Protect religious liberty, Pinson urges grads

Posted: 5/26/06

Protect religious liberty, Pinson urges grads

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

WACO—Young ministers bear the responsibility for protecting the precious gift of religious liberty from some in the rising generation who would trade freedom for conformity, Bill Pinson told graduates of Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary.

“Resist those who would endeavor to establish themselves as the voice of God for others and thus abridge their freedom,” Pinson, executive director emeritus of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, said at the first seminary graduation ceremony held separately from the university commencement.

“Make no mistake—there are those who seek to douse the flame of freedom,” he told the seminary graduates. “Their kind has always existed, and they still do today. And to compound the challenge, multitudes both past and present are willing to trade the risks inherent in freedom for the security promised by conformity both to political and religious powers.”

Religious liberty deserves special attention by Baptists because it is the capstone of all other distinctive Baptist beliefs, such as the lordship of Christ, biblical authority, soul competency and a free church in a free state, he stressed.

“Abandon or weaken a commitment to religious freedom, and other precious beliefs and polities are compromised,” he said.

Baptists draw their commitment to religious freedom from bedrock biblical beliefs, not secular sources, Pinson emphasized.

“Religious liberty is not an add-on, a lately accepted conviction, but part of the DNA of Baptists,” he said.

When Baptists remain true to their best instincts, they resist the temptation to indulge in “hyper-individualism,” choosing instead to recognize the value of community, he said.

“Baptists emphasize the priesthood of all believers. Baptists insist that matters such as interpretation of Scripture and development of doctrinal statements should take place in the context of prayerful deliberation with fellow believer-priests,” Pinson said. “Baptists cherish Christian community, fellowship (and) koinonia.

“However, Baptists also insist that no person or group of persons has authority to dictate biblical interpretation or Christian doctrine to another. Each person is free under the Lordship of Christ.”

Baptists should celebrate religious freedom and appreciate the people who have sacrificed to make it possible, he said. Young ministers, in particular, have a responsibility to understand—and help others understand—the vital role of religious liberty.

“It is not by accident that the First Amendment bundles together several freedoms such as worship, assembly, publication and speech. Only where there is freedom to worship—and to assemble, to publish and to speak—is there full religious freedom. Only where there is no officially established religion, where there is friendly separation of church and state, does religious freedom exist for all,” he said.