RESOLUTION NO. 4
ON BIBLICAL SEXUALITY AND PUBLIC POLICY
WHEREAS, From the beginning, the Bible establishes the basis for sexuality by declaring that human beings are created in God’s image as “male and female” (Genesis 1:26-27) and that “a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24); and
WHEREAS, Jesus answered questions about marriage by reaffirming this male/female and “one flesh” creation pattern for sexuality (Matthew 19:4-6); and
WHEREAS, The Apostle Paul based his teaching about marriage upon God’s creation order of this one man/one woman relationship and the analogy of Christ and His bride, the Church (Ephesians 5:29-31); and
WHEREAS, Any sexual behavior outside of this husband/wife marriage relationship is sinful, including premarital sex, adultery, bestiality, and pornography (Hebrews 13:4; Galatians 5:19; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Leviticus 18:23); and
WHEREAS, Homosexual behavior is specifically prohibited and condemned in both the Old and New Testaments (Genesis 19:1-27; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11); and
WHEREAS, Any public policy action normalizing unbiblical sexual behavior or giving homosexual unions the legal status of marriage is diametrically opposed to God’s Word; and
WHEREAS, Several state legislatures have voted to redefine marriage, and certain state courts have overturned laws defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman; and
WHEREAS, Legislation benignly titled as the “Employment Non-Discrimination Act” (ENDA) would create a specially protected class for homosexuality and other unbiblical lifestyles for employment purposes, preventing many ministries, religiously-based businesses, and employers from honoring their personal religious beliefs in their hiring practices; and
WHEREAS, Hate crimes legislation that already has been passed by the United States House of Representatives (HR 1913) would create a special federally-protected class for homosexuality and other unbiblical lifestyles, providing greater protections for crimes committed against them than against many other groups, and criminalizing religious belief and speech about homosexuality and other unbiblical lifestyles; and
WHEREAS, Legislation has been introduced (HR 1283) to repeal Section 654 of Title 10 of the United States Code to allow military service personnel to openly engage in homosexual behavior, likely resulting in free speech restrictions, the deterioration of unit cohesion, a weakening of military readiness, forced sensitivity training, and a mass exodus of many fine active service personnel; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, June 23-24, 2009, reaffirm our historic and consistent support of the biblical definition of marriage as the exclusive union of a man and a woman; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage all Christians to be “salt and light” on these issues by exemplifying sexual purity in our lifestyle, speaking prophetically to the culture, and acting redemptively toward individuals; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we once again call on the United States Congress to reject any attempts to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and instead urge passage and ratification of a constitutional amendment protecting the time-honored definition of marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we oppose the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and any other laws that prevent the exercise of deeply held religious beliefs about homosexuality and other unbiblical lifestyles in hiring practices; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Senate not to pass any hate crimes legislation that would effectively discriminate against non-protected classes in the prosecution of violent crimes or criminalize deeply held religious beliefs and speech about homosexuality and other unbiblical sexual practices; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we support the current military code barring homosexuality in the military and call upon the President, as Commander in Chief, to honor Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice which precludes homosexual behavior among active service personnel; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm the Southern Baptist Convention Task Force on Ministry to Homosexuals in its effort to call our churches to engage in loving, redemptive ministry to homosexuals; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we proclaim that those who practice any unbiblical sexual behavior can be forgiven and changed, as the Apostle Paul wrote, “…some of you were like this, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).