I have a question. I used to go to a Southern Baptist Church for 5 years. I have friends that are Presbyterian and friends that are Baptist.
I am confused. Please forgive me as I am very ignorant on this. Can someone help me understand what is the difference between a Southern Baptist, and a Reformed Baptist, and a Presbyterian in terms of doctrine and practice.
Thank you so much! God bless you all!
The questions are large, and I am scarcely equipped to give a thorough answer. For one thing, the religious bodies you mention are not uniform in doctrine or practice, though there may be trends and official positions.
One of the lines of doctrinal division is Calvinism/Arminianism in terms of salvation. Reformed Baptists (and evangelical Presbyterians typically) are Calvinistic in terms of salvation doctrine, and some in the SBC are Calvinistic while others are Arminian.
Another doctrinal division concerns dispensational and covenant theologies, with Presbyterians traditionally in the latter camp. Many Baptists are dispensational (and Pre-millenial), but many of those in the SBC do not seem to identify with dispensationalism. Most theologically conservative Protestant paedobaptists (infant baptists) such as evangelical Presbyterians adhere to covenant theology, and Baptists probably or necessarily less so.
Another difference traditionally concerns the liberal/conservative or modernist/fundamentalist debate from early in the 20th century. Mainline Presbyterians are generally liberal theologically (modernists), or tend to drift away from the (Calvinistic) Westminster doctrinal standards of A.D. 1648 (think John Knox and later Oliver Cromwell), contrary to evangelical Presbyterians who typically adhere to the Standards, with the SBC on the whole probably still closer to an evangelical rather than liberal position.
I believe the SBC has its own doctrinal statement.
Of course Presbyterian and Baptist church government form relatively standard and stable differences (and similarities). Baptists are congregational in church government form. Presbyterians are ruled by the Presbytery.
More recently, divisions have been conceived more in political terms over social and ethical issues--the role of the state in charity/poverty, abortion, marriage, homosexuality, the environment, and so on. Mainline Presbyterians and liberal Baptists have tended to be closer to the "evangelical left" while theologically conservative SBC folks tend to the "evangelical right," I believe.
Post Vatican II Roman Catholics tend to be closer to the "evangelical left" in terms of treatment of poverty, but liberal Protestants tend toward the "pro-choice" side in abortion. One may find oneself picketing with or on the other side regarding the same set of people, depending on issue.
One might add that the effects of Post-modernism, urbanism, pluralism, rising influence of secular and pagan thought in music, school and law, and a rising aversion to organized religion are all altering the Protestant playing field faster than I can keep up with any semblance of analysis, though certain great divides remain, such as whether or not Jesus is the Messiah in Nicene and Chalcedon ways.
As to practice, I suppose it best to look at individuals regardless of religious affiliation, though practice is an expression of actual underlying doctrinal beliefs. Yet even the best action can be motivated by evil desires, or even the least observable good work may be pleasing to God.
No doubt I have missed a great deal. I can only hope I have not misrepresented someone or some group, and I am painfully, though probably not fully aware of how deficient an answer to your questions my brief ramblings are, but perhaps they will be of some service to you nonetheless, at least by way of topical introduction or reminder.
Or perhaps in hindsight your question was more narrow.
