General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
The War Effort and National Revival (1943)
RESOLVED
The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches–North expresses its heartfelt appreciation to the pastors and people of the entertaining churches of the Tri-City area, who by their more than generous kindness and hospitality have made us feel at home and solved a difficult entertainment problem in this crowded industrial area. We commend Pastor Kinney and the First Baptist Church, particularly for their efficient handling of multitudinous details. We also wish to record our deep appreciation to the local newspapers for their splendid publicity and coverage of these sessions of this conference.
The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches–North pledges its undying opposition to all forms of Totalism, [sic] whether they be Nazi, Fascist, or Communist, and affirm its allegiance to principles of democratic representative government as expressed in the Constitution of the United States.
The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches–North believes that the war in which we are engaged is just and righteous, that it is our duty to prosecute it with all our powers until victory is won, that in so doing we serve the cause and purposes of God Himself. The Association calls upon all connected with it, and upon the people of America, to support the Government with money, prayer, and service.
The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches–North repudiates pacifism, holding it to be anti-Biblical, un-Christian, and disloyal to the United States in this time of crisis. We charge the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America with being a fountainhead of pacifism for many years and solemnly declare that it must answer at the bar of history for the hurt it has done to our nation.
The Word of God declares that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. The Bible records that national prosperity has always followed godly sorrow for sin and national repentance. We, therefore, call our nation to its knees in repentance and humility before God and humble confession of its sins.
We likewise deplore the tendency to profanity and irreverence in the utterances of many public officials. We urge all Christians everywhere to pray for national revival.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).Inasmuch as the attitude and action of the Axis nations are demonstrably inimical to the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and inasmuch as the basic opportunity to worship freely would be abridged or denied in the event of a victory by the Axis powers, the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches petitions the President of the United States to take such steps as may be required to secure the cooperation of all the United [Allied] Nations in a worldwide Day of Prayer for the spiritual needs and military success of the forces of the United [Allied] Nations.
We affirm our abiding conviction that the monopoly of free radio time on nationwide hookups, insisted upon and erroneously held by the Federal Council, is unfair, undemocratic, and un-American, and is proof positive that they will stop at nothing to keep the unadulterated Gospel of the grace of God off the airwaves. We commend the American Council of Christian Churches for their courageous attempt to obtain some portion of this free time for the proclamation of the true Gospel and call upon Bible-believing people everywhere to sign petitions and secure the signatures of others that the goal of four million supporters of the true Gospel may be obtained and that speedily.
We commend the churches of our General Association of Regular Baptists to further cooperative and coordinated efforts for fellowship and evangelism within their respective regional areas, such as have recently led to the formation of such fellowships of independent Baptist churches in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York City areas, and the Association of Regular Baptist Churches of California and Arizona, that the blessings and inspiration which are ours at this Annual Conference may be extended to all our churches and perpetuated throughout the year.
First Baptist Church Johnson City, New York May 10–13, 1943
Source
http://www.garbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/the-war-effort-and-national-revival-1943.pdf (accessed 11 June 2016).
Anti-Semitism (1948)
Resolved: That we declare anew our opposition to the various forms of Anti-semitism extant today, and that we express our deep concern for the People of Israel in the present distress involving the Land of Palestine, and that furthermore, we call our churches to greater endeavor to bring the Gospel to those who are Abraham’s Seed according to the flesh.
Source
Resolution Number 2, Fifteenth Annual Conference of the GARBC (May 17-20, 1948), Resolutions Committee Original Typed Report, p. 1. From the Historical Archived Collection of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, Arlington Heights, IL.
Summary Account from GARBC website: Social Concerns (1948)
Other resolutions adopted at the same time, without any dissenting voice, was one expressing appreciation for the splendid hospitality of the Wealthy Street Baptist Church and the ten cooperating host churches; another declaring opposition to the various forms of anti-Semitism, and, expressing deep concern for the people of Israel “in the present distress involving the land of Palestine,” called our churches to increase evangelistic endeavor for the Jewish people; another expressed approval of the recent decision of the United States Supreme Court with reference to the teaching of religion in the public schools while rejecting as false and misleading the propaganda that the separation of church and state infers a Godless state; another resolution referred to the peril to which our missionaries and churches in Latin America and other countries are being subjected by Romanism and warned of efforts of the Papacy to gain control of vital positions within the framework of our nation.
Wealthy Street Baptist Church Grand Rapids. Michigan
May 17–20, 1948
Source
http://www.garbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/social-concerns-1948.pdf (accessed 11 June 2016).
The Jews (1972)
We are living in days when Bible prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes, especially as regards the birth and growth of the nation of Israel. They are still returning by the thousands to their native land, given to them by God as promised through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
SINCE the Bible teaches that the Jews are God’s chosen people who have a great earthly and spiritual future, we, the messengers to the 41st Annual Conference of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, meeting in San Diego, California, June 29, 1972, do express ourselves as opposed to all forms of anti-Semitism, both in America and especially in Communist countries, such as Russia;
FURTHERMORE we pledge ourselves to pray more for the salvation of Jews and to do much more to present to them the gospel of Jesus Christ Who came to be their Savior and Who will come back again as their King.
San Diego, California June 26–30, 1972
Source
http://www.garbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/The-Jews-1972.pdf (accessed 11 June 2016).
Israel (1984)
WHEREAS it appears from world events that the end of this dispensation of the Church Age is nearing its end; and
WHEREAS God promised to the seed of Abraham the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession (Gen. 12:1–7; 13:15; 15:18; 17:7, 8); and
WHEREAS the seed of Abraham included both Ishmael, the father of the Arabs, and Isaac, the father of the Jews, and both are claiming Canaan as their homeland; and
WHEREAS in Genesis 17:19 God limited the promise of the land to the seed of Isaac, saying to Abraham, “Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him”; and
WHEREAS the Bible promises the future conversion of the Israelites and Israel’s subsequent possession of all of Canaan (Micah 7:19, 20; Rom. 11:1–27); and
WHEREAS we believe that the Jews today have a right to their own independent state, and that the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 was providential; and
WHEREAS we believe that the Arabs living in the State of Israel today should be treated with equity and justice;
BE IT RESOLVED that the messengers of the 53rd Annual Conference of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, meeting in Seattle, Washington, June 25–29, 1984, assure the Jews of our friendship and our concern for them and the nation of Israel, and that we urge the State of Israel to be considerate of the civil rights of the Arabs within their borders; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that while we recognize the acts of the State of Israel to be those of a sovereign nation which cannot always be justified or approved, we denounce anti-Semitism as being immoral and contrary to the Christian faith.
Seattle, Washington June 25—29, 1984
Source
http://www.garbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Israel-1984.pdf (accessed 11 June 2016).
A Resolution Concerning Israel (2008)
As a result of God’s sovereign choice, the people of Israel are beloved for the sake of the patriarchs (Romans 11:28). God entrusted them as a people with His oracles (3:2). He adopted them as sons; He revealed to them His glory; He brought them into a covenantal relationship with Himself; and He blessed them with the Torah, the temple service, and the promises (9:4). Also, the people of Israel are the ones through whom the Messiah, Who is over all, entered into this world according to the flesh (9:5).
These gifts of God to Israel and His sovereign election of this people are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Thus, God most certainly has not cast them away (11:1), nor has He renounced His promise that the Land belongs to the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob forever (Genesis 13:15; Exodus 6:8).
In light of these Biblical truths, we reaffirm our steadfast adherence to our Articles of Faith that express our shared belief “in the sovereign selection of Israel as God’s eternal covenant people” (Article XVIII).
Recently, on May 8, 2008, the Jewish people of the modern State of Israel celebrated the 60th anniversary of their independence as a nation. In response to these celebrations, we, the messengers of the churches in fellowship with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, meeting for our 76th Annual Conference on the campus of Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa, during the days of June 24–27, 2008, congratulate the people of Israel for their sixty years of industry and tenacity.
In six short decades, Israel has become a leader in various sectors of manufacturing, banking, technology, and arid agriculture. All the while, Israel has defended herself against aggressions close at home and from censures coming from afar. These constant difficulties in no way diminish Israel’s accomplishments but instead heighten the magnitude of her achievements. Israel has done so much, with so little, against so many, in so short a time. Indeed, this is a cause for celebration.
We also commend Israel’s desire to be a free, sovereign, and prosperous country that guarantees religious freedom for all of its citizens and provides a secure homeland for all those who wish to emigrate from the Jewish Diaspora. We concur with our American president, George W. Bush, who declared before the Israeli Knesset on May 15, 2008, that “we consider it a source of shame that the United Nations routinely passes more human rights resolutions against the freest democracy in the Middle East [i.e., Israel] than [against] any other nation in the world.”
Many of us have traveled extensively throughout the country of Israel, and we wish to express our gratitude for the ways in which the Israeli government has preserved and protected the holy sites and the archaeological remains. We appreciate the ease of travel, the modern amenities, the sense of security, and the ease of accessibility that we have found on our pilgrimages to these places of Biblical and historical interest.
Furthermore, we resolve to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6). We will pray in response to the current political unrest, terrorist attacks, and border disputes. Most importantly, we will pray for the spiritual needs of both the Jewish and the Palestinian peoples of Israel, “for neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (Romans 10:1; Galatians 6:15, 16).
By faith, we look forward to the prophetic future when the Jewish people “will be regathered in the Holy Land and, after the completion of the Church, will be saved as a nation at the second advent of Christ,” when He shall return to this earth as the deliverer out of Zion “in power and great glory to sit upon the throne of David and to establish the millennial kingdom” (Articles XVIII and XIX; Isaiah 9:6, 7; 59:20; Matthew 24:30; Luke 1:32, 33; Romans 11:26). No one will bring hurt or destruction anymore upon God’s holy mountain, because “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). How we eagerly anticipate this future age of messianic bliss!
Meanwhile, we will worship our great, trustworthy God, Who will fulfill these prophecies. He will do so not because the church, Israel, or the nations deserve such blessings, but because He has determined to sanctify Himself among the nations and before Israel by demonstrating His faithful love. We will testify to the love of Christ for all peoples, and together with Saul of Tarsus we will exclaim, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!...For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:33, 36).
Approved by the Messengers in the annual business session. Signed by the National Representative on behalf of the Council of Eighteen.
To: His Excellency Sallai Meridor, Ambassador of Israel 3514 International Dr. NW
Washington DC 20008
Source
http://www.garbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/a-resolution-concerning-israel.pdf (accessed 11 June 6 2016).