Timeless Roger Williams treatise knocks civil coercion in religion

By J. Brent Walker

Reflections
June 26, 2002

I've been re-reading some pretty good Baptist theology lately - Roger Williams' classic work, The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, originally printed in 1644 in London. (Truth be known, I am reading it for the first time straight through; I tasted bits and pieces of this treatise in seminary.)

I have a new edition, made far more readable by the good editorship of Richard Groves, pastor of the Wake Forest Baptist Church in Winston- Salem, N.C. It contains a wonderful foreword by Walter Shurden and a helpful "Historical Introduction" by Edwin Gaustad. Mercer University Press published this improved edition in 2001. You should pick up a copy. There is no longer any excuse for shying away from Williams' sometimes arcane prose.

Williams' no-holds-barred defense of the cause of conscience and in opposition to any form of civil coercion in religion is introduced by a short list of what Groves calls "Twelve Theses"- something of a syllabus for Williams' entire work.

These 12 points, slightly paraphrased by me, go like this:

• Religious warfare is "not required or accepted by Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace."
• The Scriptures and sound argumentation belie "the doctrine of persecution for the cause of conscience."
• Those who might support the doctrine of persecution for the cause of conscience - like John Calvin and John Cotton - must be answered forcefully.
• "The doctrine of persecution for the cause of conscience is proved guilty of all the blood of the souls crying for vengeance under the altar."
• Governments and magistrates discharge an essential civil function, but are not "judges, governors, or defenders of the spiritual."
• Since the coming of Jesus, God has given permission to even "the most paganish ... or anti-Christian consciences and worship," and they should be answered only by "the sword of God's Spirit, the Word of God."
• The theocracy of Israel is "proved figurative and ceremonial, and no pattern nor precedent for any kingdom or civil state in the world to follow."
• God does not require religious conformity enforced by the civil state. Any such attempt is "the greatest occasion of civil war, ravishing of conscience, persecution of Christ Jesus in his servants, and of the hypocrisy and destruction of millions of souls."
• Forced conformity by the civil state makes evangelism more difficult, not easier.
• Compelled conformity of religion in the civil state "confounds the civil and religious, denies the principles of Christianity and civility, and that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh."
• Full religious liberty will result in a "firm and lasting peace; good assurance of being taken, according to the wisdom of the civil state, for uniformity of civil obedience from all sorts."
• "True civility and Christianity may both flourish in a state or kingdom," even where consciences are protected and differing opinions allowed to be entertained.

True in the 17th century, and still true today. When you are finished reading The Bloudy Tenent, give it away to someone - maybe a politician who supports vouchers, charitable choice, state-sponsored prayer and civil religion. It might do some good.