The Baptist Vision - (Hobbs College Library) by Matthew Y Emerson & R Lucas Stamps (Hardcover)

About the Book

The Baptist Vision: Faith and Practice for a Believers' Church paints a beautiful and compelling picture of Baptists' beliefs and practices as a renewal movement within the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.

Book Synopsis

What does it mean to be Baptist?

The Baptist Vision: Faith and Practice for a Believers' Church answers this question by introducing readers to the distinctive theology and practice of Baptists and by putting forward a biblical, charitable, and winsome presentation of the Baptist vision.

Authors Matthew Y. Emerson and R. Lucas Stamps begin by examining the theological foundations of the Baptist movement: catholic, reformational, evangelical, and covenantal. They then demonstrate how these foundations issue forth Baptist distinctives (believers' baptism, congregationalism, religious liberty, and more) and Baptist practices (worship, holiness, and missions). Not simply descriptive, The Baptist Vision will also suggest a particular vision for the Baptist future, one that is more explicitly and intentionally positioned as a renewal movement within the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.

This book will appeal to Baptist and non-Baptist readers alike as Emerson and Stamps delve into themes that resonate with the broader body of Christ while simultaneously highlighting the rich beauty of the Baptist faith.

Review Quotes

"What a gift it is to see this wonderful work come to life. Emerson and Stamps are good guides, building Baptist doctrine and practice on the foundation of Scripture and tracing it through the course of church history while pointing us to a vision of the future. I hope The Baptist Vision finds its ways into homes, classrooms, and churches, beginning with my own."
--Matthew Boswell, Pastor, The Trails Church and Assistant Professor of Church Music and Worship, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Matt Emerson and Luke Stamps, two theological voices with expanding influence, have provided a helpful introduction to the distinctive beliefs and practices of Baptists. The authors contend that these distinctives are grounded in Scripture and informed by developments within orthodox, catholic, reformational, and evangelical Christianity. While not all readers will agree with all the conclusions offered in The Baptist Vision, those who wish to be involved in discussions about the future of Baptists in general, and Southern Baptist in particular, will find this book to be important reading. This volume will be appreciated by students and church leaders alike."
--David S. Dockery, President and Distinguished Professor of Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

"I have wanted someone to write a book like this for years. While there are many helpful works on Baptist identity and distinctives, The Baptist Vision is in a class by itself. It is fresh without being faddish, constructive while remaining thoroughly conservative, and pastoral without being pragmatic. Matt Emerson and Luke Stamps are first-rate scholars and committed Baptist churchmen. With this book, they have provided Baptists with a resource that will be assigned in classrooms, read on church staff retreats, and taught through in local churches for many years to come. I give it my highest recommendation and trust the Holy Spirit will use it to the ongoing renewal of Baptist faith and practice."
--Nathan A. Finn, Professor of Faith and Culture, North Greenville University

"Some years ago, I wrote an essay calling for the renewal of Baptist theology. This well-crafted volume is evidence that such a renascence is actually taking place. Without compromising historic distinctives, Emerson and Stamps deftly place the Baptist saga in the context of the wider Christian family--where it belongs. A welcome contribution to a conversation that needs to continue."
--Timothy George, Distinguished Professor, Beeson Divinity School of Samford University

"For those who may be struggling with what it means to be a Baptist in the twenty-first century, this book is for you! Matthew Emerson and Luke Stamps have produced a work that is faithful to Scripture and distinctively Baptist. Highly recommended."
--Keith Harper, Senior Professor of Baptist Studies, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Retired)

"Emerson and Stamps have written a superb, and highly accessible, study of what it means to be a Baptist. Solidly grounded in both Scripture and Baptist history, it succeeds brilliantly in depicting the nature of this important theological and spiritual tradition."
--Michael A. G. Azad Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs was a resident preacher-theologian. In his preaching he theologized and in his theology he preached. The product of his preaching and theology duo is doxology--an act of worship of the sovereign God. This volume mirrors Dr. Hobbs' doctrinal identity and is valuable for all who want to have practical and culturally relevant theology and practice. It moves readers beyond beliefs we hold to convictions that hold us during the doctrinal vicissitudes of life and carries us from orthodoxy to orthopraxy."
--Robert Smith Jr., Distinguished Professor of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School of Samford University

"In The Baptist Vision, Matthew Emerson and Lucas Stamps provide an even-handed description of and winsome, aspirational vision for Baptist life. They offer to people a resource where Baptists of distant stripes can remember where we came from, why we hold our distinctive beliefs, and consider who we want to be in this generation and the next. This book should be a go-to resource for orienting Baptists to who we are and who we can be."
--Christy Thornton, Director of Discipleship Content, The Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina

"The Baptist Vision is that singularly compelling introduction to church life I wish I had written. Every generation must wrestle with its own identity by engaging with holy Scripture, with their church's tradition, and with the world in which we now live. Emerson and Stamps herein offer the rising generation the key text needed both to enter and to improve upon the ongoing Baptist conversation which seeks to answer critical questions like 'Who are we?' And 'What must we do?' May this book have the wide use and deep impact it richly deserves."
--Malcolm B. Yarnell III, Research Professor of Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

About the Author

Matthew Y. Emerson (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is co-provost, dean of theology, arts and humanities, and the Floyd K. Clark Chair of Christian Leadership at Oklahoma Baptist University.

R. Lucas Stamps (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as Professor of Christian Theology at Anderson University and the Clamp Divinity School.