ELDER BENONI STINSON AND THE GENERAL BAPTISTS

 Though my research is largely about showing that Non Calvinist or Provisionist Baptists were indeed far from being a small minority among Baptists, to even a majority, of Baptists who were once called Separate and Regular Baptists, it is worth noting that many General Baptists were also part of the equation. There were General Baptists very early on in American history, especially in New England. Later, the Free Will Baptists begun by Elder Paul Palmer in the mid 1700's entered the scene. In the 1820's Elder Benoni Stinson formed the Liberty Baptist Association in Indiana. This was the beginning of the modern General Baptist denomination, which is separate both in history and theology, from the Free Will Baptists. The General Baptists were composed mostly of Separate Baptists, excepting those in New England. They were not shy about showing their Separate Baptist roots through the way they worshiped, with shouting, evangelical preaching and lively singing.

In 1824 Elder Stinson organized the Liberty Association. In the beginning, these General Baptists were teetering on whether or not salvation could be lost. Many Arminian leaning Separate Baptist, who were part of the United Baptist movement, joined their ranks, especially in Kentucky, after tiring of the Calvinists trying to enforce the Philadelphia Confession on all United Baptists, even though the Terms of Union specified that belief in General Atonement would be no bar to communion. We can see this in Liberty's first articles of faith. In the 1829 Circular letter Stinson said "Thus we contend that the doctrine of free salvation* by grace to all men on the terms of repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, has been considered as orthodox in every age..." In 1845, during Stinson's lifetime and at his request, the statement of faith dropped the original wording of "that the saints will finally persevere, through Grace, to glory..." to "We believe that he that shall endures to the end shall be saved." This was a significant change in wording. The United Baptists of the Bethlehem Association in West Virginia share the same sentiment that 'endurance" or "stewardship" must be maintained to be finally saved. (See the Bethlehem United Baptist articles or "Synopsis of Faith" here ) Many General Baptists today still believe salvation cannot be lost, but place much emphasis on works as a result and proof of being saved. To read an article by a General Baptist pastor who believes salvation cannot be lost, read here  . 

Notice how similar the original article on perseverance is to both Regular and Separate Baptist articles. The second version is still within the "perseverance" doctrine, but certainly with an Arminian slant . While Calvinism does not explicitly say that works "keep you saved", many say that the lack of them proves you were never saved to begin with, yet many others would be antinomian, so even Calvinists were divided on what their own doctrine meant. Two sides of the same coin. Both the General and Calvinist Baptist positions require good works in one way or another., to convince the believer and others, they they are saved, unless one was antinomian.

By including the General Baptists, both those of the 1700's in New England and the Carolinas, as well as the denomination started by Elder Stinson, we can further conclude that there were (and are) many Baptists besides the Provisionsts that would be on the side of "free salvation" and general atonement. In Indiana and Kentucky, there are some counties where the General Baptists outnumber Southern Baptists.

To read about Elder Stinson and the formation of the Liberty Association, read here .

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