Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – The Waldenses – Soul Liberty – Baptist Peculiarity Five – Part 10

Thomas E Kresal Admin · 1 hr February 26, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – The Waldenses – Soul Liberty – Baptist Peculiarity Five – Part 10

Fifth: Baptists recognize equal rights or privileges in the execution of the laws of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, Baptists have ever been distinguished by thein love of religious liberty, while Pedobaptists have generally claimed the right to propagate religion by law. We will find this Baptist peculiarity prominently developed among the Waldenses.

The inquisitor Reinerius, reports the Waldenses as holding: “That none in the church ought to be greater than their brethren, according to Matt. 20: 25, etc. It is known that the Waldenses regarded the different orders in the ministry, established by the Catholics, as part of the abominations of Antichrist. They even allowed their women to teach in their congregations. We find, in an ancient Waldensean Confession, the following. Article on liberty: “We esteem an abomination and is antichristian, all those human inventions which are a trouble or prejudice to the liberty of the spirit.” Thus we find the ancient Waldenses, like the modern Baptists, contending for spirit or “soul-liberty.” It will be remembered that the Albigenses were a branch or a part of the Waldensean family; they held the same doctrine in every point of church organization. In regard to the point in question, Mr. Orchard remarks: “The errors of the Albigenses, who in their church capacity, says Collier, had none but lay brethren to officiate among them, and who professed equality in the brotherhood began now to grow more public.” (History of English Baptist, p. 116)

As to the charge, that the Albigenses had none but lay brethren for preachers, this must be understood with reference to Catholic views; for they regarded all as laymen who had not received Romish ordination. The Waldenses had pastors ordained by themselves. It is so generally admitted that the ancient Waldenses recognized the equality of their membership, as regards church privileges, that it is unnecessary to occupy much space on this point.

In the ancient Waldensian documents preserved by Leger, and quoted by Monastier in his History of the Vaudois Church, we have the following: “Among other powers, which God has given his servants, he has given them power to choose leaders (pastors) who may govern the people, and to appoint elders to their offices, according to the diversity of their employments, in the unity of Christ, as the apostle proves in his epistle to Titus.” (History of the Vaudois, p. 95)

Peculiarity Five on Thursday, February 27

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: “Baptist Succession” by D.B. Ray, 1871 Edition, pg. 361-62