Why my 50th Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting was the most encouraging one yet
As I write this column, I am on my way back to Nashville, having attended my 50th annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). I was one of nearly 12,000 “messengers” elected by local churches to represent them at the annual convention.
I mention this because that past experience became relevant as I report to you, Christian Post readers, that this was the most positive, irenic and encouraging annual meeting I have personally attended. People were happier than in recent years and, most importantly, were anticipating the SBC’s future with both encouragement and excitement.
Perhaps even more revealing was the fact that the oldest and most seasoned convention attendees seemed most encouraged by the contrast with recent conventions.
This morning, as I left the hotel, both SBC presidential candidates came over separately to say hello and express appreciation for my contributions as president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (1988–2013). That kind of fraternity and casual goodwill has been far too rare in recent years.
A second reason for my optimism, and for the optimism of many others, was the general sense of agreement during the adoption of some truly important resolutions on some very important and unfortunately contentious issues in American life. For example, the convention passed, with relative calm and a lack of divisive debate, resolutions “On Political Violence and Speech,” “On Immigration, Human Dignity and the Rule of Law,” and “On Antisemitism.”
However, the resolution that inspired me above all the others was the first one presented and adopted with evident and widespread enthusiasm, a resolution “On the 250th Anniversary of the United States and the Baptist Contribution to Religious Liberty.”
The resolution proclaims:
WHEREAS, The United States of America was founded on July 4, 1776, with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which recognized the fundamental truth that all people are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, thus establishing a new nation committed to ordered liberty and the rule of law; and
WHEREAS, The American founders understood these rights are given by God and secured by government and further comprehended the importance of Christianity to the framing and flourishing of the new republic (Romans 13:1-7); and
WHEREAS, The freedoms enshrined in the US Constitution and Bill of Rights — particularly the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech — have enabled the free and open proclamation of the gospel at home and abroad; and
WHEREAS, Baptist leaders such as Isaac Backus, John Leland, and others played a vital role in advocating for religious liberty, contributing to the development and eventual adoption of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees the free exercise of religion and prohibits the establishment of a state church; and
WHEREAS, Baptists have historically affirmed that religious liberty is not merely a political principle (such as a “wall of separation”) but a biblical conviction rooted in the teaching that every individual is accountable to God and must be free to respond to Him without coercion from the state (Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19-20, 17:26-27; Romans 14:12); and
WHEREAS, 2026 will mark the semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of the founding of the United States, a historic milestone to remember and reflect upon God’s providential blessings and sovereign hand throughout the nation’s history.
The statement also includes, “We reaffirm our historic Baptist commitment to religious liberty for all people,” recognizing that “all people” means all people. In the present context, there are many people, unfortunately including some Baptists, who want to exclude Muslims from “all people” because Islam believes in sharia law, which has very different and much more restrictive views concerning religious liberty than Baptists do.
The resolution continues:
WHEREAS, Scripture exhorts believers to honor governing authorities, to seek the welfare of the cities and nations in which they dwell, and to pray for kings and all those who are in authority (Jeremiah 29:7; Romans 13:1; 1 Timothy 2:1-2); and
WHEREAS, The semiquincentennial provides an opportunity for Southern Baptists to express gratitude to God for His blessings, to renew our commitment to faithfully proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to stand for truth, righteousness, and justice in the public square; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 9–10, 2026, give thanks to Almighty God for his providential hand in the founding and sustaining of the United States of America over the past 250 years; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists and all faithful Christians to pray for spiritual revival across the nation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we honor the legacy of Baptist forebears who courageously contended for religious liberty and helped secure the freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our historic Baptist commitment to religious liberty for all people, recognizing it as a God-given right grounded in the dignity of every human being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27-28); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we call upon Southern Baptists to steward these freedoms by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, living as faithful citizens of both the kingdom of God and the United States, and engaging the public square with both courage and civility; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we call upon Southern Baptists to pursue national renewal through biblically informed civic engagement, including advocating for just laws that are rooted in God’s natural law and consistent with the witness of holy Scripture, and electing public officials who will do the same; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge our churches to pray for national, state, and local leaders, that we may live peaceful and godly lives (1 Timothy 2:2); and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we commit ourselves anew to the Great Commission, recognizing that the ultimate hope for America and all nations is in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, whose kingdom will never end.
Baptists affirm, as they should, in the resolution’s fourth “RESOLVED,” “our historic Baptist commitment to religious liberty for all people,” including Muslims, until and unless they begin infringing on the religious liberty rights of non-Muslims. Muslims have the right to worship as they please and to evangelize for their faith, but not to use government to enforce their religion.
When they begin to argue for the imposition of sharia law on non-Muslims by government authority in local communities where Muslims have acquired a political majority, that imposition must not be tolerated. Why? It violates the First Amendment’s prohibition against establishing a religious governmental authority and would quash the religious freedom that is the right of every human being. Until and unless Muslims convince Americans to vacate their constitutional rights under the First Amendment, we have the right to expect “no establishment of religion” and no curtailment of individual religious rights anywhere (all of which sharia law would do).
There should not be government-enforced sharia law anywhere in the United States unless the First Amendment, which protects all Americans from such laws, is rescinded.
I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father that in His providence I was born in the United States, raised in a Christian home, accepted the Lord Jesus as my Savior and Lord as a child, and that I am privileged to live and contend for the Gospel, now in my 80th year, alongside my fellow believers, my brothers and sisters in Christ called Southern Baptists.
Dr. Richard Land, BA (Princeton, magna cum laude); D.Phil. (Oxford); Th.M (New Orleans Seminary). Dr. Land served as President of Southern Evangelical Seminary from July 2013 until July 2021. Upon his retirement, he was honored as President Emeritus and he continues to serve as an Adjunct Professor of Theology & Ethics. Dr. Land previously served as President of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (1988-2013) where he was also honored as President Emeritus upon his retirement. Dr. Land has also served as an Executive Editor and columnist for The Christian Post since 2011.
Dr. Land explores many timely and critical topics in his daily radio feature, “Bringing Every Thought Captive,” and in his weekly column for CP.
