The president of the Southern Baptist Convention had in June a message regarding the looming Supreme Court decision on same sex marriage which has now gone ahead.
‘The Supreme Court of the United States is not the final authority nor is the culture itself’, declared Ronnie Floyd, the elected leader of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. ‘The Bible is God’s final authority about marriage and on this book we stand.’
Dr. Floyd’s comments on 16 June were met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation from thousands of Southern Baptist messengers meeting in Columbus, Ohio.
The pending decision over gay marriage weighed heavily on the minds of many Southern Baptists and messengers will consider a resolution calling on all Christians to stand firm on the biblical definition of marriage.
‘Resolved, that Southern Baptists recognise that no governing institution has the authority to negate or usurp God’s definition of marriage; and be it further resolved no matter how the Supreme Court rules, the Southern Baptist Convention reaffirms its unwavering commitment to its doctrinal and public beliefs concerning marriage’, the resolution reads in part.
It is not exactly clear how the Southern Baptist Convention’s defiance will manifest itself, but Floyd said: ‘I will not officiate over any same sex unions or same sex marriage ceremonies.’ He continued: ‘While we affirm our love for all people, including those struggling with same sex attraction, we cannot and will not affirm any behaviour that deviates from God’s design for marriage.’
The issue facing Southern Baptists is one that will face every person of faith in the United States – do you follow God or the government?
