On Pastors, Culture, and Civic Duty
WHEREAS, Scripture directs Christ's followers, including spiritual leaders, to function as salt and light in the culture and to fulfill their civic responsibilities (Matthew 5:13-16, 40-42; 17:24-27; 22:21; Romans 13:1-7); and
WHEREAS, The Old Testament contains many examples of spiritual leaders engaging culture and government, such as: Moses, who petitioned Pharaoh for the liberty of God's people (Exodus 5-12); Elijah, who confronted King Ahab for promoting idolatry and immorality (1 Kings 18); Isaiah, who condemned moral decay in the culture (Isaiah 1); Amos, who inveighed against injustice in society (Amos 5); and a host of other prophetic leaders; and
WHEREAS, The New Testament also contains examples of spiritual leaders engaging culture and government, such as: John the Baptist, who pointed out the adultery of a political ruler (Mark 6:17-18); the Lord Jesus, who encouraged the payment of taxes (Matthew 17:24-27; 22:21), but also challenged a government official (Luke 13:31-32); Peter, who faced off against the Jewish leadership restricting his freedom to preach (Acts 5:27-29); Paul, who insisted on justice from civil authorities (Acts 16:35-39); as well as others; and
WHEREAS, American history is replete with examples of spiritual leaders influencing culture and government, such as: Rev. Thomas Hooker, whose sermon served as the basis for the first constitution in America; Rev. Jonas Clarke, who wrote position papers on tyrannical British laws for the Massachusetts legislature and raised the militia that met the British army on Lexington Green behind his church; Rev. John Leland, the Baptist pastor who successfully lobbied James Madison to provide for freedom of religion in his proposed Bill of Rights; and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who valiantly fought for racial justice and civil rights and was martyred for his bold preaching and actions; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have been blessed with many prophetic pastors whose pulpits flame with righteousness, some of whom have recently retired from the cultural battlefield through death, such as W. A. Criswell, Adrian Rogers, Jerry Falwell, and others; and
WHEREAS, There is a great need for a new generation of pastors to take the lead in courageously confronting an American culture and government that is hurtling downward to new depths of moral decadence and for pastors to stand firm in the face of continued threats to the sanctity of human life, the sacredness of marriage between one man and one woman, and the fundamental freedom to express our faith in the public arena; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 12-13, 2007, urge our pastors to preach the whole counsel of God, not only passionately inviting people to Jesus, but also prophetically declaring biblical truth concerning the burning moral issues that are being debated in the culture and government; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage pastors to model and promote informed and active Christian citizenship among the membership of our churches; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we support our pastors as they lead their congregations to engage their communities, our culture, and our nation as salt and light, showing the way to the only hope for America and for the world, who is Jesus Christ.
On the Cooperative Giving By Southern Baptists
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention was organized in 1845 for the purpose of "eliciting, combining and directory for the energies of the whole denomination in one sacred effort, for the propagation of the Gospel," supporting missions through the Domestic Mission Board and Foreign Mission Board, predecessors of the North American Mission Board and International Mission Board, respectively; and
WHEREAS, The Woman's Missionary Union, organized in 1888, established and has since promoted offerings that became the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for support of North American missionaries and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for support of international missionaries; and
WHEREAS, The Cooperative Program was launched in 1925 to enhance giving to missions at every level, along with balanced support to other denominational programs and entities at the state and national level; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have historically been characterized as a missions people, committed to the priority of fulfilling the Great Commission to extend an evangelistic witness throughout North America and to the ends of the earth; and
WHEREAS, 2006 represented a record year in giving to the Cooperative Program, exceeding $200 million in allocations to the Southern Baptist Convention for the first time in history; and
WHEREAS, The 2006 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering set a record of $58.5 million, exceeding the goal of $56 million and becoming the largest offering collected since the $53.8 million collected in 2004; and
WHEREAS, The 2006 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering set a record of $150.1 million, exceeding the goal of $150 million and becoming the largest offering collected since the $137.9 million collected in 2005; and
WHEREAS, This record level of giving by Southern Baptists will enable more missionaries to be sent and supported to share Christ with a lost world; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists continue to place a high priority on missions, recognizing we can do more cooperatively than each church functioning independently; and
WHEREAS, There are billions of lost people throughout the world, many having no access to the Gospel and needing to know of God's love and the salvation He has provided through Jesus Christ; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 12-13, 2007, express appreciation to Southern Baptists who have faithfully and generously supported the Cooperative Program, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we also express appreciation to the churches, associations, state conventions, Southern Baptist Convention entities, and Woman's Missionary Union for their faithful partnership and diligent promotion of missions support among Southern Baptist churches; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we give thanks to God for allowing us to join Him on mission through praying, giving, and going to bring all peoples to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
