A Baptist reality check

Baptist History and Heritage, Wntr, 2009 by Charles W. Deweese

It's 2009. Baptists' 400th anniversary has arrived. This year provides wonderful opportunities to assess Baptist history and identity. Three points occur to me. First, Baptists have made enormous contributions to human civilization and to the forward progress of Christianity. Second, Baptists have suffered under many delusions about their identity and status. Third, Baptists hold in their hands vast possibilities for making a substantial mark on the future.

A Legacy of Bold Traditions--Beginning with John Smyth and Thomas Helwys, Baptists created five remarkable traditions: (1) they injected a spirit of sacrifice into their defense of the Lordship of Christ and of biblical ideals and values; (2) they demanded believer's baptism, religious liberty, and the separation of church and state in a world dominated by infant baptism and state-churches; (3) they established a dissenting tradition driven by a spirit of voluntarism; (4) they built churches comprised of believers only and based on democratic principles; and (5) they covenanted together and confessed their faith. Later Baptists added more bold traditions: global missions ventures; support for basic, higher, and theological education; participation in significant social ministries; and sponsorship of civil and human rights initiatives.

Add up the contributions of Baptist heroes whom you and I know or have read about. Quickly, we will get a feel for the overwhelmingly powerful influences of Baptists on Christian developments.

A Time for Honest Confession--At times, Baptists have missed the mark of the ethical and spiritual character of Christ, the mark of biblical imperatives, and the mark of their own ideals, principles, and values. Two troublesome examples follow relating to the nature of the church and to freedom of the press.

Baptists are occasionally gifted at exalting themselves, sometimes to the point of calling themselves the only true church. Let's be honest. That attitude hampers communication, destroys the prophetic edge, and circumvents ecumenical and interfaith possibilities. Does anyone really believe that Baptists are God's sole covenant people? Baptists represent only a small segment of global Christianity. They have existed for only about 20 percent of Christian history. And they are fractured into numerous sub-denominations.

All Baptists support freedom of the press, say some. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. Most Baptist state newspaper editors, at least those related to Southern Baptists, have abandoned the prophetic element of their calling. Why? Fundamentalism requires it, and job security provides a powerful motivation to keep one's pen quiet and to reject diverse opinion. Thank God for publications and editors who boldly present the prophetic claims of Christ--regardless of the costs.

Vast Possibilities for the Future--Potential foundation stones for Baptist development include: the recognition that God creates all persons in his own image; reaffirmation of the Lordship of Christ; a large-scale resurrection of historic Baptist values; a reemphasis on the authority of the Bible; a resurging focus on believer's baptism; the restoration of a truly regenerate church membership; an intense new commitment to religious liberty and the separation of church and state; a reassertion of the values of dissent and nonconformity; an endorsement of soul competency and the priesthood of all believers; the renewal of congregational church government; creative applications of the gospel in missions and ministries; a new priority on voluntarism; the renewal of trust as a foundational principle; covenantal bonding across Baptist boundaries; theological education with academic freedom; unyielding support for freedom of the press; engagement in ecumenical and interfaith conversations and activities; and allegiance to global Baptist citizenship.

Charles W. Deweese

Executive Director

Baptist History and Heritage Society