from the Baptist Faith & Message 2000:
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.
Genesis 1:27 | Genesis 2:7 | Matthew 6:6-7 | Matthew 6:24 | Matthew 16:26 | Matthew 22:21 | John 8:36 | Acts 4:19-20 | Romans 6:1-2 | Romans 13:1-7 | Galatians 5:1,13 | Philippians 3:20 | 1 Timothy 2:1-2 | James 4:12 | 1 Peter 2:12-17 | 1 Peter 3:11-17 | 1 Peter 4:12-19
from the Baptist Faith & Message 2000:
It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war.
The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 2:4 | Matthew 5:9 | Matthew 5:38-48 | Matthew 6:33 | Matthew 26:52 | Luke 22:36,38 | Romans 12:18-19 | Romans 13:1-7 | Romans 14:19 | Hebrews 12:14 | James 4:1-2
from the Baptist Faith & Message 2000:
All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.
Exodus 20:3-17 | Leviticus 6:2-5 | Deuteronomy 10:12 | Deuteronomy 27:17 | Psalm 101:5 | Micah 6:8 | Zechariah:16 | Matthew 5:13-16,43-48 | Matthew 22:36-40 | Matthew 25:35 | Mark 1:29-34 | Mark 2:3ff. | Mark 10:21 | Luke 4:18-21 | Luke 10:27-37 | Luke 20:25 | John 15:12 | John 17:15 | Romans 12-14 | 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 | 1 Corinthians 6:1-7 | 1 Corinthians 7:20-24 | 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 | Galatians 3:26-28 | Ephesians 6:5-9 | Colossians 3:12-17 | 1 Thessalonians 3:12 | Philemon | James 1:27 | James 2:8
from the Baptist Faith & Message 2000:
Christ’s people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.
Exodus 17:12 | Exodus 18:17ff. | Judges 7:21 | Ezra 1:3-4 | Ezra 2:68-69 | Ezra 5:14-15 | Nehemiah 4 | Nehemiah 8:1-5 | Matthew 10:5-15 | Matthew 20:1-16 | Matthew 22:1-10 | Matthew 28:19-20 | Mark 2:3 | Luke 10:1ff. | Acts 1:13-14 | Acts 2:1ff. | Acts 4:31-37 | Acts 13:2-3 | Acts 15:1-35 | 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 | 1 Corinthians 3:5-15 | 1 Corinthians 12 | 2 Corinthians 8-9 | Galatians 1:6-10 | Ephesians 4:1-16 | Philippians 1:15-18
Tony Kummer, of Said@Southern podcast fame, launched a cool project, SBC Voices, that looks to aggregate feeds for all things Southern Baptist. My two blogs, Locusts & Wild Honey and Rebuild Lakeshore made the list of the first 231 syndicated sites. Very cool.
from the Baptist Faith & Message 2000:
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth.
Genesis 14:20 | Leviticus 27:30-32 | Deuteronomy 8:18 | Malachi 3:8-12 | Matthew 6:1-4,19-21 | Matthew 19:21 | Matthew 23:23 | Matthew 25:14-29 | Luke 12:16-21,42 | Luke 16:1-13 | Acts 2:44-47 | Acts 5:1-11 | Acts 17:24-25 | Acts 20:35 | Romans 6:6-22 | Romans 12:1-2 | 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 | 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 | 1 Corinthians 12 | 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 | 2 Corinthians 8-9 | 2 Corinthians 12:15 | Philippians 4:10-19 | 1 Peter 1:18-19
