As I’ve read the back-and-forth about Baylor University turning down a grant from the Baugh Foundation regarding a study that desired to nudge churches to “courageously” embrace those who see LGBTQIA+ as a biblically allowable lifestyle, I have been mostly encouraged— encouraged about what the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) continues to stand for in our present culture.
All of our BGCT-affiliated and related universities state in their beliefs and policies that marriage and sexual intimacy are designed solely for the covenant marriage relationship of a man and a woman. The BGCT (Texas Baptists) itself considers any sexual relationship outside of this definition, including same-sex relationships and adultery, to be outside of God’s intended, biblical design. This stance is based on Scripture’s interpretation and application and has been affirmed through many resolutions and motions passed at the conventions and BGCT Executive Board meetings over several decades.
Looking at our goal
Back in 2016, a high estimation of Scripture was awakened in many pastors and leaders in the BGCT, and it caused a movement that desired to honor biblical sexual ethics no matter the culture’s redefining of them and the ever-growing acceptance of alternative lifestyles including LGBTQIA+.
David Currie’s opinion piece in the Baptist Standard Voices: Sad for Texas Baptists was well written by a good man with deep convictions. However, I submit that he missed a very obvious point, namely, that both sides of this particular argument say, “I’m right, you’re wrong. and if you don’t agree with me, you don’t believe the Bible.” And if conservatives and progressives are saying that same sentence regarding opposing views on sexual ethics and biblically permissible lifestyles, we have reached an impasse in cooperation.
But cooperation isn’t the highest goal. Fidelity to God’s word is! Freedom of personal conviction isn’t the noblest virtue. Adherence to God’s standard is! Historic Baptist principles cause us to cling tightly to God’s best, God’s order and God’s word, even with a swelling tide that says those are archaic, non-inclusive, and too small a tent.
An inward look at beliefs
You can add biblical sexual ethics to the list of blood atonement to satisfy God’s wrath, the flawless nature of God’s word, a literal hell, salvation through Christ’s cross alone and abortion that cause a no-man’s-land between conservatives and progressives. Both sides can and certainly should be kind to one another, love one another, pray for one another, and converse with one another. However, the six dividers above are not reconciliatory topics.
Currie proverbially shoots himself in the foot when he himself writes in his op-ed that the Baptist tent is not big enough for those leading in the Southern Baptist Convention, for those who believe a homosexual-affirming church is not in lock-step with the BGCT, for those who convictionally are complementarian in church leadership, and for those who believe sexual activity outside of a man and woman marriage is sin. I just described, I believe, the majority of Texas Baptists who hold several of those positions … and Currie just moved us out of his tent!
I applaud the BGCT in the conserving of their beliefs regarding biblical sexual ethics, and I applaud Baylor and President Linda Livingstone for making a difficult but good decision.
Certainty about sin is only error if wrong, but it’s biblical conviction if grounded in truth.
John Durham is the senior pastor of Highland Baptist Church, Waco, Texas. The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author.
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