Baptists & Liberty Of
Conscience
The Record Of History
In 313 A.D. Emperor
Constantine established Christianity as the religion of the Roman Empire, -
i.e. the Church claimed the Empire as its own, controlling every department
of life. Freedom of religion and liberty of conscience were in most cases
non-existent.
Augustine (354-430
A.D.) used the words, “Compel them to come in” (Lk. 14:23) to justify the
use of force to secure religious recruitment. In the Middle Ages Roman
Catholicism persecuted religious minorities, e.g. Waldensians, Lollards,
Hussites. After the Reformation the Lutheran Church fostered loyalty and
obedience to the state, while the state gave the Church support and
protection. Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) encouraged the persecution of
Anabaptists. John Calvin suppressed heresy in Geneva since heretics were the
enemies of Christ’s cause and should be persecuted. This attitude led to the
burning of Servetus (an Anabaptist with anti-Trinitarian views).
The Anabaptists were
careful to keep Church and State separate. They rejected the idea of ‘parish
Christianity’ in favour of the gathered Church concept. As a result the
Anabaptists suffered severe persecution at the hands of both Romanists and
Protestants. The early English Baptists also repudiated all coercion by the
State over the consciences and actions of men in religious matters. John
Smyth’s Confession of Faith (1611) said that the magistrate should
not meddle with religion or matters of conscience, or compel men to obey any
form of doctrine. Thomas Helwys (Smith’s colleague) believed that people
must obey all human laws but a man’s religion was between himself and God.
However mistaken and heretical they may be men must not be victimized for
their beliefs. Helwys’ book, “A Short declaration of the ‘Mystery of
Iniquity’” (1612) was the first published demand for full religious liberty
in England.
Throughout the
whole of our Baptist history we have strongly upheld the Baptist Principle
of Liberty of Conscience.
What Is The
Scriptural Basis For Religious Liberty?
Jesus’ ministry to
the poor, outcast, and the downtrodden, - He brought spiritual freedom (Jn.
8:31-36). Similarly, Paul taught freedom in Christ (Rom. 8:2; Gal. 5:1), and
freedom of conscience (Rom. 14:3-4; Col. 2:20-23). Indeed, the general
Biblical principle is that man is made equal, of infinite worth, and loved
by God. God longs for fellowship with him. The individual rights of
personality are received from God, i.e. man’s dignity and worth. Christ
persuaded; He did not compel! So the answer to heresy and error is not
coercion or punishment but the light of God’s Word and loving persuasion to
banish error. Let the Gospel win its way by Christ’s own methods.
Within the Church
the Christian’s conscience must be subject to the will of Christ
specifically revealed in the Word of God and the claim of the weaker brother
(Rom. 14 & I Cor. 8) and the demands of edification (I Cor. 9 & 10).
Baptists & The State
* Obedience to the
State, Mt. 17:24-27; 22:21; Rom. 13:1f.; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13f..
* Prayer for rulers,
Eph. 6:6; I Tim. 2:1f..
* The stress on
practical implications of loving all men (Mt. 22:39; Gal. 6:10) will be seen
in awareness of civic and social responsibilities. But there is the need to
obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29).
* Church and State
should be absolutely separate. Baptists believe that the idea of a State
Church is spiritually disastrous. Baptists believe that the State owes to
every church protection and full freedom to pursue its spiritual ends. It
should not impose penalties for religious opinions or impose taxes to
support any form of religion. The church should not rely on the religious
power to carry on its work. The Gospel requires spiritual means alone to
maintain its witness.
* * * * *
