Editorial

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It was one of the briefest presentations during the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting in Fort Myers last week, but I hope that those in attendance and who read this account of Hayes Wicker's comments during the closing session Tuesday evening will take to heart his challenge.

Speaking alongside John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, Wicker, as FBSC president, carved out of the program a time for "Concerns of Florida Baptists" allowing Florida Baptists' two executives to share "some things that are on our heart that didn't quite fit perhaps in the president's address or [Sullivan's] doctrinal message, but that are very significant to us at this time," Wicker told the messengers.

Perhaps for many the most memorable comments during this time were Sullivan's emphatic affirmation of the Southern Baptist Convention resolution earlier this year calling for alcohol abstinence, including for those who would serve on SBC entity boards. Sullivan promised similar action will be forthcoming for the FBSC.

Sullivan's remarks were interpreted by some messengers as a direct response to Voddie Baucham's theme message which had just concluded. Baucham criticized elevation of alcohol abstinence for ministers while ignoring biblical injunctions that pastors lead well their homes. (For more on this matter, see "Sullivan pledges teetotaler agency trustees," page 5.)

Sullivan also used his time to praise the election of Ed Johnson as the new Cooperative Program director of the Florida Baptist Convention, noting that the last year has seen an important discussion in Southern Baptist life about CP. He also talked about theological education in Haiti in which 52 pastors received first-time training, and his hopes for expansion of that program in the future.

Sullivan also used his time to urge Florida Baptists to give strong support for the effort to put the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment on the 2008 general election ballot. The amendment, which Florida Baptists have played a central role in creating and backing, would define marriage in the Florida Constitution as being only between one man and one woman. Twenty-six states-after this year's election-have now adopted similar state constitutional protections for marriage, with Arizona being the only state to have rejected such an amendment.

Sullivan noted that about 40,000 additional petitions are necessary to insure that the amendment will appear on the 2008 ballot.

"Please help us," Sullivan said to the messengers, urging them to get this matter done.

An important point not mentioned is that once the marriage amendment is on the ballot, it will have to be approved by at least 60 percent of those voting after the adoption of this year's amendment three, which created the requirement of a super-majority for constitutional amendments. (For more on this debate, see the point-counterpoint in the Nov. 2 issue.)

All of these matters are important and it was good for Florida Baptists to hear the passion and concern of Sullivan.

Wicker followed Sullivan and provided a vital reminder to Florida Baptists about balance in the Christian life between our duty to God and our responsibility as Christian citizens.

He spoke about America's "sharp left turn" in the recent election, citing a USA Today article, which reported, "Americans are pinning their hopes of the country's future on the incoming Democratic Congress."

"I want to tell you something, we're in serious trouble if that's where our hope is," Wicker said, clearly not making a partisan commentary, but instead expressing concern that our nation would find ultimate hope in government, no matter which political party may be leading it.

Still, Wicker offered concern about our nation's "slippery slope" in which same-sex "marriage," stem-cell research, and human cloning are affirmed, and about the obligation of Christians to speak biblical truth to the culture.

"God is calling us as believers, I believe, more than ever to revival," Wicker said, noting that there is a "holy tension" Christians must not seek to resolve, but instead should live under.

Wicker outlined the "holy tension" in the following manner: Christians should on the one hand "do justice and love mercy" and "be salt in a society" which results in concern and action about public policy issues like marriage amendments and the sanctity of human life, and Christians should on the other hand "be light" to our culture, preaching the Gospel alone which can save sinful humanity.

"Just as He calls us to be the prophets to the culture, that speak to our culture, He also causes us to be evangelists who don't just speak out, but who lift up the name of Jesus and realize that the Great Commission is the overarching call of God to the church today-to win, to disciple and teach all things that Jesus has commanded us," Wicker explained.

"There is that tension of the sovereignty of God where we say, Lord, it may not go the way we think it should in the government, but we trust You above all us. While at the same time we have the responsibility of man to do justice and to love mercy and walk humbly with our God," he added.

Wicker concluded, "I want to challenge you as Florida Baptists to continue to do good in evangelism, missions, church planting, in seeking revival, [and] in being involved, in the responsibility of man, to do good. Not only resting in our position in Christ allowing Him to live through us, but taking action in His name."

Wicker's brief treatment on this critically important holy tension was desperately needed. Christians everywhere need to recognize this tension-submit to God's control of all of the affairs of men, while at the same time fulfilling our biblical duty to speak to the culture.

In a day when our culture continues to reject biblical morality, let us live faithfully in this holy tension, knowing our good God does all things well.