In a ‘Cataclysmic Milestone,’ Southern Baptist Pastors Stand Firm With Israel

A resolution concerning standing with and praying for Israel recently passed at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in St. Louis. Some believers who know little about the importance of Israel would likely give this resolution scant attention.

I’m sure most readers of Charisma, who already have their ‘Israelology‘ straight, would conclude, “Well, it’s about time!” 

But as a Southern Baptist seminary-trained pastor, I can tell you that this was a cataclysmic milestone for us and a major shift from the status quo. In fact, I would venture to say that I never thought a resolution like this would ever come from our denomination in my lifetime.

Don’t misunderstand, our denomination is not anti-Israel. The majority of the Southern Baptist pastors and people that I know are not advocates of repugnant and heretical Replacement Theology—the idea that the Church has completely replaced the Jewish people and modern Israel is a man-made political creation with no biblical significance. 

No, most of us are pro-Israel but do not biblically understand why. Our greatest concern in openly standing for Israel has always been jeopardizing our missionary outreach to the Muslim nations in the Middle East. Rather than lose our opportunity to advance the gospel, we have chosen to coast in neutral on the Israel Theology Highway.

What is striking to me about this resolution is the remarkable biblical truth outlined in it. The resolution, while not exhaustive, at least gives the average Southern Baptist that had no Israel understanding a place to start. 

David declared, “And who is like Your people, like Israel—a single nation in the land, whom God went to redeem as a people for Himself, making a name for Himself by doing great and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods. You established Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, Lord, became their God” (2 Sam. 7:23-24, MEV).

The Psalmist proclaimed, “He remembers His covenant forever, the word that He commanded, to a thousand generations, that covenant He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac, and confirmed to Jacob as a decree, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,” (Ps. 105:8-10).

Paul affirmed, “I say then, has God rejected His people? God forbid! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew“ (Rom. 11:1-2a).

He further revealed, “For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, lest you be wise in your own estimation, for a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved …” (Rom. 11:25-26a).

Thank you, Lord, that just as Jewish eyes are beginning to open to the identity of their Messiah, so are Gentile eyes opening to Your plan and purpose for Israel. Pray for us as Southern Baptists that the words of this resolution will become our unwavering stand.

RESOLUTION: On Prayer and Support of Israel

St. Louis, Missouri, 2016

WHEREAS, The Old Testament declares God’s promise to Abram, “I will make you into a great nation…. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1–3); and

WHEREAS, Israel represents the descendants of Jacob as an ethnic, cultural, and national entity (Genesis 32:28); and

WHEREAS, The New Testament affirms that salvation is from the Jews and that God’s Word concerning Israel will be fulfilled (John 4:22; Romans 9–11); and

WHEREAS, We are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the salvation of Israel (Psalm 122:6–7; Romans 10:1); and

WHEREAS, We share with the nation of Israel many values as the only democratic ally of the United States in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement seeks to isolate the nation of Israel economically and socially; and

WHEREAS, We are concerned by anti-Israel activities in this country within certain university campuses, academic and professional associations, and popular culture; and

WHEREAS, We thankfully remember that we are indebted to the Jewish people, who gave us much of our Bible and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, June 14–15, 2016, commit to bless Israel; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support the right of Israel to exist as a sovereign state and reject any activities that attack that right by promoting economic, cultural, and academic boycotts against Israel; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That at this critical time when dangerous forces are mounting up against the nation of Israel, we recommit ourselves to pray for God’s peace to rule in Jerusalem and for the salvation of Israel, for the Gospel is “God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew” (Romans 1:16).{eoa}

Dr. H. Dean Haun is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Morristown, Tennessee.