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DISTINGUISHING DOCTRINAL FEATURES Free Will Baptist Doctrine is distinguished from the majority of Baptist groups (including the Southern Baptist Convention and her offshoots, as well as fundamentalist Baptists) in that Free Will Baptists reject the traditional Baptist view of "perseverance of the saints", (also commonly referred to as the "Doctrine of Eternal Security" or "once saved, always saved"), which is based on the Calvinist teaching of Limited Atonement and a predestined "elect". Instead, Free Will Baptist Doctrine holds to the traditional Arminian position, based on the belief in a General Atonement , that it is possible to commit apostasy, or willfully reject one's faith. The concept is not of someone sinning occasionally and thus accidentally ending up "not saved", but instead of someone "repudiating" their initial choice by continual, willful sinning and an unwillingness to repent once confronted. Free Will Baptists also observe The Washing Of The Saints' Feet as a third ordinance of the church along with Baptism and Communion, a rite common among other evangelical groups but not practiced by the majority of Baptist denominations. Additionally, Free Will Baptist congregations believe the Bible is the completed, inerrant word of God, and believe in the literal interpretation of Scripture. The majority of Free Will Baptist congregations, particularly those associated with the National Association Of Free Will Baptists , also have an Amillennial view of Eschatology and strongly believe in (voluntary) Tithing , totally abstaining from alcoholic beverages, and not working on the Sabbath . Free Will Baptists are involved in mission efforts around the world. HISTORICAL SKETCH The rise of Free Will Baptists can be traced to the influence of General Baptist s from England who settled in the American colonies. Much of their early history is clouded in obscurity. However, two distinct "lines", the "Palmer" line and the "Randall" line, which arose independently of each other, are considered the roots of the current Free Will Baptist denominations today. The "Palmer" Line In 1702 , settlers in Carolina wrote a request for help to the General Baptist association in England. Though no help was forthcoming, Paul Palmer would labor among these people 25 years later, founding the first "Free Will" Baptist church in Chowan, North Carolina in 1727 . Palmer organized at least three churches in North Carolina. His labors, though important, were short. Leadership would descend to Joseph Parker, William Parker, Josiah Hart, William Sojourner and others. Joseph Parker was part of the organization of the Chowan church and ministered among the Carolina churches for over 60 years. From one church in 1727, they grew to over 20 churches by 1755. After 1755 , missionary labors conducted by the Philadelphia Baptist Association converted most of these churches to the Particular Baptist positions of unconditional election and limited atonement. By 1770 , only 4 churches and 4 ministers remained of the General Baptist persuasion. By the end of 18th Century , these churches were commonly referred to as "Free Will Baptist", and this would later be referred to as the "Palmer" line of Free Will Baptists. The churches in the "Palmer" line organized various associations and conferences, and finally organized a General Conference in 1921 . The "Randall" Line While the movement in the south was struggling, a new movement rose in the north through the work of Benjamin Randall (1749-1808). Randall initially united with the Particular or Regular Baptists in 1776 , but broke with them in 1779 due to their strict views on predestination. In 1780 , Randall formed a "Free" or "Freewill" Baptist church in New Durham, New Hampshire . (The Randall movement combined the the words "Free" and "Will.") By 1782 twelve churches had been founded, and they organized a ''Quarterly Meeting''. In 1792 a ''Yearly Meeting'' was organized. This northern line (the "Randall" line) of Freewill Baptists grew quickly. But in 1911, the majority of the churches (and all the denominational property) merged with the Northern Baptist Convention . The remaining churches in the Randall movement reorganized as the ''Cooperative General Association of Free Will Baptists'' in 1916. The Union of the Lines Fraternal relations had existed between the northern and southern Free Will Baptists, but the question of slavery, and later the Civil War, prevented any formal union until the 20th century. On November 5, 1935, representatives of the "Palmer" and "Randall" lines met in Nashville, Tennessee to unite and organize the '' National Association Of Free Will Baptists ''. The majority of white Free Will Baptist churches organized under this umbrella, which remains the largest of the Free Will Baptist groups to this day. FREE WILL BAPTIST BODIES
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