In the tumultuous years before and during the American Revolutionary War (circa 1760–1783), Baptist preachers played a pivotal yet often overlooked role in preparing colonists both spiritually and socially for the fight for independence. Drawing from their beliefs in liberty of conscience, separation of church and state, and the dignity of the individual, these clergy leaders helped shape a revolutionary ideology that extended far beyond mere civil defiance.
Figures such as Isaac Backus (1724–1806), John Leland (1754–1841), and Samuel Stillman (1737–1807), among others, not only championed religious freedom but also actively supported colonial preparedness through sermons, organizational structures, chaplaincy, and civic engagement. While their contributions helped lay the intellectual groundwork for the Constitution and Bill of Rights, their hands also shaped the strategies and morale of the emerging Continental cause.
Here we explore the dynamic contributions of Baptist preachers, including their theological foundations, mobilization efforts, military service, and post-war impacts, revealing how their spiritual convictions fused with practical action in forging the American nation.
Origins of Baptists and Their Revolutionary Values
The Baptist movement—rooted in the early 17th-century dissenting tradition—found fertile ground in British North America following the Great Awakening. Roger Williams founded the first Baptist church in America in 1638 at Providence, Rhode Island, declaring early tenets of religious liberty and congregational autonomy (Backus & Leland chronology; Rhode Island Baptist Church, 2024).
By the mid-1700s, the Great Awakening’s evangelical fervor had spurred the formation of “Separate” or “New Light” Baptist congregations. These groups, thriving in Massachusetts and Connecticut, emphasized believers’ baptism, congregational governance, and a deep conviction of personal salvation (Christian History Institute, 2024; Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives, 2020). Many adherents, once marginalized by established Congregationalist churches, found in Baptists both spiritual identity and a theological basis for opposing state-mandated religion.
Baptist doctrine held “liberty of conscience” as central: every believer must interpret Scripture freely, without coercion by church or civil authorities. Influenced by Enlightenment philosophes like John Locke and rooted in Baptist clergy thought, this belief became a theological foundation for broader civil freedom (Backus Bio, 2020). Isaac Backus’s 1773 tract An Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty argued that genuine believers-of-conscience were compatible with republican political institutions, but not with state-enforced religious conformity (bc4gc.org, sbhla.org).
These religious sensitivities dovetailed with colonial grievances. Baptists argued: if colonists were resisting parliamentary tyranny over civil life, how could they simultaneously accept clerical imposition in spiritual matters? Thus emerged one of the era’s bold proclamations: faith without freedom is not faith.
Isaac Backus: The "Pulpit of the Revolution"
Raised in separatist circles and later immersed in New England's revivalist culture, Isaac Backus (1724–1806) became a preeminent Baptist pulpit voice. After forming Middleborough’s first Baptist church in 1756, he joined the Warren Association in 1767, functioning as a fearless advocate against state-mandated religion.
Backus traveled extensively, delivering sermons, drafting petitions, and publishing tracts. He eventually crafted a three-volume History of New-England Baptists (1777–96), using documented persecution to indict the alliance between church and state; this historical credibility amplified his political voice (consource.org).
Backus’s 1773 tract, An Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty, vividly tied civil and spiritual liberty: “natural rights of a Lockean kind … fundamental to … government.” As political tensions mounted, Backus pivoted from theological activism to revolutionary advocacy.
He famously petitioned John Adams in 1774: “May large numbers of peaceful people … not be forced to carry their complaints before those who delight in hearing that Massachusetts denies religious liberty” (en.wikipedia.org). That same year, he represented Baptists at Philadelphia’s First Continental Congress. His layered approach ensured that as colonists prepared for military conflict, they would also secure protections for their spiritual conscience.
After the April 1775 skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, Backus preached from 1 Chronicles 12:32: “understanding of the times” and duty to action—a moral imperative for immediate resistance (en.wikipedia.org). With itinerant pastors under his guidance—such as Samuel Stillman—Backus helped energize colonial Baptist networks to mobilize both troops and chaplains.
At war's peak, six of 21 chaplains in Washington’s army were Baptists, reflecting broad denominational involvement (en.wikipedia.org). Backus also continued to pen political tracts, including Government and Liberty Described (1778), defending both civil rights and religious autonomy amid the conflict's intensifying national stakes (centerforbaptistrenewal.com).
John Leland: The Itinerant Advocate
Born in Massachusetts and converted by 1774, John Leland quickly emerged as a fiery itinerant minister, moving between New England and Virginia. Though too young to preach at Lexington, Leland joined the fray in 1775–76 by ministering to troops and congregations near colonial military centers (gcu.edu).
His sermons, known for “righteous indignation,” vigorously denounced tyranny—ecclesiastical and secular—while galvanizing troops with a vision of delivering both republic and conscience.
Leland’s influence extended beyond the pulpit. Strongly aligned with Madison and Jefferson’s ideology, he championed First Amendment protections. In the 1788 Virginia Convention, Leland leveraged his local popularity to pressure delegates to adopt a Bill of Rights; he even temporarily opposed Madison until religious liberty guarantees were procured (firstamendment.mtsu.edu, en.wikipedia.org).
He was also instrumental in symbolically underscoring his advocacy—leading townspeople to present a mammoth wheel of cheese to Thomas Jefferson in 1802 as a statement of communal gratitude for their support of religious freedom (en.wikipedia.org).
Other Baptist Voices & Mobilizers
Serving Boston from 1765–1807, Samuel Stillman was a prominent pulpit figure. He supported revolutionary efforts politically, led state constitutional conventions, and even cofounded the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society (en.wikipedia.org). His church drew key founders such as John Hancock and Henry Knox, making his ministry a nexus of spiritual and patriotic leadership.
Morgan Edwards, pastor in Philadelphia, sat alongside early Baptist leaders in appealing to Congress for religious rights prior to the war; though politically conservative (Tory-leaning), he contributed to organizing denominational unity (en.wikipedia.org).
Isaac Case, who later served as a Rhode Island chaplain during the war, contributed to the Baptist presence in wartime ministry, laying the foundations for postwar evangelical expansion.
Mobilizing Colonies: Chaplaincy, Sermons & Community
War mobilization fostered the appointment of chaplains, six of whom were Baptists by Washington’s count. Whether leading prayers at campfires or comforting wounded soldiers, these clergy provided spiritual resilience under fire. As one civilian observed: “It was not only muskets but the scriptures that sustained us” .
In church meetings and local gatherings, Baptist preachers blended scriptural exhortations with political vigor. Their sermons—published in pamphlets—called colonists to unite, resist oppression, and guard civil freedoms. Their Sunday sermons became training grounds for revolutionary civic virtues.
Baptist meetings doubled as forums for local action. Leaders advocated for militia formation, fundraising, and petitions to legislatures. Their activist model encouraged congregants to see civic participation as religious duty. This added a disciplined and organized network to early war preparedness.
Obstacles, Tensions & Pacifism within Baptists
Not all Baptists supported commercial warfare. Some espoused pacifism, citing Jesus’s teaching to love enemies. Congregationalists accused Baptists of cowardice if they refrained from political activism. Conversely, radical Baptists feared war might corrupt spiritual priorities.
Yet, between 1774 and 1780, most Baptist societies became openly revolutionary, bridging theology and polity. The tension between pacifism and patriotic duty helped refine Baptist identity around conscience, truth, and liberty.
Baptist Ideology & Constitutional Legacy
The culmination of Baptist engagement came in the First Amendment. Their covenant theology, with an emphasis on individual conscience, infused clauses that implicitly barred the establishment of religious institutions.
Although Baptists did not form a political lobby, Isaac Backus, John Leland, and their allies argued forcefully for disestablishment. Backus aligned with Connecticut and Massachusetts, while Leland backed Virginia’s Bill of Rights. Together, they laid denominational and ideological foundations for the separation of church and state.
Conclusion
Baptist preachers brought to the revolutionary era a combination of spiritual fervor and civic activism that significantly shaped the course of American history. Through their belief that conscience cannot be coerced, their supportive roles in wartime morale, and their political lobbying for religious freedom, they intertwined their denomination’s destiny with that of the emerging nation.
By elevating individual dignity, mobilizing local communities, and forging institutional partnerships across denominational lines, Baptist clerics contributed both materially and ideologically to American independence. Their imprint is seen not just in the battles won, but in the Constitution’s embrace of religious liberty and the separation of powers. In a broader sense, Baptist contributions during the Revolution stand as a testament to how religious conviction and political action can reinforce one another in crafting a nation founded upon freedom and conscience.
Scott C. Pyron, winner of "Best Local Author of 2024 in Elmore County, AL," is the author of The Practical Guide to Family Preparedness: Easy, Simple and Cost-Effective Strategies for Every Home to Ensure Peace of Mind During a Crisis. His book offers commonsense steps—such as planning for food and water storage, emergency gear, and communication strategies, caring for infant and elderly family members—to empower families in uncertain times. Available on Amazon.
References
Backus, I. (1773). An Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty, Against the Oppressions of the Present Day. [Consource].
Backus, I. (1777–1796). A History of New-England with Particular Reference to the Denomination of Christians Known as Baptists (3 vols.). Boston: Backus.
Christian History Institute. (2024). Divine Light Enabled Isaac Backus to See Christ’s Perfect Righteousness. Christian History. Retrieved from Christian History Institute.
First Amendment Encyclopedia. (2009, July 2 [updated 2024]). John Leland. MTSU. Retrieved from…
PBS. (n.d.). God In America: People: John Leland. PBS. Retrieved from…
Crystal Baptist Historian. (2024, July 1). A Pretty Even Pace: Isaac Backus and the Baptist Two-Front War During the American Revolution. Center for Baptist Renewal. Retrieved from…
Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives. (2020). Isaac Backus Biography.
Smithsonian Baptist History. (2024, October 1). Backus and Leland: Baptist Warriors for Religious Freedom. BC4GC Blog.
ReadTheSpirit. (n.d.). John Leland: Got Religious Liberty into the Bill of Rights. ReadTheSpirit.com. Retrieved from…
Colonial Baptist Minister. Elder John Leland. (n.d.). Retrieved from ElderJohnLeland.com.
Armstrong History Journal. (2019, November 11). The Great Cheese: John Leland (1754–1841) as an Enforcer of Community Ideals. Armstrong History Journal.
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