Norman, R. Stanton. The Baptist Way. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2005. ISBN:0805431527
It is frightening to think that one could have been a Baptist, particularly a Southern Baptist, for ones entire life and never have understood the implications of ascribing the title Baptist to yourself. A post-reading reflection of R. Stanton Norman’s The Baptist Way: Distinctives of a Baptist Church could cause that very doubt to creep into one’s mind. Thoroughness and conciseness do not always accompany one another in a book covering the important and difficult ones discussed by Norman, but he is able to be both. His matter-of-fact approach to the state of the Church is a welcomed read for those concerned with the barely Biblically, politically corrected state of many churches today. He has provided commentary on what is happening, what has happened in generations gone by, including during the earliest days of the primitive church, and a what must happen (in the form of “prescriptions” as he calls them) for the church to return to not only a healthy state of being, but to actually constituting a New Testament Church.
Norman looks at eight areas where Baptists have a distinct way of “doing church.” He is clear that none of these in and of itself is unique to the Baptist faith, but says, “the evidence still convinces me that no non-Baptist advocates all the theological distinctives of Baptist to the same degree and in the same manner as Baptists.” (187)
It is clear after reading The Baptist Way that Baptists have work to do if Baptist churches are going to be healthy churches. As Norman makes clear everything rides on authority and if Baptists will hold to their classical view of Biblical authority, it will change how they are currently “doing church;” but will do so for the better. The difficult statutes of Christ must be maintained along with those deemed pleasant. Norman rightly asserts that doing so will ensure proper adherence to Christ’s desire and demands for His Church. The Baptist Way is a must read, especially for those young Baptists who want a good foundation in right theology and practice.
A few good quotes to ponder:
“The New Testament is for Baptists the sole authority and preeminent standard. This conviction serves as the essential distinctive for our theological identity. The ultimate test of any teaching in Christianity is its agreement with the revelation of the new Testament because in it Christ’s authority is most clearly revealed.” (25)
“If the New Testament is the rule for church life, and if Baptists are right in their ecclesiastical beliefs and practices, then a healthy New Testament church is a Baptist Church” (31)
“the doctrine of a regenerate church membership is one logical and natural conclusion of the Baptist commitment to biblical authority.” (47)
R. Stanton Norman serves as the Vice President for University Relations at Southwest Baptist University. He holds a BA from Criswell College, and the MDiv and PhD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
