As people spent the Fourth of July holiday with friends, family and local community, the United States continues to experience a slide away from universal religious liberty and a shift toward authoritarian government targeting religious beliefs and actions. The Baptist public theology surrounding religious liberties is an inclusive and expansive one, protecting people of all faiths and backgrounds to freely practice their own faith.
Historical Baptist figures like Roger Williams and John Leland strongly supported religious liberty, even going so far as establishing new colonies in Williams’ case to allow anyone to enter regardless of their religion.
Matthew Kolb
This historical Baptist tradition is sorely needed among 21st century Christians, especially among Baptists both on the political right and left. Our unique tradition affords us the opportunity to boldly proclaim to a splintering society the immense value of religious pluralism, a proper church/state relationship, and liberty for all.
Unfortunately, that essential Baptist distinctive and doctrine has begun to show cracks across America, with potentially disastrous consequences especially for religious minorities who can be overpowered by those with political power.
A recent Supreme Court decision ruling against a practicing Rastafarian is only the latest public instance. Here, an inmate was handcuffed and forcefully had his hair cut by prison guards despite a court order commanding the state not to shave his hair due to his religious beliefs. Even with the clear evidence of state employees violating his religious right, the court refused his ability to sue for financial damages.
The decision leaves a miscarriage of justice that should strike at the core of our understanding of what freely practicing one’s religion means, even within the confines of prison and especially for citizens who practice a faith different than the majority religion in the United States.
“This historical Baptist tradition is sorely needed among 21st century Christians, especially among Baptists both on the political right and left. “
Muslims around Broken Arrow, Okla., witnessed a similar discrimination against their faith by members of the majority religion. There, an Islamic center’s request to build was defeated by the local governing body, with flimsy arguments that ultimately fail to cover up the nakedly Islamophobic arguments used by community members against the proposal.
Imagine the uproar if a liberal city refused a church and hateful anti-Christian rhetoric was used by the community as justification. There would — rightfully — be substantial condemnation of such a community and elected council for its religious bigotry. Instead, in Tulsa there was silence from the Religious Right, Christian leaders and right-wing media.
Ocean City, Md., is another example of a government hostile to religious beliefs. There, an Episcopal congregation came together to start an overnight shelter for homeless individuals, but was fined due to zoning regulations. The church was merely attempting to put into practice the commands of Christ in Matthew 25; however, for sincerely attempting to solve a social problem and change lives, the church was targeted by the city.
As Baptists, putting our feet firmly on the ground while planting the flag of universal religious liberty for all is not only possible but our moral and spiritual responsibility. Amid the Trump administration’s mistaken idea of religious liberty only for conservative Christians, Baptists can advocate for religious freedom for all regardless of whether we agree with their beliefs or not.
Reclaiming religious liberty requires a broader and more inclusive approach rooted in a commitment to freedom, proper state/church relationships and religious pluralism. Precisely because religion functions as an integral component of someone’s life, whenever that function is restricted, denied or punished, that person carries the harm of their God-given right to self-determination.
Prominent conservative Baptist theologian Andrew Walker wrote in an excerpt for his book on religious liberty: “If one does not possess the freedom to act on one’s most primary beliefs, one is not free in even the most basic sense of the word.” That definition should propel us forward toward affirming the historic view of Baptist protections of religious liberty, even for those with whom we disagree with.
In a multi-racial, multicultural and multi-religious country, that is the only sensible path forward to ensure we continue to peacefully coexist among one another. July 4 was an opportunity to celebrate those freedoms that as Americans we hold dear. It also was a call to continue fighting for those liberties, including the universal right to religious freedom.
Matthew Kolb is a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.