Posted on 06/17/2015 4:31:12 AM PDT by Kaslin
The president of the Southern Baptist Convention has a message regarding the looming Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage: We will not obey.
“The Supreme Court of the United States is not the final authority nor is the culture itself,” declared Ronnie Floyd, the elected leader of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. “The Bible is God’s final authority about marriage and on this book we stand.”
Dr. Floyd’s powerful and provocative comments were met with thunderous applause and standing ovations from thousands of Southern Baptist messengers meeting in Columbus, Ohio.
“While some evangelicals may be bowing down to the deception of the inclusiveness of same-sex marriage, we will not bow down nor will we be silent,” Floyd declared in a fiery speech on Tuesday. “We do not need to redefine what God Himself has defined already.”
And from there Dr. Floyd went where few prominent pastors have gone before – a Supreme Court showdown.
“America – we stand believing that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime,” he said in a thundering speech. “We have believed this and do believe this and will continue to believe this as a convention of churches. We stand for biblical and traditional marriage.”
Dr. Floyd reminded the gathering of something German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
“This is a Bonhoeffer moment for every pastor in the United States,” Floyd said, warning ministers that the time has come for every minister to stand strongly and clearly – regardless of the cost.
“That’s what Bonhoeffer did,” he said.
The pending decision over gay marriage weighed heavily on the minds of many Southern Baptists and messengers will consider a resolution calling on all Christians to stand firm on the biblical definition of marriage.
“Resolved, that Southern Baptists recognize that no governing institution has the authority to negate or usurp God’s definition of marriage; and be it further resolved no matter how the Supreme Court rules, the Southern Baptist Convention reaffirms its unwavering commitment to its doctrinal and public beliefs concerning marriage,” the resolution reads in part.
Evangelical Christians across America fear a decision legalizing same-sex marriage would have a devastating impact on religious liberty.
A growing number of Christians have already faced persecution because of their objections to gay marriage. Public workers have lost their jobs, private business owners have been slapped with lawsuits and complaints and private citizens have been bullied and harassed for signing pro-traditional marriage petitions.
It’s not exactly clear how the Southern Baptist Convention’s defiance will manifest itself — but Floyd revealed his personal plan.
“I declare to everyone today as a minister of the Gospel – I will not officiate over any same-sex unions or same-sex marriage ceremonies,” he said. “I completely refuse.”
Dr. Floyd stood resolute – the face of what I am sure will be national attacks from intolerant bullies and the radical speech police. There is no doubt he will be called a homophobic bigot. I’m sure some will label his remarks as hate speech.
I urge you to ignore them and truly listen to this brave man of God’s words – his call to “love and respect those who do not agree with us.”
“And while we affirm our love for all people, including those struggling with same-sex attraction, we cannot and will not affirm any behavior that deviates from God’s design for marriage,” he said.
The issue facing Southern Baptists is one that will face every person of faith in the United States – do you follow God or the government?
“Our first commitment is to God and His Word – nothing else and no one else,” Dr. Floyd said matter-of-factly.
Amen, sir. Amen.
It is about time you woke up. This is an extension of the stance the SBC has taken all along.
I was referring to drawing a line in the sand. And it is a little late, don’t you agree, to effect a ruling already made by the Supreme Court?
If a Christian church goes around banning sinners then they're going to find the pews pretty empty.
Membership is not the same as visiting. Being openly gay or shacking up is not the same as noticing some nice cleavage. Sins that are a death penalty in the OT can't be ignored in the Church.
Let he who is without sin go to church. All others be damned. /s
There are plenty of churches that welcome and even applaud sodomites. I wouldn’t go to one of them.
Pull your foot out of your mouth and take a look at resolutions from past conventions. This may be the first time you’ve paid attention, but this isn’t the first time they’ve spoken up about it.
I wouldn’t go to a church that applauds sin, nor one that pretends its members aren’t sinners.
I've never heard of a church pretending to have members that aren't sinners.
AMEN
The pattern for a NT gathering of believers is to discipline those living in open rebellion. This is done first by proactively admonishing them to repent, and if they will not repent, to refuse fellowship with them. If their sin goes unchallenged, they become a source of corruption to the remainder of the congregation. Indeed, it occurs to me that if Jesus’ teaching on discipline had been taken more seriously over the last century or so, we might not be having this present showdown with a corrupted culture.
Peace,
SR
Where are they supposed to find these sinless people to discipline the sinners?
Could you guide me to a source where they came out that strident previously?
It is heartening that in the face of so many denominations turning from God’s Word, we finally have one that will take a stand.
Excellent advice. Thank you!
It’s what Jesus said to do. If the pastoral leadership doesn’t do it, they’re sinning. We all have sin. By God’s grace, we don’t all sin with “in your face” rebellion. If you’re keeping short accounts, walking in submission to God’s truth, and living according to the Spirit and not the flesh, you are in a position to obey the Lord in this matter as well. It is a necessity, not an option.
Peace,
SR
We do have a Southern Baptist running for President.
Southern Baptists vote about 80% republican, they have obviously stayed awake.
Nope. Kinda busy right now. But you might take a look at resolutions from previous conventions.
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