http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2008/04/historical.html
Well, today I was at First Baptist Church of Alexandria finishing up a weekend Bible conference. It was good to meet their pastor, Don Davidson, and visit with old and new friends. More on that soon…
Visits like this get me in an historical state of mind. Those of you who follow the blog know of my interest in history-- particularly when referring to "firsts."
Before blogging, I have:
Visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem where Jesus was born of a Virgin.
Stood on the porch of Christ Church in Savannah where John Wesley served and, while in Georgia, began his relationship with the Moravians.
Sat in the restaurant that once was the church founded by A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
Made a journey to the Japanese neighborhood (Little Tokyo today) that once spawned a revival that started on Azuza Street where Pentecostalism was born.
Walked through the woods where Charles Finney sat when he was converted.
Vistied Pennepack Baptist Church, where the Philadelphia Baptist Association would form the first Baptist association in America.
Since blogging, I have shared about:
Speaking at North Cleveland Church of God, the oldest extant church in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN), the world oldest Pentecostal denomination.So, I love being at historic places and thinking about historic things. Today I preached at one such place.
Speaking at a church that helped launch the Landmark Baptist movement.
Sat at W.A. Criswell’s desk from his home study.
And, my "Meanings of Missional" series tracks the first use of the term in the modern sense we use it today.
First Baptist Church of Alexandria has been around a very long time… Thomas Jefferson gave money to the church. Patrick Henry defended the founding pastor in court. And, it played a part in the adoption of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Their church history page explains:
On April 16, 1803, just 27 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, five men and seven women of the pioneer Baptist Church in Fairfax County, Virginia asked that they be "dismissed agreeably… to be constituted into a regular Baptist Church in the town of Alexandria." Their request was approved.
Meeting on April 22, 1803 the twelve agreed that, "We, the underwritten subscribers… humbly desiring to be constituted into a regular church, hoping it may be for the glory of God… do hereby as in the presence of His Supreme Majesty, solemnly unite as a regular society to worship Him and promote His ordinances, maintain His truth and endeavor to promote His Glory in the world." Following the signing of this covenant, the twelve, with $1,988.87 borrowed from a charter member, Alexander Smith, erected a humble meeting house. Jeremiah Moore was called as their first pastor.
Jeremiah Moore was one of the most prominent traveling preachers of his day. In the late 1760's he was converted to the Baptist cause from the established Church of England. During the early years of his ministry he found that it was against the law to preach any doctrine that did not conform to the tenets of the Church of England. He was thrown in jail in Alexandria three times. On one occasion he was seized by a mob and sentenced to "lie in jail until you rot." Undeterred, Moore preached to huge crowds from the jail windows. When he was finally brought to trial he was defended by Patrick Henry, a vigorous exponent of religious liberty. Henry is reported to have said, "Great God gentlemen, a man in prison for preaching the gospel of the Son of God?" Jeremiah Moore was set free.
Moore was instrumental in the adoption of the First Amendment of the Constitution in 1790 establishing the doctrine of separation of church and state. A letter to Moore from Thomas Jefferson reflects their agreement on this vital issue.
Under Pastor Moore's leadership the membership grew to 54 by 1811. However, in 1812 under stern church discipline, four members were excommunicated.
John Paradise, a member of the congregation, followed Moore as pastor. In 1812 early church leaders were active in the founding of Columbia College, now George Washington University.
In case you are wondering, here is one of the more famous letters between Jefferson and Moore, pastor of FBC Alexandria:
The clergy, by getting themselves established by law, & ingrafted into the machine of government, have been a very formidable engine against the civil and religious rights of man. They are still so in many countries & even in some of these United States. Even in 1783, we doubted the stability of our recent measures for reducing them to the footing of other useful callings. It now appears that our means were effectual. --Thomas Jefferson to Jeremiah Moore, August 14, 1800
Such a quote only makes sense when you remember what the First Amendment actually says:
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 redress of grievances.
Moore’s concern was (among other things) that the government should not fund religious practice—and it was Baptists in that day who were most concerned about the separation of church and state. (They were being imprisoned by clergy paid by the government, so they had some reasons to be concerned.)
Baptists were known (in those early days) as strong proponents of religious liberty in a time where it was not appreciated. As a matter of fact, the phrase “Separation of Church and State” came from a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Baptists to assume them that their liberty would be protected. He wrote:
To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.
Gentlemen
The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.
Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.
It was a good weekend and I will share more about it later, but I just had to get some history out of my system before I finished for the day.
