The 2021 FBFI Position Statements
The Foundations Baptist Fellowship International regularly issues statements that reflect the thinking of the Board at the time they are issued. You can find past statements here. The preamble on that page says,
“These positions are listed here for the purpose of edification, education and historical record. They are a record of the issues that were of importance to members of the FBFI at a given point in time. While many, maybe even most of these statements would be affirmed by the membership today, not all of them would or should. They are maintained here to provide an honest historical record of the FBFI both past and present.”
At our Board meeting during the 100th Annual Fellowship meeting recently concluded in Indianapolis, Indiana, we approved two position statements. The first is “Regarding Christians and Civil Society” and the second is “Regarding Christians, Race and Ethnicity.”
In this last year of turmoil, fear, confusion, and sometimes violence, the questions of our relation to government and the persistent problem of racial tension made for much distress and doubt. We offer these statements to help Christians think biblically about these two issues.
The text of the 2021 Position Statements are below:
21:01: Regarding Christians and Civil Society
The FBFI affirms that in His wise administration of the fallen world, God has provided for the distribution of humanity into different languages, families, and nations in order to hinder human rebellion and to encourage people to seek Him (Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 17:24-28). He also ordained human government to restrain evil and to promote good (Genesis 9:6; Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:14).
Until the physical and glorious return of Jesus Christ at the end of the present age, God providentially governs the world through nations and their rulers (Psalm 22:28; Isaiah 37:16). Governmental authority is ordained by God, who raises up rulers and nations, directs their affairs and holds them accountable for their actions (Romans 13:1; Daniel 2:37-38; 4:17, 25, 32; Proverbs 21:1; Psalm 9:17).
Since all people are sinners, no human society, nation, or political system can be perfect or can merit God’s favor. Nevertheless, in God’s grace, nations can enjoy His blessing to the extent that they conform to His righteous principles (Proverbs 14:34).
The FBFI believes that Christians should be thankful to God when nations reflect godly virtue, and their governmental systems protect ordered liberty (Proverbs 14:34; 29:2; Romans 13:4; 1 Timothy 2:1-3). However, regardless of the blessings that their nations afford, believers’ ultimate love and loyalty must be to the Christ (Matthew 10:37).
The FBFI holds that in countries where there is no ultimate human ruler, the “king,” which believers should honor, is the network of laws, institutions, and officials that make up the system of government. In such cases, individual citizens do not have the sovereign right to interpret the law for themselves but must respect the institutions and procedures that have been established for resolving legal and political disputes (Romans 13:7; 1 Peter 2:13-14).
We further hold that it is legitimate for believers to participate in the political process and assert their legal and civil rights (Acts 16:37; 22:25-27; 25:10-11). However, they must do so as stewards of God and never in a way that violates biblical commands or principles or brings reproach on Christ or His Gospel (1 Corinthians 6:1-11; 2 Corinthians 6:3).
Believers are obligated to acknowledge and respect governmental authorities and to obey them except to the extent that doing so would mean disobeying God (Romans 13:1-8; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14, 17; Daniel 3:16-18; 6:10; Acts 4:19-20; 5:29). When there may be a conflict between the commands of God and the commands of government, believers should as much as possible fulfill their obligations to both, for example, by making wise and respectful appeals and recommendations and by seeking God’s intervention (Matthew 22:21; Daniel 1:8-16).
Even where disobedience to human rulers is unavoidable due to a higher duty to Christ, believers must maintain a Christlike attitude and show respect for governmental authority, being willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake rather than for evildoing or for a rebellious spirit (1 Peter 2:19-23).
The FBFI recognizes that in cases where there is tension between obedience to God and the government, it is sometimes difficult to determine when a governmental decree must be disobeyed in order to obey God. We affirm, however, that when believers disagree with each other about this, they must do so in a kind and respectful manner, in the spirit of love and with deference toward one another. They must also respect the liberty of other believers and churches to follow belief and conscience, provided that this does not violate clear biblical commands or principles (Romans 14; Ephesians 4:1-3; Romans 12:10).
21:02: Regarding Christians, Race and Ethnicity
The FBFI believes that all people, whatever their skin color or physical characteristics, are equally the offspring of God’s first created humans, Adam and Eve, and are thus made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). We recognize that providentially God has allowed for great human diversity relating to individuals and ethnicities, establishing language groups (Genesis 11:1-9) and the “bounds” of men’s “habitation” that they might seek Him (Acts 17:26-27). He has also provided for social relationships between persons, setting “the solitary in families” (Psalm 68:6) and allowing the development of many “kindreds,” “tongues,” “tribes,” and “nations” (Revelation 7:9).
The FBFI rejects ethnic discrimination both past and present, affirming that while there is but one human family, race has historically been used inappropriately to create division and to abuse individuals from various ethnicities. The FBFI condemns any use of the Scriptures to justify discrimination and rejects any racial theory that elevates one ethnicity above all others or denigrates any ethnicity below another, recognizing that the sin of partiality (Leviticus 19:15; James 2:1-13) is rooted in man’s sinful pride.
As descendants of Adam, all humans are born in sin and alienated from God (Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22). Therefore, the FBFI rejects as unbiblical any social theory that denies universal, inherent human sinfulness, that views racism or ethnocentrism as the root of all social and personal evil or that denies that every person needs redemption from sin regardless of their perceived race or ethnic background.
Believing that man’s standing before God is solely on the basis of his relationship with Jesus Christ (John 14:6), the FBFI affirms that the only biblical divide between humans relates directly to their standing before God (Galatians 3:28).