Attitudes Among Southern Baptist Leaders Shifting on Birth Control

Associated Baptist Press ^ | 3/5/14 | Bob Allen

[marshmallow]

Questions about the morality of birth control increasingly appear in columns and blogs by SBC ethicists and ministers.

On the surface, Roman Catholics and Southern Baptists might seem unlikely bedfellows in opposing mandated coverage of contraceptives under Obamacare, but observers say it points to ongoing reconsideration of the morality of birth control among the Southern Baptist Convention’s leading thinkers.

“Evangelical leaders are tripping over themselves in the rush to stand with Roman Catholic bishops against this perceived governmental overreach,” Jacob Lupfer, a doctoral candidate in political science at Georgetown University, said in a Religion News Service commentary in December. “At the same time, a growing number of white evangelical leaders are attempting to sow seeds of doubt about the morality of birth control itself.”

Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., responded that on that point, Lupfer “understates his own case.”

“A good many evangelicals hope to do far more than sow seeds of doubt about the morality of birth control,” Mohler replied. “Our concern is to raise an alarm about the entire edifice of modern sexual morality and to acknowledge that millions of evangelicals have unwittingly aided and abetted that moral revolution by an unreflective and unfaithful embrace of the contraceptive revolution.”

Shift in the 1980s

In a 2012 column for the Christian Post, Mohler said most evangelical Protestants welcomed the development of artificial birth control as a medical advance just as they celebrated the discovery of penicillin. A shift occurred in the 1980s, with the rise of the Religious Right and opposition to abortion on demand.

Affirming life as sacred at the moment of conception caused many to view intrauterine devices not as contraceptives but abortifacients, he said, and that conviction has extended to the use of oral contraceptives.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Interesting!! So, how often has this article from 3/5/14 been recycled here at Free Republic?

[Mrs. Don-o]

I agree with you about the rectitude and commitment of Southern Baptists. I have the honor of prayer-vigiling in front of the local abortion site with Baptists, brothers and sisters in Christ who are, in devotion, second to none.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thanks for that quote from WaPo in the 1930’s. I believe the NYT similarly noted, at the time, that birth control would strongly promote nonmarital sex, and weaken the bonds of marital sex. One doesn’t have to be a Catholic, or a Christian, to see the obvious: but it helps!!

[Mr. Lucky]

Christ taught the sale of indulgences? Seriously?

[Mrs. Don-o]

ReformationFan, it's not just socially conservative Protestants who are ignorant about the morally offensive aspect of de-natured, contracepted sex. There are plenty of Catholics who are just as ignorant, due to pastoral abandonment on this issue.

I just became the editor of our teeny-tiny parish monthly newsletter, and I ran an interview with some NFP teachers, the first time such an interview or article has ever been printed in the newsletter. And to my grateful satisfaction, just a few days ago my pastor mentioned --- merely mentioned in passing --- the morally corrosive effects of contraception in a weekday homily --- the first time I have ever heard the word said at the pulpit of my parish, and I've been here for 25 years.

We Catholics need to practice what we preach. But first, for Christ's sake, we need to preach!

[Mrs. Don-o]

Non-sequitur alert! Seriously! :o)

[foreverfree]

bump

[.45 Long Colt]

No, just as I couldn’t vote for Mitt Romney. This short video gives a good explanation of my rationale. I know other Bible believing Christians hold a different view and that’s okay. I firmly believe in God’s sovereignty and I know He establishes the princes of this world, so I’m much more concerned with fidelity to my understanding of God’s Word than outcomes.

Against the World - Mitt Romney, Moralism & the Christian Vote
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLjTa1bbAeI

Just before he died, King David said: “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”

A man who worships a false God cannot possibly rule in the fear of the God of the Bible.

[daniel1212]

However, I will opine as I always do. God said be fruitful and multiply.

But which, contrary to the apostolic norm, (1Cor. 9:4; 1Tum. 3:107) RC clergy are forbidden to do (with few exceptions for a few clerical converts), thus dangerously presuming they all have that gift.

Thus as typical, when Rome is right about something, they err in going to an extreme, which is another example of perpetuating ancient errors by making Tradition equal with Scripture, and an autocratic church supreme above all.

[.45 Long Colt]

I’m sorry and I don’t wish to offend you, but I do no one any good by withholding the truth. I would far rather be divided by truth than united by error. And the truth is, the religion of Rome is not biblical Christianity. Rome has what Paul labeled “another gospel” and that gospel cannot save the souls of men.

Mere utterance of “Jesus is Lord” is not an indication of salvation. Matthew 7 teaches that clearly. Many who call Him Lord will hear Him say the awful words “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

I remain hopeful there are some born again Catholics out there, but if they exist they were saved by grace through faith, not by the works righteousness system of Rome.

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
—Matthew 7:22-23

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
—Ephesians 2:8-10

For the sake of your own soul, learn God’s way of salvation. Romans 1 teaches the gospel is the “power of God unto salvation.” Pray for the Lord to open your eyes to the truth and your heart to His power.

The Testimony of a Former Catholic Priest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvID3lRyYIc&feature=relmfu

The Gospel of Grace
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=924068345

Unmasking the False Gospel
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1010665821

[daniel1212]

The sola interpeter speaks. Nevermind the fact that protestantism and its rebellion against God is the genesis of much of the gross moral evil that is infecting western civilization these days.

That is an absurd attempt which denies the obvious, since not only is the protestantism that is liberal a rebellion against the basic evangelical core truths of Protestantism (and which once was against contraceptives), esp. that of holding Scripture to be the wholly inspired literal word of God (though using different literary genres), while it is the majority of Catholicism that is overall far more liberal than her evangelical counterparts today.

And if you want to blame protestantism on that, then you indict them as following a multitude to do evil, rather than following those who better represent classic Protestantism in their basic truths and moral views, and even weekly RCs are less conservative.

In addition, Rome treats such as members in life and in death, even notorious public ones, thus manifesting what she really believes and teaches.

Contrary to the cherished image RCs have, this is the reality of your church which are bond to defend, and these liberals are your brethren, and you must own them.

[.45 Long Colt]

1 Corinthians 4:3-4

[Ransomed]

Every non-Catholic Christian that has rejected bc within marriage that I have found seem to be very conservative. Anyone can do a search and see this. I don’t know if there has been more lately or not. Of course the Amish and old order Mennonites never accepted it, and that population is exploding.

On the other hand, try to find one person of any faith that accepts things like abortion, ‘gay marriage,’ and female clergy but also thinks bc within marriage isn’t acceptable. I have never found one, anyhow. I very much doubt it is a coincidence.

Freegards

[daniel1212]

What’s worse, one man’s sin or those who lead us to sin by theological error due to individualistic pride and arrogance? Since we’re comparing and contrasting.

What’s worse, one man’s theological error due to individualistic pride and arrogance (all presumed), or a group of men who lead us to sin by theological error due to collective individualistic pride and arrogance? Since we’re comparing and contrasting.

In other words, by rejecting determination of Truth by individual examination of evidence (which RCs are not to engage in to determine the veracity of her doctrines), because this can result in disunity and error as well as seeing Truth, then you can end up with an entire church being in error based upon the premise that they cannot error. For according to their autocratic interpretation, only their interpretation can be correct in any conflict.

And which sole ecclesia churches compete with each other for the title of One True Church.

[ReformationFan]

Indeed. I would say acceptance of birth control is a definite pre-requisite to acceptance of abortions, homosexuality and female clergy.

[strider44]

Another thread devolving into Protestants vs Catholics. Shocking.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I dn't know of any "works righteousness system of Rome," and I am --- in my rather lowly capacity --- a teacher of the Faith, since I am on the team for our parish instruction course for adult converts, called RCIA.

In all sincerity, I have never even heard the words "works righteousness" in the Catholic Church, let alone encountered the concept using other terms, I have only heard it from others talking about Catholics. Which strikes me as a little dubious.

There's not a single verse in St. Paul that I would disagree with as a Catholic. So I think you are too comprehensive in your rejection, which I think you ought not to be. Romans 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

[redleghunter]

What’s worse, one man’s sin or those who lead us to sin by theological error due to individualistic pride and arrogance? Since we’re comparing and contrasting.

I recommend you conduct your own "pew" research of the matter.

[Ransomed]

You would think there would be at least a few exceptions, but I can’t find any. “Ultra liberal Catholic priestess performs gay marriage and gives blistering sermon on the harm of bc within marriage’ and ‘Openly gay pastor praises late term abortion but warns of acceptance of bc within marriage’ are headlines one just doesn’t see.

Freegards

[righttackle44]

The issue is NOT whether or not to use birth control. The issue is that some forms of birth control may abort the fertilized egg. If life begins at that union, then I, as a member of a Southern Baptist church cannot advocate that form of birth control because it aborts a human life.