What if I told you that Igreja Batista Regular is more than just a church. It is a testament to a movement that values its historical roots. It cherishes a faith that stands firm on its principles.
Igreja Batista Regular is an evangelical Christian denomination. It holds a more conservative and fundamentalist approach to Baptist beliefs. Its story is deeply connected to a split that occurred in 1932. This split led to the formation of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches GARBC in the United States.
The GARBC was founded by Baptists who separated from the Northern Baptist Convention. Howard C. Fulton led this separation. The cause was theological liberalism. It had undermined the foundations of many denominations in the country.
The Regular Baptist movement arrived in Brazil in the mid-1930s. Missionaries William A. Ross and Edward Guy McLain brought it to the northern region. McLain established himself in Juazeiro do Norte. He initiated the first Igreja Batista Regular do Brasil. Missionaries Carleton and Adelaide Mateus also played a crucial role. They established a church in S\u00e3o Jos\u00e9 de Mipibu in Rio Grande do Norte in 1932.
Igreja Batista Regular maintains a more conservative doctrine than other Baptist churches. It is rooted in fundamentalist and separatist beliefs. Their doctrine may vary between congregations. It may lean toward Calvinism or Arminianism. Calvinist thought often dominates the movement. They firmly reject Pentecostalism and its expressions.
Today the Regular Baptists have expanded significantly. There are over 700 congregations, five seminaries, a publishing house and several camps. The states of Rio Grande do Norte, Cear\u00e1 and S\u00e3o Paulo have a strong presence. Igreja Batista Regular preserves the historical Baptist principle. It respects the autonomy of the local church. These churches unite for fellowship. This is done through state associations. These associations are represented nationally. They come together through the Associa\u00e7\u00e3o de Igrejas Batistas Regulares do Brasil AIBREB. To be a Regular Baptist church one must maintain the historical Baptist distinctions. They must be conservative and fundamentalist. They must preserve the same doctrine and practice. However a church can only join AIBREB. It can join if it is connected to one of the state associations.
Despite the term fundamentalism being tarnished in modern times. This is due to its association with Islamic terrorism. Igreja Batista Regular maintains the term. They view other absolutist movements as pseudo or neo-fundamentalism. For them fundamentalism means believing in key principles. They believe in the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures. They believe in the virgin birth of Christ. Igreja Batista Regular believes in the supernatural and biblical miracles. They believe in Jesus’s substitutionary death. Also they believe in His personal and imminent return.
To explain their distinctive beliefs they use the acronym BATISTAS. B stands for the Bible as the only rule of faith. A stands for the authority of Christ as the head. T represents the division of labor. It is divided into pastors and deacons. I signifies immersion and the Lord’s Supper as ordinances. S refers to the individual priesthood of believers. Igreja Batista Regular believes that all members are regenerated and baptized. They believe in the autonomy of the local church. And finally they believe in the separation of church and state.
Igreja Batista Regular encourages modest feminine attire for women. Makeup is not forbidden. However good sense is advised. This is to avoid excess. Young people are discouraged from having tattoos, piercings and body mutilation. Chastity is taught. Young people should remain chaste until marriage. They will face discipline if they violate this principle. Marriage between evangelicals and pseudo-Christian sects is prohibited. These include Adventism, Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Men should be family leaders. This includes both spiritual and secular matters. Divorce and remarriage are opposed. It is only allowed after the death of a spouse.
Igreja Batista Regular stands as a beacon. It honors tradition. It values faith. It provides a community. It holds firmly to its beliefs. It continues to impact lives in S\u00e3o Paulo and beyond.