WHEREAS, Scripture teaches that God created human sexuality to be enjoyed exclusively within the lifelong covenant of marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6) and commands his people to “flee sexual immorality” and to glorify him with their bodies (1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5); and
WHEREAS, Jesus warned that lustful intent itself is adultery of the heart (Matthew 5:27-28), obligating Christians to guard both mind and body (Job 31:1; Romans 12:1-2); and
WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message states that “Christians should oppose … all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography” (Article XV), and the Southern Baptist Convention has repeatedly decried pornography’s evil; and
WHEREAS, Contemporary research affirms that habitual pornography use fosters addiction, induces negative physiological effects, contributes to aggression and relational breakdown, and often serves as a gateway to escalating sexual perversions; and
WHEREAS, Pornography not only debases its consumers but also objectifies those it depicts, many of whom are coerced, trafficked, or economically exploited, thereby dishonoring those made in the image of God; and
WHEREAS, Civil government is ordained by God to restrain evil and to promote that which is good (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14), and long-standing obscenity statutes demonstrate the state’s rightful authority to prohibit material that is destructive to public morals; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Dallas, Texas, June 10-11, 2025, denounce pornography in every form as a distortion of God’s gift of sexuality to humanity; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our Convention’s past condemnations of pornography and maintain that all production, distribution, and consumption of pornographic material is sin against God, neighbor, and self; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we call upon pastors, churches, and denominational entities to proclaim the liberating power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to provide robust discipleship and accountability structures, and to offer compassionate, Christian care for those ensnared by pornography; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we exhort parents and guardians to cultivate homes of holiness by employing wisdom, technological safeguards, and candid instruction to protect children from exposure to sexualized media and curb temptation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress and state legislatures to enact comprehensive laws that ban the creation, publication, hosting, and distribution of pornographic content in all media and to provide rigorous enforcement mechanisms—including age-verification and civil liability—in the ultimate effort to eradicate pornography nationwide; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we commend the recent passage of the Take It Down Act and celebrate it as model legislation that aims to protect individuals from the corrosive evils of pornography; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we appeal to governors, attorneys general, and local officials to employ every constitutional means presently available to enforce existing obscenity laws and community-standards ordinances, and to ensure that the dignity of individuals and families is protected from this insidious material; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we call on governing officials to take proactive measures to anticipate the effects of AI-generated pornography in order to protect individuals and the public from its harms; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we commend and partner with ministries, counselors, and organizations laboring to rescue and restore those harmed by the pornography industry and by sex trafficking; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge believers to advocate for those harmed through sexual exploitation by committing themselves to steadfast prayer, pleading with God to restore broken lives and lead our nation to repentance for its involvement in the creation, distribution, and consumption of pornography; and be it finally RESOLVED, That we joyfully affirm God’s good and perfect design for human sexuality within the confines of covenant marriage between one man and one woman, and we pledge to teach, model, and steadfastly defend this biblical standard in our churches, homes, and public witness as we pursue a permanent end to pornography.