzaLearning Objectives

Utakapomaliza kipindi hiki, unapaswa kuweza:When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

1. Kueleza ni kwa nini Wabaptisti wana vikundi vingi tofauti, na kanuni za uhuru wa kanisa la mahali na ushirikiano wa hiari zina uhusiano gani na hilo.1. Explain why Baptists have so many different groups, and what the principles of church autonomy and voluntary cooperation have to do with it.

2. Kueleza Southern Baptist Convention, American Baptist Churches, na mikutano mikuu ya National Baptist na Progressive National Baptist.2. Describe the Southern Baptist Convention, the American Baptist Churches, and the National Baptist and Progressive National Baptist conventions.

3. Kueleza Wabaptisti huru na wa kifundamentalisti, Wabaptisti wa Hiari Huru (Free Will Baptists), na Wabaptisti wa Kireformed, na kusema kila mmoja anatofautianaje na wengine.3. Describe independent and fundamental Baptists, Free Will Baptists, and Reformed Baptists, and say how each differs from the others.

4. Kueleza tofauti kati ya imani ambazo Wabaptisti wote wanashirikiana na mambo ambayo Wabaptisti waaminifu wanatofautiana.4. Tell the difference between the beliefs all Baptists share and the matters on which faithful Baptists disagree.

5. Kueleza pingamizi kuu dhidi ya mgawanyiko wa Kibaptisti na kutoa jibu la Kibaptisti kutoka katika Maandiko.5. State the main objections to Baptist division and give the Baptist answer from Scripture.

Sauti ya Kozi HiiThe Voice of This Course

Kozi hii imeandikwa kutoka ndani ya utamaduni wa Kibaptisti, kwa wanafunzi Wabaptisti. Ni ya kihafidhina kitheolojia. Inaposema "sisi," inamaanisha Wabaptisti wanaoshikilia kwamba Biblia ni Neno la Mungu lililopumuliwa na Mungu na lenye mamlaka. Katika kipindi hiki tunaeleza vikundi vinavyotofautiana kati yao na wakati mwingine na mtazamo wa kihafidhina wa kozi hii. Tunaeleza kila kimoja kwa haki, kwa namna ambayo washiriki wake wenyewe wangekitambua, kisha tunasema Wabaptisti wanapaswa kusimama wapi.This course is written from inside the Baptist tradition, for Baptist students. It is theologically conservative. When it says "we," it means Baptists who hold the Bible to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. In this unit we describe groups that differ from one another and sometimes from the conservative view of this course. We describe each one fairly, in the way its own members would recognize, and then we say where Baptists should stand.

Familia Moja, Kaya NyingiOne Family, Many Households

Mtu yeyote anayesafiri atagundua kwamba makanisa ya Kibaptisti hayafanani yote. Katika mji mmoja kunaweza kuwa na kanisa linalomilikiwa na mkutano mkuu mkubwa wa kitaifa, jingine lisilomilikiwa na mkutano wowote, na jingine linalojiita la Kireformed. Mgeni anaweza kuuliza: "Ni lipi kati ya haya ni kanisa la kweli la Kibaptisti?" Mchungaji anahitaji kuweza kujibu.Anyone who travels will find that Baptist churches do not all look alike. In one city there may be a church that belongs to a large national convention, another that belongs to no convention at all, and another that calls itself Reformed. A visitor may ask: "Which of these is the real Baptist church?" A pastor needs to be able to answer.

Jambo la kwanza kuelewa ni kwamba hakuna papa wa Kibaptisti, wala makao makuu ya Kibaptisti yanayotawala makanisa yote. Tumeona katika vipindi vya awali kwamba kila kanisa la Kibaptisti linajiongoza chini ya Kristo. Makanisa hujiunga kwa hiari kufanya yale ambayo hayawezi kufanya peke yake: kutuma wamisionari, kufundisha wachungaji, kusaidia wahitaji na kuchapisha Biblia. Hujiunga kwa sababu yanakubaliana, kama Amosi anavyouliza, "Je! Wawili watatembea pamoja, isipokuwa wamepatana?" (Amosi 3:3). Makubaliano yanapokosekana, yanaweza kutengana. Uhuru huu ni nguvu, kwa sababu hakuna nguvu ya kibinadamu inayoweza kulazimisha kanisa kuiacha Biblia. Pia unaeleza kwa nini Wabaptisti ni wengi. Mabishano mara nyingi yamezaa vikundi vipya, na baadhi yake yalikuwa ya lazima na mengine hayakuwa.The first thing to understand is that there is no Baptist pope, and no Baptist headquarters that rules over all the churches. We have seen in earlier units that every Baptist church governs itself under Christ. Churches join together voluntarily to do what they cannot do alone: to send missionaries, to train pastors, to help the needy and to print Bibles. They join because they agree, as Amos asks, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3:3). When agreement fails, they may separate. This freedom is a strength, because no human power can force a church to give up the Bible. It also explains why Baptists are many. Disputes have often led to new groups, and some of them were necessary and some were not.

Jambo la pili kuelewa ni kwamba vikundi vya Kibaptisti vinatofautiana kwa aina kadhaa za sababu. Vingine vilitokana na historia na jiografia, kama mikutano mikuu ya Kusini na Kaskazini au mikutano mikuu ya kitaifa ya nchi tofauti. Vingine vilitokana na rangi na historia ya utumwa na ubaguzi nchini Marekani. Vingine vilitokana na mafundisho, kama mjadala kati ya Wakalvini na Waarminiani. Vingine vilitokana na mzozo, kama tulivyoona katika Kipindi cha 8. Kukumbuka sababu hizi kutakusaidia kuelewa kila kikundi.A second thing to understand is that Baptist groups differ for several kinds of reason. Some arose from history and geography, such as the Southern and Northern conventions or the national conventions of different countries. Some arose from race and the history of slavery and segregation in the United States. Some arose from doctrine, such as the debate between Calvinists and Arminians. Some arose from controversy, as we saw in Unit 8. Keeping these reasons in mind will help you to understand each group.

Southern Baptist ConventionThe Southern Baptist Convention

Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) ilianza mwaka 1845 huko Augusta, Georgia, kama Kipindi cha 7 kilivyoeleza. Ni miongoni mwa vyombo vikubwa zaidi vya Kiprotestanti nchini Marekani na chombo kikubwa zaidi cha Kibaptisti duniani, kwa hesabu nyingi. Si kanisa. Ni mkutano wa makanisa yanayochagua kushirikiana. Kila kanisa hutuma wajumbe (messengers), si wawakilishi (delegates), kwenye mkutano wa mwaka. Neno limechaguliwa kwa uangalifu: mjumbe hubeba ujumbe wa kanisa lake, na mkutano hauwezi kuliamuru kanisa lolote.The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) began in 1845 at Augusta, Georgia, as Unit 7 explained. It is among the largest Protestant bodies in the United States and the largest Baptist body in the world, by most counts. It is not a church. It is a convention of churches that choose to cooperate. Each church sends messengers, not delegates, to the annual meeting. The word is chosen carefully: a messenger carries the message of his church, and the convention cannot command any church.

Makanisa yake yanaunga mkono utume na huduma pamoja kupitia Cooperative Program (Mpango wa Ushirikiano), ulioanza mwaka 1925. Kanisa hutoa sehemu ya sadaka zake kwa mkutano wa jimbo lake na mkutano wa kitaifa. Fedha hizo hugharamia bodi za kimisionari, seminari na kazi nyingine. Huu ni "ushirikiano wa hiari" wa utamaduni wa Kibaptisti katika umbo la vitendo.Its churches support missions and ministry together through the Cooperative Program, which began in 1925. A church gives a share of its offerings to its state convention and to the national convention. The money funds mission boards, seminaries and other work. This is the "voluntary cooperation" of Baptist tradition in practical form.

Wabaptisti wa Kusini wanashikilia Baptist Faith and Message (1925, 1963, 2000) kama taarifa yao ya pamoja. Ndani ya chombo hiki kuna mitazamo kadhaa kuhusu wokovu. Wabaptisti wengi wa Kusini wanashikilia toleo huru la injili kwa wote, na wengi wanashikilia kwamba usalama wa muumini ni wa hakika. Baadhi ni Wakalvini, na wengine sivyo. Mwaka 2012 kundi la viongozi wa Kibaptisti wa Kusini lilitoa taarifa ya ufahamu wa "jadi" wa wokovu, iliyosisitiza upendo wa Mungu kwa watu wote na jibu la imani la mwanadamu. Tutaangalia mjadala huu katika Kozi ya 2.Southern Baptists hold the Baptist Faith and Message (1925, 1963, 2000) as their common statement. Inside this body there are several views on salvation. Most Southern Baptists hold the free offer of the gospel to all, and many hold that the security of the believer is certain. Some are Calvinists, and others are not. In 2012 a group of Southern Baptist leaders issued a statement of the "traditional" understanding of salvation, which stressed God's love for all people and the human response of faith. We shall look at this debate in Course 2.

American Baptist ChurchesThe American Baptist Churches

American Baptist Churches in the USA ni warithi wa Wabaptisti wa Kaskazini. Kama Kipindi cha 8 kilivyoeleza, Northern Baptist Convention ilianza mwaka 1907, ilipewa jina jipya American Baptist Convention mwaka 1950, na ilichukua jina lake la sasa mwaka 1972. Mizizi yake inarudi hadi Triennial Convention ya 1814 na kazi ya mwanzo ya Kibaptisti Kaskazini.The American Baptist Churches in the USA are the heirs of the Northern Baptists. As Unit 8 explained, the Northern Baptist Convention began in 1907, was renamed the American Baptist Convention in 1950, and took its present name in 1972. Its roots go back to the Triennial Convention of 1814 and to early Baptist work in the North.

Chombo hiki ni pana zaidi katika mafundisho kuliko Southern Baptist Convention. Kina makusanyiko ya kiinjili na pia makanisa yaliyo ya kiliberali zaidi. Kwa muda mrefu kimesisitiza uhuru wa kila kanisa na hakijayataka makanisa yake kushikilia maungamo moja ya imani. Washiriki wake wengi ni waumini waaminifu, na kazi yao ya utume katika nchi nyingi imewabariki mamilioni. Kama Mbaptisti mhafidhina anayefundisha Wabaptisti wahafidhina, tunasema kwa uaminifu kwamba tunasikitika chombo cha Kibaptisti kisiposhikilia kwa uthabiti mamlaka ya Maandiko. Wakati huohuo, tunakumbuka kwamba wainjilisti ndani yake wanaendelea kumtumikia Kristo, na hatuhukumu kusanyiko kwa jina la mkutano wake mkuu.This body is broader in doctrine than the Southern Baptist Convention. It has evangelical congregations and also churches that are more liberal. It has long emphasized the independence of each church and has not required its churches to hold one confession of faith. Many of its members are faithful believers, and their mission work in many lands has blessed millions. As a conservative Baptist teaching conservative Baptists, we say honestly that we are troubled when a Baptist body does not hold firmly to the authority of Scripture. At the same time, we remember that evangelicals within it continue to serve Christ, and we do not judge a congregation by the name of its convention.

Mikutano Mikuu ya Wabaptisti Waamerika WeusiThe African American Baptist Conventions

Wabaptisti Weusi wana historia ndefu na ya fahari, ambayo Kipindi cha 7 kiliifuatilia. Waumini Weusi huru na watu waliokuwa watumwa waliunda makanisa katika karne ya kumi na nane na mwanzoni mwa karne ya kumi na tisa, wakati mwingine kwa siri. Baada ya Vita vya Wenyewe kwa Wenyewe, Wabaptisti Weusi waliunda makanisa yao wenyewe, vyama na mikutano mikuu kwa wingi. Mwaka 1895 waliungana kuunda National Baptist Convention, ambayo ikawa chombo kikubwa zaidi cha Wabaptisti Waamerika Weusi. Migawanyiko ya baadaye ilizaa mikutano mikuu mingine. Mmoja ni National Baptist Convention of America. Progressive National Baptist Convention iliundwa mwaka 1961, kwa sehemu kuhusiana na mabishano kuhusu uongozi na kuhusu harakati ya haki za kiraia.Black Baptists have a long and proud history, which Unit 7 traced. Free Black believers and enslaved people formed churches in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, sometimes in secret. After the Civil War, Black Baptists formed their own churches, associations and conventions in large numbers. In 1895 they joined to form the National Baptist Convention, which became the largest African American Baptist body. Later divisions produced other conventions. One is the National Baptist Convention of America. The Progressive National Baptist Convention was formed in 1961, partly in connection with disputes over leadership and over the civil rights movement.

Mikutano mikuu hii inashirikiana kanuni za Kibaptisti za uhuru wa kanisa la mahali na ushirikiano wa hiari. Makanisa yao yamekuwa vituo vya ibada, elimu, mahubiri na maisha ya jamii, na wahubiri wao wamekuwa miongoni mwa sauti kuu za utamaduni wa Kibaptisti. Mwanafunzi Mbaptisti wa asili yoyote anapaswa kuiheshimu historia hii.These conventions share the Baptist principles of church autonomy and voluntary cooperation. Their churches have been centers of worship, education, preaching and community life, and their preachers have been among the great voices of the Baptist tradition. A Baptist student of any background should honor this history.

Wabaptisti Huru na wa KifundamentalistiIndependent and Fundamental Baptists

Makanisa mengi ya Kibaptisti hayamilikiwi na mkutano mkuu wowote. Yanaitwa Wabaptisti huru (independent Baptists), na idadi kubwa pia huitwa Wabaptisti wa kifundamentalisti (fundamental Baptists). Kadhaa yalitokea katika mizozo ya kifundamentalisti iliyoelezwa katika Kipindi cha 8. Yanasisitiza uhuru kamili wa kanisa la mahali, mamlaka kali ya Biblia, kujitenga kibinafsi na uovu wa kidunia na ubaliberali wa kitheolojia, na uinjilisti na kupanda makanisa. Mengi yaliathiriwa na Ulandmark, ambao Kipindi cha 7 kilijadili. Baadhi yanajulikana kwa desturi ya kufanya kazi pamoja kupitia ushirika wa wachungaji, mashirika ya kimisionari na vyuo vya Biblia badala ya mkutano mkuu.Many Baptist churches belong to no convention at all. They are called independent Baptists, and a large number are also called fundamental Baptists. Several emerged from the fundamentalist controversies described in Unit 8. They stress the full independence of the local church, the strict authority of the Bible, personal separation from worldliness and from theological liberalism, and evangelism and church planting. Many were influenced by Landmarkism, which Unit 7 discussed. Some are known for the practice of working with one another through fellowships of pastors, mission agencies and Bible institutes rather than through a convention.

Makanisa haya yamekuwa na athari kubwa kwa utume na kupanda makanisa. Nguvu yake ni kwamba kila kanisa linawajibika moja kwa moja kwa Neno la Mungu na kwa washiriki wake. Udhaifu ambao wengine wanauona ni kwamba wachungaji wanaweza kupotoka bila uwajibikaji, kwamba ushirikiano kati ya makanisa unaweza kuwa mdogo, na kwamba tofauti kuhusu mambo ya pili zinaweza kusababisha migawanyiko zaidi. Baadhi ya Wabaptisti huru pia wanasisitiza tafsiri moja tu ya Biblia, na Wabaptisti wengine, wakiwemo wahafidhina wengi, hawakubaliani kwamba muumini lazima atumie tafsiri moja tu. Mchungaji anapaswa kusema kuhusu ndugu hawa kwa heshima, kwa sababu wengi wao wametoa maisha yao kwa ajili ya injili.These churches have had a strong effect on missions and church planting. Their strength is that each church answers directly to the Word of God and to its own members. A weakness that others see is that pastors can drift without accountability, that cooperation between churches may be thin, and that disagreements over secondary matters can lead to further splits. Some independent Baptists also insist on a single translation of the Bible, and other Baptists, including most conservatives, do not agree that a believer must use only one translation. A pastor should speak of these brothers with respect, because many of them have given their lives to the gospel.

Wabaptisti wa Hiari Huru (Free Will Baptists)Free Will Baptists

Wabaptisti wa Hiari Huru (Free Will Baptists) wanashirikiana imani ya Wabaptisti Wajumla, ambao, kama Kipindi cha 3 kilivyoeleza, waliamini kwamba Kristo alikufa kwa ajili ya wote. Kulikuwa na vijito viwili vikuu vya mwanzo vya Wabaptisti wa Hiari Huru Amerika: kimoja Kusini, kinachohusishwa na Paul Palmer mwanzoni mwa miaka ya 1700, na kimoja New England, kinachohusishwa na Benjamin Randall mwishoni mwa miaka ya 1700. Leo wengi wao wako katika National Association of Free Will Baptists.The Free Will Baptists share the conviction of the General Baptists, who, as Unit 3 explained, believed that Christ died for all. There were two main early streams of Free Will Baptists in America: one in the South, associated with Paul Palmer in the early 1700s, and one in New England, associated with Benjamin Randall in the later 1700s. Today most are in the National Association of Free Will Baptists.

Wanashikilia mamlaka kamili ya Maandiko na ubatizo wa waumini kwa kuzamishwa. Wanatofautiana na Wabaptisti wengi katika mambo mawili. Kwanza, wanafundisha kwamba wokovu unapatikana kwa wote, na wanasisitiza jibu la utashi wa mwanadamu kwa neema ya Mungu, ambalo ndilo sababu ya jina lao. Pili, wanafundisha kwamba muumini aliyeokolewa kweli anaweza, kwa kutoamini kwa kudumu, kuanguka kutoka katika wokovu. Huu ni mtazamo tofauti na usalama wa milele (eternal security) wa muumini unaoshikiliwa na Wabaptisti wengi, na ni tofauti ya ndani ya Wabaptisti.They hold the full authority of Scripture and believer's baptism by immersion. They differ from most Baptists on two points. First, they teach that salvation is available to all, and they stress the response of the human will to God's grace, which is the reason for their name. Second, they teach that a believer who is truly saved may, by persistent unbelief, fall away from salvation. This is a different view from the eternal security of the believer held by most Baptists, and it is an internal Baptist disagreement.

Tunajibuje. Wabaptisti wa Hiari Huru wanarejelea maonyo katika Waebrania na kwingineko, na mtazamo wao ni wa dhati na makini. Tunakubali kwamba uvumilivu ni alama ya muumini wa kweli, na tunakubali kwamba injili ni kwa wote. Lakini tumeshawishika na ahadi kama Yohana 10:28-29 kwamba wale ambao Kristo amewaokoa wanashikiliwa salama mkononi mwake. Tunaeleza mtazamo wetu kwa heshima, na tunafurahi kufanya kazi pamoja na Wabaptisti wa Hiari Huru katika injili popote tunapoweza.How we answer. Free Will Baptists appeal to warnings in Hebrews and elsewhere, and their view is sincere and serious. We agree that perseverance is the mark of a true believer, and we agree that the gospel is for all. But we are persuaded by promises such as John 10:28-29 that those whom Christ has saved are held securely in His hand. We state our view with respect, and we are glad to work with Free Will Baptists in the gospel wherever we can.

Wabaptisti wa Kireformed (Reformed Baptists)Reformed Baptists

Wabaptisti wa Kireformed, wakati mwingine huitwa Wabaptisti wa Neema Kuu (Sovereign Grace Baptists), ni warithi wa Wabaptisti Maalum, kama Kipindi cha 4 kilivyoonyesha. Wanashikilia Maungamo ya Pili ya London ya 1689 na kufundisha kwamba Mungu, tangu milele, alichagua watu kwa wokovu na kwamba kifo cha Kristo kilikusudiwa kuwaokoa. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Mbaptisti maarufu zaidi wa Kiingereza wa karne ya kumi na tisa, alikuwa Mkalvini aliyehubiri injili kwa kila mtu, na Wabaptisti wengi wa Kireformed wanamvutia. Baadhi wako katika makanisa huru, na wengi wako ndani ya Southern Baptist Convention.Reformed Baptists, sometimes called Sovereign Grace Baptists, are the heirs of the Particular Baptists, as Unit 4 showed. They hold the Second London Confession of 1689 and teach that God, in eternity, chose a people for salvation and that Christ's death was designed to save them. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the most famous English Baptist of the nineteenth century, was a Calvinist who preached the gospel to everyone, and many Reformed Baptists admire him. Some are in independent churches, and many are inside the Southern Baptist Convention.

Wabaptisti wa Kireformed wamechangia mengi kwa utamaduni wa Kibaptisti katika mahubiri, theolojia na kurudisha maungamo ya kihistoria. Baadhi ya Wabaptisti wanaogopa kwamba Ukalvini ukisisitizwa sana, uinjilisti na utume vinaweza kudhoofika. Wabaptisti wa Kireformed wanajibu kwamba historia ya Carey, Fuller na Spurgeon inaonyesha kinyume. Kazi ya Fuller mwenyewe (Kipindi cha 6) iliandikwa kuonyesha kwamba imani za Kikalvini hazizuii toleo huru la injili. Tunakubali kwamba Wabaptisti wa Kikalvini na wasio Wakalvini lazima wadumishe toleo huru la injili kwa kila mtu na lazima wadumishe makanisa yakiwa yameungana katika utume.Reformed Baptists have contributed much to the Baptist tradition in preaching, theology and the recovery of historic confessions. Some Baptists fear that if Calvinism is pressed too hard, evangelism and missions may weaken. Reformed Baptists answer that the history of Carey, Fuller and Spurgeon shows the opposite. Fuller's own work (Unit 6) was written to show that Calvinist convictions do not hinder the free offer of the gospel. We agree that both Calvinist and non-Calvinist Baptists must keep the free offer of the gospel to everyone and must keep the churches united in missions.

Vikundi Vingine vya KibaptistiOther Baptist Groups

Vikundi viwili zaidi vinapaswa kujulikana. Wabaptisti wa Zamani (Primitive Baptists) walitokea katika miaka ya 1830 wakipinga jumuiya za kimisionari na mashirika mengine mapya, na wanasisitiza enzi ya Mungu katika wokovu. Vyombo vya Wabaptisti Wahafidhina (Conservative Baptist) na Wabaptisti wa Kawaida (regular Baptist) vilivyoelezwa katika Kipindi cha 8 viliundwa katika karne ya ishirini kutokana na mgogoro wa Wabaptisti wa Kaskazini. Pia kuna vikundi vingi vidogo vya Kibaptisti. Popote unapohudumu, uliza kila kikundi maungamo yake ya imani. Maungamo ndiyo njia bora ya kujua kikundi kinaamini nini.Two more groups should be known. The Primitive Baptists arose in the 1830s in opposition to mission societies and other new organizations, and they emphasize God's sovereignty in salvation. The Conservative Baptist and regular Baptist bodies described in Unit 8 formed in the twentieth century from the Northern Baptist conflict. There are also many smaller Baptist groups. Wherever you serve, ask each group for its confession of faith. A confession is the best way to learn what a group believes.

Kinachotuunganisha na KinachotugawaWhat Unites Us and What Divides Us

Vikundi vya Kibaptisti vinakubaliana kwa mengi. Sifa bainifu za kihistoria za Kibaptisti (Kipindi cha 1) ni kipimo kizuri: mamlaka ya Maandiko, uanachama wa kanisa wa waliozaliwa upya, ubatizo wa waumini kwa kuzamishwa, Meza ya Bwana kama agizo, uhuru wa kanisa la mahali, ofisi mbili za mchungaji na shemasi, ukuhani wa waumini wote, uhuru wa dhamiri na uhuru wa dini, na ushirikiano wa hiari kwa ajili ya utume. Kikundi kinachoshikilia haya ni mwanafamilia wa Kibaptisti, hata kama tunatofautiana nacho katika mambo mengine.Baptist groups agree on a great deal. The historic Baptist distinctives (Unit 1) are a good test: the authority of Scripture, regenerate church membership, believer's baptism by immersion, the Lord's Supper as an ordinance, local church autonomy, two offices of pastor and deacon, the priesthood of all believers, soul liberty and religious liberty, and voluntary cooperation for missions. A group that holds these is a Baptist family member, even if we disagree with it on other points.

Inasaidia kupanga tofauti katika ngazi tatu. Ya kwanza ni imani kuu za Kikristo ambazo waumini wote lazima washikilie, kama Utatu, uungu wa Kristo na wokovu kwa neema kwa njia ya imani. Kikundi kinachokana haya kimeiacha imani. Ya pili ni sifa bainifu za Kibaptisti, ambazo hatupaswi kuafikiana juu yake. Ya tatu ni mambo ya pili, ambayo Wabaptisti waaminifu wanatofautiana, kama maelezo ya mafundisho ya siku za mwisho, kama kuwa Mkalvini au la, mtindo wa ibada, nani anaweza kushiriki Meza ya Bwana, na uchaguzi wa tafsiri ya Biblia. Wachungaji wenye hekima hawalichukulii tofauti ya ngazi ya tatu kama ya ngazi ya kwanza.It helps to sort disagreements into three levels. First are the core Christian beliefs that all believers must hold, such as the Trinity, the deity of Christ and salvation by grace through faith. A group that denies these has left the faith. Second are the Baptist distinctives, on which we should not compromise. Third are secondary matters, on which faithful Baptists differ, such as the details of end-times teaching, whether to be Calvinist or not, the style of worship, who may take communion, and the choice of Bible translation. Wise pastors do not treat a third-level disagreement as a first-level one.

Pingamizi na Majibu YetuObjections and Our Answers

Pingamizi la 1: Vikundi vingi vya Kibaptisti vinaonyesha kwamba Wabaptisti wamegawanyika, na Yesu aliomba watu wake wawe wamoja (Yohana 17:21). Wakosoaji wanasema kwamba kanisa lenye migawanyiko mingi hivyo haliwezi kuwa kanisa la kweli.Objection 1: The many Baptist groups show that Baptists are divided, and Jesus prayed that His people be one (John 17:21). Critics say that a church with so many divisions cannot be the true church.

Jibu letu. Umoja katika Maandiko kwanza ni umoja wa kiroho wa wale walio wa Kristo. Unahifadhiwa "katika kifungo cha amani" (Waefeso 4:3), na Paulo anatuambia tuuhifadhi, si tuuunde. Tunahuzunika kwa migawanyiko isiyo ya lazima na magomvi ya dhambi. Lakini Agano Jipya pia linaonyesha kwamba waumini wanaweza kutengana pale ukweli unapokuwa hatarini, na hata Paulo na Barnaba walitengana kwa sababu ya ubishi mkali (Matendo 15:39) na baadaye wakaendelea na kazi ya Bwana. Umoja haumaanishi shirika moja, na tunaomba Wabaptisti washirikiane zaidi.Our answer. Unity in Scripture is first a spiritual unity of those who belong to Christ. It is kept "in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3), and Paul tells us to keep it, not to create it. We grieve over needless splits and sinful quarrels. But the New Testament also shows that believers may part when truth is at stake, and even Paul and Barnabas separated over a sharp disagreement (Acts 15:39) and later went on in the Lord's work. Unity does not mean one organization, and we pray that Baptists will cooperate more.

Pingamizi la 2: Uhuru wa kanisa unazaa vurugu na hakuna uwajibikaji. Wengine wanasema kwamba bila askofu au mamlaka kuu kanisa linaweza kupotoka na kuingia katika kosa.Objection 2: Church autonomy produces chaos and no accountability. Some say that without a bishop or a central authority a church can drift into error.

Jibu letu. Hatari ni ya kweli. Lakini Kristo ndiye Kichwa cha kila kanisa, na alilipa kila kanisa Neno lake, wachungaji na mashemasi, na Roho Mtakatifu. Vyama na mikutano mikuu hutoa ushirika, ushauri na maungamo ya pamoja bila kulitawala kanisa. Uwajibikaji kwa Maandiko, kwa kusanyiko na kwa makanisa dada una nguvu zaidi kuliko mlolongo wa amri ambao wenyewe unaweza kuanguka katika kosa.Our answer. The risk is real. But Christ is the Head of each church, and He gave each church His Word, pastors and deacons, and the Holy Spirit. Associations and conventions provide fellowship, counsel and shared confessions without ruling over a church. Accountability to Scripture, to the congregation and to sister churches is stronger than a chain of command that can itself fall into error.

Pingamizi la 3: Ni kikundi kipi cha Kibaptisti kilicho sahihi? Muumini mpya anaweza kuchanganyikiwa.Objection 3: Which Baptist group is right? A new believer may feel confused.

Jibu letu. Usichague kwa jina. Linganisha kila kanisa na Biblia na sifa bainifu za Kibaptisti, na uulize kuhusu maungamo yake na mafundisho yake kuhusu injili.Our answer. Do not choose by name. Compare each church with the Bible and the Baptist distinctives, and ask about its confession and its teaching on the gospel.

Matumizi ya KichungajiPastoral Application

Kijana ameanzisha kanisa jipya la Kibaptisti katika mji mdogo. Wageni wawili wanakuja katika mwezi uleule. Wa kwanza ni mchungaji kutoka kanisa lililo katika mkutano mkuu wa kitaifa, anayemwalika ajiunge na chama cha mahali. Wa pili ni kiongozi wa timu ya kimisionari inayotembelea kutoka kanisa huru la ng'ambo, anayejitolea kusaidia jengo na kumwalika ajiunge na ushirika wao.A young man has begun a new Baptist church in a small town. Two visitors come in the same month. The first is a pastor from a church in a national convention, who invites him to join the local association. The second is the leader of a visiting mission team from an independent church abroad, who offers to help with a building and invites him to join their fellowship.

Kwanza, mchungaji kijana anawashukuru wote wawili na hamtukani yeyote.First, the young pastor thanks both and does not insult either.

Pili, anamwomba kila mmoja taarifa ya imani iliyoandikwa na maelezo ya jinsi ushirikiano ungefanya kazi, ikiwemo nani angemiliki mali na nani angefanya maamuzi.Second, he asks each for a written statement of faith and a description of how the cooperation would work, including who would hold the property and who would make decisions.

Tatu, analinganisha anachojifunza na Maandiko na sifa bainifu za Kibaptisti, na anawaomba mashemasi wake mwenyewe na kusanyiko waombe na kuamua, kwa sababu kanisa lake linajiongoza lenyewe.Third, he compares what he learns with Scripture and with the Baptist distinctives, and he asks his own deacons and congregation to pray and to decide, because his church governs itself.

Nne, anakumbuka kwamba anaweza kushirikiana na kikundi zaidi ya kimoja katika kazi fulani huku akibaki mwaminifu kwa imani zake.Fourth, he remembers that he may cooperate with more than one group on a particular task while remaining faithful to his convictions.

MuhtasariSummary

Wabaptisti hawana mamlaka kuu, kwa hiyo ni wengi. Vikundi vyao vilitokana na historia, rangi, mafundisho na mzozo. Southern Baptist Convention (1845) inashirikiana kupitia wajumbe na Cooperative Program (1925). American Baptist Churches wametokana na Wabaptisti wa Kaskazini na ni pana zaidi katika mafundisho. Mikutano mikuu ya Waamerika Weusi inajumuisha National Baptist Convention (1895) na Progressive National Baptist Convention (1961). Wabaptisti huru na wa kifundamentalisti wanasisitiza uhuru kamili wa kanisa la mahali na kujitenga. Wabaptisti wa Hiari Huru wanashikilia kwamba wokovu unapatikana kwa wote na kwamba muumini anaweza kuanguka, wakati Wabaptisti wengi wanashikilia usalama wa milele. Wabaptisti wa Kireformed wanadumisha Maungamo ya 1689. Wabaptisti wanakubaliana katika sifa bainifu, na wanatofautiana katika mambo ya pili. Tunajibu shtaka la mgawanyiko kwa kutafuta umoja wa Roho, na tunaomba ushirikiano zaidi katika injili.Baptists have no central authority, so they are many. Their groups arose from history, race, doctrine and controversy. The Southern Baptist Convention (1845) cooperates through messengers and the Cooperative Program (1925). The American Baptist Churches descend from the Northern Baptists and are broader in doctrine. The African American conventions include the National Baptist Convention (1895) and the Progressive National Baptist Convention (1961). Independent and fundamental Baptists stress the full independence of the local church and separation. Free Will Baptists hold that salvation is available to all and that a believer may fall away, while most Baptists hold eternal security. Reformed Baptists keep the 1689 Confession. Baptists agree on the distinctives, and differ on secondary matters. We answer the charge of division by seeking the unity of the Spirit, and we pray for more cooperation in the gospel.

Usomaji ZaidiFurther Reading

• H. Leon McBeth, The Baptist Heritage (Urithi wa Kibaptisti) (1987).• H. Leon McBeth, The Baptist Heritage (1987).

• Bill J. Leonard, Baptist Ways: A History (Njia za Kibaptisti: Historia) (2003).• Bill J. Leonard, Baptist Ways: A History (2003).

• David Bebbington, Baptists Through the Centuries (Wabaptisti Katika Karne Zote) (2010).• David Bebbington, Baptists Through the Centuries (2010).

• Anthony L. Chute, Nathan A. Finn na Michael A. G. Haykin, The Baptist Story (Hadithi ya Wabaptisti) (2015).• Anthony L. Chute, Nathan A. Finn and Michael A. G. Haykin, The Baptist Story (2015).

• The Second London Confession (Maungamo ya Pili ya London) (1689) na The New Hampshire Confession (Maungamo ya New Hampshire) (1833), vyanzo vya msingi.• The Second London Confession (1689) and The New Hampshire Confession (1833), primary sources.

• J. M. Pendleton, Church Manual (Mwongozo wa Kanisa) (1867), chanzo cha msingi.• J. M. Pendleton, Church Manual (1867), a primary source.

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