If you’re a Baptist searching for a calvinistic Baptist church in Greenville, you might wonder whether the Free Presbyterian Church (FPC) could be the right place for you. With “Presbyterian” in its name, it’s natural to question how the FPC aligns with Baptist beliefs, particularly regarding baptism. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that Faith Free Presbyterian Church in Greenville is an excellent option for those who practice believer’s baptism.
An Open Policy on Baptism
One of the most distinctive features of the Free Presbyterian Church in Greenville is its open policy on baptism. While many Presbyterian churches exclusively practice infant baptism, the FPC stands out by embracing both infant baptism and believer’s baptism—baptizing individuals upon their personal profession of faith. This inclusive approach means that if you’re a Baptist who values believer’s baptism, you will find a supportive and respectful environment at the FPC.
For Baptists, this inclusivity translates to full participation in church life without the pressure to alter your views on baptism. The FPC respects and accommodates your beliefs, allowing you to worship and engage with the community according to your convictions. Several elders and deacons at the FPC practice believer’s baptism, as do many members of the congregation.
Respect for Believer’s Baptism
Reformed churches, along with Lutheran, Episcopal, Congregational, and Methodist denominations, traditionally accept various modes of baptism—pouring, sprinkling, and dipping. They also believe that baptism symbolizes God’s covenant with His people, extending to the children of believers.
In contrast, if you are a Baptist, you argue that baptism should follow a personal profession of faith and should not be administered to children who have not made such a profession. This view has been held by the majority of pastors in our denomination since its inception in 1951. Such pastors assert that the New Testament supports only believer’s baptism and does not command or mention infant baptism.
Why didn’t these men pastor in baptist churches? Different reasons could be given, but in part—for many of them—it was the priority on faithfulness to the gospel that made them wish to be a part of the denomination. As well as their belief in the presbyterian form of church government.
Although it is technically not a baptist church in Greenville, Faith Free Presbyterian Church understands, respects, and practices believer’s baptism, and has done so since 1951. Historically, baptism has been a topic of diverse opinions within Christianity, even among those who consider the Bible their sole rule of faith and practice. The one area where there is no toleration is the false doctrine of baptismal regeneration.
Difference Without Division
At the Free Presbyterian Church, we recognize that sincere Christians can have different views on baptism without allowing these differences to cause division. We believe that people can hold their views firmly while still respecting and accepting those with differing opinions. Our Additional Statement on The Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 28.3-4, embodies this spirit:
We admit into our fellowship those who believe that covenant infants should receive baptism, the sign and seal of God’s covenant with His people—defining an infant as a person who has not matured to the point of being able to respond to the obligations of the gospel call in repentance and faith. We equally admit into our fellowship those who believe that the sacrament of baptism, no less than the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, should be administered only to those who have come to a credible profession of personal faith in Christ…In dealing with this subject that has long caused bitter divisions among God’s people, we pledge ourselves to hold our views with loving toleration and respect for differing brethren, all of us being united in repudiating the error of baptismal regeneration.
We deeply value baptism but also strive to avoid unnecessary division. We wouldn’t want to be so exclusively Presbyterian that we couldn’t include someone like C. H. Spurgeon, who strongly believed in believer’s baptism. Similarly, we wouldn’t want to be so Baptistic that we would exclude someone like Robert Murray McCheyne, who supported infant baptism for believers’ children.
Centuries of Controversy
Baptism has indeed been a contentious issue for centuries. The passionate debates on each side demonstrate the complexity of the subject. For instance, one of the best arguments for Baptist views comes from an ex-Presbyterian, while a notable defense of paedo-baptism comes from a Baptist pastor who, after studying the issue, was persuaded to adopt a Presbyterian view!
The Free Presbyterian Church in Greenville is dedicated to fostering unity among genuine believers who love the gospel. This commitment to Christ’s prayer for the church’s unity (John 17:21-23) ensures that you can be part of a community that values both your beliefs and those of others with differing practices. This spirit of unity helps create a sense of humility between believers of differing views, rather than pride. It helps us to hold our views respectfully, rather than existing in a kind of echo chamber that hurls insults and holds to straw man arguments.
For Baptists, this unity is a significant advantage. You can be part of a calvinistic church that is governed by a plurality of elders without compromising your views on baptism.
Biblical Foundation and Theological Integrity
The Free Presbyterian Church in Greenville places a strong emphasis on Biblical principles. Although the church allows for diverse practices on baptism, it remains steadfast in upholding the authority of Scripture. For baptists looking for a church that is strong on personal holiness and separation from the world, Faith Free Presbyterian Church represents a marriage of some of the practical benefits of a strong independent or conservative baptist church while possessing a robust calvinistic theological foundation.
For Baptists who prioritize a strong intolerance to biblical compromise, Faith FPC offers a safe spiritual home that can be difficult to come across. Some other Presbyterian churches may allow those who hold to believer’s baptism to join the church, but they are forbidden to hold office, limiting how their gifts may be used in the body of Christ. This is not the case in the FPC.
Practical Benefits for Baptists
Considering a new church home involves weighing various factors, and understanding how the Free Presbyterian Church could benefit you over a Baptist church in Greenville is crucial. Here are some practical advantages:
- Freedom to Worship According to Your Convictions: You can fully participate in church life, including baptizing new believers, without compromising your beliefs.
- Opportunity to Remain in a Fellowship Opposed to Worldly Practices: Baptists looking for a calvinistic church often find themselves having to compromise on aspects of personal piety and how the believer interacts with the world.
- Benefit from Biblical Church Government: Sometimes trying to find a good baptist church that is run by a plurality of elders is difficult. Faith Free Presbyterian Church comes with all the advantages of a church polity that embraces accountability without forcing Christians who hold to believer’s baptism to compromise on their views.
Historical and Denominational Context
To appreciate the Free Presbyterian Church in Greenville’s stance on baptism, it’s helpful to understand its historical and denominational context. Founded in 1951, the FPC has a rich history that includes a commitment to Reformed theology while understanding that baptism should not be a doctrine that divides good men. Similar to the calvinistic methodists before them, Free Presbyterians determined to stand together in the battle for truth and make allowance for those holding to infant baptism and believer’s baptism to co-exist.
The photo above includes the original teaching and ruling elders of the FPC. Within that group there is included those who believed in infant baptism as well as believer’s baptism (the young minister in the middle, Ian Paisley, held to believer’s baptism).
In compromised ecumenical councils, men with differences in baptism seek to work out an acceptable position that will do justice to all their traditions. They do this in a spirit of compromise on every major doctrine of the gospel. That is a betrayal. But is it not sad that baptists and presbyterians who agree in upholding every fundamental of the faith cannot usually find the love, the humility, or whatever it takes, to stand together in the unity of the gospel?
In the Free Presbyterian Church we have long enjoyed the benefits of the fruitful coexistence and cooperation of credo-baptist and paedo-baptist brethren who have stood with equal commitment for the work and witness of the Lord Jesus Christ in our denomination.
Fellowship and Community
A key aspect of finding a new church home is the sense of fellowship and community. Faith Free Presbyterian Church in Greenville is known for its strong sense of community and support for its members. Whether you practice believer’s baptism or infant baptism, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere where you can build meaningful relationships and grow in your faith.
Why not visit the Free Presbyterian Church in Greenville and experience its inclusive approach to baptism firsthand? You’ll find a warm and welcoming community ready to support you in your spiritual journey.
A Message From Our Pastor
Hey there! I’m Pastor Armen, and I’d like to personally invite you to join us this Sunday at Faith Free Presbyterian Church. Our service offers a time of worship and encouragement, grounded in God’s Word, and surrounded by a welcoming community that loves to sing. Whether you’re new to the area or looking for a church home, you’ll find a place to belong with us. 11 AM is our most well-attended service, but the 6 PM has the benefit of a fellowship meal afterward. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. I look forward to meeting you!
— Pastor Armen Thomassian
Hey there! I’m Pastor Armen, and I’d like to personally invite you to join us this Sunday at Faith Free Presbyterian Church. Our service offers a time of worship and encouragement, grounded in God’s Word, and surrounded by a welcoming community that loves to sing. Whether you’re new to the area or looking for a church home, you’ll find a place to belong with us. 11 AM is our most well-attended service, but the 6 PM has the benefit of a fellowship meal afterward. If you have any questions,