Abolitionist resolution Southern Baptist Association

Abolitionist resolution Southern Baptist Association

My take on the Abolitionist resolution at #SBC21:

Do I think that all 14-15 million members of Southern Baptist churches were converted to a 100% biblically consistent abolitionist position on the issue of abortion this week at #SBC21?

No, I don't.

Do I think that very good abolitionist work was done in Nashville this week at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting?

Yes, I absolutely do.

Some longtime abolitionists are upset about the amendment which added the word "alone" to one of the provisions. This addition essentially attempted to make room for the approval of incremental regulatory "solutions" to the abortion holocaust alongside abolitionist solutions. This amendment was foolish, nonsensical, and inconsistent with biblical truth, the abolitionist position, AND all of the surrounding context of the resolution itself.

Even so, I believe this endeavor of calling on the SBC to repent of incremental regulatory measures against abortion and to take up the call of total and immediate abolition without exception or compromise, was a living example of the abolitionist ideology of immediatism at work.

How so? If they passed an abolitionist resolution but amended it to try to include incrementalism back in, how can this be a good example of immediatism at work?

It can be because the abolitionist tenet of immediatism is not about getting what we want overnight. It is about the nature of what we are clearly and consistently calling for with our voices and working for with our hands. 

The call of the Southern Baptists for Abolishing Abortion on this matter was absolutely unwavering and consistent:  that the church's stance on this issue (in word and deed) should always and only be immediate abolition of abortion without exception or compromise, and repentance of all apathy and unjust responses that have been practiced in the past.

The response of the SBC with their amendment showed that they don't understand everything about abolitionism—they aren't consistent abolitionists yet. It showed that there is still work to do for sure. 

However, the consistent, unwavering, bold, and biblical call of the abolitionists is what moved the ball so far in the direction of abolition. The passing of this resolution so entirely packed with Scriptural truth that the addition of one word to one line couldn't change the message, showed that the call for abolition struck a chord with many, though they may not understand all the implications of that call yet.

In this work, as in all things, we must remember that the duty of obedience is ours, the results belong to God.

~ Abolitionist 

Rick Small.

Idaho