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The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is offering churches a tool to encourage, educate and instruct Southern Baptists to engage their culture.
A new DVD available to all SBTC churches introduces the concept of a Culture Impact Committee that can lead a church or association to be aware of moral, social, religious liberty, legislative and public policy issues, sharing ways that Christians can make a difference in their communities by standing for biblical values.
“The transformation of our society is available to us if we will step up and hold fast to the godly principles and values upon which our great society was built,” said Keet Lewis, SBTC legislative consultant.
The SBTC offers resources to help committees take practical steps to lead their congregations or associations to be “salt and light” in their communities.
The Baptist Faith and Message affirms a call to involvement with the world, stating, “Every Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in his own life and in human society.”
The Southern Baptist doctrinal statement also says Christians “should oppose in the spirit of Christ every form of greed, selfishness and vice, and should seek to bring industry, government and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth and brotherly love.”
The CIC material states, “We must realize there is not a dichotomy between revival and reformation. Rather, the Bible is full of admonitions and examples of both. No one contends that reforms imposed by government are sufficient alone,” citing King Josiah’s reforms that proved temporary because the peoples’ hearts were not changed.
Material provided with the DVD clarifies the misunderstanding that often exists in churches fearing loss of tax-exempt status when confronting laws and public policy. It also answers those confused about the claims of some Baptists that involvement in government by Christians through a local body of believers violates the First Amendment’s free exercise and establishment clauses.
The CIC manual includes information on the function of a Cultural Impact Committee, a description of Southern Baptist ministries that deal with alternatives to abortion ministries, hunger relief efforts, and a review of 29 organizations and ministries that provide resources on the state and national level.
For more information, call Gary Ledbetter at 817-552-2500 or 877-953-SBTC. A link to the Texas Ethics & Religious Liberty Committee is provided on SBTC’s home page at www.sbtexas.com.
