2018 – Conference Theme: “Having Done All to Stand”
Resolution on Conference Theme: “Having Done All to Stand”
Whereas the Scriptures emphatically admonish us to stand faithful to the Word of God as our absolute, sufficient, and final authority (Ps. 1:2, Isa. 8:20, 2 Tim. 3:16-17); and
Whereas the Apostle Paul urged Timothy and others to “stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free” (Gal. 5:1, 1 Cor. 2:5, 15:1, 15:58, 16:13, Phil. 4:1, 1 Thess. 3:8, 2 Thess. 2:15), as did the Apostle Peter (1 Pet. 5:12); and
Whereas we are also warned by our Lord Jesus Christ against being deceived (Luke 21:8) and admonished by the Apostles Paul and Peter against being caught up in “every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14, 2 Pet. 3:17-18); and
Whereas we are mindful of our old nature, our natural inclination towards spiritual weakness, determining not to yield to carnal pressures from our own heart, our people, or even our peers in ministry, resisting the temptations to preach and teach less than the whole counsel of God to our people, and trusting confidently that the Lord will bless the faithful obedience to Him and to His Word that refuses to compromise both the right method and the right message of gospel ministry—to preach the Word (Gal. 6:9; 2 Thess. 3:13, 2 Tim. 4:2);
Be it therefore resolved that we, the members of the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America, meeting in Winston-Salem, NC, June 19-21, 2018, will compromise neither method nor message in any of our ministries, for we seek the blessings of God upon our labors rather than the path of expediency, which exchanges the supernatural power of God for the pragmatic wisdom of men. We determine to fix our eyes upon Him whom men like Spurgeon could see: “Chariots and horses make an imposing show, and with their rattling, and dust, and fine caparisons, make so great a figure that vain man is much taken with them; yet the discerning eye of faith sees more in an invisible God than in all these.”
Be it further resolved that we will not cooperate with, nor give recommendation to, those who have succumbed to the ways of expediency, lest we confuse our people and undermine their confidence in the power of the God of heaven, “who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21).