Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Massachusetts, passed a law against the Anabaptists

Thomas E Kresal is with David Knott. December 13, 2019

Distinctives – Massachusetts, passed a law against the Anabaptists

November 13, 1644 – The General Court in Massachusetts, passed a law against the Anabaptists that backfired against them with the general citizenry. In the body of the law, the Anabaptists were called among other things:

“…incendiaries of commonwealths, and the infectors of persons in main matters of religion, and the troublers of churches…and they have held the baptizing of infants unlawful…some have denied the ordinance of magistracy, and the lawfulness of making war, every such person or persons shall be sentenced to banishment.”

However, pressures mounted on the General Court so that, though they would not repeal the law, they publicly confessed that the Baptists were ‘peaceable’ citizens amongst them.”

There is a difference in the Baptist position of religious liberty based on freedom of conscience and the religious toleration allowed by some “state churches.”

Baptists believe that a free church in a free state is a New Testament principle. The right of every soul to direct access to God is an inalienable right, with which the state must not interfere.” State churches have arrived at the position of allowing other churches to exist, but favorable laws and/or fiscal levies are often to be granted the favored church. This is thought by some to be “toleration,” but Baptists believe that the end of governmental administration is equal justice under law.

Baptists, therefore repudiate every form of compulsion in religion or restraint of religious freedom.

In 1644, a poor man, Thomas Painter, was tied up and whipped because he refused to have his child baptized. This is what led Thomas Painter to become an Anabaptist.

Thomas E. Kresal from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins/ Thompson, pp. 472-73.