Who are the Free Will Baptists, and what do they believe?
The Free Will Baptists are a denomination of Christians who believe in the doctrines of free will, free grace, and free salvation. Their beliefs center around the ideas that every person has free will to accept or reject God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, that God’s grace is freely given to all, and that salvation is freely available to all who believe in Christ.
History and Origins
The Free Will Baptist denomination can trace its origins back to the General Baptists in England in the early 17th century. The General Baptists affirmed that Christ’s atonement was “general” (available to all) rather than “particular” (only available to the elect). They believed that salvation depends on a person’s free will to respond to the Gospel.
In the 18th century, Baptist preacher Benjamin Randall led a movement away from Calvinist determinism and toward Arminian free will theology in the American colonies. This gave rise to the Free Will Baptist denomination, with the first Free Will Baptist church being founded in New Hampshire in 1780. The denomination spread through revivals and the zeal of itinerant preachers in the 19th century, particularly in the South and Midwest.
Today, the National Association of Free Will Baptists represents over 2,400 Free Will Baptist churches in over 40 states as well as several foreign countries. The denomination continues to stress the theological ideas of free grace, free salvation, and the free human will to choose or reject the salvation that God freely offers to all people.
Doctrines and Beliefs
Free Will Baptists have doctrinal views similar to other evangelical Christian denominations, while stressing their theological distinctives of free will. Their key doctrines include:
– The Bible – The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. It is the rule of faith and practice for Christians.
– God – There is one true God who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
– Sin – All people are sinners by nature and action. Sin separates people from God.
– Salvation – Salvation is received freely by repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice on the cross.
– Free Will – Every person has free will to accept or reject God’s gift of salvation. God desires the salvation of all but does not force anyone to believe.
– Perseverance – There is the possibility of falling from grace and apostasy. Believers must persevere in faith to attain final salvation.
– Grace – God’s grace is freely bestowed on all. Man is depraved in sin but God has provided redemption through Jesus Christ.
– Evangelism – Every believer is called to share the Gospel and make disciples for Christ.
– Ordinances – Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances practiced.
– Church Government – Local churches are autonomous and associated through denominational affiliation. Male and female deacons serve under a Senior Pastor.
– Final Things – Jesus Christ will someday return visibly and bodily for the final resurrection and judgment. The righteous will dwell eternally in Heaven while the unsaved will dwell eternally in Hell.
Distinctives and Differences
Free Will Baptists have several key distinctives that set them apart from other Baptist and evangelical groups:
1. Free Will – This is the most prominent distinctive. Free Will Baptists believe sinners are free to choose or reject God’s offer of salvation. A person’s eternal destiny depends on their free will response to the Gospel.
2. Conditional Security – For Free Will Baptists, security of the believer (the belief that salvation cannot be lost) is conditional upon continued faith in Christ. They reject eternal security and affirm that backsliding can lead to apostasy.
3. Open Communion – Whereas many Baptist churches practice closed communion, Free Will Baptist churches invite all believers to participate in the Lord’s Supper, regardless of denominational affiliation.
4. Outward Holiness – There is emphasis on personal piety, modest dress, abstention from alcohol, and other outward expressions of inward sanctification among Free Will Baptists.
5. Missions – Free Will Baptist churches have an strong focus on domestic and foreign evangelism and missions. Many churches financially support missionaries.
6. Worship Style – Worship tends to be revivalist and evangelistic in focus. Foot washing, baptism by immersion and invitation hymns are common.
7. Offices of the Church – Most Free Will Baptist churches do not recognize Elder/Bishop or Deaconess as biblical offices of the church. They affirm Pastor and Deacon as the primary church offices.
8. Devil and Demons – Free Will Baptists affirm the literal existence of Satan and demons as active spiritual forces opposed to God, not just symbolic of evil. This affects their theology of spiritual warfare.
Free Will Baptists differ from Southern Baptists, who tend to be more Calvinistic and reject general atonement. They differ from Primitive Baptists in their missionary zeal and use of revivals. And they differ from Regular Baptists in their Arminian doctrine and their rejection of eternal security of believers. Yet they have much theological common ground with evangelicals.
Worship Practices
Free Will Baptist worship practices reflect their theological priorities and revivalist heritage:
– Preaching – Expository preaching of the Bible is central to the worship service. The pastor will give an evangelistic invitation at the end calling people to salvation.
– Music – Congregational hymn singing remains an important musical expression in worship. Some churches have also incorporated contemporary Christian music styles such as praise bands.
– Ordinances – Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are practiced as sacred ordinances of the church. Communion is typically open to all believers. Many churches also practice foot washing.
– Prayer – Free Will Baptists emphasize heartfelt, spontaneous prayer as opposed to set liturgy. Prayer meetings and revival prayer are common.
– Simplicity – Worship spaces tend to be simple, lacking ornamentation, to avoid any appearance of vanity. The focus is on preaching and response.
– Fellowship Meals – Many Free Will Baptist churches encourage fellowship through regularly shared meals, especially “dinners on the ground” following worship services or revivals.
– Testimonies – It is common for believers to share public testimonies of their conversion experience and God’s working in their lives.
– Altar Calls – Services typically end with a call to Christian commitment at the altar. This reflects the revivalist background of the denomination.
While local styles vary between churches, Free Will Baptist worship overall emphasizes conversion, holiness, fellowship, and an enthusiastic personal response to the Gospel.
Church Government and Polity
Free Will Baptist churches embrace the congregational form of church government and local church autonomy. Key aspects include:
– Local Governance – Each local church is self-governing under the Lordship of Christ and the authority of Scripture. There are no ecclesiastical bodies that exert control over local churches.
– Congregational Rule – The congregation of the local church makes major decisions collectively through voting, particularly in calling a pastor, ordaining leaders, and matters of finances and property.
– Autonomy – Local churches freely associate with denominational bodies but are not bound by decisions of denominational affiliations they voluntarily cooperate with.
– Leadership Offices – Free Will Baptist churches have two biblical offices of church leadership – pastors and deacons. Elders/overseers and bishop are seen as synonymous with the pastor role.
– Role of Deacons – Deacons assist and advise the pastor in spiritual matters and care for the physical welfare of the church. Deacons function as servant-leaders under the pastor’s authority.
– Democratic Governance – The local church operates democratically with congregational voting and majority rule on most matters. Executive and spiritual authority resides with the Pastor and Deacons collectively.
– Affiliation – Local churches affiliate with the state, regional, and national associations of Free Will Baptist churches on a voluntary basis. Affiliations do not exercise control.
This form of local church governance and polity reflects Free Will Baptist principles such as liberty of conscience, autonomy of the local body, priesthood of all believers, and congregational rule.
History of Cooperation
While Free Will Baptist churches are autonomous and congregational in government, they have also forged various cooperative structures throughout their history:
– Early Associations – In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Free Will Baptist associations were formed in New England states to fellowship and cooperate in ministry.
– The General Conference – In 1935, Free Will Baptists established a national General Conference to coordinate work while preserving local church autonomy.
– Departments and Agencies – The General Conference oversees denominational departments (e.g. Home Missions, International Missions) and agencies (e.g. Randall House Publications, Welch College).
– National Association – In 1992, the Cooperative General Association merged with the National Association of Free Will Baptists to increase unity and cooperation.
– State Associations – Free Will Baptists in each state organize state associations that coordinate camp meetings, education, and missions within the state.
– Local Associations – Regional associations of Free Will Baptist churches oversee home missions, ordination, youth camps, and education within a district of the state.
– Interchurch Affiliations – Free Will Baptists also participate in interdenominational groups like the National Association of Evangelicals to cooperate for religious liberty.
This loose network of associations allows Free Will Baptists to voluntarily unite for missions, education, and fellowship without compromising local church autonomy or denominational distinctives.
Educational Institutions
From their beginnings, Free Will Baptists have emphasized education as crucial for training pastors and leaders. They established several Bible colleges and seminaries, including:
– Hillsdale College – Founded in 1844 in Michigan, this was the first Free Will Baptist school. It later became a non-denominational liberal arts college.
– Stony Brook School – A seminary founded in New York in 1857 to train Free Will Baptist ministers and missionaries in the Northeast.
– Welch College – The primary ministerial training college for Free Will Baptists was founded in Tennessee in 1942 as Free Will Baptist Bible College.
– Southeastern Free Will Baptist College – Founded in North Carolina in 1962, this school offers biblical higher education.
– Randall University – This liberal arts university opened in Oklahoma in 1919 as Randall School for Christian Workers and aims to educate laity.
– Asian Theological Seminary – Free Will Baptists founded this evangelical seminary in the Philippines in 1967 to train national leaders.
These Bible colleges and seminaries seek to prepare preachers, missionaries, and leaders who will contribute to Free Will Baptist churches. They instill knowledge of Scripture along with loyalty to Free Will Baptist doctrine and practice.
Mission Work
From their origins, Free Will Baptists have actively supported domestic and foreign mission work to spread the Christian Gospel. Examples include:
– Home Missions – The Home Missions Department plants new FWB churches and supports missionaries in North America. It was established in 1936.
– International Missions – The International Missions Department oversees Free Will Baptist work in countries around the world. It formed in 1942 and works in over 30 nations currently.
– Partnerships – Free Will Baptists partner with the National Baptist Association for joint home and foreign missionary efforts.
– Methods – Missionaries plant churches, establish Bible training schools, operate orphanages, do medical work, and engage in other strategies tailored for each culture.
– FMBM – The Free Will Baptist Mission Board is one of the largest denominational mission agencies in the U.S., operating since 1888.
– NAFWB – The North American Free Will Baptist associations coordinate numerous home missionary efforts across the U.S. and Canada.
– One to One – This evangelism partnership connects local U.S. churches to specific FWB international mission fields for prayer and support.
– Hope International – This relief and development agency channels support to Free Will Baptist missionaries for humanitarian projects.
Global evangelization efforts remain a central emphasis for Free Will Baptists both to spread their doctrinal views internationally and to give their faith outward expression.
Comparison to Other Baptist Groups
Free Will Baptists have similarities and differences compared to other Baptist denominations:
– Southern Baptists – Both support missions, but Southern Baptists tend to be more Calvinistic, especially on eternal security of believers. Southern Baptists also practice closed communion.
– American Baptists – Both practice believer’s baptism. However, American Baptists appoint women pastors, whereas Free Will Baptists believe pastors must be male. American Baptists are also more ecumenical.
– Primitive Baptists – Both arose during the 18th century Baptist revival, but Primitive Baptists reject missions, revivals, and paid ministers. Primitive Baptists are also more Calvinistic.
– General Baptists – Both originated in England. Free Will Baptists broke from General Baptists over slavery and eventually adopted the name “Free Will” Baptists in the U.S.
– Independent Baptists – Both believe strongly in the local church autonomy. However, Independent Baptists are less likely to collaborate in associations or state conventions.
– Regular Baptists – Both affirm biblical inerrancy and congregational government. Regular Baptists differ in holding to eternal security of believers.
While Free Will Baptists share much with fellow Baptists, they have more Arminian views of salvation and emphasize religious liberty, evangelism, and cooperation.
Prominent Free Will Baptist Figures
Several key leaders helped shape Free Will Baptist history and thought:
– Benjamin Randall (1749-1808) – The main founder of the Free Will Baptist movement in America during the 18th century. An evangelist and church planter.
– Jeremiah Varnum (1750-1838) – Contemporary of Randall who helped organize and spread Free Will Baptist churches in New Hampshire and Maine.
– Nathaniel Brown (1793-1867) – Influential 19th century Free Will Baptist minister who pastored in New Hampshire and wrote extensively.
– J.R. Davidson (1837-1881) – Church planter and missions mobilizer in the Southern U.S. in the late 1800s who helped grow the denomination.
– H.B. Taylor (1870-1932) – A leader who modernized the denomination in the early 20th century through publishing and national organization.
– Leroy Forlines (1925-2019) – Prominent Free Will Baptist theologian who taught theology for decades at Free Will Baptist Bible College.
– Robert Picirilli (1932-2022) – Former academic dean and professor at Free Will Baptist Bible College who wrote important theological works.
– Melvin Worthington (b. 1948) – Current executive director of the National Association of Free Will Baptists since 2004.
These individuals significantly shaped Free Will Baptist identity, doctrine, organization, and growth through their ministries over the past two centuries.
Current Issues and Trends
Some current issues and trends facing Free Will Baptists include:
– Declining Membership – As with many denominations, Free Will Baptists have experienced steady decline in membership over recent decades. Several strategies have aimed to plant more churches.
– Identity Crisis – There is ongoing debate over whether Free Will Baptists should maintain their theological distinctives or move toward a more general evangelical identity.
– Worship Changes – Some churches have shifted to contemporary styles of worship music and less traditional approaches to services. This creates tension between old and new.
– Social Concerns – Free Will Baptists increasingly speak out on social issues like abortion, religious liberty, and gender identity while trying to balance this with the Gospel.
– Ecumenism – While traditionally sectarian, Free Will Baptists now participate in some interdenominational evangelical alliances and collaborative ministries.
– Leadership Crisis – Like other denominations, attracting pastoral candidates and developing new leaders remains a pressing need facing Free Will Baptists.
– Ethnic Diversity – Although the denomination is still predominantly white, it is seeking greater diversity in both local church planting and international missions.
The Free Will Baptist denomination strives to maintain theological convictions while adjusting methods and engaging culture in a changing social landscape.
Conclusion
In summary, the Free Will Baptists arose in the 18th century American colonies as a people championing doctrines of free will, free salvation, and free grace for all. They stressed liberty of conscience, evangelism, and missions while organizing under the congregational form of church government. Free Will Baptists became a major force for revivalism in early America while distinguishing themselves from other Baptists with their Arminian theology. The denomination continues to emphasize church planting and global evangelism while navigating contemporary concerns. Free Will Baptists remain centrally focused on calling all people to freely accept God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.