Point of View

I love conventions! I love attending the Southern Baptist Convention! We had a wonderful convention in Greensboro. It was my twentieth year to serve as a SBC parliamentarian. To assist SBC President Dr. Bobby Welch was a pleasure. He “bent-over-backward” to be fair on all issues. In fact, at times he went out of his way to accommodate some folks. We as Florida Baptists can thank God for the sterling leadership of Bobby Welch, who has served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach for 31 years. Thank you, Mr. President, for two wonderful and fruitful years at the helm of our denomination.

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More business was introduced at this convention than any year I can remember. Folks wanted to be vocal. Even some of the prayers seemed to be longer than usual.

One item threw me a curve. The Resolutions Committee presented a resolution affirming the damaging affect the alcohol industry has on America, and that a godly example includes refraining from the use of alcohol as a beverage. Here is the wording of the resolution:

RESOLUTION ON ALCOHOL USE IN AMERICA

Adopted by SBC Messengers June 2006:

WHEREAS, Years of research confirm biblical warnings that alcohol use leads to physical, mental, and emotional damage (e.g., Proverbs 23:29-35); and

WHEREAS, Alcohol use has led to countless injuries and deaths on our nation’s highways; and

WHEREAS, The breakup of families and homes can be directly and indirectly attributed to alcohol use by one or more members of a family; and

WHEREAS, The use of alcohol as a recreational beverage has been shown to lead individuals down a path of addiction to alcohol and toward the use of other kinds of drugs, both legal and illegal; and

WHEREAS, There are some religious leaders who are now advocating the consumption of alcoholic beverages based on a misinterpretation of the doctrine of “our freedom in Christ”; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina, June 13-14, 2006, express our total opposition to the manufacturing, advertising, distributing, and consuming of alcoholic beverages; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge that no one be elected to serve as a trustee or member of any entity or committee of the Southern Baptist Convention that is a user of alcoholic beverages.

RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists to take an active role in supporting legislation that is intended to curb alcohol use in our communities and nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists to be actively involved in educating students and adults concerning the destructive nature of alcoholic beverages; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we commend organizations and ministries that treat alcohol-related problems from a biblical perspective and promote abstinence and encourage local churches to begin and/or support such biblically-based ministries.

I was a bit taken back with the amount of debate drawn by the resolution. Two items surfaced in the debate: (1) Freedom in Christ permits drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation; (2) The concept of abstinence from alcohol came from a former generation and it is time to turn the SBC toward younger people with newer ideas.

Now to be sure, we are free in Christ, but we are free to do right by living a godly lifestyle. One even suggested Jesus drank wine and even turned water into wine. Bring me the wine bottle you are drinking from and if it says, “fermented by the Holy Spirit,” I’ll agree it is okay! Jesus also walked or rode a donkey wherever he went; slept mostly outside — you know the list. He then died on a tree. Don’t pull out one thing Jesus did to justify an action. We are not in the same league!

The “older men concept” sort of “bugged” me. This denomination has given me more than I could possibly repay. However, I have given 50-plus years in preaching the Gospel as well as loving and supporting this denomination — a denomination that has always taken a stand for abstinence on alcoholic beverages.

It is true we are getting older but we have fought a battle for conservative theology and world evangelism that is unparalleled in the history of the church, and we were sober when we did it!