Our Basic Beliefs
God
There is One Triune God revealed to us as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.
Creation and Humanity
God created heaven and earth, all things visible and invisible.
The world God created is good.
Humanity was created in God’s image. We rebelled and turned from God – insisting on our own way.
This is called sin, and it corrupts all of creation.
Jesus Christ
Jesus came as the Holy One of Israel and the incarnation of God: he is fully human and fully God.
He was born of the Virgin Mary.
Jesus lived a perfect life in complete love and obedience to the Father, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In him, the Kingdom of God has come.
In his suffering death on the cross, and in his rising again on the third day, according to the Scriptures, Jesus completed our salvation and the redemption of the world.
Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again on the last day to judge the living and the dead and make all that is wrong right.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit inspired the Bible, sanctifies believers, and calls and equips the church, the people of God, to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and to make disciples of all nations.
Salvation
Christian life begins with conversion to Christ, empowered by the prior work of the Holy Spirit to regenerate (give us a new birth). Faith in Christ is how we are justified and forgiven.
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
There are two sacraments, or ordinances, which the Lord commanded the church to practice until he returns: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (communion).
Four Values Baptists Emphasize
Lordship of Christ
Baptists believe that Christ is head of his church. Each church is “autonomous,” but that shouldn’t mean we think “we’re the ones in charge.” It is Christ who is “in charge.” That’s what it means to say “Jesus is Lord.” And, as members of the body of Christ, each church member is empowered by the Spirit to discern His will in interpreting the Scriptures together.
Freedom to Serve
Churches are each autonomous, directly under the Lordship of Christ, and we willingly and joyfully partner in ministry with other Christians and churches on mission. We each bring our unique Spirit-given gifts. We each benefit from one another.
Baptists, from the beginning, have also championed freedom for all people to worship according to conscience. That is, to worship, or not to worship, without being forced to do so or not to do so.
Even in times and places where those labeled heretics were punished by law, Baptists said right belief (while important) can’t be forced by the punishment of the state. Baptists are certain that service to God is crucial, but it must be service freely given. Thomas Helwys (1576-1616), one of the first Baptists, was even put in Newgate prison in London for this belief!
Covenant Community
The church is a covenant community. A covenant is a promise. The Lord has saved us, shown us great mercy and love, and made us a new people. The church is the body of believers united to one another to live as followers of Christ in that newness of life. We gather to Worship him through hearing and proclaiming the word and celebrating the Lord’s Supper and Baptism as Jesus commanded. In living in Jesus’ new life, we learn to love and trust God and live well with one another, with mutual accountability and encouragement.
We each have responsibilities to minister to one another.
Church of Believers
In different times and places, a common misunderstanding was that being Christian is something like being a citizen of a country, something you are because of where you are born, regardless of your beliefs or faith. Against this view, Baptists have consistently emphasized the importance of a church of “regenerate believers.” That is, being a Christian isn’t about what place you’re from, or what family you're born into. Being a Christian is about trusting Jesus as Lord and following him.
The church is made up of believers who have decided to follow Jesus and become part of the covenant community in baptism, united to freely serve, under the Lordship of Christ.
Baptism
Our own practice of baptism is in accordance with what we believe the New Testament teaches. We baptize upon confession of faith in Jesus. We proclaim that decision to follow Jesus, and recognize God’s work of salvation, through Baptism in the name of the one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Although First Baptist Church Muncie (FBCM) only baptizes believers by immersion, the church accepts any member who was baptized in the name of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, and trusts in Christ as Lord and Savior.
We recognize there are many genuine Christians and faithful churches who do not practice confession and then baptism, in that order. FBCM does not require professing Christians, who were baptized as infants in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to be (re-)baptized to become members.
In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.
Our Confession & Denominational Identity Statement
Holy Scripture is our source for faith and practice. We recognize there will be diversity in views and interpretation among believers.
As a guide to Christian teaching and to simply describe common beliefs in our community, FBCM adopted a historic confession as a congregation. As our by-laws & constitution say: “Recognizing and honoring the differences that exist among believers, this Church generally ascribes to the New Hampshire Confession of Faith 1833.”
When seeking to form a missionary society which we partner with to this day, a Baptist pastor and scholar named J. Newton Brown helped create a confession of belief with other believers. It came to be known as the New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith of 1833 (NHCF 1833), and has served as a framework for many later Baptist Confessions – especially here in the United States.
The General Board of the American Baptist Churches USA released an identity statement in 2005. While not binding on congregations or individuals, this statement represents an expression of the faith of American Baptists in the 21st century.
God has given this particular community of believers called Baptists a distinctive history and experience. As we share in common with Christians everywhere, so Baptists everywhere celebrate a common heritage.
With Baptist brothers and sisters around the world, we believe:
- That the Bible is the final authority and trustworthy for faith and practice. It is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit within the community of faith;
- That the Church is a gathered fellowship of regenerated believers, a sign of the coming universal reign of God;
- That the freedom to respond to the Lordship of Christ in all circumstances is fundamental to the Christian gospel and to human dignity; and
- That witness to Christ is the ongoing task of every Christian and of every church.
Read the documents
- 2005We Are American Baptists An Expression of Christian Faith Representative of American Baptists adopted by the General Board, American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., November 2005.Download PDF We Are American Baptists
- 1833New Hampshire Baptist Confession of FaithThe confession in fullDownload PDF New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith
- Constitution and bylawsHow this church governs itselfDownload PDF Constitution and bylaws
Membership
Full Member
To join FBCM, you may come forward during the song of response in a worship service, when the pastor invites people to join the church.
We also offer membership exploration classes for those interested, with no obligation to join at the end.
If you profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you may be admitted for membership by making your profession of faith in Jesus Christ public and following that with baptism, by transferring your membership from another church, or by stating that you are a Christian and have been a member of a church, but for some reason transfer of a letter from that church is unlikely.
If you were baptized as an infant, our membership form may ask if you have taken any form of confirmation class.
Associate Member
If you are a believer temporarily living in the Muncie community, you may unite with FBCM during your stay in Muncie and retain membership in your home church.
Traditionally, college students have joined as associate members.
As an Associate Member, you have no vote on church matters and may not hold elected positions, but you may attend church meetings, may assume some positions of leadership, and are invited to participate in all church activities. Such membership terminates upon completion of your temporary stay.
For more information see our Constitution and Bylaws.
Our Church Covenant
We, the members of this church, through the grace of God, humbly and solemnly undertake with His aid:
- Toattend the worship and services of this church regularly, using them for the edification of our souls.
- Tocontribute cheerfully and regularly to the financial support of the work of this church and its various beneficences.
- Toaid and assist prayerfully, loyally, and willingly, the minister and those who work with him [or her] in the witness of this church.
- Tomaintain, in all our relations with our fellow members, an attitude of spiritual integrity, sympathy, and love.
- Tocooperate with interest and earnestness in the redemptive, missionary, and social tasks of the Kingdom of God.
- Tocultivate by prayer and meditation a life of devotion and consecration to God and to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
- Toaspire, in our private lives, to character and conduct that shall be approved by God and our consciences.
- Toorder the life in our homes so that they may be truly Christian and dwelling places of God.
- Tobear ourselves in our social and business interrelationships in accordance with the principles of Jesus Christ.
We enter this covenant inspired by devoted love to Him who gave Himself for our salvation. We seek that communion of our spirits with His, so graciously bestowed on us. We desire to serve Him and those who are in the work of His hand. We pray for Divine guidance and help in this our earnest endeavor.
We further engage that when we remove from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other Church where we can carry out the spirit of this Covenant and the principles of God’s word.
Our Baptist Affiliation
We are affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky.
American Baptists are a Christ-centered, biblically grounded, ethnically diverse people called to radical personal discipleship in Christ Jesus.
American Baptists' commitment to Jesus propels us to nurture authentic relationships with one another; build healthy churches; transform our communities, our nations, and our world; engage every member in hands-on ministry; and speak the prophetic word in love.
Have questions?
Sundays at 10:45 am. 309 East Adams Street.