Each person is accountable for himself/herself before God. No hierarchy of spiritual authorities is needed to dictate to Christians what they must believe or how they must practice their faith. While the church and its leaders are ordained to give spiritual guidance, God also made each person with the capacity to respond to God directly without requiring any human mediation. Each Christian has the right and ability to interpret Scripture, though they may not always do so rightly.

(From “Baptist Distinctives” by Dr. David E. Garland, Interim President of Baylor University and Dean of George W. Truett Theological Seminary)