Oklahoma Baptists Call For The Abolition of Abortion
Yesterday the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma passed perhaps the most definite anti-abortion statement of any major statewide denomination. Resolution No. 7 is in stark contrast to the former stance of the BGCO concerning The Abolition of Abortion in Oklahoma Act (OK SB13). Formerly, the BGCO has taken its cues from National Right to Life Vice President Tony Lauinger. The same Lauinger who infamously played a significant role in keeping abortion legal in Oklahoma in 2016 and since. Though Lauinger’s anti-abolition stance seems counter-intuitive given his prolife credentials, it has been a long-known fact in the anti-abortion world that large prolife organizations have not only called for compromised regulationist measures but have actively set themselves against the abolition of abortion.
Further, while many denominations, churches, and Christian associations have statements condemning abortion and naming it as sin, what has been lacking is a clear call to action for the abolition of abortion. We saw this with the last SBC Annual Meeting wherein abortion was condemned in the abstract. Still, statements calling for the immediate and uncompromised abolition of abortion were defeated in favor of platitudes declaring our feelings rather than calling for action. We can also see this dynamic in the Reformed world’s most famous sermons condemning abortion. Though these sermons and groups do an excellent job in condemning abortion, the consistent failure of Reformed churches and institutions is in either failing to call for any action, or falling into the trap of merely supporting organizations such as Pregnancy Resource Centers (though not inherently wrong, these are purely defensive measures that do not lead to abolition).
However, this resolution ends with a clear call to action. The resolution reads as follows. The last sentence was an addition and also passed.
We, the messengers to the 2019 Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, meeting at Quail Springs Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, November 11-12, 2019, believe in the sanctity of human life, that every person—born and unborn—is created in God’s image and deserves life. We are thus deeply grieved that the barbaric practice of abortion continues in Oklahoma. We are horrified to know the abortion rate is increasing in Oklahoma, recognizing the loss of each one of these unborn children is a tragedy. We are calling on Oklahoma Baptists to unite toward positive and effective efforts that build a culture of life and that work to end abortion. Through fervent prayer, preaching, legislative efforts, education, volunteering and more, we pledge to renew our efforts to promote life and protect the unborn. With God’s help, we will work to see a day in which every unborn child in Oklahoma and America is protected.
Proposed addition of Sentence 7 (passed): Finally, we call upon the Oklahoma State Legislature to enact legislation that calls for the immediate end of abortion without exception or compromise.
I cannot say I have an abundance of faith in the internal politics of the BGCO, but I am pleasantly surprised by this substantial rhetorical shift. Dusty Deevers, Pastor of Grace Community Church in Elgin, OK, said this about Resolution No. 7.
Oklahoma Baptists overwhelmingly united to take a stand for the unborn today. The ending of 5,000+ and increasing abortions per year in our state is a desperately urgent situation. Oklahoma is the most conservative state in the nation, and with 1,785 Southern Baptist congregations and over 579,000 members, Oklahoma Baptists, of all people, must publicly call for and act with biblical consistency, and uncompromising faithfulness to our God. Together, we can end the legalized shedding of innocent blood in our state. The convention powerfully made clear that we will not be satisfied with any form of regulation legalizing the murder of pre-born children created in God’s image. Instead, we are calling our governing authorities to operate as “servants of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Rom 13:4). The OK Legislature needs to know that God hates the shedding of innocent blood, and Oklahoma Baptists are urgently serious about pursuing righteousness in our state, and ending the murder of the innocent unborn. We expect the OK Legislature to pass legislation that immediately ends abortion in our state.
We should be hopeful. Words are easy, but change usually starts with at least saying the right thing. This call to action is unprecedented, and although I understand the doubt and even some of the cynicism of some veterans in this fight, we should see this as a very positive move. Let us be in prayer for Oklahoma, the abolition efforts there, and the pastors leading the charge against abortion in that state and across the country.
