THE SEARCH FOR THE TRUE CHURCH

By: Dr. Stan Wardlaw

In this world in which we live today, a day of great apostasy, it is very important to know what you believe and why you believe it.  It is a fact that all churches are not the same.  A church that was founded by Jesus is better than one founded by man.  A church that stays with the Old King James Bible is better than one that doesn’t.  A church that puts a priority on preaching is better than one that entertains.  A church that knows who they are and can Biblically and historically prove their existence from the time of Christ is better than one that has no standards or solid foundation to stand on.

Psalm:11:3If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do.”

There must be a foundation. You cannot build without it. It must be a Biblical foundation, not a man made foundation. 

Proverbs:22:28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.”

We must ask ourselves the question, “Can any church trace their roots back to Jesus?” In this study we will show both Biblically and historically that the only church that can trace itself back to Jesus is the Baptist Church.

The foundation of the New Testament Church is Jesus Christ, not Peter, Paul, John or any other man. Peter tells us himself that the church was built upon Jesus in I Peter 2:4-9; Ephesians:2:20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;; I Corinthians 3:11. Matthew:16:13-18 [13] When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? [14] And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. [15] He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? [16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. [17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Peter is described as a – (petros) – little rock. This rock – Jesus Christ - (petra) – I will build my church (ecclesia) – the called out.  There will be no time when the church that Jesus builds will be out of business! So the reformation churches cannot be the true church. There was a time when they were not.

The year 1520 is the earliest date that can be associated with the Lutheran church, so the church founded by Martin Luther could not be the church Jesus Christ founded.

The Church of England or Episcopal Church was started when Henry VIII, King of England had himself, by an act of Parliament, declared the Supreme Head of the church and clergy of England on November 23, 1534. Henry VIII wanted to be able to divorce his wife Catherine and marry Ann Boleyn. This was not permitted by the existing Church of England, so he just made himself the head and the Episcopal Church got its start. 

The Presbyterian Church was founded by John Calvin in 1536. That was the year his institutes were given to the world. The Methodist was founded by John and Charles Wesley. They cannot claim to be a separate denomination until the year 1739. The Church of Christ was founded in 1827. 

Charismatic groups like the Pentecostal, Church of God, Assemblies of God and so on began in 1900. Before that time, there were no charismatic groups around. In 1900, Charles F. Parham established the Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas. He taught that tongues were evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. On January 1, 1901 Agnes Ozman, a student of Bethel Bible College, spoke in tongues. That started it. In 1906, W.J. Seymour, a student of Parhams began meeting at 312 Azusa Street in L.A. They met there for 3 years. It was from that time the charismatic movement spread across America. 

The Catholic Church developed from about 315-590 A.D. Constantine, the Roman Emperor, after the great persecution period, granted religious liberty to Christians. He literally forced Christianity on his empire. He wanted to use it for his own purpose. He gave great amounts of money to the church, supplied robes for the clergy and built great temples. People were forced into the church, literally at sword point. As a result, lost people came into this church. This was a church, but it was united with the state and the government controlled it. In about 366-378 A.D. the Bishop of the church at Rome, Damascus was elected head of the Babylonian order. The head of the Roman church was also the head of the Babylonian order. 

Dr. J. B. Moody wrote in “My Church” pg. 95, “It did not originate in a day or a year, but gradually subvert the apostles teaching, and in centuries inaugurated full grown popery. But there is not a trace of a pope or universal father in the first three centuries of the Christian era.”

Dr. S. E. Tull stated, “The establishment of the Papacy was accomplished by Gregory the Great in 590 A.D.”

Ridpath, a great historian, agrees.  Scaff “History of the Christian Church” vol. 1 pg. 15 “Gregory the Great 590-604 was the 1st of the proper popes.”

Dr. J. Christian stated, “The line of mediaeval popes began with Gregory.”

Peter was not the first pope. Peter never went to Rome. (Matt:16:13-18 [13] When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? [14] And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. [15] He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? [16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. [17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ; I Peter 2:4-9; Matt:8:14And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.) Peter was married. (Mark 1: 29-31; Luke 4: 38-39) Peter was not infallible. (Gal:2:11-14 [11] But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. [12] For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. [13] And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. [14] But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? ) Paul straightened Peter out. 

So, where is the church that Jesus promised would continue, uninterrupted? In Matthew:3:1-17 [1] In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, [2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. [3] For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. [4] And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, [6] And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. [7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: [9] And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [10] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: [12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. [13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. [14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? [15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. [16] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: [17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Jesus identified with John the Baptist. He was a Baptist by association and conviction.

“The Baptists are the only body of known Christians never to have symbolized with Rome.” Sir Isaac Newton

“The Baptist may be considered as the only Christian community that has stood since the days of the apostles, and as a Christian society has preserved pure the doctrine of the Gospel through all the ages.” Said Ypiej and Dermout, great Dutch Reformed Church historians. 

“The sentiments of Baptist and their practice of Baptism from the apostolic age to the present have a continued chain of advocates, and public monuments of their existence in every century can be produced.” Alexander Campbell, the founder of the Church of Christ who hated Baptists.

Baptists get their name from their form of baptism. The very word “baptize” means to dip, to plunge, to immerse. They were called “Anabaptist” in earlier times. “Anabaptist” means “another baptism.” Baptists have always held to the Scriptural truth that baptism is only by immersion and only believers can be baptized. (Matthew:28:18-20 [18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. )

Infant baptism is not scriptural. Tertullian wrote against infant Baptism in 204 A.D. And said it was previously unknown. 

I want to be perfectly clear; I do not believe that only Baptists are saved. Matter of fact, I believe a lot of them are lost. Salvation is not in the Baptist denomination, it is in Jesus Christ. To be saved you must have the Word of God. (Romans:10:17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.; I Cor. 1:21) 

You must have conviction. (John:6:44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.; 16:7-11) Conviction leads you to repentance. Repentance is turning from yourself and your sin and turning to Jesus Christ. (Rom:3:19-20 [19] Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. [20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. ) It isn’t your work or deeds that save. Turning to Jesus, you are saved by grace through faith. (Eph:2:8-9 [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. ) When you trust His finished work on Calvary’s cross salvation is given to you as a free gift of grace. (John:19:30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.; Heb:9:11-12 [11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. ) That is Biblical salvation + nothing! Not church membership. Not baptism, not a series of studies, not the Lord’s Supper. Salvation is in Christ alone! After you are saved, as a voluntary, willful act, you submit to believer’s Baptism. (Matthew:28:18-20 [18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. )

Baptists believe Baptism must have:

1)     The proper subject, a saved person.
2)     The proper authority, a church, founded by Jesus Christ
3)     The proper purpose is to testify of salvation, not to procure it.
4)     The proper method, immersion. 

Baptists believe if those 4 conditions are not met, it isn’t Biblical baptism.  Many Baptist of old were hated and called “Anabaptist” because of their Biblical stand. Untold numbers were murdered. 

Cardinal Hosius a Catholic president of the Counsel of Trent in 1524 said:

“Were it not that the Baptist have been grievously tormented and cut off with the knife during the past 1200 years, they would swarm in greater numbers than all the Reformers.” (Hosius, letters, Apud Opera, p. 112,113) This statement dates Baptists back to 324. These 1200 years he spoke of were the years before the reformation in which Rome persecuted Baptist people with cruelty and rage unthinkable. 

John C. Ridpath, a Methodist historian said, “I should not readily admit that there was a Baptist Church as far back as A.D. 100, though without doubt there were Baptists then, as all Christians were then Baptist.”  (From W.A. Jarrel, Baptist Church Perpetuity p. 59) If there were Baptist people, then we must assume there were Baptist Churches then. 

Mosheim, a Lutheran said, “The 1st century was a history of the Baptist.”

The early churches in Acts were independent of each other and had no state sanction. Jerusalem had no authority over Antioch or Antioch over Ephesus or Ephesus over Corinth, and so forth. Their government was to be congregational and democratic, a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

The church was given 2 ordinances, the Lord’s Supper and baptism. They had 2 kinds of officers, pastors, also called bishop, elder, and deacons, servants. Only saved people were to be baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. The inspired scripture and only scripture was the only rule and guide of faith not only for church collectively, but also individually.

Baptists have a bloody history:

1)     John the Baptist lost his head.
2)    Stephen was stoned.
3)    Matthew was slain in Ethiopia.
4)    Mark was dragged through the streets until death.
5)    Luke was hanged.
6)    Peter and Simeon were crucified.
7)    Andrew tied to a cross.
8)    James lost his head.
9)    Philip was crucified and stoned.
10)  Bartholomew was flayed alive.
11)  Thomas was pierced with lances.
12)  James the less was throne from the Temple and beaten to death.
13)  Jude was shot to death with arrows.
14)  Matthias was stoned to death.
15)  Paul was beheaded.

Even though the Baptist persecution grew increasingly bitter, Christianity spread to the Roman Empire, Europe, Asia, Africa, England, Wales, and about anywhere there was civilization.  The growth of Christianity (if the historians are right), the growth of Baptists alarmed the Roman Empire. Galerius, the Emperor sent out to direct edict, February 24, 303 A.D. made it a law to persecute Christians.

After Constantine united Church and State as Roman Emperor around 315 A.D., those who held to the idea of state religion began to very bitterly persecute the Christian (again, if the historians are correct) Baptist who were loyal to Bible teaching.  Constantine hierarchy developed into the Catholic Church. In 416 A.D. infant baptism became compulsory. Christians, Baptists, rejected this new law. They would not baptize their own children. They only baptized those who were saved and would not accept baptism done in the so called churches that were sanctioned by the state. They demanded salvation and then believer’s baptism. 

In 426 A.D. the awful period known as the Dark Ages began. They were dark and bloody. For more than a decade of centuries the trial of loyal Christians, Baptists, is largely washed away in their own blood.  The Catholic Church relentlessly murdered, tortured, brutalized untold millions. Paulicains, Albigenses Waldenses, and Anabaptist among others suffered during this time.   It is reasonable from history to conclude that 50 million died during the 1200 years of the Dark Ages. That would be an average of over 4 million every 100 years that died for their faith. 

By the close of the 16th century, there were 5 established “so called” churches backed by civil governments, Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics, Church of England, Lutheran Church of Germany and the Church of Scotland, Presbyterian. All of these churches bitterly hated and persecuted Baptist.

In 1611 the King James Bible was given to the people. In that unadulterated truth, the idea of religious liberty once again began to catch on.

In 1648 the Catholic, Lutheran, and Presbyterian Churches agreed not to persecute one another because that would mean war. But they continued to hate and brutally treat Baptist everywhere.

Now, from the Scaff-Herzogg Encyclopedia under history of the Baptist in Europe vol. 1 p. 210 the Baptist appear in Switzerland about 1523, where they were persecuted by Zwingle and the Romanist. They were found in the following years 1525-1530 with large churches fully organized in south Germany, Tryol and in middle Germany. In all these places persecution made their lives bitter. The Baptist had fully organized, established churches prior to the Lutherans, Episcopals and Presbyterians. After 1534, they were numerous in northern Germany, Holland and Belgium. 

If you doubt Baptists were treated badly in England, remember John Bunyan? He wrote The Pilgrims Progress. He spent 12 years in Bedford jail. 

One of the Baptist distinctives that helped form this great country is the doctrine of soul liberty. Every believer is a priest unto himself, having full access to God without the need to go through a church, church leader or priest. (Heb:4:14-16 [14] Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. ; 10:19-22; Rom:14:12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.) Every believer has the anointing of the Holy Spirit to teach them. (I John:2:27)

The anointing of the Holy Spirit has to do with 3 things:

1)    Knowledge and teaching. (I John:2:20Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?; I Cor. 2:9-14) If you are saved, He is your personal tutor.
2)    Service. How dependent upon the Holy Ghost was Jesus? (Luke:4:18-21 [18] The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, [19] To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. [20] And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. [21] And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. ; Acts:10:38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.) If Jesus was this dependent on the Holy Ghost, then how much more should we give way to Him?
3)    Consecration. Three classes of people in the Old Testament were anointed. Prophet, Priest and King. All 3 had the result of being consecrated or set apart. (ICor 6:14-18; 7:1; Eph:5:11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.; I Thess 5:22; ITim. 5:20; Zech:4:6Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.)

Every individual has the liberty and freedom to go to God and learn, serve and be separated unto Him. That was the heart of Baptists throughout the years.

It isn’t the religious institutions or the big universities or seminaries or the state from which we get our direction. It is from what Jesus promised us, the power of the Holy Ghost. Men, when saved by God’s marvelous grace, are free from sin’s shackles, endued with power from on High and can go to God individually and freely.

Baptists believe these distinctives about the Holy Ghost:

1)    He draws us. (John:6:44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.; John:16:8-11 [8] And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] Of sin, because they believe not on me; [10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; [11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. )
2)    He borns us into God’s family. (John:3:5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.)
3)    He baptizes us into the Body of Christ. (ICor.12:13)
4)    He lives in us. (Rom:8:9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.)
5)    He leads us. (Rom:8:14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.)
6)    He assures us. (Rom:8:16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:)
7)    He seals us. (Eph:4:30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.; 1:13-14)
8)    He has a future part in our redemption. We will be quickened by the Holy Ghost at the rapture. (Rom:8:11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.)

In the beginning of the colonial period, and early part of the 17th century the 1st settlements were established in Virginia, a little later in the New England states, Puritans (Congregationalists), Presbyterians, established colonies within their respective colonies. They established by law their own religious views. In other words, Congregationalists and Presbyterians made the legal religious views of their colonies. All other religious views were absolutely excluded. Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina were settled by mainly Church of England people. Again, the particular religious views were made the established religion of these colonies.

So, in this new land of America, these Congregationalists, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians set up 3 established churches with no religious liberty for anyone except those who held to the governmental authority. The Baptists were there among them, but in small groups. But they were there all along and they kept coming.

For their awful crime of preaching freedom through the Gospel and refusing to have their children baptized, they were arrested, imprisoned, fined, beaten, banished and their property was confiscated. Here in America!

Before the Massachusetts Bay Colony was 20 years old with the Congregational as the state church, they passed laws against Baptist and others. 

Here is an example of the laws:

“It is ordered and agreed, that if any person or persons, within this jurisdiction shall either openly condemn or oppose the baptizing of infants, or go about secretly to seduce others from approbation of use thereof, or shall purposely depart the congregation at the ministration of the ordinance, after due time and means of conviction every such person or persons shall be sentenced to banishment.”

Roger Williams graduated from Cambridge University in 1627. He was ordained by the Church of England. The person who had the most influence on him was a London pastor, Samuel Howe, a Baptist.

Samuel Howe, that great Baptist, taught Roger Williams that the King was only to be obeyed in civil matters and that no prince had power to make laws to bind the conscience of men. Roger Williams learned soul liberty from a Baptist not from a Protestant. It is a distinctly Baptist doctrine. 

Charles Haddon Spurgeon who preached to so many listeners every Sunday for nearly 40 years in the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London said in a 1861 sermon:

“We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the reformation. We were reformers before Luther and Calvin were born. We never came from the Church of Rome for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves. We have existed from the very days of Christ, and our principles, sometimes veiled and forgotten, like a river which may travel under ground for a little season, have always had honest and holy adherents. Persecuted alike by Romanist and Protestants of almost every sect. Yet, there has never existed a government holding Baptist principles which persecuted others, nor I believe anybody of Baptist ever held it to be right to put the conscience of others under the control of man. We have ever been ready to suffer, as our martyrolgies will prove, but we are not ready to accept any help from the state, to prostitute the purity of the Bride of Christ to any allegiance with government. 

Roger Williams, with his Baptist influence deep in his heart, was made pastor of the church in Salem by the Puritan authorities in 1631 when he arrived in Boston. Because the Baptist influence came out in his preaching, he had to leave Salem and went for a while to Plymouth. He then returned to Salem where he was summoned before the court in Boston and because of his outspoken belief in soul liberty, was banished from the colony. He was banished because of his belief in religious freedom, that the Bible was taught to believers by the Holy Ghost as man’s sole source of faith and practice which he came to believe under a Baptist preacher’s teaching. He rejected the idea of infant baptism and the idea of a state church. 

In 1638, Williams made his way to what is now Providence with a small group of loyal followers. He built an alter there and called it Providence. He bought this land from the local Indians. This is now Rhode Island. Among the members of that group was John Clarke a Baptist preacher. 

Williams and Clarke went to England to get legal permission to establish their own colony. Williams went back to the colony. Clarke stayed in England, and after several years returned home with the charter. So, in 1663 Rhode Island Colony became a legal institution. Charles II granted it and it read:

“Our Royal will and pleasure is, that no person within said colony, at any time hereafter shall in any wise be molested, punished, disquieted, or called into question for any differences of opinion in matters of religion and do not actually disturb the civil peace of said colony.”

This was the 1st time in the history of the world that a government was established which granted religious freedom. 

During the formation of this colony, two Baptist churches were formed. One of these churches was established at Providence probably in 1639, the other by John Clarke probably in 1638. Now, the Baptist had a foothold in America. Real freedom was on the horizon. 

Here are some remarks about the great influence Baptists have had on America:

Dr. D. B. Ray writes, “The government under which we live was formed and fashioned upon the model of a Baptist church”. 

Thomas Jefferson frequently attended a Baptist church near Monticello, V.A. where Rev. Andrew Tribble was pastor. Mr. Jefferson, who often witnessed the congregation transacting business was much impressed with their democratic way of doing things, and concluded that their plan of government would be the best possible one for the American Colonies.

 Mr. James Madison said, “Mr. Jefferson did gather those views from a Baptist Church.”

With the Biblical doctrine of soul liberty, our founding fathers came to grips with the truth that a man belongs to God and has been given a will to either accept or reject God. The sole responsibility of government was to protect this freedom by protecting the righteous from the unrighteous. But this freedom was a while in coming.

In 1659, two Baptist preachers from Rhode Island, John Clarke and Obadiah Holmes, were preaching a meeting. While John Clarke was preaching from Rev:3:10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth., tow constables broke into the house and terminated the service. The two Baptist preachers were taken before the court and fined. The death penalty was recommended but not carried out. A friend paid Clarke’s fine and Holmes was whipped in the streets of Boston. Here are some of Rev. Holmes own words: 

“As the strokes fell upon me, I had such a spiritual manifestation of God’s presence the like there of I never had nor felt before, nor can with fleshy tongue express. And the outward pain was so removed from me that I could well bear it, yea, and in a manner, felt it not although it was grievous, as the spectators said, the man striking with all his strength yea spitting in his hands 3 times, as many affirmed with a 3 corded whip, giving me 30 strokes. When he loosed me from the post, having joyfulness in my heart and cheerfulness in my countenance, as the spectators observed, I told the magistrates you have struck me with roses.”

The 1st president of Harvard University, Dr. Henry Dunstar, who had accepted Baptist principles, was compelled to resign and was persecuted for his stand. 

In America’s War of Independence, of over 100 chaplains, over 1/3 were Baptist. Cornwallis said of Richard Furman, a Baptist preacher from S.C. “He feared the prayers of that Godly youth more than the armies of Sumter and Marion.”

Rev. John Gano, pastor of the First Baptist Church in New York City was one of the most influential chaplains of the entire war. He crossed the Delaware with Washington. He helped pray down the amazing victory at Trenton. He helped the suffering men at Valley Forge. When the 8th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington was commemorated at New Windsor, New Your with the official proclamation by Congress of a formal cessation of hostilities, it was Washington’s request that prayer be offered by John Gano. Three of Gano’s children testified that their father baptized George Washington in the Hudson River at the close of the war. 

Citing the Baptism of George Washington as recorded in the archives of the First Baptist Church of New York, E. Wayne Thomas writes that Washington declared to Rev. Gano, “I have been investigating the Scripture, and I believe immersion to be the baptism taught in God’s Word and I demand it at your hands. I do not wish any parade made or the army called out, but simply a quiet demonstration of the ordinance.”

Daniel Gano, one of Gano’s sons and a Captain of the artillery was present and said that he, with about 40 officers and men accompanied the Chaplain down to the Hudson River where the Reverend John Gano baptized George Washington.

Dr. James Norwood, an associate of Dr. J. Frank Norris cites from a History of the First Baptist Church in the city of New York by I. M Haldemann, “While in camp at Newburgh, General Washington requested Pastor Gano to baptize him according to the Scriptures. He did so immersing him in believer’s baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”

E. I. Sanford of Manhattan’s North Church commissioned a painting of Rev. Gano baptizing Washington. The painting was at a Baptist Church at Asbury, New Jersey where it hung until Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston, John Gano’s great grand-daughter, presented it to William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri in 1926.

Washington (the Baptist) in his inauguration prayer said:

“Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that thou wilt keep the United States in thy Holy protection, that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally, that thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the divine author of our blessed religion and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Notice he didn’t just say Amen, he said through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. George Washington, the Baptist, understood that by Himself Jesus:

1)     Made the world.
2)     Sustains the world.
3)     We see God through Him.
4)     My sin is gone by His blood.
5)     He got up from the tomb. 
6)     He walks with me and talks with me and tells me I am His own.
7)     He is coming for me.

(Phil:2:5-11 [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ; Heb:1:1-3 [1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: ) 

That’s Baptist!

During the early years of Virginia history, no minister was permitted to preach unless he had received ordination from an Anglican Bishop across the sea.

John Afferman                                             James Ireland

John Alderson                                              Markin Kaufman

Thomas Ammon                                           John Koontz

Joseph Anthony                                           Dutton Lane

Elijah Baker                                                  John Leland

Adams Banks                                               Ivison Lewis

David Barrow                                               William Lovall

John Burrus                                                  Lewis Lunsford

Thomas Chambers                                       William McClannahan

Ranc Chastain                                              Richard Major

James Childs                                                Daniel Marshal

Bartholomew Choning                                  William Marshal

Eleazer Clay                                                 William Mash

John Clay                                                      Thomas Mastin

John Corbley                                                 Edward Mintz

Elijah Craig                                                   Anderson Moffet

Joseph Craig                                                Jeremiah Moore

Lewis Craig                                                  Elijah Morton

John DeLaney                                              William Mullens

Austine Eastin                                              Joe Murphy

Richard Elkins                                               John Picket

Richard Falkner                                            Hipkins Picket

Daniel Fristoe                                               James Pitman

William Fristoe                                              Younger Pitts

James Goolrich                                             James Reed

James Greenwood                                       Nathaniel Saunders

Thomas Hargate                                          John Shackleford

Samuel Harris                                              Joseph Spencer

Edward Herndon                                         Philip Spiller

Henry Street                                               John Tanner

John Taylor                                                 David Thomas

David Tinsley                                              Andrew Tribble

Thomas Waford                                          Jeremiah Walker

John Waller                                                James Ware

John Weatherford                                      William Webber

Anderson Weeks                                        Allen Wyley

John Young

(Excerpt from pages 516-520 “Imprisoned Preachers and Religious Liberty in Virginia” by Lewis Peyton Little.

Attendance at the Episcopalian church was mandatory. You would be fined for not attending. Lewis Craig a notorious sinner was saved in 1775 and began to preach. He was arrested in 1766 for worshipping God contrary to the law of the land. Again on June 4, 1768, Pastor Craig and 4 others were arrested for disturbing the peace. Their charges were, according to the prosecuting attorney: “These men are great disturbers of the peace. They cannot meet a man upon the road, but they must ram a text of scripture down his throat.”

As they were passing through the streets of Fredricksburg on their way to Spotsylvania County Jail, they began to sing a song. They sang these 2 verses: “Broad is the road that leads to death and thousands walk together there. But wisdom shows a narrow path, with a traveler here and there. Lord, let not all my hopes be vain, create my heart entirely anew. Which hypocrites could ner attain which false apostates never knew.”

These men were imprisoned despite being defended by a lawyer named Patrick Henry. Patrick Henry defended as many Baptist preachers as he could, and did it at his own expense.

In Semple’s “History of Virginia Baptist” we learn:

Until the time of their complete emancipation from the shackles of tyranny, the Baptist found in Patrick Henry an unwavering friend. Remember, it was Patrick Henry who said, “Give me liberty or give me death!” He got that liberty from the Baptist.

Baptist paid a heavy price for preaching the truth. Pastor John Walker was given 20 lashes with a whip and was left lying in a pool of his own blood. Pastor Jeremiah Moore was told by the Judge after his 3rd arrest for preaching, “You shall lie in jail til you rot!” Pastor Elijah Craig testified they were fed rye bread and water to the injury of their health.

There in Virginia, when a Baptist preacher went to jail, they would try to un-nerve him by putting them in a cell with the vilest of criminals. This back fired! They won those criminals to Christ! From 1769-1774 the number of Baptist churches grew from 7 to 54. 

Dr. Semple in his “History of Virginia Baptist” wrote: “The prison swarmed with fleas, they borrowed a candle from a jailer and having sung praises of that Redeemer, whose cross they bore, and from Whose hands they expected a crown in the end. Having returned thanks that is was a prison and not hell that they were in, praying for themselves, their families, their enemies, and persecutors, they laid down to sleep.”

Pastor Nathaniel Saunders received a letter from David Thomas while in Culpepper County Jail it read: 

“Dear Brother,

I hear you are in prison from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps you think it hard. But, oh, what honor the Lord put upon you! I think you may be willing to suffer death now, seeing you are counted worthy to enter a dungeon for your Master’s sake. Hold out, my dear brother, remember you Master. Your Royal, Heavenly, Devine Master was nailed to a cursed tree for us. Oh, to suffer for Him is glory in the bud.

Dr. Little wrote:

“Who would have thought that stopping these men from preaching house to house and shutting them up in a loathsome prison would be the means of their reaching more people with the Gospel and accomplishing more good than they could possibly have done if they had been at liberty. Their enemies were helping them more than they were hindering them in promulgating the truth and advancing the Kingdom of Christ.”

A young lady, writing of her grandfather Pastor John Young wrote:

Once a week John Young’s congregation would assemble under his window and run up a flay to let him know they were there. He then would preach to them. In this way a great many people were converted. The authorities said, “These heretics make more converts in jail than they do out.”

John Weatherford had his hands slashed with a sword, but he kept on preaching. They built a 12 foot wall with glass on the top to try to stop him, but he preached loud enough that the people heard him anyway.

James Leland stayed 6 months in Culpepper County Jail in 1769. He was arrested for preaching without proper credentials. The authorities made anyone who visited him pay a hefty fine. Great crowds came to hear him outside the prison. The authorities set off a bomb in his cell, but he lived. They attempted to choke him with smoke from a fire, but he breathed through the cracks in the wall. They tried to poison him, but he lived. When he got out of jail, they tried to poison him at home and killed one of his children instead.

This great preacher of the Baptist faith wrote:

“My prison then was a place in which I enjoyed much of the divine presence. A day seldom passed without some signal taken and manifestation of the divine goodness towards me which generally led me to subscribe my letters, to whom I wrote them, in these works, “From my palace in Culpepper”.

The man responsible for his torment went hunting with 2 other men. He was between the 2 when a wolf came upon them as they slept by a fire. The wolf bit him on the nose. He died a grievous death with rabies. 

Psm:105:15Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”

Another man who hated James Leland, named Arnold, lived near Culpepper. Arnold’s daughter, Amy who was 14 years old, went to hear him preach. She got saved. After she was grown she moved to Charleston, SC. She married a Baptist preacher. 

Now James Madison sided with the Baptist and, like Patrick Henry, he defended them in court. 

Thomas Jefferson also had affection for Baptists. Curtis wrote:

“Jefferson was asked how he liked Baptist church government. He replied that he considered it the only form of true democracy then existing in the world. And concluded that it would be the best plan of government for the American Colonies.

John Locke – The Baptist were the 1st and only propounders of absolute liberty.  

James Madison 

 Patrick Henry

George Washington

All these men were heavily influenced by Baptists. (Read the list of names)

Because of the tremendous persecution of the Baptist, when the U.S. Constitution, penned by James Madison, was submitted to the states for ratification, the Baptists said, “Wait a minute! We want specific guaranties of religious liberty.”

John Leland, probably one of the most popular preachers in Virginia only had an elementary education. He went to an elementary school in Graftom, Massachusetts where he was born. He was nominated as the Orange County delegate to the Virginia Convention for ratification. Madison, the more eloquent politician, promised Rev. Leland that he would put a favorable amendment in guaranteeing religious freedom. Rev. Leland’s memorial is now on a lonely road in Orange, VA. When I visited that memorial, my heart was broken as I had to rake the leaves off the memorial before I could even read it. This great Baptist preacher’s memorial tucked obscurely away, forgotten by Baptist people today.

Dec. 15, 1791 the 1st Amendment to the Bill of Rights was collectively ratified. “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 peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redness of grievances.”

More than 1750 years after God’s preachers were confronted by authorities who put them in jail (Acts:4:3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.), the church of Jesus Christ is given its first safe haven. We see Baptists preachers down through the centuries holding the fort:

Samuel Smith, a Baptist preacher wrote the song “My Country Tis of Thee”

Around 1905, J. Frank Norris, who opposed race track gambling and the Southern Baptist that supported the same. Norris said, “ I never started a fight, but I have been around when a few were finished.”

The “Fort Worth Star”, a local paper wrote, “The 11th commandment in Fort Worth was, ‘Thou shalt not mess with J. Frank Norris.’”

J. Frank Norris was once a district attorney who supported the liqueur interest was killed when his Cadillac hit a street car. A broken liqueur bottle with a lobe of brains in it sat by the wrecked car, Dr. Norris carried it to the pulpit and preached on “The Wages of Sin is Death.”

Dr. Percy Ray started 41 Baptist churches and Camp Zion. He baptized 3,000 souls in one service.

J. Harold Smith

B.R. Lakin

Harold Sightler

Oliver Greene

Maze Jackson

And so many more Baptist preachers carrying the torch and passing it to the next generation.

In a letter from Hughe Bromhead to Anne Bromhead in 1609 described a Baptist worship service like this:

“The morning exercise begins at 8:00 and concludes at 12:00. The like course of exercise is observed in the afternoon from 2:00 until 5 or 6:00.”

What makes a true Baptist? 

1)     We accept the Bible, and only the Bible, as God’s complete and final authority. (II Tim. 3L16-17;  Rev:22:18-19 [18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: [19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. )
2)     The church is to be made up of saved baptized believers. (Acts:2:41-42 [41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. [42] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ; Acts:8:36-37 [36] And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? [37] And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. )
3)     We can go to God individually. (I John:2:27; I Pet. 2:3-9)
4)     Every local church is independent of each other.
5)     The state has no authority over the church.
6)     Preaching is the focal point of the church.
7)     True freedom and liberty comes from salvation by Jesus’ blood.
8)     Jesus is soon returning for me. (I Thes. 4:13-17)

We all owe a great deal to the New England Baptist, and to Maine Baptist. William Screven, because of persecution in Kittery, Maine, came to Charleston, SC in 1685. Shubal Stearns and Daniel Marshal with 6 other families, 16 people in all, left Connecticut and eventually came to Guilford County in the Piedmont of N.C. and organized Sandy Creek Baptist Church. They called themselves Separate Baptist. A man saved under their ministry named Philip Mulkey took 4 families and moved to Union County and founded Fairforest Baptist Church. This was the 1st Baptist church in the Upstate back country. By 1839, over 1,000 churches had come from Sandy Creek Baptist Church. This is what caused the South to be called the Bible belt. These Separate Baptist were fervent preachers. Their services were lively, warm and spiritual. There are still some small Separate Baptist churches in the mountains of North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky. One is near Sgt. Alvin York’s birth place in Pall Mall, Tennessee. They shun all ecumenical affiliations. The 1st article in their statement of faith reads: “We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament, King James Version, are the infallible Word of God and the only safe rule of faith and practice.”