The Courage of Your Faith, Volume 2

By Thomas Macy

Are you willing to take a stand for what you believe to be true? The US is what it is today because of men and women from our past who had the courage to do just that. Now, at a time when political correctness often supersedes personal conviction, we need to ask ourselves that question.

The Courage of Your Faith is a collection of twelve short stories from our Baptist history. Each story sets the stage for a Bible study on an issue as relevant today as it was then. You will be challenged and you will be surprised by what stands our forefathers took and by the impact they had.

Today, "denomination" has lost significance. "Christian" seems more appropriate as we seek to minimize differences. Yet looking at Baptist History, as in this study, teaches us something of what it means to be a Christian and the role Baptists had in making the world what is today. “Baptists are indeed a peculiar people.” The collection consists of two volumes.

Volume 2
1.In 1771, Baptists and Quakers face off against the British sympathizers at the Battle of Alamance. Some consider this encounter to be the true first battle of the American Revolutionary War.
2.Then, in 1784, as the new nation debates its future, Baptists give Madison an ultimatum and threaten the union of the new republic. If you ever wondered why, after having a hand in penning the Constitution, Madison would immediately submit its first amendment, check out this story.
3.In 1793 Williamsburg, with rumors of a slave rebellion, Gowan Pamphlet—a-slave—is pastoring a LARGE church of both slave and free blacks. In his own way, Gowan rebels by petitioning for admission of his church into an all-white association of churches.
4.In 1845, as if foreshadowing the strife that would engulf the nation, the Baptists of America face their own internal war over three issues, one of which is slavery. If we all viewed others as made in the image of God, perhaps the divisions around us would not be so great.
5.Following the Civil War, Lottie Moon is the picture of both suffering and fulfillment. How important is God in your life? Would you give up your most prized possession for the sake of Christ? What is the role of suffering in the life of a believer? Missions is important to Southern Baptists. As a missionary to China, Lottie Moon had to choose between the man she loved and the God she loved. She said that God had first claim on her life.
6.Are you a fundamentalist, a moderate, or a liberal? Why? In 1979, two philosophies contend for control of the Southern Baptist Convention. With Southern Baptist Seminaries moving further to the left, fundamentalist conservatives begin a takeover of the their Convention. Our daughter and her husband attended Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville at the end of its liberal / fundamental transition.

Each of these stories complements a Bible Study that can be downloaded for free from the books' web site.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Macy
• Release date: Mar 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370733422

Thomas Macy

I grew up as the son of a small town weekly newspaper editor. With no lack of paper, I 'wrote' from before I could write. But, as life happened, I immersed myself in my growing family and my computer programming career. My writing was limited to a few hours here and there. I wrote short stories, composed Bible studies, and just plain loved researching and writing. Then, in 2003, I came across the account of Rebecca Ann Johnson and, after verifying its authenticity, decided it was begging to be told. Today, my wife Sandy and I live in Windsor and, now that I am retired, I spend a lot more of my time in the craft of writing...that is when I am not feeding her flower fetish.

Book preview

The Courage

of

Your Faith

Volume 2 (1771-1979)

Thomas Macy

Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

1 Corinthians 10:11 (NASB)

Copyright © 2017 Thomas Macy

All rights reserved.

ISBN:

ISBN-13:

The Courage of Your Faith is built from the short stories that are part of the Bible study series with the same name. At www.COYFaith.com, you can find the studies, pictures to complement the stories, and much more.

1555 The Martyrs

The martyrdom of William Hunter and the importance of scripture

1608 The Brethren

The first Baptist church and the impact of baptism

1638 The Cause

The English civil war and Baptist divisions

1650 The Seekers

The whipping of Obadiah Holmes and Baptist persecution in the New World

1718 The Southerners

Bonet and Blackbeard come to Charles Town where Baptists deal with alcoholism and more

1745 The Evangelists

The First Great Awakening begins to change the Colonies.

1771 The Separates

The Battle of Alamance and the division over emotion in worship

1784 The Revolutionaries

The start of a new nation and the separation of church and state

1793 The Slaves

Gowan Pamphlet’s black church of Williamsburg and the impact of associations of churches

1845 The Southern Baptists

Baptists divide north and south and one issue is slavery

1871 The Missionaries

Lottie Moon and suffering in a Christian’s life

1979 The Literalists

The conservative/liberal confrontation for control of the SBC and the literality of scripture

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the men and women who have lived courageously in days gone by—ordinary people who led extraordinary lives because of circumstances and a commitment to our Lord and Savior.

Table of Contents

1771 - The Separates

1784 - The Revolutionaries

1793 - The Slaves

1845 - The Southern Baptists

1871 - The Missionaries

1979 - The Literalists

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This collection would not have been possible without the people who brought to my mind the peculiar nature of our Baptist forebears, how they were a catalyst for change. Pastor Steve Hoekstra taught me that the Baptist heritage is one worth studying. Pastor Dave Samples and his class on Baptist history aroused in me a wonder of the controversies in which Baptists immersed themselves. By example, while co-teaching a class called Chasing Rabbits, my friend Bill Elliott showed me that our history has application today.

The Courage of Your Faith would also not have become what it is without Sandy, the love of my life, who gave me the idea for the title and the insight that the common element in the people in my stories was their courage.

1771 - The Separates

Robert Digby gently moved his hand up the smooth metal that crossed his palm. His fingers caressed the wood of the upper stock until it disappeared leaving only the roundness of the barrel for his hand to grasp. Up...up to the tick at the end. Staring past the tip of the barrel, he flicked the sight with his thumb, an action of habit. His palm left a damp outline on the barrel—not a good thing. Shaking his head, he held the muzzleloader between his knees and wiped the sweat from his hands. Removing the ramrod one more time from under the gun, Robert slid it down the barrel. Just like last time, it stopped at the first mark. The gun was still loaded. Reattaching the ramrod, he shifted back and forth trying to find a more comfortable position on the ground. He leaned back into the trunk of the old dogwood tree, looked up into the white blossoms, and closed his eyes. Even that did nothing to relieve the tightness in his neck.

At twenty, hunting was part of his life on the frontier. In 1771, the eastern counties might be sophisticated, but not here in the western part of the colony. The settlers in the piedmont lived off what they grew and hunted. They depended upon each other. He liked life here in North Carolina. The civilization common in the east was nowhere to be seen here. The only white sign Robert wanted to see was the tail of a deer. Hunting was as much part of his life as the gun was an extension of his body. Hanging at his side, the pouch contained 10 balls, the number he always carried on a hunt. He took a deep breath and exhaled. He had just never hunted a man before.

Someone nearby prayed quietly...John Childs. Robert recognized his voice...and the way he prayed...almost mumbling, not quite coherent. He was one of those Separate Baptists, the ones that tranced. John wasn't part of Shubal Stearn's Sandy Creek association, but he was Baptist none the less. His grandparents had lived near Rufus Digby. They separated from the local Anglican church and, with a group of other believers saved by Whitfield, began their own meetings. Robert remembered stories that grandfather Rufus told him about that congregation. How they had at first maintained their traditions, even using the Prayer Book. But, after reading God's Word, they became convinced that paedobaptism was wrong and only believers should be baptized. They became Separate Baptists. The same story could be told over and over throughout the South. God was working great things in the piedmont of North Carolina. But this...this battle, if it came to that, wasn't one of them, at least not in Robert's mind.

Would the world be a better place because he took a stand here? Robert wanted to answer, yes. But, with a gun in his hands which might soon be pointed at another man, he wasn't so sure.

A twig cracked. He opened his eyes. Richard Canaday still paced to the meadow and back. Quakers didn't take up arms against men so he carried no rifle, still hoping for a peaceful resolution, though the prospects of that were a lot less than yesterday.

Others talked to themselves, and some with friends. Along the road and up the rise, next to a small grove of pine trees, a group of men laughed and boasted amongst themselves how great a victory they would have today, as if success would be guaranteed by their self-stroking words of encouragement.

Men handled fear in such different ways.

Moans from two of Tryon's officers seeped through these other sounds. Just yesterday, they had been captured and well whipped by some over-enthusiastic Regulators. Tied to a tree on the edge of the field, the officers sat, heads hung low.

Other men wrestled and laughed. To them, this was just one more gathering for the sake of the cause. They expected a parlay with the governor, a peaceful resolution. More than half of the Regulators carried no weapons, some for that very reason. Surely the governor would have sympathy when he saw how many residents confirmed the ill treatment by the local officials. Robert took a deep quivering breath. Reverend Caldwell and Mr. Thompson still negotiated with the governor. Perhaps reconciliation was possible.

I think there is no place like North Carolina in May. James Few knelt beside him. His homestead was at Sandy Creek, not more than a mile from Robert's. Is your field turned yet?

Robert nodded. And yours?

Nah. Will be as soon as this is over. I started but Sarah needed help with the twins.

Robert nodded. Just three months earlier, with February's bite still in the air, he brought James and Sarah rabbit fur blankets when their twins, William and Sarah, were born.

James sat beside him. Can't wait to teach William to hunt. And little Sarah, she's got her mother's eyes and mouth... His eyes were seeing something Robert could not. He turned to Robert. You know Elder Stearns has asked us to visit some of the Sandy Creek churches in Georgia after the harvest this year.

You going?

Sarah would have my hide if we didn't. The opportunity to visit her parents and show off the twins settled it in her mind.

Robert smiled. You don't suppose this was a plot planned between Shubal and Sarah do you?

James laughed. I accused her of that very thing.

A soft scent of violet and jasmine mixed in a musky air teased Robert's mind. The bloom of the dogwood in spring was one of those things that grew on anyone who lived here. Robert plucked one of the blossoms that hung low over his head—an Easter cross. Each of the four white leaves of the flower carried a purplish-red scar at its tip—the wounded hands and feet of Christ. He shivered as another thought crossed his mind...Our wounds today?

So, do you think this will come to a tug of war? asked James.

Focusing on the turmoil in his gut, Robert took a deep breath. I don't know. He shook his head and looked at the delicate flower in the palm of his hand. I would hope no one dies today.

It may come to that.

Robert nodded. But I hope not.

Do you not think it a good cause for which we fight?

You know I do. They grew up fishing on the Deep River...hunting rabbits and birds in the meadows along Sandy Creek. He even helped build a cabin for James and Sarah before their wedding. How could James question his commitment?

Then don't be so worried. We are in the right. How much sadder would our lives be without the Regulators! Why, look about you, Robert. There are over 2000 of us. Mr. Hunter says there are but 1000 in Governor Tryon's militia. There's a good chance they won't even fight when they see how many Regulators are here.

"But what if weapons are fired today. Just numbers won't guarantee victory. Tryon's troops will be commanded by experienced fighters. Who do we have? Unarmed settlers. You heard what Mr. Hunter said when we asked him to command us."

James nodded. And he's right. We're all free men. We should each command ourselves. What better way to fight a battle! We won't be slaves to an aristocrat appointed by some white wigged representative of the Crown.

Doubts bubbled up inside Robert. Hunter was one of the organizers of the Regulators and yet he would not lead them now. With every man his own commander, there is no soldier, is what he had said.

We've chosen the right path, said James. God wants us to take a stand against injustice wherever it is.

Elder Stearns doesn't agree.

Shubal doesn't agree with some of the violence of the Regulators. And, neither do I. But I think he's sympathetic to the goals.

True. Yet he warned us about active participation in the Regulators. The Bible tells us to render to Caesar what is his and to God what is His.

That's not a command to give Caesar what is NOT his.

Still, I doubt God approves of going to war over taxes.

Robert! Why are you here?

Why am I here? We're pawns in a game of extortion played by the aristocracy. Injustice is part of life on the piedmont. It should not be so. But is what we're doing here the answer? Feelings stirred like so many leaves in a dust devil. Right, wrong, good, bad, hopes, fears...his mind refused to focus on just one. Gripping his gun a bit tighter, he stared straight ahead unable to answer.

Leaning his gun against the tree, James grasped Robert's shoulders and stared into his eyes. The Regulators have finally put government officials under a better and honest regulation. This time of regulation is a good thing...and it will only get better. Soon there will be a way to voice our grievances. That's all we want...to be heard. More and more counties are taking up the cause of Regulation. Look at our army. He spread his arms about, turning from side to side. Men from all over the piedmont. The legislature fears us. The excessive taxes, dishonest officials, and extortionate fees will soon be a thing of the past. You and I will not need to worry that our homes will be sold to pay some illegal tax that is beyond our means. We've been sent from heaven to relieve the world from oppression. Robert, we are on God's side here.

Robert looked down. A cornered dog is the worst kind, James. Poking a stick at him isn't a good idea. His friend tended to see only what he wanted to see. But Robert had to admit, that was one of the characteristics he liked in James. His friend was always ready with arguments keeping him to commitments made. Where doubts might drown out reason, James was ready to wash uncertainties away. But, for that same reason, James sometimes needed to be reined in. Once set on a path, reason seldom held sway. James rushed headlong into danger, focused only on what he had convinced himself was right. Robert had saved him from himself more than once. Are you willing to die for this?

Picking up his gun, James sat back on his haunches with a smile. It won't come to that... He stood. But, if it does, I am.

And what of Sarah and the children?

James looked away, scratching his chin. ...They're why I do this, I suppose. What future...

They're here! The voice was filled with panic.

Line up! Captain Montgomery's voice bellowed across the field as he marched up the road to the top of the hill. He paraded in front of the mountain boys that had come with him.

James headed that way.

Robert scurried from under the tree and ran to the crest of the hill, straining to see the governor's militia. Not more than half a mile away, they formed themselves into two lines about a hundred yards apart with artillery in the center of the front line.

Wait! yelled Robert.

James turned back.

If the Regulator line were extended, it intersected with the woods to the west. A deer was always harder to hit in the forest than in the field. Robert nodded toward the tree line. It will be a lot safer this way.

I don't want safe, replied James. I want the governor to see me. He hurried on, quickly lost in the crowd of settlers.

Robert hesitated. The situation did not look good, artillery and a militia fit for battle against mostly unarmed settlers with no leader. No, this was definitely not a good outcome of negotiation. But he couldn't leave now. With the safety of the trees no more than ten feet away, he stood behind a rock that came up to his thighs. Men filled in the gaps. John Childs, the Separate Baptist, sidled sideways closer to Robert and the safety of the trees.

Under clear command, the militia marched slowly forward toward the Regulator line, which was that only in name. Robert's stomach bubbled and threatened to disgorge breakfast. The line weaved in and out. Bunches of men grouped together talking and laughing as if this were a leisurely walk just to pass the time. Others fidgeted with their guns, some stumbling in the process. A few men held back ramming rounds