SBC Resolution on Race/Civil Rights

A few weeks ago I watched the movie "12 Years A Slave" and was greatly moved by it. It's a difficult movie to watch because it reveals a hard truth about our country that we cannot ignore or pretend didn't happen. In parts of the movie it was appalling to see people quote the Bible as a justification for slavery and/or beating another human being.

During the SBC Convention (June 10-11, 2014), the Southern Baptists passed a resolution that was very important to me and made me appreciate being a Southern Baptist. It did not try and hide the history of slavery or the involvement of some Southern Baptist's in that evil.  Instead, it acknowledged and lamented that fact.  I greatly appreciate this step and pray for continued diversity at all levels of the Southern Baptist Convention.  Here's a portion of the resolution that was approved:

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, June 10–11, 2014, lament and repudiate this nation's long history of racial segregation as well as the complicity of Southern Baptists who resisted or opposed the dismantling of the evil of racial hierarchy in our churches or society; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we reaffirm the historic action in 1965 of the Southern Baptist Convention to call for "peaceful compliance with laws assuring equal rights for all," along with the courageous efforts of many known and unknown Baptist ministers and laypersons to advance the cause of racial justice in the face of opposition; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we thank God for the increased racial and ethnic diversity within Southern Baptist life over this past half century; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call on all Gospel-affirming people to strive for a faithful witness to the watching world that in Christ "there is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free" (Galatians 3:28); and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we continue to call on all Christian men and women to pray and labor for the day when our Lord will set all things right and racial prejudice and injustice will be no more.

NOTE:  You can read the entire text of the resolution here.