George W. Truett, The Baptist World Alliance, And Freedom
By Charles W. Deweese

“You can’t handle the truth!” says one character to another in a modern movie. Why did the Southern Baptist Convention recently obliterate its relationship with the Baptist World Alliance? The reason is simple: the BWA stands for freedom; the SBC opts for control. The SBC simply can’t handle the truth that for almost 400 years freedom has dominated the landscape of Baptists worldwide who have based their views of liberty on the life and teachings of Christ, on the New Testament at large, and on foundational Baptist history and principles.

Recently, I reviewed the published reports resulting from the first nine Baptist World Congresses held between 1905 and 1955. Two themes dominate published presentations made at these congresses by Baptist leaders from around the world: freedom and the Lordship of Christ. And even Christ is described in one speech as “the great Emancipator.” The following illustrates the liberty base of the BWA congress meetings through speeches made by a Texas Baptist. George W. Truett distinguished himself as pastor of the First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, from 1897 until his death in 1944, and as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1927-29. Internationally, he achieved extraordinary fame through his presidency of the Baptist World Alliance in 1934-39. Truett used his presidency to promote freedom for all. After his election at the fifth congress in Berlin in 1934, Truett gave the closing words of the congress. He focused on liberty and love. Here’s part of what he said: “Through the passing generations, our Baptist people have been the protagonists of liberty for the people, for all the people. This note our people have faithfully sounded and must sound everywhere. . . . The last word in our Baptist vocabulary is not liberty, but love.” Then in 1939, when the sixth congress met in Atlanta, Truett gave his presidential address on the topic, “The Baptist Message and Mission for the World Today.” Point by point, he highlighted the importance of the Lordship of Christ, biblical authority, liberty of conscience, soul competency, individualism, church-state separation, religious liberty, and congregationalism. Here are some poignant quotes from his address: • “Lording it over the consciences of men is to the Baptist mind an insufferable tyranny in the realm of the soul, and tends to frustrate the grace of God, to destroy freedom of conscience, and terribly to hinder the coming of the Kingdom of God.” • “A Baptist must, in conscience, at all times, and everywhere, plead for absolute religious liberty for his Catholic neighbor, for his Jewish neighbor, and for everybody else.” • “That principle [competency of the individual, under God] is the keystone truth of the Baptists.” • “The right of private worship is the crown jewel of humanity.” • “Church and state must, in this land, be forever separate and free.” • “Religious liberty is the nursing mother of all liberty.” • “Toleration is a concession, while liberty is a right.” Unfortunately, the Southern Baptist Convention increasingly takes steps towards separating itself from the freedom base of historic Baptists. Fortunately, however, the George Truett kinds of Baptists continue to make a mark for liberty both in Texas and way beyond Texas. Sources: Official Report, Fifth Baptist World Congress, Berlin, [Germany], August 4-10, 1934 (London: BWA, 1934), 216; Official Report, Sixth Baptist World Congress, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A., July 22-28, 1939 (Atlanta: BWA, 1939), 25-28. Charles W. Deweese is executive director-treasurer, Baptist History and Heritage Society, Brentwood, Tennessee. (800) 966-2278; cdeweese@tnbaptist.org.

August 2004