Leaders of the Southern Bapitst Convention made two policy statements this week that has rendered them in the same category as other denominations that have recently cowed to popular opinion instead of remaining true to their conservative roots.
The two statements are as follows:
First, the SBC repudiated the Confederate Flag as a racist symbol that has placed a wedge between African Americans and the denomination and second they defended the rights of Muslims to construct Mosques on American soil.
The Confederate Flag
To many southerners the Confederate Flag is a symbol of the failed attempt by their ancestors to secede from the Union on the grounds of States rights. However, most recently there has been a push by left-wing liberal groups to view the flag only through the lens of hatred and racism.
This has led to a policy shift by select lawmakers resulting in the flags removal from public property throughout the south.
Similiarly, the SBC is now strongly encouraging their members to remove the flag from private church property. The SBC claims the amended policy has been set forth in the spirit of reconciliation.
However, as magnanimous a gesture as this might seem, it’s really just a lot of hot-air and pandering to the liberal left-wing agenda. The Confederate Flag has a history no doubt; some say not so good but others disagree.
Moreover, if the SBC is going to repudiate the Confederate Flag they should also repudiate the U.S. Flag for what it represents to Native Americans. And though I admit that I’m not an authoritative figure on the subject of the Confederate Flag I do know that there is no flag flying today that represents a perfect people without an ignoble past.
Finally, I know the SBC to be primarily comprised of leaders, such as Albert Mohler, who hold to Calvinist Soteriology, meaning they believe when Jesus cried “It is finished” on the cross He was declaring that every man, woman and child was saved whom God predestined to be saved that very moment.
Therefore, according to their own Theology nothing in this world, including a flag, may thwart the eternal plan of God.
Religious Liberty
A sincere Baptist Minister asked Dr. Russell Moore why the SBC should support the construction of Mosques in America. Dr. Moore used this question to launch into a politically correct monologue regarding the preservation of religious liberty and the potential concern that a government policy disallowing the construction of Mosques may somehow also apply to the future construction of Baptist churches within liberal leaning U.S. cities.
I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Moore that religious freedoms should not be further infringed upon. However, I differ with his stance regarding this specific issue for the following two reasons.
- I take Dr. Moore’s statement to be an official policy statement representing the SBC and its membership which I don’t beleive is within the scope of their mission; unless of course, I’m ignorant of the facts and indeed the SBC is both a political and ecclesiastical organization.
- Dr. Moore, for all his perceived knowledge, fails to recognize that Islam is primarily a political movement not a religious one. Even from the beginning the Prophet Muhammad was more interested in conquering and ruling people by force than worshipping his god.
Therefore, as a political movement Islam may be compared to communism. Are we allowing known communist groups to apply for Non-Profit status and erect houses of worship on American soil? In the immortal words of Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister – I don’t think so!
Why Do I Care?
I’m not from the south and I’ve never owned a Conferserate Flag let alone flew one on property I’ve owned which begs the question — why do I care.
It’s simple, historical revisionism no matter the reason always leads a people further away from the truth and toward grasping error for the simple reason that fault finding never ends.
I’ll end this article with another movie quote by Reverened Shaw Moore from the movie Footloose.
When did you all decide to sit in judgement? Who elected all of you to be the saviors of everyones souls? When you’ve burned all of these books what are you going to do then? Satan is not in these books, he’s in here, he’s in your hearts. Now go home, go sit in judgement upon yourselves.
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