Baptists Must Extend to Others Liberty in the Non-Essentials of the Faith and Grey Areas of Life

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Is what Paul writes about in the above verse true in your church? Do members of the church have the right and privilege to disagree on matters of the conscious without consequence?

1 Corinthians 10:29
Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?

I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?

For about 375 years Baptists in America have affirmed “soul liberty” as a distinctive of being a Baptist—because of numerous references to such liberty in the Bible. In response to the Church of England’s overbearing control of every aspect of doctrine and the full or partial denial of the individual priesthood of the believer, Baptists and other Bible churches have continually affirmed the right of the individual believer to be a priest unto himself before God. This distinctive goes hand in hand with the view that each soul has the liberty to disagree regarding non-essential matters and remain a member of the church in good standing.

This means that I can disagree with my friend Pastor Andy Webb on infant baptism and remain co-laborers and friends in Christ. We can agree to disagree. Baptists and Presbyterians have been doing this for hundreds of years. Moreover this applies to fellow Baptists. I can disagree with a freewill Baptist about man’s ability to lose his salvation. I will not criticize him; I will not accuse him of being an unbeliever, liberal, or bash any other area where the Scripture is not as black and white as I would like it. Perhaps if parts of Hebrews (and a few other passages) were more black and white, then I could describe what a freewill Baptist was saying as heretical. However, the fact is orthodox believers have disagreed on this matter. Therefore, according to 2 Corinthians 3:17, I am to extend to them liberty more specifically “soul liberty” for where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.

I can extend soul liberty to preferences regarding music style, skirts or pants for women, mixed co-ed bathing [swimming], inter-racial marriages, Bible translations, infant baptism and many other non-fundamental issues, debates, discussions and differences.

I can respect the fact that two born again, Christ loving, gospel centered Christians, can come to two different conclusions on a particular issue. Both are not right but this side of eternity we will not know who was right and who was wrong or if the issue was one where God permits more liberty.

So what bothers me is when the people who make the most fuss about being a Baptist are the same ones who are the least committed to extending to other Christians the liberty in which Baptist churches were founded upon centuries ago. For example, the church has always had general Baptists and particular Baptists. General Baptists believe in a general atonement (Christ died for the world) and particular Baptists believe in limited atonement (Christ died for elect). These Baptists do not share the same conviction and understanding about the atonement, yet they should extend to each other the soul liberty to be different without branding the other as a heretic. Paul said it like this:

Romans 8:21
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Are you in a Baptist church that doesn’t extend “the glorious liberty of the children of God” to others? Is there one way or the highway on non-essential issues? Does the pastor passively shun those who do not agree with his take on the non-essentials? Is there a pugnacious, self-righteous air of superiority the ones who know all? Are some made to feel like second class citizens for not wearing skirts/dresses 24/7? When someone shows up in the assembly of believers without the right Bible (translation) are they looked down upon? Would there be an awkward silence in the air if the “wrong” translation was read aloud? Would someone feel they had a responsibility before God to set this person straight?

In Baptist and Bible churches, these things should never happen because the very distinctive things that set Baptists apart is their commitment to the priesthood of the believers, the autonomy of the local church, congregational government, and soul liberty.

Paul told the church at Galatia not to allow others to put them in bondage again.

Galatians 2:4
And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Because Paul makes specific reference to “false brethren” do not think that is ok for genuine brothers in Christ to do what Paul said the false brethren were not to be allowed to do. Do not think this is my pastor—surely it is “ok” for him to bring me into bondage. Bondage is bondage.

Christ said he came to “set at liberty those who are bruised [oppressed]” (Luke 4:18). There are far too many Baptists preachers oppressing their people with secondary rules where the spirit of liberty is supposed to be ruling.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not add this final admonishment from Paul. He said,

1 Corinthians 8:9
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

Nothing about the liberty or freedom I have in Christ should ever be used in a way that could cause a weaker brother in Christ to stumble. What a balance! This is a balance that I must rely upon the Holy Spirit to help me find each and every day God calls me to serve him.

The Separation of Church and State a Baptist Distinctive

Happy 4^th of July and Independence Day!

Today these United States of America collectively celebrate 232 years of being an independent Sovereign Nation. We have so much to be thankful for and of course one of the greatest freedoms we have in America is the right to worship as we see fit without the interference of the State.

Baptists believe in and teach that local churches should be free—free churches govern themselves without any interference from the state or another hierarchal body or entity. (Today there is a Free Church denomination, but I am not using these words in that sense.) This belief or doctrinal persuasion significantly separates us from many other Christian denominations and religious organizations. It seems most appropriate to remind you of this point of difference and Baptist distinctive on our Nation's Birthday. Many lives were lost in defense of the establishment of an independent Sovereign Nation where people of all persuasions could worship God or chose not to worship God as they see fit.

This fundamental right of all Americans needs to be protected at all cost. Baptists have stood for the separation of church and state from the very first Baptist church established in America in 1638 (over hundred years before America's birthday). If you don't know anything about the first Baptist church in America check out their website at http://www.fbcia.org/. Roger Williams was their first Pastor/Elder in Providence, RI. Those of you familiar with US History will recall the significance of the Rhode Island colony and see why FBCIA started in RI.

Sunday we get another opportunity to take advantage of the liberties that men and women died for in the establishment of a Nation that gave its citizens a bill of rights. Let me remind you of the first amendment to the Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Sunday morning you can get up and come to church without any fear of interference from the government of the United States of America or any of its states or cities. Isn't that wonderful? Consider for a moment the number of countries on the planet where that isn't possible and then thank the Sovereign Lord of the Universe for the freedoms He has in his Divine Providence granted us.

Now the government isn't going to interfere Sunday morning but the flesh might—so discipline the flesh, keep it in control (1 Corinthians 9.27). Don't let the flesh have the victory on any Sunday morning or evening for that matter, gain and sustain the victory week after week as long we have the freedom to worship as we see fit we should take full advantage of it.

See you Sunday!