They are old and yellowed mimeographed lessons probably intended for use in an adult Sunday school class or maybe a new members’ class. They cover four topics: Salvation, Christian Life, Members’ Responsibilities in the Program of the Church and “the Principles and Beliefs of Baptists.” It was the last lesson which caught my eye. It is interesting to see how Baptist principles were presented and taught to a generation past.
The lessons were found in a file at the Virginia Baptist Historical Society on Oakwood Memorial Baptist Church of Richmond. They may have been written expressly for Oakwood or they may have been generic and widely circulated. Oakwood was mentioned specifically by name so they may have been intended just for that church.
Fred Anderson
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It took a little detective work to place a date on the lost lessons. The writer referred to statistics of the Southern Baptist Convention, citing that its member churches had six million members “worshipping in more than 26,000 churches.” A check of SBC stats reveals that the figures must have been from the late ’40s. The lost lessons must be about 60-65 years old; and if so, they contain the same definitions of Baptist distinctives which this Baptist learned in his growing up years.
We do not know who wrote them. The pastor of Oakwood in the period was either Carl Collins, who was pastor from 1945 until 1948, or Frank Voight, who came in 1949. Both men were capable and skillful and easily could have been responsible for these lessons. At the time the church was known as Oakwood Avenue; and since 1920 it had been located in the eastern end of Richmond around Chimborazo. In 1957 the church moved further east off Laburnum Avenue and changed its name to Oakwood Memorial. At the time of the lost lessons, the church had a membership of about 600.
The church has a worthy heritage. It largely was the vision of a dedicated woman, Lottie Dickenson, who attended Leigh Street Church, the historic Baptist church in eastern Richmond. She wanted to have religious services in the growing new Oakwood Addition neighborhood. She went door to door to find prospects. She persuaded a local Baptist leader to provide a tent and to preach. In the fall of 1915 tent meetings were held and 28 persons professed faith. As cold weather approached, it was obvious that tent meetings had to cease. The next step was to start a Sunday school and it met in private homes until a public school could be used. Soon a church was duly constituted. And Baptist was their identity.
When the lessons were taught in the late ’40s, there probably was a need to share time-honored Baptist principles with newcomers. The opening paragraph on Baptist principles and beliefs states: “There are many denominations in the world. Baptists are a distinct group of Christians and known as one of the denominations. Although we do not agree with all other Christians regarding the interpretation of the Bible and the form of church government, two things must be borne in mind: 1) We must always be loving and charitable towards other Christians who love our Lord and serve him through the channels of other denominations. 2) We claim for ourselves, as we grant to all men, the right to read the Bible and worship according to the dictates of their own conscience.”
The lesson had six points. First, there was a statement on “absolute religious freedom.” The lesson material read: “Baptists have always been the champions of religious freedom. By this is meant we demand that every man be free to worship as he will, or not forced to worship if he does not so desire. If Baptists by one word could compel all denominations against their wills to become Baptists, they would never speak that word. If the U.S. Government should compel everyone in our nation to become Baptists and enforce this decree with the nation’s armed forces, the first to fight and die in opposition to this regulation would be the Baptists.”
Next, the lesson turned to “absolute lordship of Christ.” “Christ only is our authority in the matter of things spiritual. We recognize civil authority and obey the laws of the land. Scripture teaches this is right. But in the realm of religion we recognize no man’s authority over us, for Christ and Christ alone is our Lord. Therefore we repudiate any teachings which would fasten upon us a system of popes, cardinals, bishops and other intermediaries. In rejecting human authority over us in spiritual matters, we do not deny others the privilege of so having if they so desire.”
“We believe the Bible to be the one rule of faith and practice. We have no creed, save the Bible. If others feel they must formulate their faith into creeds, this is their privilege.” Under the category of studying the Bible, the lesson explained an old-fashion term — “regenerate church membership.” We know it better as “being born again.” It stated the reason for “believer’s baptism”: “Nowhere in the New Testament do we read of persons being baptized before they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. For this reason we do not baptize infants.” The lesson taught that the two ordinances (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) “are not magical but symbols in which we participate for the purpose of publically identifying ourselves with Christ and his church and to remind ourselves of our privileges as the children of God.”
Priesthood of the believer was taught. “Every individual must stand before God alone without human props.” Church autonomy was taught. “Every Baptist church is independent and governs itself under the guidance of God. We are united in heart and work and in visible organizations such as our associations, state and national conventions and Baptist World Alliance but none of these bodies have rule over us. The authority of a Baptist church is not vested in the pastor, deacons, trustees, or other church officials, but in the congregation. All churches are recognized as standing on an even footing.”
The sixth and final point was on “the equality of believers.” “Christ is the head and Lord of his church. All his ministers are servants and equal in rank. Members of a Baptist church have equal authority as their pastor or any other member. Members have the privilege of voting on all matters brought before the church such as how money should be spent, the admittance of members into the fellowship of the church, the calling of a pastor, etc. The Baptist church is a democracy and always respects the individual within the membership.”
The dust needs to be blown off these lost lessons!
Fred Anderson is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies. He may be contacted at [email protected] or at P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 2317.