Our Baptist Distinctives
The “B” in “BJC” stands for “Baptist.” And, as Baptists, there are distinctives we hold dear that lead us to defend religious freedom for everyone – including the institutional separation of church and state – through our work at BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty).
Since the founding of the Baptist movement in the early 17th century, defending religious liberty for all has been a core distinction of the faith.
Soul Liberty
No one can force you to believe something.
Baptists embrace a radical concept called “soul liberty,” which honors the image of God in every person by protecting the individual’s choice in spiritual decisions and freedom of conscience.
God has made all of us free — free to say “yes,” free to say “no,” and free to make up our own minds about our spiritual destiny. The work for religious freedom for everyone is to ensure that the government doesn’t do what even God will not do: violate consciences or coerce faith.
For faith to be vital, it must be voluntary.
Biblical Grounding
For many Baptists, religious liberty is grounded in Scripture. In Genesis, the creation of human beings in God’s own image necessarily implies a freedom on our part to choose for or against a relationship with God, voluntarily and without coercion.
In the New Testament, Jesus speaks forcefully about freedom. Reading from Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus announces that he had been anointed “to proclaim release to the captives and … to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18).
Jesus liberated all who would choose to follow him from the bondage of their sins: “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
The apostle Paul preached freedom, as well. To the Galatians, he railed against legalism. He boldly declared that, “[f]or freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).
Church-State Separation
The separation of church and state, or the “wall of separation” talked about by early Baptist Roger Williams, framer Thomas Jefferson, and the U.S. Supreme Court, is simply a shorthand metaphor for expressing a deeper truth: Religious liberty is best protected when church and state are institutionally separated and neither tries to perform or interfere with the essential mission and work of the other.
Government promotion of religion harms religion, encouraging watered-down religious messages. The BJC believes religion is best left to the voluntary efforts of individuals and churches.
The institutional separation of church and state also ensures our vibrant, pluralistic religious landscape, including a public square open for discussion about religion and matters of faith.
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Jesus foreshadowed the concept of church-state separation when he said “[g]ive therefore to the emperor things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). Jesus’ behavior was consistent with his words. He never took a coin from Caesar or sought the help of Herod in his ministry and mission.
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In many places, the New Testament outlines the contours of the separate realms of the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Caesar. The church is given the tasks of spreading the gospel (Acts 1:8), teaching doctrine (Matthew 28:20), and discipling believers (Ephesians 4:11-13). The state is divinely ordained to resist evil (Romans 13:3) and keep order (I Peter 2:13-15). Although these realms sometimes overlap and do not necessarily clash, the New Testament bears witness to a two-kingdom world — each with separate duties and each engendering different loyalties.
Additional resources for individuals and churches
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PDF
How we Got That Way
Dr. Walter B. “Buddy” Shurden shares Baptist history and why Baptists are champions of religious freedom and church-state separation.
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VIDEO
Baptist Freedom Fighters
As Baptists, we claim a long legacy of those who have risked their lives to advocate bravely for the right to follow one’s faith freely.
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PDF
Top 5 Myths of Separation of Church and State
Former BJC Executive Director Brent Walker explains and debunks five common myths — from “Christian nation” arguments to the wording of the Constitution.
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COLUMN
Colonial Baptist Contributions to Religious Liberty
In this 2011 article, former BJC Executive Director Brent Walker shines a spotlight on John Waller, James Ireland, Elijah Craig, and John Leland.
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VIDEO
The Intersection
In this 1996 conversation with journalist Bill Moyers, former BJC Executive Director James M. Dunn explains the importance of religious liberty in the United States and how it relates to Baptist heritage.
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PDF
Religious Liberty and the Black Church
Coming soon!
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PDF
What is Religious Liberty?
New version coming soon!
