Just when I think I've pretty much covered most kinds of Baptists in my studies, I have stumbled upon another kind. This week I spoke with a pastor from the Seventh Day Baptists in Rhode Island. His church is over 300 years old, meeting in the same location as their founding. The church is First Seventh Day Baptist Church of Hopkinton, Rhode Island.
As I have stated in other articles, it never ceases to amaze me at how many kinds of Baptists there are. The Seventh Day Baptists (hereafter referred to as SDB) are not particularly unique or strange, as they are very orthodox Baptists in all areas. The only major variance is their habit of observing the Saturday Sabbath. This is because they believe the ten commandments should be followed by Christians as part of the moral Law. (As Christians we all believe this, with most believing the "Lord's Day" which is the first day of the week, has now superceded Saturday.) They are quick to point out that sabbath-keeping has NOTHING to do with salvation, and they happily cooperate with other Baptists for missions and fellowship. They are not even legalistic, like the Seventh Day Adventists, about HOW to observe the Sabbath, and do not require individuals to observe any particular standard other than attending public worship. So some may adhere to a strict observance with no tv, games, movies etc. Others may do all of those things with no judgement or exclusion. You will find the same variance among those who worship on Sunday. The Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday, in which most churches will have an evening service, followed by morning service on Saturday morning.
Their articles of faith state the things most Baptist confessions state, but they do not mention either predestination or free will. Most are neither Calvinist nor Arminian, much like the Eastern District Primitive Baptists, but some are calvinistic. Their tradition allows for varying views in the atonement, but they believe such thoughts should be held privately, and they abstain from preaching any kind of "ism" from the pulpit. One of their pastors wrote so eloquently by saying "Calvinism is not the Gospel. Arminianism is not the Gospel. The Gospel is the Gospel. And the Gospel says "Christ died for sinners, and all who turn to Him in repentance and faith shall escape condemnation and be saved." They simply leave their soteriology at that.
Some of their early leaders were James Ockford, William Saller, Peter Chamberlain, Francis Bampfield, and Edward and Joseph Stennett. The first historical documentation of an SDB church is in the year 1650, at the founding of Mill Yard Church in London. Shortly after this time, the first London Baptist Confession was written, and the first time the SDB churches broke fellowship with other Baptists. This was not however due to the fact that the London Confession was calvinistic, but because the churches who adopted it required all individuals in their association to adhere to it. They never went as far as some other Baptists in declaring non fellowship though, as they accept any Baptist baptism and all baptized by immersion are welcome at the Lord's Table. They observe two ordinances, with feet washing being optional and not considered an ordinance. In December 1671, Stephen Mumford and his wife were joined with five
others to establish the first Seventh Day Baptist church in America. SDB's have been prominent in American history. One such man is Samuel Ward (1725-1776) who served as governor of Rhode Island, Chief Justice, member of the Continental Congress and was supposed to be a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but passed away before he could do so. He was married to the granddaughter of Roger Williams, who founded the first Baptist church in America. Samuel Stennett, a prominent SDB pastor and theologian, had a Doctorate of Divinity from King's College in England, and wrote many hymns, one of which is "On Jordan's Stormy Banks I stand". Just another example of early Baptists who valued higher education and biblical studies.
The SDB's were missions minded from the outset, sending their first missionaries in the 1760's, but their first united mission society for the promulgation of the Gospel was started in 1843. So much for the notion of the hardshells that no Baptists were involved in missions before the 1830's. Since their history goes back to 1650 at least, there can be no claim that ALL Baptists were like the Old Line Primitive Baptists are now, as many of them claim.
Another interesting fact, is that musical instruments have always been welcome in their midst. While many of their churches were acapella in the beginning, others were not. Those churches that were, did so because they simply had no instruments. As soon as a church had the funds to buy instruments like organs or pianos, they did so. Even in Colonial America they used stringed instruments in worship. SDB's love music and it is one of their hallmarks, in that they have accepted many styles of music in their history, when many other Baptists did not. Some Separate Baptists joined their churches, before moving further south in the colonies. I believe those Separate Baptists retained this love of music when they left the SDB's and became "Sunday" Baptists. There is some evidence that Shubal Stearns was influenced by the SDB love of music and allowed instruments in his churches, which I will write about at a later date. The modern contemporary Christian music group "Citizen Way" are Seventh Day Baptists.
In closing let me say that these Seventh Day Baptist brethren are joyful, easy, open and loving. They have a lively faith and wish for nothing more than reaching the lost. The song written by Samuel Stennett, has come to be of great meaning to me. We sang this many times in my church growing up, and it's lyrics have greater meaning now as I get older. Read these lyrics with me, and see how they convey both a longing for that heavenly home, assurance of salvation, an asking for others to come and join the journey and be saved,and a future home where sickness and death shall be no more. I can't help but shout for joy as I sing this song now! Do you know if you have a home in heaven? Are you sure? Oh who will come and go with me?!!!!!!
1 On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
and cast a wishful eye
to Canaan's fair and happy land,
where my possessions lie.
Refrain:
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
2 O'er all those wide extended plains
shines one eternal day;
there God the Son forever reigns,
and scatters night away. [Refrain]
3 No chilling winds or poisonous breath
can reach that healthful shore;
sickness and sorrow, pain and death,
are felt and feared no more. [Refrain]
I'll be forever blest,
for I shall see my Father's face,
and in his bosom rest. [Refrain]
2 comments:
Dear Kenny:
I became aware of them when I read the some of the works of Samuel Stennett (see on google), especially his sermons on the parable of the sower and the seed. He was an able writer.
Excellent post. Thanks.
Yes and he was a very able hymn writer as well! Altho some of his hymns I've never heard of, I've been reading the lyrics to some and they all are like a deep well, but come with a bucket to reach the water!
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