The concept of \u201csoul freedom\u201d<\/a> (sometimes referred to by other terms, such as \u201csoul competency\u201d<\/a>\u00a0and \u201cfreedom of conscience\u201d) is an important one in the Baptist tradition (although we see it neglected or even rejected at times in the Southern Baptist Convention and independent fundamentalist Baptist churches). It is the idea that the individual has the ability and the responsibility to decide before God what they should believe and do, and that ultimately they must follow their own conscience rather than some other authority.<\/p>\n Since that will be a focus of the sermon at my church this coming Sunday, I started first trying to think of, and then actively looking for, songs that relate to this topic. I couldn\u2019t find any \u2013 although I did nonetheless find two songs with the title \u201cSoul Freedom,\u201d one by Deep Black Sees and the other by Chico Mann, neither of which is about the Baptist idea and neither of which seems like it would fit in the service. But do listen to them by clicking the videos below nevertheless. Clearly this is a topic that calls for some songwriting!<\/p>\n