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The '''Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M)''' is the "statement of faith" of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]].
The BF&M is not a formal confession or creed, as Baptists in general do not hold to such (accepting only the Bible as their standard), and furthermore the SBC (being congregational in organization) has no authority over any individual congregation. However, adherence to it is required for SBC-sponsored missionaries and faculty members at SBC-sponsored universities.
==History==
The BF&M originated in 1925 out of the much older New Hampshire Confession of Faith. It has been amended three times: in 1963, 1998, and 2000.
The 2000 revision was comprehensive and controversial, adding an entire section on the family and specifically stating the traditional view of marriage therein (thus denouncing homosexuality). It also clarified that the role of pastor is limited to males only. It further removed the statement that Jesus Christ was the standard by which the Bible was to be interpreted, in response to liberal groups which were elevating the "red letter" words of Jesus over the remainder of Scripture (the traditional view of the SBC is that ''all'' Scripture is ''equally'' inspired by God).
==Format==
The BF&M is arranged into 18 individual topics, one of which (God) is divided into three sub-sections, one for each Person of the Trinity. Each section is followed by Bible verses supporting the statement.
{|
|I.||The Scriptures
|-
|II.||God
|-
|||A. God the Father
|-
|||B. God the Son
|-
|||C. God the Holy Spirit
|-
|III.||Man
|-
|IV.||Salvation
|-
|V.||God's Purpose of Grace
|-
|VI.||The Church
|-
|VII.||Baptism and the Lord's Supper
|-
|VIII.||The Lord's Day
|-
|IX.||The Kingdom
|-
|X.||Last Things
|-
|XI.||Evangelism and Missions
|-
|XII.||Education
|-
|XIII.||Stewardship
|-
|XIV.||Cooperation
|-
|XV.||The Christian and the Social Order
|-
|XVI.||Peace and War
|-
|XVII||Religious Liberty
|-
|XVIII.||Family
|-
|}
The BF&M is not a formal confession or creed, as Baptists in general do not hold to such (accepting only the Bible as their standard), and furthermore the SBC (being congregational in organization) has no authority over any individual congregation. However, adherence to it is required for SBC-sponsored missionaries and faculty members at SBC-sponsored universities.
==History==
The BF&M originated in 1925 out of the much older New Hampshire Confession of Faith. It has been amended three times: in 1963, 1998, and 2000.
The 2000 revision was comprehensive and controversial, adding an entire section on the family and specifically stating the traditional view of marriage therein (thus denouncing homosexuality). It also clarified that the role of pastor is limited to males only. It further removed the statement that Jesus Christ was the standard by which the Bible was to be interpreted, in response to liberal groups which were elevating the "red letter" words of Jesus over the remainder of Scripture (the traditional view of the SBC is that ''all'' Scripture is ''equally'' inspired by God).
==Format==
The BF&M is arranged into 18 individual topics, one of which (God) is divided into three sub-sections, one for each Person of the Trinity. Each section is followed by Bible verses supporting the statement.
{|
|I.||The Scriptures
|-
|II.||God
|-
|||A. God the Father
|-
|||B. God the Son
|-
|||C. God the Holy Spirit
|-
|III.||Man
|-
|IV.||Salvation
|-
|V.||God's Purpose of Grace
|-
|VI.||The Church
|-
|VII.||Baptism and the Lord's Supper
|-
|VIII.||The Lord's Day
|-
|IX.||The Kingdom
|-
|X.||Last Things
|-
|XI.||Evangelism and Missions
|-
|XII.||Education
|-
|XIII.||Stewardship
|-
|XIV.||Cooperation
|-
|XV.||The Christian and the Social Order
|-
|XVI.||Peace and War
|-
|XVII||Religious Liberty
|-
|XVIII.||Family
|-
|}