BAPTISM
We believe in baptism. We believe that the Bible instructs every Christian to be baptized in water and that the biblical mode of baptism is by full immersion. Baptism does not save anyone nor wash away sin. Rather, it is a testimony before men of an inward change which has already taken place as of the moment we accepted Christ as Savior and Lord. Baptism also identifies us with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. We do not baptize babies nor very young children because we believe the Bible teaches what is called "believer's baptism." That is, a person must have made a personal, conscious, rational decision to accept Christ into his/her life, something which babies and little children cannot do.
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
There are many people running around today saying that church membership is either (1) non-biblical, or (2) outmoded and unimportant. We are not of that persuasion. We believe that membership is like marriage in a sense, for it is a covenant relationship to be entered into carefully and reverently. One of the reasons so many churches are weak and struggling is because they are seeking to attract attenders rather than co-laborers. At SBC we welcome everyone. However, to move into any kind of leadership role we ask that the person make the commitment to become a member. Christians who refuse to unite with a local church and submit themselves to that church's leaders, teaching, and covenant are like people who want to live together with none of the obligations and vows of marriage. Commitment has almost become a 4-letter word in our day. However, God still calls His people to be committed - to Him, to one another, to the church, to the task He has commissioned us to carry out.