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THE USE AND ABUSE OF BAPTIST HISTORY
By: Thomas R. McKibbens, Senior Minister, First Baptist Church, Worcester, MA
Why not just find out what early Baptists did, and follow that? That makes sense, doesn’t it? Well, not really. Early Baptists, like Baptists today, were an independent and sometimes contrary lot. They were no more unanimous in their thinking than we are. If one wants to make an argument for just about anything, it can probably be supported in Baptist history if you look hard enough. Baptist history, in other words, is as easily subject to the abuse of “proof-texting” as is the Bible.
We could “proof-text” Baptist history if we wanted to argue against the singing of hymns in church, for example. Benjamin Keach, the pastor of the leading Baptist church in London in the 17th century, almost lost his pastorate over that hot issue! Early Baptists in Rhode Island fought over when to have worship, Saturdays or Sundays! Obviously, it can be argued that the Sabbath is biblical, yet the Sunday worshippers became the majority. In the mid-19th century, Baptists argued over slavery. Anyone who wants biblical support for the practice of slavery can easily find vociferous support among Baptists in the 19th century. The list is long, but each controversy was supported by biblical arguments from each side.
So how do we use Baptist history with integrity as we address contemporary controversial issues? Walter Shurden, author of the widely read book entitled The Baptist Identity, drew a very helpful distinction among three things: Baptist affirmation, Baptist attitudes, and Baptist actions. In contemporary American Baptist life, we do not seem to disagree a great deal on the great Baptist affirmations such as voluntary commitment to the lordship of Christ, the priesthood of every believer, the believer’s church, biblical authority, and the like. These affirmations seem to be well established in our common life. The rub comes in the interpretation. For example, the importance of biblical authority is a commonly agreed upon affirmation of every side of every argument among Baptists; the differences come in how we interpret the Bible for contemporary life.
While fundamental Baptist affirmations seem secure, Baptist attitudes are not so constant. The attitudes that have truly shaped the denomination from the beginning currently seem to be under great pressure. For example, the attitude of trust in denominational life has become very fragile among Baptists as well as others. The role of respect for nonconformity, which has been described by the distinguished Baptist historian William R. Estep as that which “permeates the Baptist conscience,” is under severe stress. The attitude of voluntary association with sometimes differing Baptists in order to accomplish a greater goal that could not be accomplished alone is under threat.
In the place of those attitudes there is an emerging attitude of authoritarianism under the guise of biblical authority. Look at the takeover of the Southern Baptists by the fundamentalists: in some cases pastoral authority has approached ridiculous levels. Pronouncements come from the top down. Denominational leaders are bishops in everything but name. They have turned their confession of faith into a stifling creed and their news organization into a propaganda machine. They have withdrawn their historic cooperation with the Baptist World Alliance, and they have shunned the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs. This same authoritarian attitude of “my way or the highway” is now threatening the American Baptist Churches, USA.
Baptist affirmations and Baptist attitudes have historically merged into Baptist actions. Missions, evangelism, education, social justice, disaster relief, health care and the like are enhanced by cooperation among all Baptists. Where would we be without those Baptist actions which have been born out of Baptist affirmations and attitudes? Authoritarian attitudes may produce conformity, but where does conformity stop? The straightjacket of conformity tends to get tighter and tighter. Once conformity is reached on one level, a whole new level is introduced, until it can squeeze the life out of a denomination.
The Coalition for Baptist Principles is not a one-issue organization. The love of and commitment to the principles that have shaped and enhanced the people called Baptists have energized people across the land to act in behalf of the great Baptist affirmations and the great Baptist attitudes. In doing so, the Coalition is attempting to honor Baptist history, not distort it or use it as a proof text for any one position.
In this decade we Baptists will celebrate four hundred years of Baptist witness; we will celebrate two hundred years of Baptist associationalism in America; and we will celebrate one hundred years of the world-wide Baptist organized witness. In spite of the threats to the principles that have shaped and energized us, I see a renewed commitment to those principles. This is a propitious time for a renewal of those affirmations and attitudes that have historically led to Baptist actions for which we can be the proud heirs.