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HOUSTON?Categorized by their attention to theological and moral issues and expressions of personal appreciation, 10 resolutions were adopted by messengers to the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention during the Nov. 11 session.
Resolutions Committee Chairman Malcolm Yarnell of Fort Worth described the SBTC’s concern for “Christ-honoring, Scripture-based, church-focused and mission-minded doctrine” as a historical strength and God-given value.
“In this important year, we believe it is necessary to call ourselves and all Christians back to these fundamental biblical and therefore Baptist doctrines?the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the centrality of Scripture, the primacy of the local church and a fully biblical definition of a new desire for a Great Commission Resurgence.”
Regarding the Lordship of Christ, the first resolution urged churches to proclaim “there is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ,” that “each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes,” recognized the significance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and urged recognition of the first day of the week as the Lord’s Day.
Furthermore, the resolution noted the responsibility of Christians to make disciples of all nations and make the will of Christ supreme while recognizing “God alone is the 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.”
The statement also recalls God’s ordination of the family as foundational and encourages the church, the state and the family to implement the will of the Lord Jesus Christ with full integrity, by the Holy Spirit, and for the glory of God, according to the gracious principles and loving precepts He has revealed in His Word.”
The second resolution on the centrality of Scripture encouraged members of affiliated churches to: “live, teach and preach the Word of God;” encourage daily personal Bible study and memorization, family Bible studies and regular Bible studies with their churches; and “consider establishing church schools which keep Scripture central to their curriculum as an additional means of imparting a biblical worldview to our children.”
The “Primacy of the Local Church” resolution encouraged all Christians “to participate actively as members of their local churches, acknowledging and rendering cooperative support to the local church as we move together in service for the Kingdom of God.”
Appreciation was expressed to those who worked to bring about a Conservative Resurgence in the SBC as well as those who began the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. The commitment to carry out the Great Commission by making disciples, teach biblical doctrine, promote and practice “text-driven preaching and teaching of the entire Bible and how it relates to Christ and God’s redemptive plan,” and lead church members to witness at home and abroad, were noted.
“We covenant together earnestly to preach and teach ‘all things’ as Christ commanded in the Great Commission without minimizing or trivializing biblical doctrines such as: the Lordship of Christ; the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture; the exclusivity of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone; believers’ baptism by immersion; regenerate church membership; congregational church polity; the priesthood of the believers; church discipline and religious liberty,” the resolution stated.
“Although our first and fundamental concern is with conservative, biblical doctrine and fervent, warm-hearted evangelism,” Yarnell said, “the gospel’s impact lies upon all of human life.”
In the next three resolutions, he summarized three critical issues that concern not only biblical Christians but all “right-thinking human beings, which have come again into prominence in the most recent election cycle.”
