I have been reading about some Baptists who I think are very useful for our pandemic season.
First, and on one level most interestingly, I begin with Thomas Grantham. That I hadn't heard of him on July 12th will be obvious from my blog of that day. But that is to my shame. For Thomas Grantham was very well-known in the 17th century.
It is important to note that what I am about to reveal is not at all unique to Thomas. He was the most famous advocate of the position because at the time because he was, well, famous. His book Christianus Primitivus was one of the great early Baptist theologies.
Thomas Grantham represents a marked strand in Baptist history that rejected congregational singing. As Baptists, more than most, we are bewailing our loss of freedom to sing in the pandemic. It is peculiar to note that our forefathers were quite strongly opposed to the practice. One cantor singing a Psalm was the preferred rule.
We imagine Thomas Grantham to be very 'strict', but that turns out to be false. Thomas Grantham held the view that 'Christ died for all', which was a 'General' Baptist 17th century interpretation, creating an openness and evangelistic edge that many stricter Baptists (and others) rejected.
The next time I complain of a year without congregational singing I will remember that some of the most formative years of Baptist fellowships were decades without congregational singing. So no excuses for us complaining that we can't go on like this!
