| Primitive Baptist churches | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Primitive Baptists |
| Orientation | Conservative |
| Theology | CalvinisticBaptist[1] |
| Polity | Congregational |
| Region | United States, mainly in the southern states |
| Origin | 19th century |
| Separations | Missionary Baptists |
Primitive Baptists – also known asRegular Baptists,Old School Baptists,Foot Washing Baptists, or, derisively,Hard Shell Baptists[2] – are conservativeBaptists adhering to a degree ofCalvinist beliefs who coalesced out of the controversy among Baptists in the early 19th century over the appropriateness ofmission boards,tract societies, andtemperance societies.[3][4] Primitive Baptists are a subset of theCalvinistic Baptist tradition.[1] The adjective "primitive" in the name is used in the sense of "original".[3]
The controversy over whether churches or their members should participate in mission boards, Bible tract societies, and temperance societies led the Primitive Baptists to separate from other general Baptist groups that supported such organizations, and to make declarations of opposition to such organizations in articles like theKehukee Association Declaration of 1827.[4][5] TheKehukee Primitive Baptist Church released a proclamation that they rejected formal service institutions outside ofthe church. The declaration proposed that
Upon examination, it was found that most of the churches had given their opinions; and after an interchange of sentiments among the members of this body, it was agreed that we discard allMissionary Societies,Bible Societies andTheological Seminaries, and the practices heretofore resorted to for their support, in begging money from the public; and if any persons should be among us, as agents of any of said societies, we hereafter discountenance them in those practices; and if under a character of a minister of the gospel, we will not invite them into our pulpits; believing these societies and institutions to be the inventions of men, and not warranted from the word of God. We further do unanimously agree that should any of the members of our churches join the fraternity ofMasons, or, being members, continue to visit thelodges and parades, we will not invite them to preach in our pulpits, believing them to beguilty of such practices; and we declare non-fellowship with them and such practices altogether.[6]
The official split between "Old School" and "New School" Baptists occurred during a meeting at the Black Rock Church on September 28, 1832 in Butler, MD. This became known as the Black Rock Address.[7][8][9]
Primitive Baptist churches arose in the mountainous regions of theAmerican South, where they are found in their greatest numbers.[10][11]
African-American Primitive Baptist groups have been considered a unique category of Primitive Baptist. Approximately 50,000 African Americans are affiliated with African-American Primitive Baptist churches as of 2005.[12] Approximately 64,000 people were affiliated (as of 1995) with Primitive Baptist churches in the various other emergences of Primitive Baptists.[12]
Since arising in the 19th century, the influence of Primitive Baptists has waned as "Missionary Baptists became the mainstream".[5]
Primitive Baptists reject some elements of classicalReformed theology, such asinfant baptism, and avoid the term "Calvinist".[3] They are still Calvinist in the sense of holding strongly to theFive Points of Calvinism and they explicitly rejectArminianism.[3][5] They are also characterized by "intense conservatism".[10][11]
One branch, thePrimitive Baptist Universalist church of centralAppalachia, developed their own uniqueTrinitarian Universalist theology as an extension of theirresistible grace doctrine ofCalvinist theology.[13] They were encouraged in this direction by 19th century itinerantChristian universalist preachers of similar theological bent toHosea Ballou andJohn Murray.[14]
Primitive Baptist practices that are distinguishable from those of other Baptists includea cappella singing,family integrated worship, andfoot washing.
Primitive Baptists generally do not play musical instruments as part of their worship services.[16] They believe that all church music should bea cappella because there is noNew Testament command to play instruments, but only to sing.[15] They are noted for theirsinging schools andshape note singing. Further, they connect musical instruments in theOld Testament with "many forms and customs, manytypes and shadows, many priests with priestly robes, many sacrifices, festivals, tithings" that they see as having been abolished; "had they been needed in the church Christ would have brought them over".[15]
African-American Primitive Baptists may not share the general Primitive Baptist opposition to musical instruments, however.[17]
Primitive Baptists reject the idea ofSunday School,[18] viewing it as unscriptural and interfering with the right of parents to give religious instruction to their children.[19] Instead, children sit with their parents and participate in the church service just like the rest of the congregation.[20]
Primitive Baptists consider theologicalseminaries to have "no warrant or sanction from the New Testament, nor in the example of Christ and the apostles".[19]
Most Primitive Baptists performfoot washing as a symbol of humility and service among the membership.[21][22] The sexes are separated during the ritual where one person washes the feet of another.[21][22][23] The practice is credited with increasing equality, as opposed to hierarchy, within Primitive Baptist churches.[24]
Notes
Further reading
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