Year 2007 Resolutions:

The War Against Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan

Earnestly Contending for the Faith

The Supreme Court's Ban on Partial Birth Abortions

Concerning the Training of Pastors and Missionaries

Concerning Progressive Dispensationalism

THE WAR AGAINST TERROR IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN

WHEREAS no war can be, nor ever has been won by surrender (Luke 14:31-32); and

WHEREAS many of our political leaders today seem to support a surrender of our troops for political reasons; and

WHEREAS these wars are a response to an unprovoked attack by Radical Islam on September 11, 2001 initiated by them in a desire to remove our freedoms to preach the Gospel; and

FUTHERMORE where they have prevailed there is no more freedom to worship freely;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America, being assembled in our annual meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia, June 19-21, 2007 do hereby stress our support for victory in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we will pray for our troops and our political leadership at this time of crisis in our country (I Timothy 2:1-3).

EARNESTLY CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

WHEREAS our generation has been commanded to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3) as all generations before us; and

WHEREAS this “faith which was once delivered unto the saints” is today under attack from many different sources, such as:

1. The “Purpose Driven” movement, and many similar positions which encourage physical growth at the expense of Biblical separation and spiritual growth implying that the sole purpose of the church is to grow physically. The Bible teaches that the purpose of the church is to glorify God above all else (Ephesians 1:6, 12). Because Rick Warren has erred in his purpose for the church, he has erred in his methodology, bringing in Contemporary Christian Music and Christian Rock, emphasizing that whatever brings in more people is to be sought after rather than seeking after Biblical principles and doctrine. He has encouraged churches to diminish the use of Bible sermons, and instead has substituted drama, and other forms of entertainment to please his audience.
2. Postmodernism with its denial of absolute truth continues to make inroads into churches, schools, and seminaries. This denial of absolute truth has resulted in the exaltation of man, the veneration of experience above the Word of God, the deconstruction of Biblical texts, the diminishing of Biblical theology, the practice of pragmatism, the embracing of religious pluralism, and the philosophy known as the “Emerging Church.” The Emerging Church redefines the church and belittles and abolishes the local church as the duly organized body of believers under the Headship of Christ, with pastors, deacons and membership (Philippians 1:1) and replaces it with a false understanding of a “universal church” with no common faith, no ability to “labor together” (I Corinthians 3:9) for the furtherance of the Gospel (Philippians 1:27), no desire to give to the “common interests” of the body (I Corinthians 16:1-2), nor any defense of the “common faith” (Jude 1:3). The Bible directly asserts that it is the Word of God and is absolute truth, and that we are sanctified through it (John 17:17).
3. The threat of terrorism, is also used by Islamic terrorists to force the acceptance of their beliefs on others without any regard for the historic Christian faith. This threat is both imminent and great. No compromise is possible with them since their desire is to eradicate all Bible-based faith and practice (Ephesians 5:9-13).
4. Contemporary Christian Music, and its accompanying Christian Rock continue to undermine the moral fiber of churches and give a mixed message that combines ungodly, carnal, and worldly music with lyrics that are supposedly “Christian” in nature. This philosophy is contrary to the clear teaching of Biblical separation and is clearly seen to be so in the lives and demeanor of the “performers” (Acts 26:18).
5. Neo-Evangelicalism continues to be a threat to the existence of Biblical Christianity for the next generation. Its supporters continue to have problems with taking any kind of an obedient stand in opposition to any threats against the fundamentals of the Christian faith. In taking no side in any battle, it gives comfort and aid to the enemies of the “faith which was once delivered unto the saints” and discourages the hearts of those that are trying “to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
6. Liberalism has taken new approaches to denying all Biblical truth. While they continue to attack every doctrine of the Scriptures, they have now attacked the doctrine of the Resurrection by saying they have found the tomb and body of our Lord. They have enlisted the Young Evangelicals of the Emerging Church to attack such doctrines as the death of Christ, calling it “Cosmic Child Abuse.” Liberalism has resorted to an attack against those that hold to Biblical truth, trying to silence us directly through legislation of so-called “hate crimes.” Such legislation would remove our freedom to pronounce the “whole counsel of God” regarding homosexuality, abortion, morality in public office, and other areas that liberal politicians consider “politically incorrect” (Matthew 14:3-4). There are also numerous efforts to outlaw spanking of children, defining it as “child abuse” and thus identifying Biblical parents as law-breakers and abusers (Proverbs 23:13-14).

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America, being assembled in our annual meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia, June 19-21, 2007 do hereby dedicate ourselves anew to the defense of the historic Christian faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints against all of its enemies; and

WE ALSO RESOLVE to oppose and expose all those who would attack the historic Christian faith, and to support a military response to those who would bring an armed attack to destroy our freedom to propagate the faith.

WE FURTHER RESOLVE to educate younger pastors in Biblical doctrine and the responsibility of passing on the faith to the next generation (II Timothy 2:2).

THE SUPREME COURT’S BAN ON PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTIONS

WHEREAS the so-called “Partial-Birth Abortion” was just a euphemism for infanticide making it possible not only to kill babies in the mother’s womb, but also out of the womb; and

WHEREAS this practice was such an abomination to God and man that it could never be justified by any idea of a “woman’s right” to her own body; and

WHEREAS our Bible affirms what generations past have believed, that life within the womb is an independent soul and will, apart from the mother’s existence; and that “that life within the womb” is a life with every right of any other human being and entitled to the same protections and care that we can and do afford anyone else (Romans 13:4); and

WHEREAS the Supreme Court of the United States has upheld a legal ban on this most barbaric abortion practice;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America, being assembled in our annual meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia, June 19-21, 2007 do hereby commend the Supreme Court for its decision, and call on them to ban all abortions and return our country to a place of God’s blessing as it was in the time of our forefathers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we will continue to fight for the right to life of these most helpless human beings.  

CONCERNING THE TRAINING OF PASTORS AND MISSIONARIES

WHEREAS there are pastors of churches throughout Central and South America, Africa, and the Far and Middle East who have little or no theological formation; and

WHEREAS the future of such churches depends upon a well-taught leadership and a well-trained Biblical membership (I Timothy 4:6; II Timothy 2:15; 4:2; Romans 16:17; Ephesians 4:14); and

SINCE we have been blessed for many years with good, Biblical and Godly instruction in the Word of God,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America, being assembled in our annual meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia, June 19-21, 2007 do hereby personally dedicate ourselves to do all that is in our power to help train pastors, and those who are called to be pastors and missionaries in these neglected places; with all the necessary tools, including studies in the languages of the Bible, Bible doctrines (including the doctrine of separation) and such contemporary issues as Biblical music (II Timothy 2:2).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we will utilize all new methods (such as internet, video, DVD, personal visits) which may be Biblically sound to obtain such ends. 

CONCERNING PROGRESSIVE DISPENSATIONALISM

WHEREAS Progressive Dispensationalism, which uses a Reformed hermeneutic, has invaded some Bible-believing churches, missions, and schools with a non-literal interpretation of the Scriptures and caused much confusion among church members and leaders; and

WHEREAS Progressive Dispensationalism attempts to amalgamate Reformed and Dispensational hermeneutics; and

WHEREAS this form of interpretation results in a blurring of the differences between Israel and the Church, a non-literal view of the kingdom of God in the scriptures and a diminishment of dispensational distinctives in the sovereign rule of God.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America, being assembled in our annual meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia, June 19-21, 2007 do hereby affirm our position as dispensationalists and do hereby commit ourselves to a literal, dispensational hermeneutic.

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Last modified: June 21, 2007