Room for Nuance The Reformed Baptist Interview
Jan 1, 2026
Tom Hicks, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Clinton, is an accomplished theologian with degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In this engaging discussion, he delves into his spiritual journey and the nuances of being a Reformed Baptist. Hicks explains the significance of covenant theology, the distinction between law and gospel, and how historical confessions shape church identity. He also contrasts different views on covenants, emphasizes the importance of church membership, and addresses modern challenges like legalism and Christian liberty.
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Book Born From Membership Class
- Tom wrote what began as a membership booklet that grew into a full book for his church.
- He intended it as a pastoral resource for membership classes, not an academic manifesto.
Confessional Identity Defined
- Reformed Baptists align with historic confessional Calvinistic Baptist theology rooted in the First and Second London Confessions.
- This identity emphasizes covenant theology, law-gospel distinction, and a regulative view of worship.
Confession As Teaching Standard
- A robust confession helps churches confess the whole faith while allowing credibly professing believers to join without affirming every detail.
- The Second London Confession explicitly allows non-affirmation of every clause for membership, while using the confession as a teaching standard.