Sermon Tone Analysis

Individual Soul Liberty

Lesson 6: Individual Soul Liberty

Individual soul liberty is a subject that is difficult to treat due to several factors.

It somewhat overlaps the concept of the priesthood of the believer; it can easily be misunderstood and misapplied; and it is a concept that is universally held in theory but generally rejected in practice among independent fundamental Baptists.

Definition:

Every individual, whether a believer or an unbeliever, has the freedom to choose what his conscience or soul dictates is right in the religious realm.

Soul liberty asks the believer to accept responsibility for his own actions and not try to force anyone else to do or believe anything contrary to his own conscience.

However, this liberty is not a justification for disobeying God.

The believer must still act according to the principles of Scripture and honor the doctrinal position of the Bible-believing Baptist church to which he belongs.

Every individual, whether a believer or an unbeliever, has the freedom to choose what his conscience or soul dictates is right in the religious realm.

Soul liberty asks the believer to accept responsibility for his own actions and not try to force anyone else to do or believe anything contrary to his own conscience.

However, this liberty is not a justification for disobeying God.

The believer must still act according to the principles of Scripture and honor the doctrinal position of the Bible-believing Baptist church to which he belongs.

Individual soul liberty is a particularly Baptist principle.

Most denominations attempt to exercise control over their members to some extent, but Baptists limit such control by demanding that every believer is ultimately responsible to God.

Individuals have the right to disagree with others, follow their own conscience, and not feel compelled to adopt any views they disagree with.

Individual soul liberty is a particularly Baptist principle.

Most denominations attempt to exercise control over their members to some extent, but Baptists limit such control by demanding that every believer is ultimately responsible to God.

Individuals have the right to disagree with others, follow their own conscience, and not feel compelled to adopt any views they disagree with.

This does not suggest that every believer is a “lone wolf” or that believers need not submit to the leadership of their church.

Soul liberty simply asserts that every believer has the right to act in accordance with his own conscience, and that no one can force anyone to believe or act against his theological viewpoint.

This does not suggest that every believer is a “lone wolf” or that believers need not submit to the leadership of their church.

Soul liberty simply asserts that every believer has the right to act in accordance with his own conscience, and that no one can force anyone to believe or act against his theological viewpoint.

The priesthood of the believer and individual soul liberty overlap a bit as they both deal with the issue of freedom within the confines of the will of God.

Unfortunately, soul liberty is not a popular idea in many Baptist congregations.

Of all the Baptist distinctives, this issue of soul liberty is probably the one most fraught with difficulties, discrepancies, and disagreements.

Leaders often give no room for personal convictions that may differ from their own viewpoint.

Believers are often quick to judge, to criticize, and to give an opinion where none is asked for.

Issues that should be minor may rise to a level where anyone who takes another position becomes the enemy.

The church’s responsibility is to clearly present the Scriptures so as to convince believers of their need to submit and obey.

Nevertheless, the church should not threaten, bully or intimidate its members into submission.

Christians should desire to live godly lives because they are freely convinced that they ought to do so, not because someone forces godliness upon them.

There appears to be widespread ignorance of this Baptist distinctive, at least in practice if not in belief.

Since it is a biblical issue, it is certainly worthy of serious study and consideration.

Texts:

Jesus saith unto him, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?”

The Bible makes abundantly clear, especially in the New Testament, that each individual is responsible for himself before God, and that we are to convince rather than compel others regarding their religious views and positions.

Persuasion, not force, is the biblical way.

And the contention was so sharp between [Paul and Barnabas], that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus.

The Bible makes abundantly clear, especially in the New Testament, that each individual is responsible for himself before God, and that we are to convince rather than compel others regarding their religious views and positions.

Persuasion, not force, is the biblical way.

This distinctive teaches that each believer has the right to shape his own beliefs and live his Christian life according to the dictates of his conscience and his interpretation of the Word of God.

While others have the right (and may have the obligation) to correct another’s doctrinal errors and to rebuke flaws in his Christian life, no one has the right to force another to abandon or adopt a particular belief or practice.

Limitations on Soul Liberty

Soul liberty is never a justification for disobeying Scripture.

An individual may choose to disobey, but soul liberty does not justify his disobedience.

Liberty is not a license to sin.

Soul liberty does not grant the right to do something which will harm another’s walk with God.

Mature believers should not flaunt their freedom or use it to the extent that it upsets or offends a weaker believer.

Soul liberty does not make the Christian a law unto himself.

We are part of the body of Christ, and that partnership in the body is realized through participation in the local assembly.

See .Soul liberty does not make the Christian a law unto himself.

We are part of the body of Christ, and that partnership in the body is realized through participation in the local assembly.

We have an obligation to give to and to gain from that assembly.

Soul liberty does not revoke our commitment to church life.

Soul liberty does not permit a believer to disregard others’ liberty.

Our liberty stops where it infringes on another’s right to exercise his free choice.

Each believer must allow other believers to exercise Christian liberty.Soul liberty limits how believers interact with one another.

In regards to the errors of others, believers are limited to correction, rebuke and moral persuasion.

One should not attempt to force his beliefs or standards on another.

He can teach and advise but not compel.

Soul liberty demands that individuals be free to hold their own standards and convictions even when they diverge from the “conventional wisdom.”

All standards, convictions and viewpoints should be based squarely on clear biblical teaching rather than on someone else’s ideas.

We have an obligation to give to and to gain from that assembly.

Soul liberty does not revoke our commitment to church life.

Soul liberty does not permit a believer to disregard others’ liberty.

Our liberty stops where it infringes on another’s right to exercise his free choice.

Each believer must allow other believers to exercise Christian liberty.

Soul liberty limits how believers interact with one another.

In regards to the errors of others, believers are limited to correction, rebuke and moral persuasion.

One should not attempt to force his beliefs or standards on another.

He can teach and advise but not compel.

Soul liberty demands that individuals be free to hold their own standards and convictions even when they diverge from the “conventional wisdom.”

All standards, convictions and viewpoints should be based squarely on clear biblical teaching rather than on someone else’s ideas.

Summary

We can say that we are quite strictly limited from interfering with the liberty of another and even more strictly limited from totally free exercise of liberty ourselves.

To summarize, we can say that we are quite strictly limited from interfering with the liberty of another and even more strictly limited from totally free exercise of liberty ourselves.

Individual soul liberty is very much a “mind your own business” (or “What is that to thee?”) principle.

Individual soul liberty is very much a “mind your own business” (or “What is that to thee?”) principle.

Implications

Believers are free to choose their actions and beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences as guided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and good teachers.

Believers are free to choose their actions and beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences as guided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and good teachers.One believer’s set of standards and/or theological ideas may differ from another believer’s set.

One must allow for differing levels of spiritual maturity, opinion, education, and conviction.

It’s unwise to force an artificial uniformity over everyone.Liberty does not excuse disobedience.

One cannot disobey the clear teaching of Scripture by appealing to his freedom of conscience.

One’s conscience must bow to biblical authority.A believer’s ultimate accountability is to God and not to other people.

Others may offer rebuke and correction only when necessary and appropriate.Churches still have influence over individual believers; however, that influence is through persuasion, not through force.

Believers may disagree with their leaders and refuse to follow them under certain circumstances.One should allow room for others to practice liberty, especially in areas not directly addressed in the Bible.

Grant some leeway in allowing others to decide what is and what is not a significant issue.Many of the issues that so stridently divide believers are really matters of liberty and conscience rather than clearly defined black and white issues of right and wrong.The proper exercise of soul liberty presupposes and actually requires a strong personal relationship with the Lord.

As believers spend time with Him, they sense their own limitations and weaknesses, and become far less prone to being judgmental of others.

Believers are free to choose their actions and beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences as guided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and good teachers.One believer’s set of standards and/or theological ideas may differ from another believer’s set.

One must allow for differing levels of spiritual maturity, opinion, education, and conviction.

It’s unwise to force an artificial uniformity over everyone.Liberty does not excuse disobedience.

One cannot disobey the clear teaching of Scripture by appealing to his freedom of conscience.

One’s conscience must bow to biblical authority.A believer’s ultimate accountability is to God and not to other people.

Others may offer rebuke and correction only when necessary and appropriate.Churches still have influence over individual believers; however, that influence is through persuasion, not through force.

Believers may disagree with their leaders and refuse to follow them under certain circumstances.One should allow room for others to practice liberty, especially in areas not directly addressed in the Bible.

Grant some leeway in allowing others to decide what is and what is not a significant issue.Many of the issues that so stridently divide believers are really matters of liberty and conscience rather than clearly defined black and white issues of right and wrong.The proper exercise of soul liberty presupposes and actually requires a strong personal relationship with the Lord.

As believers spend time with Him, they sense their own limitations and weaknesses, and become far less prone to being judgmental of others.

One believer’s set of standards and/or theological ideas may differ from another believer’s set.