Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives “The Bible is the only rule of faith and practice.”

Pastor Tom Admin January 14, 2021

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives
“The Bible is the only rule of faith and practice.”

On Jan. 14, 1864, the US War Dept. notified its military personnel: “You are hereby directed to place at the disposal of the American Baptist Home Mission Society all houses of worship belonging to Baptist churches in the South, in which a loyal minister does not now officiate.”

The Mission Board appointed J.W. Parker of Boston to oversee the work. Soon he reported that about half of the Baptist meeting houses in the South had been abandoned, but in essence the War Dept. gave the Society [right] to seize almost any Baptist building where “a loyal minister “ was to be found.

Following the Civil war, the devastation was so great, that as civilians fled before advancing Union armies, they left everything behind – including scores of abandoned Baptist buildings. Law and order was practically non-existent and anarchy and confusion reigned in some sections.

The American Baptist Home Mission Board noted that in almost every town there could be found a deserted Baptist meeting house that had been stripped of all that was movable and the buildings had been converted into hospitals, stables and storehouses.”

No doubt their intentions were noble, but this action violated the time honored position of Baptists that “The Bible is the only rule of faith and practice.” Not only faith (belief or doctrine) but also practice (actions) must be insisted upon.

First, the existence of a Home Mission Board is extra-Biblical to begin with, and then for them to seize Baptist buildings in the South is nigh unto criminal, for whatever noble purpose. And then to use the very War Department that caused the carnage in the first place is an act that should make Judas blush.

But Denominations always think they know best what is good for local churches and their people.

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. IIII: Cummins, pp. 28-30

Note from Tom: Ulysses Grant covered his historical tracks by issuing written orders that private property should not be destroyed but these orders were given with a BIG WINK. An incredible amount of war crimes were committed without leaving a paper trail as Grant and Sherman pillaged and plundered the South.

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