6. Champions of Freedom: The Baptist Movement (1600 – 1800)
Beginning in the early 1600s in England, some wanted to take the ideas of the Protestant Reformation father. They sought a purer, more biblical church, marked by believer’s baptism (as opposed to infant baptism) and free from the state government. Although begun in England, the Baptist movement took hold and spread in the American colonies despite opposition from other Christian groups. The first Baptist church in America was founded in Providence in 1638. After American independence, Baptists were strong supporters of religious freedom, championing the First Amendment.
Scripture: Matthew 22:15-21; Galatians 5:1,13
People: John Smyth (c. 1554-1612), Thomas Helwys (c. 1575-1616), Roger Williams (1603-1683), John Leland (1754-1841)
Concepts: Believer’s baptism, religious liberty, separation of church and state
18th century baptism service
“The magistrate is not by virtue of his office to meddle with religion, or matters of conscience, to force or compel anyone to this or that form of religion or doctrine, but to leave the Christian religion free to everyone's conscience, and handle only civil transgressions, for Christ only is the King and lawgiver of the church and conscience.” – John Smyth, first English Baptist
“…God requireth not an uniformity of Religion to be inacted and inforced in any civill state; which inforced uniformity (sooner or later) is the greatest occasion of Civill Warre, ravishing of conscience, persecution of Christ Jesus his servants, and of the hypocrisie and destruction of millions of souls.”[1] – Roger Williams
“That cannot be a true religion which needs carnal weapons to uphold it.” – Roger Williams
“Men's consciences ought in no sort to be violated, urged, or constrained.” – Roger Williams
“[The 1780s] was a time of great zeal, prayer, and effort, and the blessing of God descended in great power upon the struggling Baptist communities of the Green Mountain State. The Baptists suffered severely from the tyranny of the "standing order" at this period in Vermont, and it was only after years of persistent labor that the disabilities under which they groaned were removed, and the complete separation of Church and State was accomplished.”[2] – A Baptist Encyclopedia published in 1881
Application: “Christian Nationalism” is a fast-growing ideology that seeks to impose its own version of the faith through government power. Not only does this threaten our democracy, but it perverts the gospel. Learn to recognize it and, as a Christian, speak out against it.
[1] Roger Williams, “The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution.” Quoted in Keith J. Hardman, ed. Issues in American Christianity: Primary Sources with Introductions (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993), 32.
[2] The Baptist Encyclopedia, 1881. <http://baptisthistoryhomepage.com/vermont.baptists.tbe.html> Accessed 5/4/25.