“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24)
The church anniversary is almost upon us again, as we celebrate
the congregation meeting in Newcastle on London Road as 140 years old.
Of course, Baptist Christians have been meeting in Newcastle
even longer than that, and in various locations around the town. We’ve been
experimenting with the different location for quite a few months now!
Meeting in a different location reinforces the truth that
our Baptist pioneers fought for in the seventeenth century, that the church is
not a group of people living in a particular part of town, it is much less the
building. Instead, the church is made up of people of faith who gather to
worship him.
This year marks an important anniversary in our Christian
heritage. The first English Baptist church on English soil was founded in Spitalfields,
crucially then outside the boundaries of London, in 1612. Amongst the group was
Thomas Helwys, who in the same year published the first plea for religious
freedom in the English language. It had the rather snappy title of A Short
Declaration of the Mistery of Iniquity, and was an appeal for people to practice their faith according to
their conscience, Church of England, “them of the Romish religion” (Catholics),
“Turks” (Muslims) and disssenters alike.
Perhaps rather
tactlessly, Helwys sent a copy to King James I, along with a covering letter
that said,
“Hear, O King, and
despise not the counsel of the poor, and let their complaints come before thee.
The king is a mortal man and not God, therefore has no power over the immortal
souls of his subjects, to make laws and ordinances for them, and to set spiritual
lords over them. If the king has authority to make spiritual lords and laws, then
he is an immortal God and not a mortal man. O King, be not seduced by deceivers
to sin against God whom you ought to obey, nor against your poor subjects who ought
and will obey you in all things with body, life and goods , or else let their lives
be taken from the earth. God save the king.”
Unsurprisingly, Helwys
was thrown into Newgate prison, and he died there four years later at about the
age of forty.
It is a sobering
thought, that the founder of what became known as Baptist churches was thrown
into prison by the state, where he died for his beliefs.
Many Baptist Christians
since have argued hard for justice and liberty, and have often suffered for
taking such a stand in accordance with the teachings of the Bible. Martin
Luther King was killed for his campaign to end racial segregation in America.
William Carey devoted his life to people in India, translating the Bible and
also speaking out against injustices such as the caste system.
The Christian
gospel speaks of transformation. It transforms our lives as individuals, but we
are also called to stand up against injustices in n society and in the world.
As we celebrate a
church anniversary, and think of 400 years of English Baptist witness, let us
be inspired to continue to share the good news, and speak out against
injustices.
God bless,
Nik
