The Chin Baptist tradition

Introduction:

The Chin Baptist tradition is one of the largest of the Protestant Christian denominations in Chin State. Most Chin Baptist churches agree with the basic Protestant doctrines, but they stress the belief that only Christian believers should be baptized (called "believer's baptism") and that this baptism should occur by immersion, a practice they trace back to the early Church. Chin Baptist churches have local church autonomy but are connected to each other through various associations. Within the Chin Baptist tradition, there are several branches such as Thantlang Baptist association, Hakha Baptist association, etc. Most Chin Baptist churches tend to be evangelical in doctrine. To interpret the Bible properly, one’s hermeneutical principles must be based upon a correct understanding of biblical revelation. But in our Church, there is no particular hermeneutical principle to be followed by the preacher. It is depending on the preacher because we, Baptists give the opportunity for the laymen to stand behind the pulpit and to preacher God’s word. Regarding to this, I will try to mention most of the preachers apply in their preaching as the following.

 

Begin with Prayer:                         

                        In our church, most of the preachers have considered prayer is very important in their preaching. So they always begin their sermon with a word of prayer. Even, some of the preachers were fasting and prayer one day in advance before they preach. Because we believe that God will pour His Holy Spirit upon the preachers through prayer and also speak to His people through the preachers. So, the Holy Spirit is essential. God wants all of us to understand His word deeply. That is why we, Baptists consider prayer is the most important part in our Preaching.

The Historical context:

                   The Bible was composed in a specific culture at a particular point in time. Seeking the historical context would lead them to consulting history to find the setting of the statement. The historical context can be found from several places. They could begin by researching the historical information concerning the time, place, cultural background, and political situation when the book was written. All these findings together would show the current traditions or political situations of the passage. Language studies also would show how a word was used in the past and help reveal what was original meaning. The preachers have well understanding of the historical background of the text very clearly.

ESTABLISH THE ORIGINAL TEXT:

The preacher does not build a doctrine on dispute text; rather he or she looks for a clear parallel passage. He tries his best to understand the original text as well as establish it. The context is that which accompanies the text. The Word of God is a perfect unit.  The scriptures cannot be broken; they all hang together, a perfect unity. Preacher looks the text and considers the verses immediately before, after, and around the passage. Preachers consider the book of the Bible and the section of the Bible in which the passage occurs. So, the preachers interpret the Bible within the framework of the Bible.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT:

The preachers read the entire context (literary context is crucial). He studies some of the commentaries in our own language and tries to interpret not less than a paragraph. And also he tries to outline the main truths of the paragraphs in the literary unit. This way the preachers can follow the original author’s thoughts and their development.

The Analogical Context:

                Some of the preachers used the analogical in their preaching. The analogical context is vital to arriving at the proper interpretation of a passage of Scripture. Analogy is the similarity between like features of two things, on which a comparison may be based. In scripture, the analogy of a passage with its resemblance or similarity of one truth, verse, or passage with the rest of the Bible. This is discussed in detail in the next section. Briefly it means that Scripture does not contradict itself. In operation the principle would be that if the passage you read seems to contradict some other scripture, then you must study further to understand the passage and to resolve the seeming conflict. If your interpretation seems to be in conflict with other scripture truths your interpretation is false.

The Bible is the supreme authority:

               

             We, Baptists regard the Bible as their supreme authority for both belief and conduct. We will reject all heretical beliefs and practices, using Scripture as our final authority. We purpose to watch over one another in brotherly love, to remember one another in prayer, to help one another in sickness and distress, and to cultivate Christian compassion and courtesy. Believing that the pursuit of peace with others and personal holiness accompanies true faith in Christ, we will be slow to take offense, always eager to seek the reconciliation Christ commands, and will work to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We resolve to practice personal and family worship, to train our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, and to seek the salvation of our family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and of the entire world. We promise that if we leave this church we will diligently seek to unite with another church where we can continue to carry out the spirit and the Christo-Centric Principle: The mind of deity is eternally centered in Christ. All human hopes are, and human occupations should be, centered in Christ. The whole material universe in creation is centered in Christ. And also the Bible is regarded as authoritative because it is God's Word and words to humankind, relevant for all times. This is the result of a process known as inspiration, whereby God communicated through human authors. As the apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is God-breathed that is, inspired and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.’’ For Baptists, it is important to participate in all aspects of the life of a local church, including being instructed through biblically-based preaching and teaching. Ultimately, however, the individual Christian is responsible directly to God and is to be subject to the supreme authority of God and the written Word of God, the Bible. And Jesus’ ministry demonstrated His belief that the Bible is the supreme authority. He quoted Scripture to the devil in the wilderness to respond to temptations (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10), He defended Himself with the Scripture “you are gods” (John 10:34-36), and He expounded Moses and the prophets to the disciples to show that He was supposed to rise from the dead (Luke 24:27, 45-47). Peter’s Pentecost sermon relied on the authority of Joel 2:28 (Acts 2:16-18).When preachers use this principle; they make their text the center of their sermon and support doctrines and assertions by other Scripture passages.

Scripture interprets Scripture – the analogy of Scripture.

            

                   For the preacher, the Analogy of scripture principle means that he will look for the similarity of doctrine in the scripture. By applying this principle preachers will remain consistent with Scripture as they proclaim God’s Word. Some preachers may rest assured that God did not reveal an important doctrine in a single, ambiguous passage.  All essential doctrines are fully and clearly explained either in the immediate context, or somewhere else in the Bible. For example, the snake which Moses had been shown to the Israelites people in the desert pictures that the crucifixion of the Messiah on the cross of Calvary. So, this principle is best illustrated by what is known as topical Bible study.  There are two essential rules for applying this principle:  1) The context of the two passages must be the same; and 2) The plain passage must be used to guide their interpretation of a less clear passage not the other way around.

 

1.      Christ is the center of the Bible and of all interpretation.

                   

                     The preacher shows that Christ portrayed Himself as the center of Scripture, as he discussed John 3:14 (Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness). Christ thereby gives us real ability to explain Moses and all the Prophets. He or She tells us clearly that Moses with all his stories. For Christ is the central spot of the circle, and when viewed aright, all stories in Holy Scripture refer to Christ. This principle has been used in Baptists churches in chin state by some of the preachers. Preaching Christological from Scripture, the pastor will speak about faith in relation to the person and work of Christ.  It is Christ who opens to us the Scriptures. He is the Word humanity must see and hear.... One does not preach the Bible unless one preaches Jesus Christ, the foolishness of God and the wisdom of God. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

The Bible shall be divided into Law and Gospel.

The Law and Gospel principle is another unique and distinctive for some preachers of Baptists hermeneutical principle. The differentiation of Law and Gospel is an important working tool for some of the Baptists preacher or interpreter. They show that the Law-Gospel principle is derived from Scripture. It necessary to divide these things aright, as Paul says (2 Tim.2:15). They have seen what Scripture ascribes to the Law and what it promises. For it praises works in such a way as not to remove the free promise. Since salvation by works or by grace formed the center of the Baptists through the use of this Christological principle they could show that they did not abuse Scripture as other did. All Scripture ought to be distributed into these two principle topics, the Law and the promises. Both authors show that the Confessions repeatedly deal with what the Scripture teaches about Law and Gospel and they declare that this distinction is an important hermeneutical principle.

For them, the Law-Gospel principle has important consequences for their preaching. According to them, no sermon should be preached without a proper balance of Law and Gospel in it. The Law will be used to drive people to the saving grace of Christ, and afterwards as a guide for Christian works of love flowing from grace. The Gospel will proclaim how people are saved from the condemnation of the Law by the merits and grace of Jesus Christ. They are to observe most carefully how the Prophets and Apostles, and especially Jesus Himself, explained and interpreted the Bible. The observance of these principles removes all doubt; it presents to us a firm foundation for our faith.

In Synod:

                   There is Chin Baptist Convention in our place. All the Baptists are under the control of the General Secretary of this Convention. We do have annual synod in which all the Pastors, deacons, deaconess, youth leaders of the Baptist Churches have come together and also the Church choir groups of each of their respective has participated in this Synod. Whenever we have this synod, the particular portion of the Scripture and theme or motto has been set by the head official members or committee of churches. By that time, Preacher has no his own choices of the Scripture portion for preaching but he or she has to preach according to the selected theme or motto from the particular selected portion of the Scripture passage. But he has right to apply any of the hermeneutical principles in his preaching. By saying this, I would like to mention that we, Baptists have no particular Hermeneutical Principles to follow by the preachers.

The Strength and Limitation:

                  There are several things to mention about the strength of my Church. There are many members who could pray every morning before dawn as well as even. Even some of the members were often fasting and praying a week, weeks and a month for themselves as well as for all the leaders of Christian and also the leaders of the World that they might have unity among the leaders. We do also have particular Sunday school teachers and Nursery teachers who could train children to gain the knowledge of the Holy Bible and grow in a better way of life. They are faithful in bringing one tenth from their respective works of earning something to the Church as well as to the Lord. Every Monday morning, we have come together in the church and pray regularly.

Conclusion:

           Interpretation of Scripture will never be an exact science. The proper understanding of Scripture is absolutely necessary to a proper interpretation of the Bible. But the Bible cannot be truly understood unless a person has a true faith in Jesus as his Savior from sin.