It has been a while, and I know many of you have missed my postings dearly. I did move and start a new job, but that of course should not effect my blogging (is that even a word) I’ll endeavor to post more regularly so as to keep all of my readers happy.
Recently I have been reading Bonheoffer’s Sanctorum Communio, but will not write about that today. I had to take a break from Bonheoffer to spend more time on my "expletive" dissertation. Really, the Bonheoffer was the break from the dissertation, and as much as I enjoyed reading about the problems of 19th century German Idealism, the guilt of not progressing on my dissertation was oppressively calling me back (much like the guilt one gets from an Italian mother… sorry mom).
So back to work, and this time on chapter 4 (I am also working on chapters 2 and 3; they are in different stages). Chapter 4 is my social-historical chapter. I am looking at one church and the ways in which the pastors were perceived, acted, and were involved in that church. For this project I’m studying the 1st Baptist Church of Swansea, MA. Right now I am looking at the plight of the Baptists in the 1720s to the 1760s, circa, and specifically the role of the pastors in FBC Swansea at that time.
Anyway, while doing my research, I came across an interesting treatise by Isaac Backus written in 1754 titled A Discourse Showing the Nature and Necessity of an Internal Call to Preach the Everlasting Gospel. Back then they were paid by the word for the titles. In this work Backus is arguing with the established requirements that one had to undertake to be recognized as an ordained minister, namely (in this case) a proper education. All the Baptist history nuts will remember that Backus was originally a part of the establishment (a Congregationalist… hiss), and then was swept up in the wave of revivalism and became a “Separatists” until becoming a “Separatist-Baptist.” As a Separatist Baptist Backus was struggling to have his ordination recognized by the government, but lacked the proper education.
In response to the denial of his credantals, Backus attacked many of the established clergy as lacking a call from God even though they had a good education. He claimed that to many went into the ministry just because it seemed like a good path to follow, not because they had an undeniable call to preach the “Everlasting Gospel.” The “Internal Call” Backus claimed is essential for one to preach. It is a call that is seen in the prophets, in the disciples and in the great preachers before. This call is discerned by the individual and affirmed by the community (a very Baptist practice that I would like to think is still affirmed today… I would like to think). Backus does not deny the importance of learning, he states, “Le me exhort all Christians in general to improve faithfully what talents God has given them,” but criticized the priority of learning over the call.
I know I have touched on this theme before, but I think it is something that we constantly need to keep in mind. I was discussing the level of learning a minister should have with a good friend of mine and realized that there is a danger in over-emphasizing one’s education. Yet at the same time, as Backus says, we should look to expand and grow the call, gifts, and abilities that God has given us. If God has given me a gift and call to preach, should I not endever to learn and grow in that gift so I can honor God’s blessing?
Finally, the irony is not lost to me that around the time that Backus penned this treatise Morgan Edwards and others were working to establish the College of Rhode Island (what is now Brown University) in order to provide a place for Baptist ministers to learn, grow, and gain an education.
