WHEREAS, Scripture communicates that every human being is created in the image of God and has inherent value and dignity as determined by our Creator (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7, 9:6); and
WHEREAS, Scripture tells us that there is one mediator between God and man, and that mediator is not the civil government but Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5); and
WHEREAS, God has made humans moral agents who are free to come to him by faith without coercion. For this reason, Southern Baptists advocate for religious freedom, a vital component to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20); and
WHEREAS, Advocating for religious liberty is a hallmark of Southern Baptist belief and practice and applies equally to all peoples, in all places, at all times, with our current confession stating that “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” (Baptist Faith and Message 2000, Article XVII); and
WHEREAS, Many of our brothers and sisters around the world live in fear for their lives and livelihood as a result of professing Christ and practicing their faith in nations which are led by leaders who deny religious liberty and freedom of worship, and these brothers and sisters experience persecution for their religious convictions at the hands of the governments and ruling authorities of their homelands; and
WHEREAS, Christians lament the plight of our brothers and sisters globally who experience religious persecution, because Scripture commands us to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15) and that “if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas, June 10-11, 2025, affirm that God has endowed every human being with the freedom of conscience and with the corresponding freedom to practice their religious convictions without undue interference from civil power (Baptist Faith and Message 2000, Article XVII); and be it further
RESOLVED, We affirm that religious freedom is a human right given by God for all humanity to steward, and aids our work in fulfilling the Great Commission; and be it further
RESOLVED, We express support and solidarity with our brothers and sisters experiencing persecution worldwide; and be it further
RESOLVED, We urge the United States government to continue its efforts to advance religious freedom globally through its congressional and diplomatic bodies, in accordance with relevant statutes, including the International Religious Freedom Act and the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act; and be it further
RESOLVED, We implore Southern Baptist pastors, churches, state conventions, and entities to, whenever possible and appropriate, speak up for our brothers and sisters being persecuted at the hands of wicked governments; and be it finally RESOLVED, We likewise implore Southern Baptist pastors, churches, state conventions, and entities, in keeping with our confession to “work with all men of good will” (Baptist Faith and Message 2000, Article XV), to, whenever possible and appropriate, work with the United States government and other groups to advance religious freedom among their respective spheres of influence.