Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – A Short Baptist History Lesson A corrupt politician waxing eloquently:

Thomas E Kresal ‎Baptist Church History  September 28, 2019

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – A Short Baptist History Lesson … A corrupt politician waxing eloquently:

“For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us, so if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.”— John Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity,” a sermon delivered on board the Arabella, 1630

Congregational Church Theocracy in Colonial America

“The Puritans fancied themselves as founders of a “New Israel,” not just New England, but of a Christian theocracy based on their brand of Christianity. The baptized believers, who were constantly finding themselves at odds with the enforcement of the “first table,” knew they would be in trouble (again) in this brave new world of Congregational theocracy. They rightly argued that this system would be nothing but a new antichrist reign. The only difference would be the substitution of the tyranny of the reformed in the place of the tyranny of the papacy. And they had the Anabaptists of Switzerland and Germany as historic proof that this would happen.” Excerpt from “America in Crimson Red” by James R. Beller, pg. 9

Colonial Massachusetts Unmasked

Unfortunately Governor John Winthrop’s (a Puritan lawyer) idea of a city on a hill was to be a “Holy Commonwealth” where people would conform to the state reformed church religion forbidding any church that was not approved by the magistrates via the Magistrates Law of 1636.He not only helped pass the Compulsory Tax to pay for support of religious ministers of the Standing Order (Congregational Church) but also vehemently opposed believers baptism in which he signed a law against Anabaptists. If you did not present your baby for paedo (infant) baptism you were publicly whipped, imprisoned and ultimately banished (or burnt at the stake) from the state of Massachusetts.Winthrop called Baptists “Incendiaries” “troublers” and the quote goes on to say “It is ordered & agreed that if any person or persons within this jurisdiction shall either openly condemn or oppress baptising babies or authority to …punish the outward breaches of the first table, …shall be sentenced to banishment.” Quote from “Baptist Piety” by Edwin S. Gaustad Christian University Press, 1978Folks need to know the picture painted of the Colonial America Puritans by our state government public schools is distorted beyond measure.The old adage rings true in many ways and allowing the Protestants to propagandize our America history is akin to believing: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.”

Prepared by Thomas E. Kresal including personal comments.