{"id":4109,"date":"2026-04-30T14:42:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T18:42:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/?p=4109"},"modified":"2026-04-30T14:42:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T18:42:40","slug":"history-is-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/?p=4109","title":{"rendered":"History Is Important\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Dr. Damon C. Dodd<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492; the British Navy defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588 and became the \u201cscourge\u201d of the Seven Seas; the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and a new nation was born. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the average man on the street, this is what comes to mind when they hear the word \u201chistory,\u201d a m\u00e9lange of events and dates. Though most of us realize history is supposed to make some sort of valuable contribution to society, we are still a bit unsure as to when it may be valuable and the extent of its value.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, let\u2019s define the term. History<\/em> is a systematic account of what has (or might have) happened in the life or development of a people, country, institution, etc., usually in chronological order, accompanied by an analysis and an explanation. History ties present to the past and then relates both to the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History is important and can be both interesting and challenging if we understand its real value and function. For instance, Free Will Baptists have passed through several unique historical periods in which she helped shape both political and religious policies.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Value<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our denomination was a youthful 50 years old when the War for Independence from England began. Benjamin Randall, the founder of the northern Freewill Baptist movement served as a solider in the Colonial Army, holding the rank of Orderly Sergeant. He fought in the battle of Bunker Hill and saw action in other important battles of the Revolution. According to one of Mr. Randall\u2019s biographers, he was a kind, thoughtful man who, at the risk of his own life, ministered to the physical and spiritual needs of wounded and frightened men \u2014 both American and British.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freewill Baptists also influenced the Civil War, passing and promoting numerous resolutions expressing its anti-slavery sentiment and urging member churches to take a positive stand against evil.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just prior to World War I, Alfred Williams Anthony, the President of Bates College in Maine, a Freewill Baptist school, was named to a study committee by President Woodrow Wilson to survey European nations regarding economic conditions in that part of the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Functions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We could go on and on about the \u201cvalue\u201d of history. But let\u2019s point out some of the \u201cfunctions of history\u201d as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reminders.\u00a0<\/strong>History reminds us of problems in the past and provides a reflective tool with which we may effectively eliminate such difficulties should they arise again.\u00a0For instance, in our early years our denomination was a \u201csoft touch\u201d for merger with other groups. In the latter part of the 18th<\/sup>\u00a0and early 19th<\/sup>\u00a0centuries, we were almost swallowed up by the Campbellites (from which came the Churches of Christ) and the Primitive Baptists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During an early meeting of the General Conference of Free Will Baptists (southern movement), it was proposed we merge with the Southern Christian Church. This proposal was soundly defeated, largely because of a resolution by the Rev. J. W. Alford of North Carolina. In that resolution, he recalled<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

…many losses sustained by us, among which we mention Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan; The Morning Star Publishing House, Boston Massachusetts, and others which space forbids to mention, we do warn our brethren everywhere against any and all alliances with any and all other denominations.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Repeats.\u00a0<\/strong>History is said to repeat itself. Scientific studies have verified this is essentially true. That means history has an \u201canticipatory value.\u201d We can be on guard against trends and developing patterns that characterized early Freewill Baptists. The unfavorable ones can be \u201cnipped in the bud\u201d while the desirable ones may be developed to full blossom.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Refurbishes.\u00a0<\/strong>History provides a means of refurbishing the machinery of progress. Standing still is generally a sign of defeat in spiritual matters. When there is an overriding tendency to bog down in traditional values and worldly compromise, we need only to go back in time to the church in the Dark Ages to understand the consequences of such error. History speaks here and warns emphatically, \u201cOil the wheels, start up the engines, get in touch with God\u2019s power, and start moving heavenward. Don\u2019t get swallowed up in the numbness of false assurance or the insanity of resting on past laurels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restates.\u00a0<\/strong>History restates the church\u2019s purpose and redefines its goals by looking back and analyzing past blunders and oversights so we may seize and maximize our present opportunities.\u00a0For example, our denominational leaders have looked at recent lack of growth and tried to offer suggestions and methods for correcting this defect. In the light of recent history, they have set new goals, redefined others, and once again stated our biblical reasons for existence as a denomination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freewill Baptists have a rich and beautiful heritage. We need to remind ourselves now and then as to who we have been, who we are now, and of our contributions to society. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turn back the pages of our nation\u2019s history and you will find Freewill Baptist people in high places of leadership both locally and nationally. More importantly, you will find evidence that Free Will Baptists have lifted their voices in defense of religious liberty and godly morality. We have tried to practice what we have preached through the years. For this we can be humbly grateful to Almighty God.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the writer: The late Damon C. Dodd<\/strong> authored\u00a0The Free Will Baptist Story<\/em>. He served as the executive secretary of the National Association of Free Will Baptists. Adapted with permission from the article published by the Georgia FWB Historical Society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Damon C. Dodd Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492; the British Navy defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588 and became the \u201cscourge\u201d of the Seven Seas; the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and a new nation was born.  To the average man on the street, this is what comes to mind when they hear the word \u201chistory,\u201d a m\u00e9lange of events and dates. Though most of us realize history is supposed to make some sort of valuable contribution to society, we are still a bit unsure as to when it may be valuable and the extent of its value.\u00a0 But first, let\u2019s define the term. History is a systematic account of what has (or might have) happened in the life or development of a people, country, institution, etc., usually in chronological order, accompanied by an analysis and an explanation. History ties present to the past and then relates both to the future.\u00a0 History is important and can be both interesting and challenging if we understand its real value and function. For instance, Free Will Baptists have passed through several unique historical periods in which she helped shape both political and religious policies.\u00a0 Value Our denomination was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4109"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4109\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4110,"href":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4109\/revisions\/4110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fwbhistory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}