Church discipline is an area in which Baptist principles have changed dramatically over the years. Below is an excerpt taken from a book by Francis Wayland (1796-1865), a Baptist Minister, concerning the change in discipline among the Baptists. Although I dont endorse him as representative of sound doctrine because of his doctrinal views on eternal salvation; I believe we can gleam some important Baptist history from his writings. In his book he expresses concern in several areas that the Baptists may have gone to far in their changes. We have excerpted his thoughts on the changes in Baptist church discipline and believe this excerpt expresses sound biblical principles. The changes he recognized in the 1800s were directed toward the New or Missionary Baptist family he was part of. There is evidence that many Baptists, especially Primitive Baptists through the 1800 hundreds and early 1900s continued on with the old way of church discipline and were highly respected for their lives and dealings in public life. However, sadly the Primitive Baptists now exhibits departures from good sound church discipline, fueled by the new set of reformers among them. His statement that Baptists might once be known by the simplicity of their attire. surely should start us to thinking and pondering over our present day society. Although the world changes, the laws of God do not. Immodesty in dress, worldliness in entertainment and lack of integrity in business affairs is just as wrong today as it was in his day and as it was in the days of Adam and Eve. Elder Claude McKee

 

Excerpt from the Book Notes on the Principles and Practices of Baptist Churches by Francis Wayland 1796-1865. Pages 174,177

There has been also, as might be supposed, a great change in our discipline, while these other changes have been in progress. Holding firmly to the doctrine of the spirituality of the church, our fathers conceived that there must, of necessity, be a vast difference between them and the world. They knew that if they were true to their principles, they must, of necessity, be a peculiar people.

They took it for granted that they would be out of sight of the gay, the thoughtless, and the pleasure-loving. They cultivated plainness of dress. The Methodists and Baptists might once be known by the simplicity of their attire. Hence our brethren were never met with in places of public amusement. You would as soon have found a Baptist in jail as at a ball, an opera, or a theater. To be found in such a company would have incurred the censure of the church. They would have entered into no metaphysical disquisition on the question, How far a disciple of Christ may go in conformity to the world? They would only have asked, how can a spiritual mind take delight in the lusts of the eye, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life?

 In all the transactions of ordinary business, they were watchful over the character of each other. They were not I haste to be rich, and hence they escaped many  foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perditions. Public opinion, I think, had less weight with them than now; hence they did not dare to seek a morally doubtful advantage, because it was customary with men of the world. They might, like other men, be unfortunate in business, but I think it was considered the duty of the church, in such a case, to look into a brothers affairs, and as certain for themselves that he had been guilty of no dishonesty.  I once knew a case of this kind. A most exemplary man, a deacon of a Baptist church, failed in business, in a time of extreme financial pressure. He did not act as an officer of the church, and I am not sure that he partook of the communion, until a committee had investigated his affairs, and the church was satisfied that his conduct had been unexceptionable. The purity and honor of his character were soon made manifest to the world. His estate paid every creditor, with interest, met all the expenses of insolvency, and left him a handsome amount as a remainder. A failure of this kind was no dishonor to the cause of Christ, but it is spoken of, even to this day, as a memorable example of Christian integrity.

 In these respects, there has a change come over us. I fear that in attendance upon places of amusement, and in participation in social luxury, our practice is different from that of our fathers. In the matter of mercantile integrity, I do not know that there is any thing now to distinguish us from others. The church discipline, which was formerly universal, could not now be carried into effect. The tide of worldliness, the love of gain, and the ambition of expense, which has been, for some years, flowing over the Christian world, has overwhelmed us also.

In how far, in these respects, we have suffered by following the example of others, need not here be considered. Whatever be the amount of our blameworthiness, it rests, after all, exclusively on ourselves. Nay, more, it is evident that in this matter, if we have sinned, we are exceedingly sinful. When a denomination does not hold distinctly and clearly the doctrine of the spirituality of the church, it is especially liable to the irruption of worldliness. Those who were admitted to communion for the sake of making them better, only make the others worse, and thus the standard of piety in a church is reduced. The worldly example of one professor of religion is taken as a rule for others who desire an excuse for seeking pleasure rather that seeking God. Thus the infection spreads from member to member, from church to church, and from denomination to denomination, because there is no recognized and established principle to resist it. We, however, have no such excuse. It has please God to reveal to us  clearly the doctrine of the spirituality of the church, and he has taught us to avoid all beliefs and rites at variance with it. On us there was devolved the momentous duty of exemplifying this doctrine, in all its moral beauty, to the whole Christian world. Had we been true to our Master and to our own principles, what blessings might we not have conferred upon the church of Christ? The wave of worldliness that has been rising so fearfully, would have beat harmlessly at our feet, and our example might have strengthened our brethren of other denominations to check its destructive progress. Is it yet too late? May we not yet arise form dust, and put on our beautiful garments? Is it too much to hope that God will yet honor us as the harbingers of an era of more elevated piety in the history of the church. Good men of all denominations are becoming greatly alarmed at the present tendencies. The vast discrepancy between Christianity as it now appears, and the Christianity taught and exemplified by Christ and his apostles, is mournfully apparent. Poets, satirists, and journalists, scoff at it, and jeer at it, and hold it up to stinging and universal ridicule. Merchants declare that they consider an account against a professor of religion worth no more than that against any other man. Ought not every denomination of Christians, then to awake out of sleep, and does it not become us to be first to set them the example?"

End of excerpt

Editor Elder Claude Mckee