Posts Tagged ‘Baptist History’
The Baptists and the Bill of Rights
In 1976, commemorations of America’s bicentennial were everywhere – in government, in education, and in entertainment. Brief cartoons appeared on Saturday mornings on children’s television telling about the history of the country, the operation of government, and most importantly, the principle of liberty. These cartoons began with questions set to music, “Hey, do you know…
Read MoreHalf a Millennium of Believers Baptism
Less than two years from today will bring us to an incredible 500-year anniversary that should be remembered by God’s people: January 21, 1525, was the day that saw many brave Anabaptists receive baptism as believers. Among those baptized at that time were Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and George Blaurock. “The newly baptized then pledged…
Read MoreIntroducing the P&D Baptist History Page
A recent addition to our site is our Baptist History page. Our blog focuses on making Biblical applications to modern life from a fundamentalist Baptist perspective. An important component of that perspective is Baptist History, and especially our history as the FBFI. Dr. Larry Oats is the curator of this portion of our site. We…
Read MoreA Voice Long Silent Speaks for Today
Isaac Backus—Baptist Defender of Religious Liberty In recent times the separation of church and state has become an argument for barring the church from any input in the secular state. But the original idea was to bar the state from meddling in the church, not the converse. This critical distinction is evident in the thought…
Read MoreLessons from a Baptist Timeline
We are in a study of Baptist history in our church. Our study lasted just over a year, but we are down to the last lesson or two. The folks in our church tell me they enjoyed it, I certainly enjoyed teaching it. (But then, I would!!) Near the end of our study, I came…
Read MoreFrancis Wayland: The Ideal of Autonomous Baptist Churches
Throughout their history Baptists have been committed to autonomous local churches. Like other Christians, however, they have often noted the value of cooperation and fellowship between churches. A tension has resulted between the principle of independence and the benefit of association. Actual Baptist practice has resulted in a range that has, at one end, radically…
Read MoreHenry Dunster: Harvard’s First President a Profile of Baptist Courage
In the early days of our fledgling nation, pressure to conform to the Church of England drove many individuals to the new world. Henry Dunster was one of many who departed England for the freedom and spiritual life available in the colonies, immigrating to the new colonies in the 1640. Soon after arriving to the…
Read MoreUnderstanding Religious Liberty – Leland and Madison
This article features quotes from a sixty-eight page article in the Penn State Law Review. The title is “John Leland and James Madison: Religious Influence on the Ratification of the Constitution and on the Proposal of the Bill of Rights,” written by Mark S. Scarberry, professor of law at Pepperdine University School of Law. ((Note…
Read MoreBaptist History in England and America
Dr. David Beale recently published a new book on Baptist History, a welcome addition to the library of any independent Baptist. He gave us permission to publish the preface by Dr. Gerald Priest, which follows below. We also include the table of contents and links to bookstores where you may order the book. It is…
Read MoreReview: Andrew Fuller, Model Pastor-Theologian
Brewster, Paul. Andrew Fuller: Model Pastor-Theologian. Studies in Baptist Life and Thought. Nashville: B & H Academic, 2010. Reviewed by Don Johnson The purpose of this book is to present Andrew Fuller (1754-1815) as “a model pastor-theologian.” [6] The author outlines the need for such figures in the pastorate in a few pages of introductory…
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