In a study released on Wednesday by Pew Research, 30 percent of Southern Baptists believe homosexuality should be accepted by society. The typical “liberal” mainline denominations like American Baptists, Episcopalians, ELCA, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, and Presbyterian Church (USA) have the highest number of congregants who thought so. Denominations with a smaller percentage than the SBC who think homosexuality should accepted in society include charismatic denominations, Churches of God and Assemblies of God, and (rounding out the cult category), Seventh Day Adventists.
The Southern Baptist Faith and Message says in Article XVIII…
Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.
Thirty percent of Southern Baptists, in other words, don’t believe Southern Baptist doctrine. The strategy of the ERLC doesn’t seems to be working. From the last pew study, Southern Baptists thinking homosexuality should be accepted rose a whopping 7 percent. Who can blame them, as the ERLC is “softening its tone” on homosexuality in that same time period. As we relayed to you the #4 SBC News Story of 2015, last year was full of the ERLC’s capitulation on human sexuality.
4. Southern Baptists “break bread with gay community,” soften tone on homosexuality.
All in one meeting, Al Mohler denounced reparative therapy (that he supported just a few years ago), SBC leaders sat down to eat with “gay christians,” Matthew Vines and Justin Lee (1 Corinthians 5 be damned, apparently), Russell Moore gave the thumbs up to attending gay wedding receptions, and the secular outlets like the Wall Street Journal were noticing the “softening tone.” Combine this with ERLC research fellow Karen Swallow Prior’s support of an LGBT fundraiser, and I’d say the SBC had a very gay-friendly year.
But, hey. At least the charismatics are more conservative on this issue. Oh, and the cult. By the way, this study was before Obergefell. I suspect its jumped at least another 5 points or more by now. Time will tell.
But nah, there’s no Downgrade. Carry on, Southern Baptists.
[Contributed by JD Hall]
