Religious Liberty
The Baptist Faith & Message • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Baptist Faith and Message 2000
Baptist Faith and Message 2000
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.
Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Matthew 6:6-7,24; 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Romans 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Galatians 5:1,13; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19.
Memory Verse
Memory Verse
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Religious liberty has always been a Baptist principle.
Religious liberty is the mother of true freedom. - Herschel Hobbs
As Baptists, we have long held a commitment to religious liberty for all people, as all people are created in the image of God and possesses the full rights and freedoms granted by the Creator.
This has led to some within the SBC and the Baptist world to get angry with certain entities. Why? Because the SBC will always advocate for religious liberty. No matter the religion. And this stance has always opened doors to share the Gospel.
When you know what you believe, sometimes it makes certain actions difficult, but if you truly believe what you claim to believe, then you must act in accordance with that belief.
The Lord of the Conscience
The Lord of the Conscience
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it.
Religious liberty is not a gift of the US Constitution, it isa gift from God. The Constitution just recognizes this gift and protects every person’s access to this gift.
US Constitution, 1st Amendment
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 to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Why is it an amendment?
Preamble to the Bill of Rights:
The Conventions of a number of States, having at the time of their adopting of the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to PREVENT MISCONSTRUCTION OR ABUSE OF ITS POWERS, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
And each Amendment restricts the Government, not the people. Why? Because when you study all the things that led to the people coming to America you will learn that the government had reached into every aspect of man’s life, even to the most special: man’s relationship with God.
SO the Founders of this Great Nation, saw that it was important to recognize that Government would never establish laws regarding religion. So that man could truly be free.
This is so important, and beautiful.
And it is one of the things that Baptists have long stood on: that God intends for His human creatures to be both free and responsible.
Now as amazing as our Government can be, as amazing as our Nation can be:
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
People are set free by God’s truth.
John 8:36 (CSB)
So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
True freedom comes from Jesus.
Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
God should have first place in our allegiance.
Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
because our Citizenship is in heaven!
Religious Liberty was not always in America
Religious Liberty was not always in America
Early baptists suffered persecution in America. Roger Williams founded Rhode Island due to religious persecution in America, it was also the first state that had in it’s founding documents that slavery would never be allowed within it’s boarders, and every city has a Biblical name.
Obadiah Holmes left England for Massachusetts for religious liberty. Eventually he was persecuted there because he believed in Credo baptism and not Pedo-baptism.
Credo Baptism is Baptism by creed or statement of faith.
Pedo Baptism is Baptism as an infant.
Obadiah Holmes would be kicked out of Massachusetts over this belief, and he fled to Rhode Island. After some years, John Clarke, Obadiah Holmes and another man traveled to MS to visit a blind aged fellow baptist. Upon discovery that they had held an unauthorized religious gathering, the group was arrested. The punishment was either to be a payed fine, or public whipping. Fellow Baptists raised the funds to pay the fine for the men, however Obadiah Holmes refused to allow anyone to pay his fine. He was publically whipped until he could not stand and his back was a mangled mess. He slept on his hands and knees for months while heeling.
Religious Liberty is not simply Religious Tolerance. Instead, religious liberty is the recognition that the very nature of humanity implies respect for this right and liberty.
No government has the right to claim coercive power over any individuals conscience in matters of faith and religious belief.
God alone is Lord of conscience.
We are not free from the commandments and doctrines of God’s Word, but from the dictates and commandments of earthly powers that are contrary to God’s Word.
Church and state should be separate.
Church and state should be separate.
This is an institutional principle that protects both church and state.
Baptists stand against any idea or notion of a state church, and reject any idea that the church should rely on the state to accomplish the Gospel mandate and ministry.
We…hold with unshaken confidence to the ago-long contention of Baptists that there must be absolute separation between church and state, and that the right of civil and religious liberty is, in the sight of God, the inalienable and indefeasible right of every human being.
-J.B. Gambrell
Baptist have, in every age, stood stoutly and fearlessly and, at times, sacrificially, for religious liberty and its inevitable corollary, the complete separation of church and state.
Louie D Newton
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The Modern idea generally described in the larger culture as the separation of church and state most often means an artificial exclusion of all religious belief and expression from the public square. Some courts even function with open hostility toward religion, seeking some form of radically secularism.
Baptist must insist that church should be separate from the state, and that the state not be hostile to the church, or to any citizen, in the public life of the nation.
There should be no hostility from the state to any people of any faith.
We stand that Christians must be free to bring our biblically informed understanding of moral truth to the nations public policy debates as salt and light that Christ has commanded.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
We truly believe that the rights of all religious groups should be respected and upheld, even the ones that are unpopular. No church is to be preferred over another.
Loyal Obedience
Loyal Obedience
Religious Liberty also required Christians to obey the government and its laws, so long as those rules, regulations, and laws do not go against the teachings of the Word of GOd.
“Caesar’s,” they said to him.
Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
We must pay taxes and obey the laws of the state.
Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
The Word of God teaches us that we are to do what?
Why?
Because in some way, shape and form, governing authorities serve God by requiring obedience to law and respect for authority.
Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.
The government has the right to tax, as well as to right and responsibility to maintain order and protect the citizens; but no government has the right to coerce the conscience or to persecute citizens because of their religious convictions.
Putting it all together
Putting it all together
Religious Liberty for all, and our stand for such, is rooted in the command and desire of Jesus that we be able to go and proclaim the Gospel, to make disciples, and to expand the reach for the Kingdom.
