“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” - Matthew 16:18
Today’s message is the last of a short, 4-part series on Christian history. In this sermon we will narrow our scope to primarily just the Baptist denomination, rather than discussing all of Christianity in general. Furthermore, we will gradually shift our focus away from Europe and place it on America - where the modern Baptist church has flourished.
To set the stage, let’s take a moment to highlight some important background information. In 1492 A.D. Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in a Spanish ship and landed in the West Indies. For the next century, while Reformation and Renaissance were sweeping across most of Europe, Spain was busy exploring and colonizing Mexico, Central America, and South America. In 1588 A.D. the English navy defeated the Spanish Armada thereby opening the door to British colonization of the New World starting in the 1600’s.
I. BAPTISTS IN ENGLAND (1600-1700 AD)
The Church of England, which had come into existence during the Reformation, retained many of the troublesome beliefs and practices of Roman Catholicism. As such, there were many English Christians who believed that its reform was not sufficient. Two major opposition groups emerged - the Puritans and the Separatists. The Puritans hoped to purify or cleanse the Anglican church from within, by restoring it to the principles of the New Testament. The Separatists viewed such efforts as futile and sought to establish a brand new church. Both groups were ostracized and persecuted by the Church of England.
To escape this persecution, a group of English Separatists fled to Amsterdam, Holland, where they met and were influenced by the Anabaptists who lived there. Subsequently, their leader - John Smyth - renounced the practice of infant baptism and rebaptized himself, along with many others in the group, including Thomas Helwys. A few years later, Helwys led a portion of this same congregation back to London. Upon their arrival, in 1611 A.D. he established what is widely considered by historians to be the first Baptist church in England. Coincidentally, this is the same year that the King James Version of the Bible came out.
Within a few decades Baptist churches were springing up all across the country. Some of these churches were considered General Baptists while others were known as Particular Baptists, because they differed on their views of atonement, but both faced the ire of the official Anglican church. It was illegal to preach and/or practice any faiths contrary to the Church of England. Therefore, many of these Baptists, along with several other strands of Puritans and Separatists, began migrating to America in hopes of achieving greater religious freedom.
II. BAPTISTS IN AMERICA (1600-1800 AD)
Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the original 13 colonies were being established all along the eastern coast of America. More and more people were coming from parts of Europe to settle in the New World, including many Baptists. Unfortunately, most of these new colonies formally adopted a particular denomination or church to the exclusion of all others. Even in colonial America, Baptists were not welcomed in many places and faced great adversity.
Around 1631 A.D., a Puritan minister named Roger Williams left England for America. He eventually made his way to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. However, the colony expelled him for teaching “dangerous” Baptist doctrines. Williams ventured southward into unclaimed territory where he befriended the Indians and established the Providence Plantations, which eventually became Rhode Island. His desire was to create a colony that allowed for full religious liberty to serve as a refuge for those Christians who were shunned in other places. In 1636 A.D. he organized the first Baptist church in America, which was located in Providence. A few years later his friend and colleague, John Clarke, also founded a Baptist church in nearby Newport.
While the Baptists had established a presence in the New World, for the most part it remained small and isolated for many decades. In fact, all expressions of Christianity in America gradually lost their fervor. Then, mostly between 1720 A.D. and 1740 A.D., a spiritual revival called “The Great Awakening” swept across colonial America. Perhaps the most well-known theologian of this time was a Puritan pastor named Jonathan Edwards. It was during this period that Methodism began, following the teachings of John and Charles Wesley. The Baptist faith, in particular, benefited greatly from the effects of “The Great Awakening” and began to multiply throughout the colonies.
The rise in patriotism and the desire to be free from the rule of Britain was fueled, in part, by the advance of religious liberty during and following “The Great Awakening”. America declared its independence from England in 1776 A.D., and following the Revolutionary War, it became a new nation called The United States of America. Many of its founding documents were heavily influenced by Baptist theology, including the First Amendment of the Constitution. It was around this same time, in 1777 A.D., that the First African Baptist Church of Savannah, Georgia began. It is regarded as the oldest black church in America.
III. MODERN BAPTISTS (1800-2000 AD)
Following the American Revolution, the newly formed United States began to spread westward across the North American continent. During this time, from around 1790 A.D. to 1840 A.D., another national revival began known as “The Second Great Awakening”. Evangelism swept across the American frontier and into the New England states. Many preachers began holding tent meetings. Entirely new denominations were formed, such as the Church of Christ, and thousands of people were saved. Once again, the number of Baptists grew dramatically.
Despite their strong belief in local autonomy, by this point many Baptist churches had begun to realize that they could accomplish more if they worked together in cooperation. Baptist churches began to organize themselves into various voluntary associations and conventions. In 1845 A.D., the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) was established after a split between Baptists in the north and south over the issue of slavery. Though its begins were marred by slavery, the SBC has since renounced this horrible practice and moved forward. In fact, there are over 3,000 predominantly black churches in the Southern Baptist Convention today.
Back in England, during the late 1800’s, a famous Baptist preacher named Charles Spurgeon became prominent. He is known today as “the Prince of Preachers”. Meanwhile in America, a growing number of Baptist missionaries were being sent around the world. In 1925 A.D. the Southern Baptist Convention launched the Cooperative Program to support these missionaries and keep them on the mission field. Beginning in 1947 A.D. and continuing for over 50 years, a famous Baptist minister named Billy Graham held evangelistic crusades all around the world. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, a Baptist pastor named Martin Luther King, Jr. led the Civil Rights Movement to end segregation and promote racial justice.
Today, Baptists are the second largest Christian denomination in the United States. The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest single fellowship of Baptists consisting of over 47,000 churches. Both Red Springs Baptist Church (founded in 1907) and Calvary Baptist Church (founded in 1948) are affiliated with the SBC.
CONCLUSION
The modern Baptist denomination began in England during the early 1600’s. It was started by Separatists who broke away from the Church of England. These Separatists were influenced by and shared many of their core beliefs with the Anabaptists. Though the Baptist church came into being following the Reformation, it is unlike any other Protestant Church. In fact, the Baptists were persecuted by both the Catholics and Protestants in both Europe and America. Though the Baptist church began as an institution in the early 17th century, various groups of Christians have held the distinctive beliefs and practices of Baptists dating back to the time of the New Testament. In fact, many experts today agree that the early Christians were more similar to modern Baptists than any other current denomination.
There is so much more we could talk about as it pertains to the history of Christianity and of the Baptist church. That said, I hope you have found this brief overview to be informative and beneficial to your faith. We as Christians, and particularly as Baptists, have a long and rich heritage that - though imperfect at times - is something to be proud of.
Today’s message is the last of a short, 4-part series on Christian history. In this sermon we will narrow our scope to primarily just the Baptist denomination, rather than discussing all of Christianity in general. Furthermore, we will gradually shift our focus away from Europe and place it on America - where the modern Baptist church has flourished.
To set the stage, let’s take a moment to highlight some important background information. In 1492 A.D. Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in a Spanish ship and landed in the West Indies. For the next century, while Reformation and Renaissance were sweeping across most of Europe, Spain was busy exploring and colonizing Mexico, Central America, and South America. In 1588 A.D. the English navy defeated the Spanish Armada thereby opening the door to British colonization of the New World starting in the 1600’s.
I. BAPTISTS IN ENGLAND (1600-1700 AD)
The Church of England, which had come into existence during the Reformation, retained many of the troublesome beliefs and practices of Roman Catholicism. As such, there were many English Christians who believed that its reform was not sufficient. Two major opposition groups emerged - the Puritans and the Separatists. The Puritans hoped to purify or cleanse the Anglican church from within, by restoring it to the principles of the New Testament. The Separatists viewed such efforts as futile and sought to establish a brand new church. Both groups were ostracized and persecuted by the Church of England.
To escape this persecution, a group of English Separatists fled to Amsterdam, Holland, where they met and were influenced by the Anabaptists who lived there. Subsequently, their leader - John Smyth - renounced the practice of infant baptism and rebaptized himself, along with many others in the group, including Thomas Helwys. A few years later, Helwys led a portion of this same congregation back to London. Upon their arrival, in 1611 A.D. he established what is widely considered by historians to be the first Baptist church in England. Coincidentally, this is the same year that the King James Version of the Bible came out.
Within a few decades Baptist churches were springing up all across the country. Some of these churches were considered General Baptists while others were known as Particular Baptists, because they differed on their views of atonement, but both faced the ire of the official Anglican church. It was illegal to preach and/or practice any faiths contrary to the Church of England. Therefore, many of these Baptists, along with several other strands of Puritans and Separatists, began migrating to America in hopes of achieving greater religious freedom.
II. BAPTISTS IN AMERICA (1600-1800 AD)
Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the original 13 colonies were being established all along the eastern coast of America. More and more people were coming from parts of Europe to settle in the New World, including many Baptists. Unfortunately, most of these new colonies formally adopted a particular denomination or church to the exclusion of all others. Even in colonial America, Baptists were not welcomed in many places and faced great adversity.
Around 1631 A.D., a Puritan minister named Roger Williams left England for America. He eventually made his way to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. However, the colony expelled him for teaching “dangerous” Baptist doctrines. Williams ventured southward into unclaimed territory where he befriended the Indians and established the Providence Plantations, which eventually became Rhode Island. His desire was to create a colony that allowed for full religious liberty to serve as a refuge for those Christians who were shunned in other places. In 1636 A.D. he organized the first Baptist church in America, which was located in Providence. A few years later his friend and colleague, John Clarke, also founded a Baptist church in nearby Newport.
While the Baptists had established a presence in the New World, for the most part it remained small and isolated for many decades. In fact, all expressions of Christianity in America gradually lost their fervor. Then, mostly between 1720 A.D. and 1740 A.D., a spiritual revival called “The Great Awakening” swept across colonial America. Perhaps the most well-known theologian of this time was a Puritan pastor named Jonathan Edwards. It was during this period that Methodism began, following the teachings of John and Charles Wesley. The Baptist faith, in particular, benefited greatly from the effects of “The Great Awakening” and began to multiply throughout the colonies.
The rise in patriotism and the desire to be free from the rule of Britain was fueled, in part, by the advance of religious liberty during and following “The Great Awakening”. America declared its independence from England in 1776 A.D., and following the Revolutionary War, it became a new nation called The United States of America. Many of its founding documents were heavily influenced by Baptist theology, including the First Amendment of the Constitution. It was around this same time, in 1777 A.D., that the First African Baptist Church of Savannah, Georgia began. It is regarded as the oldest black church in America.
III. MODERN BAPTISTS (1800-2000 AD)
Following the American Revolution, the newly formed United States began to spread westward across the North American continent. During this time, from around 1790 A.D. to 1840 A.D., another national revival began known as “The Second Great Awakening”. Evangelism swept across the American frontier and into the New England states. Many preachers began holding tent meetings. Entirely new denominations were formed, such as the Church of Christ, and thousands of people were saved. Once again, the number of Baptists grew dramatically.
Despite their strong belief in local autonomy, by this point many Baptist churches had begun to realize that they could accomplish more if they worked together in cooperation. Baptist churches began to organize themselves into various voluntary associations and conventions. In 1845 A.D., the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) was established after a split between Baptists in the north and south over the issue of slavery. Though its begins were marred by slavery, the SBC has since renounced this horrible practice and moved forward. In fact, there are over 3,000 predominantly black churches in the Southern Baptist Convention today.
Back in England, during the late 1800’s, a famous Baptist preacher named Charles Spurgeon became prominent. He is known today as “the Prince of Preachers”. Meanwhile in America, a growing number of Baptist missionaries were being sent around the world. In 1925 A.D. the Southern Baptist Convention launched the Cooperative Program to support these missionaries and keep them on the mission field. Beginning in 1947 A.D. and continuing for over 50 years, a famous Baptist minister named Billy Graham held evangelistic crusades all around the world. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, a Baptist pastor named Martin Luther King, Jr. led the Civil Rights Movement to end segregation and promote racial justice.
Today, Baptists are the second largest Christian denomination in the United States. The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest single fellowship of Baptists consisting of over 47,000 churches. Both Red Springs Baptist Church (founded in 1907) and Calvary Baptist Church (founded in 1948) are affiliated with the SBC.
CONCLUSION
The modern Baptist denomination began in England during the early 1600’s. It was started by Separatists who broke away from the Church of England. These Separatists were influenced by and shared many of their core beliefs with the Anabaptists. Though the Baptist church came into being following the Reformation, it is unlike any other Protestant Church. In fact, the Baptists were persecuted by both the Catholics and Protestants in both Europe and America. Though the Baptist church began as an institution in the early 17th century, various groups of Christians have held the distinctive beliefs and practices of Baptists dating back to the time of the New Testament. In fact, many experts today agree that the early Christians were more similar to modern Baptists than any other current denomination.
There is so much more we could talk about as it pertains to the history of Christianity and of the Baptist church. That said, I hope you have found this brief overview to be informative and beneficial to your faith. We as Christians, and particularly as Baptists, have a long and rich heritage that - though imperfect at times - is something to be proud of.