Mohler finds Baptists ‘cooperative without compromise’

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has “a remarkably consistent pattern of cooperation without compromise” with other denominations and religious groups, according to a study by seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Mohler, of Southern Seminary, Louisville, Ky., prepared the study for the SBC Great Commission Council of SBC agency chief executives.

Moher’s study also was distributed to members of the SBC Executive Committee during their Feb. 21-22 meeting in Nashville.

Mohler, in his study paper, listed four conclusions:

• “Southern Baptists stand unalterably opposed to any ecumenical or interchurch union not based upon common convictions and practices drawn from the teachings of the Bible,” such as church membership of born-again believers and church autonomy.
• “Southern Baptists are nevertheless committed to the unity of the churches — but this is a spiritual union until such time as others convince us that we are in error or join on the basis of common conviction.”
• “Though opposed to movements toward federation or organic union, Southern Baptists are committed to work with other evangelical denominations in common causes, and count all those who know the Lord Jesus as Savior to be true Christians and our true brothers and sisters. While we differ on important issues such as church government and the nature of the ordinances (i.e., opposing all sacramentalism), we nonetheless consider these brothers and sisters to be true Christians with whom we can work toward legitimate spiritual ends (i.e., evangelism and missions).”
• “Though considering non-Christians and the Roman Catholic Church to be the objects of our spiritual concern and evangelistic mission, we are nonetheless committed to work with ‘all men of good will in any good cause.’ Thus, we can work with secular Americans and Roman Catholic leaders in common cause for the abolition of abortion, the defense of marriage, and in contending for religious liberty, these offered as examples only.”

Both the 1925 and 1963 versions of the SBC’s statement of shared beliefs, the Baptist Faith and Message, have included a statement on cooperation, Mohler noted.

The 1963 statement reads: “Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is in itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and his Word as revealed in the New Testament.”

The 1963 Baptist Faith and Message was expanded to include an article on “The Christian and the Social Order,” Mohler noted.

The article, in part, notes, “In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all persons of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and his truth.” (BP)