Remember: Entry One
Remember: We Believe All People Are Free
By Ronald S. Cava
What does it mean to say, “We are Baptist”? For many, the answer might involve memories of a favorite preacher, a cherished hymn, or a beloved church potluck. But beneath those experiences lies something deeper—a set of convictions rooted in both Scripture and history.
This month, we begin a four-week series called Remember, exploring four essential Baptist beliefs: freedom of the soul, freedom of religion, freedom of the church, and the responsibility that comes with such freedom. As Isaiah says, we are to “look to the rock from which [we] were cut”—to remember where we come from and why it matters.
This week, we begin with a bold claim: We believe all people are free.
That’s not simply a cultural slogan or political ideal. It’s a spiritual truth woven throughout Scripture. From creation to Christ, the Bible affirms that human beings are made in God’s image—not as puppets or projects, but as persons with the freedom to choose love, truth, and faith.
Consider the three Hebrew men in Daniel 3 who refused to bow to a golden statue, even when threatened with death. “We will not serve your gods,” they said. Their freedom wasn’t safe, but it was sacred. Or think of Jesus in John 6, who watched some of his disciples walk away after hearing a hard teaching. He didn’t chase them. He let them go. Because true faith must be chosen, not forced.
The apostle Paul puts it plainly: “There is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). This verse grounds what Baptists call soul freedom—the belief that every person can relate directly to God, without coercion, fear, or human intermediaries.
That conviction has deep roots in our history. In 1611, Baptist leader Thomas Helwys sent a bold book to King James I, arguing that no king could dictate the conscience of a soul. “The King is a mortal man, and not God,” he wrote. For that, he was thrown into prison, where he died four years later.
Helwys didn’t die for a doctrine. He died for a truth: Faith must be free, or it’s not faith at all.
So what does this mean for us today?
It means that evangelism must be done with integrity. We don’t manipulate or pressure others into faith. We share the gospel, and we trust the Holy Spirit to work.
It means that we champion religious liberty for all—not just for ourselves. That includes our neighbors who believe differently, or not at all. Freedom for one must mean freedom for all.
And it means taking personal responsibility for our spiritual lives. No pastor, priest, parent, or politician can do this for us. Your faith is your own to nurture, explore, question, and live.
Created in God’s image, we were made for loving relationship—not domination, not fear, but freedom to respond to God with conviction and courage.
Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and like Thomas Helwys centuries later, we may find ourselves in a world that misuses or misunderstands freedom. But we are not without hope. The God who met them in the fire walks with us still.
So, when we say, “We believe all people are free,” we’re not reciting a relic of the past. We’re proclaiming a living, breathing faith—one that resists coercion and clings to Christ.
Or, in the words made famous by Johnny Cash: They wouldn't bend, They wouldn't bow, They wouldn't burn.
And by God’s grace, neither will we.
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION
1. What does soul freedom mean in your own walk with God?
Take time to reflect: Are there ways you’ve allowed others—whether institutions, traditions, or expectations—to define your faith for you? How might you take greater ownership of your relationship with God today?
2. How can you honor others’ spiritual freedom, especially those who believe differently than you?
Consider what it means to practice evangelism with integrity and to defend religious liberty not only for Christians, but for all people. Where in your life or community might you advocate for that kind of freedom?
3. Who or what is pressuring you to bow?
Like Daniel’s friends or Thomas Helwys, we all face moments when faithfulness requires courage. Identify an area where you're tempted to conform rather than stand firm. What conviction or promise from God helps you remain true?