The doctrine of Personal Soul Liberty

By Dr. J. Hernes M. Abante

Romans 14:4-6: “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

5] One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6] He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”

One of the distinctives Baptists are known for is “Individual Soul Liberty." It refers to the idea that every individual is free to make their own decisions and declarations about their spiritual or religious beliefs and practices. They are free to follow their own personal convictions without coercion or interference from external authorities.

It is the concept that individuals are accountable to God for their own spiritual choices, and that no one else, including the government or church, should dictate what they believe or how they personally express their convictions.

This idea is rooted in Christian theology, especially in Baptist tradition, emphasizing personal faith, conversion, and the direct relationship each person has with God.

However, in exercising this freedom, one must be careful not to overlook the unity of a local church. Respect must be given to the convictions of the entire local body regarding how they apply doctrines, especially those that the Bible does not explicitly clarify.

This principle must be balanced with adherence to the rules governing absolute and non-negotiable truths, as well as doctrines or teachings about which the Bible is less clear.

In such cases, we should respect the convictions that the whole church upholds to maintain unity. Personal expressions of conviction should be considered with mutual respect, aligning with what the Apostle Paul encourages in our text.

When the Bible clearly states what we should believe, we must accept this as absolute and non-negotiable. In areas where biblical clarity is lacking—such as certain dietary practices—mutual respect for personal convictions is essential.

Finally, the “law of expediency” should be applied to prevent causing offense to others. Our focus should be on edification rather than merely on personal convictions.