Why I’m still Baptist
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Reclaiming a rebellious, centuries old identity that was hijacked by conservative evangelicalism
If you have seen my social media or any of my content by now, you have most certainly seen that I call myself a “Queer advocate & Minister in the Baptist tradition.” To most folks, that is quite a puzzling identity. I frequently get responses like, “You work at a Baptist church? How does that work?” or “Doesn’t the Baptist Church hate gay people?”
Sigh.
If you wonder the same thing, I don’t blame you. It is almost universally understood that Baptists are conservative, homophobic, xenophobic, racist (the white ones), against drinking alcohol, and backward in just about every facet of their social life. To understand why that is the case, you must understand who controls the narrative. Unfortunately, that is the Southern Baptist Convention. They pretty much align with all of the above ideas. The SBC has, for many years, worked against the best interests of the marginalized. But the loudest ones aren’t the only ones. The loudest ones are usually the most ignorant. I’m not one of those ignorant Baptists.
I am a Baptist. I am an original Baptist. I identify with the deep-rooted heritage and values of the historic Baptist tradition.
So what does it mean to be Baptist?
Well, we’re a diverse tradition. Baptists are like snowfl — nevermind. You get it.
For many, the Baptist tradition is about the freedom to be who I am without a governing authority (aka the machine) trying to tell me or my peers what to do or believe. Baptist churches were founded because they weren’t interested in the state religion and its bullsh*t. They weren’t interested in blindly following what everyone else had to say.
For many, the Baptist tradition is about breaking bread. We love potlucks. We love eating together. We take seriously the ritual of dining with one another as Jesus did. All the important stuff took place at dinner tables.
For many, the Baptist tradition is about the personal, conscious choice to commit to faith. When someone has matured enough to declare their faith in Christ, they are fully immersed in the Baptismal waters, symbolizing burial with Christ and being raised to walk in the newness of life.
Baptists gave a big middle finger to “the man.”
For many, the Baptist tradition is about rebellion. Early Baptists were killed by the government because they refused to worship with the state-sanctioned parish. Baptists gave a big middle finger to “the man.” Today, we continue the tradition of religious, political, and theological rebellion. We push boundaries that scare the religious elite — like Queer inclusion and commitment to anti-racism.
For many, the Baptist tradition is about diversity of opinion. There is no room for a creed in a Baptist church. This is because we believe that diversity of opinion is important in maintaining true communion with one another. The freedom of thought, for us, is not man-made, but a divine gift to all.
For many, the Baptist tradition is about the “Good Book.” In our tradition, we take the Bible very seriously. We don’t necessarily take it literally, though! We believe that the Bible is the starting point to a beautiful, lifelong journey with God. We are people of the Book!
For many, the Baptist tradition is about reforming. Not “reformed” as in the theology but reforming as in changing. The Baptist tradition does its best work when we reform. We reform and reform and reform as we learn better how to seek God’s Kin-dom on Earth as it is in Heaven.
“It is burial of religious corruption and a resurrection of hope for a new way of being.”
To be Baptist is to refuse to further marginalize. To be Baptist is to join the folks on the margins. It is to fight for the powerless. It is to give voice to the voiceless. That’s what I mean when I say I am Baptist. No, I’m not a “different” kind of Baptist. I am embracing the original kind. I am refusing to allow my tradition to be unlawfully seized by a group of fearful and bigoted people that are hungry for power and money. I am Baptist. To me, that’s the Queerest religious tradition out there. I won’t let the SBC control my narrative. I’m sure SBC folks are bothered by the fact that their tradition’s history is rooted in the absolute opposite of what they currently believe. I hope they’re even more bothered that they can’t own the Baptist name. Isn’t that cool? The Baptist tradition is Queer and they have no power over it. The Baptist tradition is so Queer, that it can’t be spoken for. It has no elite owners. It has no powerful donors. It has no doctrinal statements. It has no gatekeeper. Baptist is an idea. It is a commitment. It is a movement. It is a divine rejection of the powers and principalities. It is burial of religious corruption and a resurrection of hope for a new way of being.
Now ask me why I am still Baptist. I’m still Baptist because I am committed to the work of Christ. I’m committed to that rebellious work that is social justice. I am committed to going against the grain because that’s always been the way of the Gospel.
That’s why I’m still Baptist.
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If you want to learn more about the Queer, rebellious, machine-hating, government fighting, reforming, social justice powered Baptist tradition, feel free to message me! I love to share what my tradition means to me and how others can be a part of it.
Also, if you want more information on the history of the hijacking of the Baptist tradition, I can get you some resources on that as well!
Great Baptist organizations:
I love the Alliance. My home church is a part of it. I will say, though, that they have a TON of work to do when it comes to their committment to anti-racism efforts. Also, most of the churches are SO WHITE it hurts — with regard to skin color and worship traditions. I just want to be honest.
Welcome — Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (awab.org)
This is a great organization. It is also super White, but they’re working on it.
This is where I went to church in New York, NY! Check it out!
This is my home church in Lexington, Kentucky!
