Posted on 06/17/2015 11:11:56 AM PDT by Former Fetus
The statement [...], was released [...]Wednesday morning at a press conference:
As Southern Baptist Christians, we are committed to Biblical faith and ethics. As a result, this body of Believers stands on the authority of Scripture and Gods Truth as central to our lives.
What the Bible says about marriage is clear, definitive and unchanging. We affirm biblical, traditional, natural marriage as the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. The Scriptures teaching on marriage is not negotiable. We stake our lives upon the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
Consequently, we will not accept, nor adhere to, any legal redefinition of marriage issued by any political or judicial body including the United States Supreme Court. We will not recognize same-sex marriages, our churches will not host same-sex ceremonies, and we will not perform such ceremonies.
While we affirm our love for all people, including those struggling with same-sex attraction, we cannot and will not affirm the moral acceptability of homosexual behavior or any behavior that deviates from Gods design for marriage. We also believe religious freedom is at stake within this critical issue that our first duty is to love and obey God, not man.
Therefore, we strongly encourage all Southern Baptist pastors, leaders, educators, and churches to openly reject any mandated legal definition of marriage and to use their influence to affirm Gods design for life and relationships. As the nations largest non-Catholic denomination with over 16 million members, we stake our very lives and future on the Truth of Gods Word.
We also join together to support those who stand for natural marriage in the corporate world, the marketplace, education, entertainment, media and elsewhere with our prayers and influence, and resources.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
I am SB, too. Why should any Christian group have to make such a Biblical statement? This should be understood.
To distinguish themselves from other “Christian” bodies that support it. People need to know to make a wise choice as to where they are going to worship and learn.
It should. But wait and see how many so-called Christians denigrate Southern Baptists for their lack of understanding!
Interesting, when gay marriage “christians” support this they mention their own reasoning when genuine Christians support traditional marriage they use God’s word.
This will almost certainly lead to the raiding of SB churches by the IRS - they’ll say the churches are now “political” and owe back taxes. When that happens, good Americans will have to be prepared to defend the Houses of God.
“This Southern Baptist says “Amen!””
And this Catholic (aside from saying ‘Amen’) says: when are our Bishops, Cardinals, and the Pontiff himself going to stand up for God?
In the interest of full disclosure, many Catholic priests in individual Churches are standing strong, and are ready to pay the consequences should Cesar retaliate.
“we strongly encourage .. to openly reject any mandated legal definition of marriage and to use their influence to affirm Gods design for life and relationships.”
OK, this could get interesting.
Sure has put the Southern Baptists at odds with many of the
“mainstream” Protestant churches. Pretty effective recruiting strategy, as well as being on the right side of the theological question regarding marriage.
Whatever “gay marriage” may be, it is not a Christian sacrament. If you have even the least acquaintance with the various works of the Marquis de Sade, one of the themes was the desecration of all things religious, and a celebration of unnatural unions.
The two largest conservative Lutheran churches - WELS and LCMS are true to the biblical teachings on homoseuality and marriage. There are other smaller ones that are too.
Years ago, my pastor opposed my passing out voter guides fearing we would lose our tax exemption. It made me very mad! So what if we lose it? Shouldn’t we be willing to pay the price so that our churches have REAL freedom of speech? It pained me every time I heard that pastor get choked up just by saying “abortion is wrong”. You could forget a sermon explaining why it is wrong! Since the family moved a year ago, we attend another SB church and this pastor seems very different. I just hope that some of those weak-spined pastors may be encouraged by the statement form the Southern Baptist Convention!
Those tithes will no longer be tax exempt. I had this discussion with our pastor a few weeks back. My ultimate conclusion: God doesn't like it when you render unto Caesar that which is God's, which is precisely what the churches have done in this case, and it was all so that the tithes would be tax deductible, thereby making tithing more attractive to church goers.
To get away from being lumped in with Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Methodists, ECA, and the likes.
I never claim my tithe in taxes. What I give is between me and God and I do not do it for a tax break. The Bible says to give without expecting anything in return.
Although I am a practicing Catholic, I am grateful to the Southern Baptist Convention for standing up for the truth. We need to encourage each other as our culture slides into the abyss.
I suspect there will be many who will remain faithful. I also believe that many, and possibly many more, will stop tithing once they can no longer claim it.
All true Christians of America owe much to the SB’s brave stand on this issue. For God’s sake, its about time some group of significance did this!
I can say the same thing, I tithe because God's Word tells me to, not to claim a tax deduction.
But even so, I maintain that government has no constitutional right to use taxation as a tool to force a foundational change in the most basic institution of human civilization, i.e., biblical marriage. I don't believe that God will tolerate this abomination without severely punishing, or even destroying, any nation that approves and legalizes it, and ours won't be an exception.
It should be understood but it isn’t. I just think their timing is rather late.
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