From the earliest times, General Baptists have linked beliefs with practice. In the 1829 Circular Letter to the churches of Liberty Association, Stinson (with two other co-authors) stressed: “A mere profession of religion is a matter of small importance, without proving that doctrine to be divine by a godly walk and a pious conversation.”
Stinson included an article (10) on proper Christian behavior when he founded Liberty Association (1824).
That article read: “That it is our duty to be tender and affectionate one to another, and to study [give thought and attention to] the happiness of the people of God in general; and to be singly engaged to promote the honor and glory of God.”
Those sentiments are reflected in our Church Covenant, in our Social Principles Statement, and in the significantly reworded Statement VI (1970).
The first thought of Statement VI is that we are men and women of the church. (The church itself is discussed in Statement VII.) The emphasis is that the Christian manifests the life of Christ by serving in the local church and by serving through its ministries to the community and the world.
We don’t oppose the wonderful service organizations that exist today. But our identity as a Christian is made known by how we work to see the church fulfill its calling as the Body of Christ and as the herald of the Good News. We have been gifted by the Holy Spirit precisely to work for and with fellow Christians (1 Peter 4:10).
Prayer is the mark of a person who knows that God is the source of strength and the guide of life. Founded upon our union with God though Christ, prayer includes thanksgiving and praise. Our union in the Body of Christ calls forth our intercession for fellow Christians. Sharing the mission of the church, we pray for the lost.
Though we are not all evangelists, we are all witnesses of what Christ has done for us. Supported by godly living, our witness includes our explicit testimony to others of God’s gift of salvation.
Tolerance is a passive way of showing love toward fellow Christians (Romans 14) and non-Christians too. We demonstrate a humility that allows others to differ and avoids a pride that demands that our wisdom always be followed (Romans 12:16).
God’s faithfulness to the covenant people is described by the Hebrew word chesed. Variously translated as steadfast love, lovingkindness, or mercy, the word also defined how the Israelite should respond to one’s neighbor (Micah 6:4 NRSV).
Financial support of the church is a sign of the new creation in Christ where God’s created world is restored to Him and used for His purposes and glory.
We fulfill the Old Testament concern for tithes (Malachi 3:10) by faithful actions that declare money is not our god (Matthew 6:24). Our loyalty to the church is manifested again.
Bringing God glory not only involves our own praise and proper conduct, but includes how our actions cause others to praise God (I Peter 2:12; I Corinthians 10:31-33; II Corinthians 9:11-12 NIV).
Our lives in and through the church point to the God who created and redeemed us. “Unto Him be glory” (Ephesians 3:21).
Dr. Douglas Low, Professor of New Testament, Chapman Seminary and OCU