Dr. Richard Land, president emeritus of Southern Evangelical Seminary, says this year's annual meeting in Orlando was the best in 50 years.
“The last few have not been fun. They've been painful, as we've dealt with the sex scandal issues in our convention. And it seems that we have put that behind us,” Land said.
One of the resolutions that was overwhelmingly passed by voice vote was on the historical Baptist contribution to religious liberty.
“We stated in the resolution that freedom of religion is freedom for all people. We didn't mention in the resolution, but that includes Muslims,” Land said.
The resolution honors Baptist contributions to the First Amendment, calls for civic engagement rooted in Scripture and urges prayer for national renewal while opposing any establishment of a state religion.
Here are some other notable takeaways:
- Affirmation that religious freedom is a God-given right for all, including people of all faiths.
- Rejection of government coercion in matters of belief and opposition to establishing any state religion.
- Encouragement for Southern Baptists to engage the public square with courage and civility.
- Recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States as a moment to reflect on God’s providence and Baptist advocacy for liberty.
- Call to proclaim the gospel and pursue just laws consistent with biblical principles.
Land says he's aware that radical Islam is coming after the West, intent on subjugating the entire world under Sharia law. America's unique firewall against that is the First Amendment to the Constitution.
“If they want to try to install Sharia law as the law, even in a town where they're 80% of the population, it's illegal. Because of the First Amendment. The First Amendment covers all 50 states, all communities in all 50 states.”
The U.S. Constitution is the highest legal authority under the Supremacy Clause of Article VI.
The First Amendment prohibits government from establishing an official religion and protects the free exercise of religion.
State and local governments cannot enact laws that violate the Constitution even if a local majority favors such laws.
Land notes that many Muslim immigrants to the U.S. came here to escape persecution at the hands of other, more radical Muslims. He says they should be afforded the right to worship as they please.
That is “until Muslims start trying to deny other people freedom of religion. At that point, their freedom of religion cannot trump our freedom of religion. And it cannot trump our law.”
