2022 – Resolution on “The Call to Do Right”
Whereas there is an ever-increasing propensity among God’s people to “do what is right in their own eyes” like the Israelites in the Old Testament (Judges 17:6; 21:25) by failing to glorify God (Matthew 5:16; I Corinthians 10:31), by failing to accept, apply, and obey the Scripture in regards to marriage, ministry, medical issues, etc.; and
Whereas God’s people have allowed the world to influence and sway them, allowing theirlives and practices to become like the sinful world, rather than demonstrating godliness in their lives, families, and churches; and
Whereas the world sees a failing church whose members (including pastors) “do what is right in their own eyes,” so that what is done hinders the work of God in our midst. Satan is “seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8), to the point that our sin is open to ridicule and rebuke, ruining our testimony, as recently identified with the release of a number of reports disclosing sexual abuse among various churches and denominations that have not yet responded appropriately; and
Whereas God calls upon pastors to “flee youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22), “submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the Devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7), and many other personal commands for their life and ministry; and
Whereas many pastors have morally failed, within and without churches and have led others to participate in their sin as well;
Be it, therefore, resolved that each of us needs to examine his heart before the Lord and daily recommit himself to Him so that we can glorify Him, to determine whether our lives and actions have things hidden from others, and to deal with things even if it hurts to do so. The time has more than come that church members need to seek the face of God for personal revival to come and for the Spirit of God to begin again the work He has done in the past.
Be it further resolved that we, the members of the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America meeting in annual conference at Hope Baptist Church, Hanover, PA, June 21–23, 2022, covenant before God and each other to read, meditate upon, and apply the Scriptures so that we may strive with all our might to be like Christ and to be faithful to Him until we meet Him face to face.